Mexican children’s comic Chabelo dies at 88 : NPR

MEXICO CITY — Xavier López, a Mexican children’s comic better known by his stage name “Chabelo,” has died at age 88, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador wrote on Saturday.

López’s best-known work, the Sunday variety show In Familia with Chabelolasted 48 years from 1967 to 2015.

The Mexican president wrote on his Twitter account that his own eldest son, José Ramón, “woke up early to see him (on TV) over 40 years ago.”

López, who was unrelated to the president, typically performed dressed in children’s clothes until he was 80. He helped found a genre of comics for adults dressed up as children that became a staple for decades on Mexican television.

His longevity – he played in the raspy squeak of a child throughout his career – led to jokes speculating he would outlast everyone in show business.

López’s agent, Jessica Nevilley, said he died Saturday morning and funeral plans would be announced later.

An American citizen – he was born in Chicago to Mexican parents – López returned to Mexico with his family at a young age and trained as a doctor. But he found his calling in acting.

The comic’s family wrote on their fan page that López “passed away suddenly from abdominal complications.”

He is survived by several children and his wife.