MADRID, Spain.- Remembered by Cubans for her interpretation of Rita Pranganillo in the radio program After-meal joysa, actress Marta Jiménez Oropesa was born on November 25, 1919 in Havana.
Her character, from the humorous program written for more than 40 years by Alberto Luberta, was so popular that many called her Rita, instead of her name. Several generations of Cubans grew up listening to her phrases, pronounced in a very peculiar way, including “What people, gentleman, but what people!” She always accompanied Rita, her husband Paco (Idalberto Delgado), and together they made a duo much loved by radio listeners.
Marta Jiménez Oropesa made her first stage appearance at the age of seven, with the opera Madame Butterfly. During her long artistic career, she was also an entertainer, broadcaster, presenter and director of programs for stations such as Radio Rebelde, Radio Liberación and Radio Progreso.
In addition, she worked as a teacher and had among her students other well-known actors from Cuban radio and television such as Irela Bravo, Paula Alí, Natacha Díaz and Julio Alberto Casanova.
Before 1959, he was the face of many commercials such as “El Rápido” detergent, “Colgate” toothpaste, “Club” cigars, “Palmolive” soap, and “Pilón” coffee.
Among his forays into the big screen is his participation in the film life begins now (1959), directed by Antonio Vázquez Gallo, where Enrique Almirante, Lilia Lazo and Pedro Álvarez also took part, among others.
In March 2009, she made a radio-theater written by Heriberto García Pereira especially for her for her 90 years of life and more than 70 of her stage debut.
National Radio Award (2000) and National Humor Award (2007), the actress died in Havana on January 21, 2015, at the age of 95.
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