Fernando "Papi" Cortés (October 4, 1909 â€" 1979) was a Puerto Rican
film actor, writer and director. He was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico,
but he spent most of his adult life in Mexico City, where he died. On
1932, while in New York City, Fernando Cortés married Puerto Rican
childhood friend MarÃa del Pilar Cordero, who adopted the stage name
of Mapy Cortés. The couple soon traveled to Spain with a Cuban
theatrical troupe. They worked on the Spanish stage, radio and film
until the outbreak of the Civil War in 1936. Fernando progressively
began to take a backseat as actor and baritone and focused on
promoting the career of his wife Mapy, who became a noted vedette
(showgirl with star status) in Barcelona.After the Spanish Civil War
interrupted their careers, the couple worked in New York, San Juan,
Buenos Aires, Havana and Caracas, occasionally starring in movies.
They arrived to Mexico City in late 1940 and made their stage debut at
the Teatro Follies, in a show headlined by the popular Mexican
comedian Cantinflas. Despite early struggles to become household
names, Mapy achieved Mexican film stardom in late 1941 and the couple
settled in Mexico City. Initially, Fernando Cortés played supporting
roles in his wife's films. He then made a successful debut as director
with La pÃcara Susana (1945), a comedy vehicle for his wife.On March
1954, Fernando and Mapy Cortés returned to Puerto Rico to help launch
local television. Cortés became the first director at WKAQ-TV,
Channel 2, and the couple co-starred in Mapy y Papi, the first Puerto
Rican sitcom. Despite their success on local TV, the couple returned
the following year to Mexico City, which offered more opportunities.
The couple starred in a Mexican version of their Puerto Rican sitcom
and Mapy returned to the stage. Fernando Cortés became known as a
reliable director of Mexican comedies on stage, television and film.
After writing and directing star vehicles for his wife Mapy in the
1940s and comedians like Resortes and Tin-Tan in the 1950s, Fernando
Cortés produced and directed Puerto Rican co-productions in the 1960s
and launched the film career of La India MarÃa in the 1970s.
film actor, writer and director. He was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico,
but he spent most of his adult life in Mexico City, where he died. On
1932, while in New York City, Fernando Cortés married Puerto Rican
childhood friend MarÃa del Pilar Cordero, who adopted the stage name
of Mapy Cortés. The couple soon traveled to Spain with a Cuban
theatrical troupe. They worked on the Spanish stage, radio and film
until the outbreak of the Civil War in 1936. Fernando progressively
began to take a backseat as actor and baritone and focused on
promoting the career of his wife Mapy, who became a noted vedette
(showgirl with star status) in Barcelona.After the Spanish Civil War
interrupted their careers, the couple worked in New York, San Juan,
Buenos Aires, Havana and Caracas, occasionally starring in movies.
They arrived to Mexico City in late 1940 and made their stage debut at
the Teatro Follies, in a show headlined by the popular Mexican
comedian Cantinflas. Despite early struggles to become household
names, Mapy achieved Mexican film stardom in late 1941 and the couple
settled in Mexico City. Initially, Fernando Cortés played supporting
roles in his wife's films. He then made a successful debut as director
with La pÃcara Susana (1945), a comedy vehicle for his wife.On March
1954, Fernando and Mapy Cortés returned to Puerto Rico to help launch
local television. Cortés became the first director at WKAQ-TV,
Channel 2, and the couple co-starred in Mapy y Papi, the first Puerto
Rican sitcom. Despite their success on local TV, the couple returned
the following year to Mexico City, which offered more opportunities.
The couple starred in a Mexican version of their Puerto Rican sitcom
and Mapy returned to the stage. Fernando Cortés became known as a
reliable director of Mexican comedies on stage, television and film.
After writing and directing star vehicles for his wife Mapy in the
1940s and comedians like Resortes and Tin-Tan in the 1950s, Fernando
Cortés produced and directed Puerto Rican co-productions in the 1960s
and launched the film career of La India MarÃa in the 1970s.
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