José Isbert

José Isbert (real name: José Ysbert Alvarruiz), also known as Pepe Isbert (Madrid, March 3, 1886 – Madrid, November 28, 1966), was a famous Spanish actor.

Biography

In 1903 worked at Tribunal de Cuentas, but decided to stop working for the State and that year he made his debut on stage, Teatro Apolo in Madrid, with the play "El iluso Cañizares" changing his real name from Y to I. He moved to the Teatro Lara, where he got success.

Married to Elvira Soriano, father of the "actress" María Isbert and grandfather of Tony Isbert.In 1912 he appears for first time on screen in the short film "Asesinato y entierro de Don José Canalejas". He plays Pardiñas, the anarchist who killed José Canalejas.

During the Silent Cinema he worked on theatre with supporting roles in cinema, but with the sound, he came back with the comedy directed by Florián Rey, "La pura verdad" in (1931).

In the 30's he acted in half dozen of films including: "¿Cuándo te suicidas?" (1931) directed by Manuel Romero, "La bien pagada" (1935) by Eusebio Fernández Ardavín or "El bailarín y el trabajador" (1935), directed by Luis Marquina and based on a play by Jacinto Benavente.

In the 40's he was winning popularity in films as "Te quiero para mí" (1944) and "El testamento del virrey" (1944), both directed by Ladislao Vajda; "Ella, él y sus millones" (1944) by Juan de Orduña; "El fantasma y doña Juanita" (1945) by Rafael Gil and "Pacto de silencio" (1949), by Antonio Román.

The most remembered films are from the 50's and 60's, in classics directed by Luis García Berlanga: "Welcome Mr. Marshall!" (1953), "Los jueves, milagro" (1957) and "El verdugo" (1963); and dark comedy masterpiece "El cochecito" by Marco Ferreri, all written by Rafael Azcona.

He was the grandfather of Spanish classic "La gran familia" (1962), and its sequel "La gran familia... y uno más" (1965), films gave him more popularity.

Pepe Isbert died in Madrid because of a heart condition when he was 80 years old. He was buried at Tarazona de la Mancha cemetery in the province of Albacete.

Selected Filmography

* "El Verdugo" (1963)
* "Los dinamiteros" (1962)
* "El sol en el espejo" (1962)
* "Cuando estalló la Paz" (1962)
* "La gran familia" (1962)
* "Sabían demasiado" (1962)
* "Margarita se llama mi amor" (1961)
* "Don Lucio y el hermano Pío" (1960)
* "El cochecito" (1960)
* "Vida sin risas" (1959)
* "Don José, Pepe y Pepito" (1959)
* "Despedida de soltero" (1958)
* "Los ángeles del volante" (1957)
* "Los jueves, milagro" (1957)
* "Lo que cuesta vivir" (1957)
* "Fulano y Mengano" (1956)
* "Manolo, guardia urbano" (1956)
* "Historias de la radio" (1955)
* "Recluta con niño" (1955)
* "Un caballero andaluz" (1954)
* "Aventuras del barbero de Sevilla" (1954)
* "Welcome Mr. Marshall!" (1953)
* "Así es Madrid" (1953)
* "Aeropuerto" (1953)
* "Cerca de la ciudad" (1952)
* "Lola la Piconera" (1951)
* "Ronda española" (1951)
* "Séptima página" (1950)
* "El capitán Veneno" (1950)
* "Pacto de silencio" (1949)
* "La vida empieza a medianoche" (1944)
* "Ella, él y sus millones" (1944)
* "Orosia" (1943)
* "Aventura" (1942)
* "El bailarín y el trabajador" (1936)
* "Asesinato y entierro de Don José Canalejas" (1912)

External links

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* [http://www.alohacriticon.com/elcriticon/article1760.html Biography in alohacriticon.com]