The Legend of Cantinflas and Mermaids

 By Aaron Perez

Published 7-22-2025, first paragraph originally published on 3/12/2025 on this article here

Image Credit: Columbia Pictures


    The pioneer of Mexican comedy, Mario Moreno “Cantinflas” was an actor and activist known for his street bum persona and his iconic mustache. Born into poverty, Mario Moreno first attempted various gigs, such as boxing and other works, but eventually performed as a circus performer before jumping straight into the silver screen. He then created the surname Cantinflas to hide his profession from his family, who saw the work of a performer as disgraceful. He then made his debut in the film No te engañes corazón, released in 1936, but wouldn’t gain fame as a star in 1940, when he appeared in the film Ahi Esta el Detalle. During his career as an actor, Mario has acted in more than fifty films, three of which were American and has won prestigious film awards such as the Golden Globes. In his early films, Mario would star in Mexican remakes of Charlie Chaplin films, such as El Circo, which is a remake of The Circus, and Si Yo Fuera Diputado, a remake of The Great Dictator. Mario Moreno was so successful that Charlie Chaplin himself considered him an equal and is speculated to have called him “The greatest comedian alive”.  Mario was also a philanthropist by helping the Roman Catholic Church and various orphan organizations within Mexico. He was also an outspoken supporter of the working class and of worker’s unions, openly advocating for the rights of the common man. This charitable persona is shown in his later films, particularly in El Padrecito and El Profe, where his main character goes at odds with a corrupt system. The famed actor and director, Chespirito, even attempted to collaborate with Mario, but this was cut short due to the actor’s death in 1993 due to complications of lung cancer and a three day mourning period was given in his wake. Mario left a legacy in acting, being one of the founding fathers of the Mexican Golden Age of Film, and a pioneer for comedians in Mexico and Latin America.

    Despite being a man of luxury but a down to Earth philanthropist, Mario Moreno did have some fascinations with the supernatural. There is even an urban legend involving this fascination, which has gained a lot of traction in recent years. Legend has it that Mario Moreno was infatuated with the idea of mermaids and believed that they existed in real life. He was so obsessed with this legend that he even looked for ways to meet them and consulted a Brujo, also known as a Witch Doctor, to help him in his mission. Mario Moreno was given a talisman and told that the best time to see the mermaids was at night in the coastal areas. He decided to build a mansion in Acapulco, a famous resort city in Guerrero, Mexico, just so that he could have a place to be with the mermaids. Legend has it that he did find mermaid and would visit them frequently when he wasn't occupied in his career. After his death, a statue of Mario Moreno was errected on the property, so that he could be with his mermaids for all eternity.


Sources:

 “"Cantinflas: The Comedian and Trickster from Mexico."” Expedition Magazine 49, vol. no. 1, https://www.penn.museum/sites/expedition/cantinflas-the-comedian-and-trickster-from-mexico/. Accessed 05 02 2025.

https://hotelesemporio.com/blog/las-sirenas-de-cantinflas-la-leyenda-oculta-en-su-casa-de-acapulco/

https://paranormalphenomena1.blogspot.com/2025/07/top-7-mexican-comedians.html

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