Mojica, José

(1896-1974)

   singer and actor who, after appearing with the Chicago Opera in the 1920s, made a few Spanish-language movies in the early 1930s, and a handful of Mexican features later in the decade. In 1940, his mother died and Mójica decided to leave his singing career and become a Franciscan friar (he was ordained in 1947). His autobiography was turned into a big-budget, all-star film, Yo, pecador (1959 - Mójica was portrayed by Pedro Geraldo). Mójica would occasionally make acting appearances in later life in order to raise funds for his order's charitable work (cf, Seguiré tus pasos, 1966).