Francisco Armando Rodríguez Blanco

He stood out for his extensive work in theater, radio and television in Cuba and in exile, and was well known for his extraordinary portrayal of Fidel Castro

Cuban actor Armando Roblán, known especially for his extraordinary portrayal of Fidel Castro.

Also distinguished for his extensive work in theater, radio and television in Cuba and in exile, one of his triumphs was keeping the humorous theatrical work En los 90 Fidel revienta in theaters in this city for a decade.

Roblán began imitating Castro from his rise to power in 1959 and on one occasion even impersonated him at a meeting of ASTA (World Convention of Travel Agents). He was often confused with the former Cuban ruler during his tours throughout the country, and those who saw him made requests of him.

Later the Government made political demands on him that he could not fulfill, and he decided to leave Cuba.

Already in exile, the actor began to parody Castro in numerous theatrical works and at the same time continued cultivating the creation of other characters like Ñañito, El Indio and El Chino, among other characterizations that he popularized in the program Sábado Gigante, on Univisión.

Roblán was born in 1931 in the town of Bejucal, in the center of Havana province. From a young age he combined acting with painting, which he studied at the Academia de San Alejandro. Later he participated in several exhibitions in Miami where he displayed his works in a costumbrista style.

The actor began his career in the dawn of Cuban television doing caricatures and imitations in an amateur program presented by Gaspar Pumarejo. The comedian Timoteo drew a scribble on a piece of paper, the number three, and this was the starting point for drawing the ear of former president Grau San Martín, whom he also imitated by repeating his famous phrase "Amigos, las mujeres mandan". This won him the contest that later led to further professional successes.

Later he worked with the famous clowns Gaby, Fofó and Miliki and perfected imitations of other figures and characters from the entertainment world such as Maurice Chevalier, Nat King Cole, Bola de Nieve, Liberace and the reciter Luis Carbonell, among others.

He also worked in Panamanian television, where he was considered an innovator, and in Puerto Rican television, in which he received great acclaim. In Miami he produced, acted in and wrote numerous works of Cuban vernacular theater in the Teatro Martí and in the Teatro Trail on Calle Ocho.

As a soap opera actor, he demonstrated his worth when writer Delia Fiallo entrusted him with the character of Calvo in Morelia (1995), filmed in Miami, one of the successes of the Univisión network.

Years earlier, he was part of the cast of La esquina del infierno (1963), considered the first Panamanian soap opera, alongside Cuban vedette Blanquita Amaro and other Latin American figures.

The artist also left his mark in the films Freedom Flight (2005), in which he portrayed Fidel Castro, as he did in The Disciples (2000), Conexion Habana (1994) and in Camaleón: atentado a Castro (1992). Added to his filmography is the comedy A mí qué me importa que explote Miami (1976), in which he appeared with Guillermo Alvarez Guedes, and in the Mexican film El tesoro de Morgan (1971).

Outside the stage, he stood out as a caricaturist, a facet that he exercised without the person he was talking to noticing, which led him to be present at several editions of the Cuba Nostalgia event.

Roblán is survived by his wife Gloria Lau Rodríguez, his children Orlando Rodríguez, Priscilla Marrero and Armando Rodríguez, and his five grandchildren.