González, Eulalio Piporro

(1921, '22? or 1923-2003)

   norteño character actor/comedian who first appeared in supporting roles in the 1950s, then became one of the top boxoffice stars of the early and mid-1960s. González was born in Nuevo León and grew up in Tamaulipas. He originally studied medicine, then switched to accounting; however, he never practiced either of these professions, first working for a newspaper and then a radio station. González moved to Mexico City an d starting working as a radionovela actor; he also picked up some minor roles in pictures like La muerte enamorada (1950). However, his big break came when he was cast as Pedro Infante's sidekick in Ahí viene Martín Corona (1952), based on a radio series of the same name. González wore old-age makeup and his character's name would become his professional nickname: "Piporro." González became a star in the '60s, playing basically the same, irrepressible norteño stereotype in pictures like El rey del tomate and El bracero del año. Nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Ariel in 1955 (for Píntame angelitos blancos), and won the award the following year for Espaldas mojadas. González also received the "Diosa de Plata" as Best Comic Actor for his role in El Pocho (1969, which he also produced, wrote, and directed).