Medford mail tribune., February 19, 1961, Image 50

CANTINFLAS:
The Richest
i' u'-l
ie Actor
in the World
Mov
" "
Buf when it comes to spending his money, he has an
alter ego that keeps him the poor guy everybody loves
By RICHARD LYON
"Cantinflas and Mario Moreno they are the same man,
but they are opposites." The speaker is the possessor of both names,
the first being his stage name, the other his baptismal one.
Cantinflas is known in this country primarily
for hi performance as David Niven's butler in "Around the World
in 80 Days," and Mario Moreno is scarcely known at all,
although he is probably the richest actor in the world. Chances are
that after U.S. movie-goers see him in
"Pepe," Cantinflas will be as widely known
here as he has been for years in Latin America and Europe.
In the past 18 years, Cantinflas has made 20 Mexican films, all of
which are still being shown in Latin countries.
His royalties alone are estimated at more than $100,000 a month.
But the royalties go to the man named Mario Moreno, who is somewhat
different from the character he always plays the
lovable "little guy" of the streets with baggy pants,
ragged coat, and battered hat.
Moreno is willing to talk about Cantinflas,
but an innate shyness keeps him from saying much about Moreno.
It is well known, however, that Moreno donates to charity
the complete proceeds from the six or eight performances Cantinflas gives
each year in Mexico City's bull ring, the largest in the world.
Whenever one of these appearances is announced,
50,000 customers grab up every ticket the moment they are on sale.
mU Despite his huge contributions to the poor, Moreno
still has ample means to live well. In addition to maintaining
five residences (including a farm for breeding bulls) and a huge wardrobe,
he owns a large plane, employs two pilots (though he is a licensed
pilot himself) , and travels extensively in the most 1
lavish style. At the same time, Moreno
never forgets his humble beginnings
nor that he is Cantinflas, the little man of the masses; privately
he lives at the most costly level but
he avoids any public display that might impair the screen image
of Cantinflas. A nice point that illustrates this dual personality
occurred when he spent a week in New York doing publicity for "Pepe."
Arrangements had been made to have a Rolls-Royce
at his disposal during his stay ; the Rolls had no sooner
deposited him at his hotel than he telephoned to request "a simple Cadillac
just like all the other film stars use when they are in town."
The superelegant Rolls, Moreno believed, was much
too ostentatious for Cantinflas. Millions of movie-goers
hope Moreno is successful in "not spoiling" their Cantinflas.
TheyAike him just as he is, broke but beguiling.
WJ
A true son of Mexico, Cantinflas
becomes a Mexican jumping bean
in his clowning act. Whether
. costumed in a cowboy suit,
matador's outfit, or in street
clothes, Cantinflas' favorite
position is with his feet firmly
planted in mid-air. These antics -have
helped him earn more than
one million dollars a year; yet much
of his income he gives away to
the "Jitte" people who love him.
ramily Weekly, February 19, 19S1