Why did they call him 'Chabelo', what is the cause of his "sudden" death and other keys to the actor who almost went to war and to the Olympic Games

The Mexican actor Xavier López, known for his television character Chabelo, died this Saturday at the age of 88 "suddenly" due to abdominal complications," according to a statement published by his family on his Facebook social network page.

The actor hosted the Sunday program

for almost 48 years on Mexican television: its 2,463 broadcasts left a sentimental mark on generations of Mexicans.

But did he know that he wasn't born in Mexico, that he almost ended up on the front lines of a war, or why he didn't go to the Olympics after qualifying?

Or where does the name of Chabelo come from, and what were his health problems, despite the jokes in networks about his immortality, which ended up causing his sudden death?

They reveal that 'Chabelo' is not Mexican and was even recruited into the US Army.

Nov 2, 202201:36

Xavier López 'Chabelo' denied that he was evicted due to cancer

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• Although he grew up and lived most of his life in Mexico, López was born on February 17, 1935 in

  Chicago

  , Illinois, where his parents met and lived.

• The actor always maintained American nationality and was even drafted into the Army

  at the age of 18

  during the Korean War (1950-1953).

  He served a few months at a military base in San Diego, but never went to the front.

• In addition to his artistic gifts, López was a high-level athlete.

  He practiced Greco-Roman wrestling from an early age and at the age of 17 he participated in the national championship where he qualified for the

  1952 Helsinki

  Olympic Games , in the welterweight category.

  However, he could not afford his trip and that prevented him from participating. He also practiced

  football

  and motor racing. 

[Chabelo 'is not eternal';

his son says he retired for health]

Xavier López "Chabelo" supports a daughter to whom he did not want to give his last name

Jan 6, 202002:39

• López entered the university to study medicine, but by chance he began working as an assistant in the fledgling Mexican television.

  The name of the famous character that marked his career originated when the presenter Ramiro Gamboa, nicknamed

  Tío Gamboín,

  asked him to read a joke, knowing his ability to imitate voices.

  The joke was about a father and a son named

  Chabelo

  , and López read in the childish voice that would accompany him on his programs from now on.

• In December 2012, he was awarded two

  Guinness World

  Records :

  for being the child driver with the longest career, almost 48 years with his Sunday program;

  and for being the actor who has played a character for the longest time, in his case Chabelo for 57 years.

• During his old age he became a constant trend on social media for his

  longevity

  , and it was common for fans to say that he was immortal and compare him to other famous celebrities.

  "I really enjoy it and I applaud the ingenuity of those who make them," he said of the viral jokes they used to make about Chabelo.

• In October 2019, he denied rumors about alleged health problems on the networks.

  "I'm very well.

  Those who gossip, very bad.

  With all my love I send you a trumpet, ”she joked.

  But in March 2022, he reported that he had cancer and assured that he had already overcome it.

  "Cancer? Yes, overcome, thank God and the doctors. Out of danger," she wrote on his Twitter account.