Ignacio Retes

Ignacio Retes

1918-11-13 – 2004-04-23 (age 85) Mexico City, Mexico
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Biography

José Ignacio Retes Guevara was a Mexican playwright, film, theater and television actor, director, and writer. Two-time winner of the Ariel Award. He studied at the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters of the National Autonomous University of Mexico in the 30s, where he was able to meet other prominent playwrights and directors of the time such as Rodolfo Usigli, Seki Sano and José Revueltas.

He founded the University Theater of San Luis Potosí in 1937 and the theater company Lantern Magic with workers from the Mexican Union of Electricians. With Usigli he founded the company Midnight Theater (in reference to the free time that both had to collaborate in it); with Sano he would work as an assistant. In 1950 he made his directorial debut with "Los cuadrantes de la soledad" by José Revueltas, which reached 100 performances. Said montage also featured scenography designed by Diego Rivera.

In 1944 he wrote his first play, "El día de Mañana". As a film actor, he made his debut in the 1950s and was directed by directors such as Jorge Fons, Felipe Cazals, Jaime Humberto Hermosillo, Sergio Olhovich and Arturo Ripstein. In his role as a screenwriter, he wrote the scripts for films such as Anguish Nights and Journey to Paradise, among others. He was also a public official, as director of the theaters of the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS), where he promoted the massive construction of public theaters, reaching 38 venues. In the 1960s he collaborated closely with the writer Vicente Leñero, with whom he made various works such as the theatrical version of Los albañiles and Los Niños de Sánchez, among others.

The Hidalgo-Ignacio Retes Theater in Mexico City has been named after the actor since 2006

His son, Gabriel Retes, became a prominent actor, director and writer.

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Known For

The Eve
The Eve

1982

as Rubén Rocha

Vintage Model
Vintage Model

1992

as Basilio

El Reventón
The Gambler
The Flying Pony
The Flying Pony

1982

as Don Luis (padrino de Diego)

Mariana Mariana
Mariana Mariana

1987

as Psychiatrist

Doña Perfecta
Doña Perfecta

1951

as Jacintito

The Castaways of Liguria
The Castaways of Liguria

1985

as Emilio Albani

Knock Out
Knock Out

1984

as Old man in the building

Playa azul
Playa azul

1992

as Matías

Aunt Alejandra
Aunt Alejandra

1980

as Doctor

New World
New World

1978

as Don Diego de Alba

The Year of the Plague
The Year of the Plague

1978

as Dr. Mario Zermeño

Broken Flag
Broken Flag

1979

as Ernesto

Deceitful Appearances
Deceitful Appearances

1983

as Tío Alberto

Cuartelazo
Cuartelazo

1977

as Coronel Rebelde

A Married Woman
A Married Woman

1982

as Papá de Irene

The Hard Years
If I Never See You Again
Los Naúfragos II:  Los Piratas
Los Naúfragos II: Los Piratas

1986

as Emilio Albani