Mario Limonta Louit

Mario Limonta is a Cuban actor and radio broadcaster. National Humor Prize 2016. "Pa' que me respetes" is immediately associated with Mario Limonta. That's what Sergeant Arencibia would say to his wife in San Nicolás del Peladero. What Cuban doesn't remember the rural police officer who was an accomplice of Plutarco, with his military uniform, his nasal voice, his tobacco and his swaggering attitude? And it's that Limonta has won over his audience in his almost seven decades of artistic life, because he puts effort and heart into each character. Acting and making people laugh have been his life.

He was born in Guantánamo. At seven months old he moved to Havana because his father was a tobacco worker and was given a contract in the capital. At seven years old his father was proposed to be a co-owner in a small tobacco factory in Holguín. He lived there for thirteen years. So he is from Guantánamo, Holguín, and Havana. More Habanero, because in his more than 80 years he has lived 13 in the east and the rest in the capital.

His connection to the arts began in his native province, as a reciter at a radio station. In 1955 he finished his high school studies and moved to Havana to study law although he only completed the first year. He has said: "I really wasn't that interested in that profession, being a lawyer. I wanted to be an artist. At 16 years old I started at the CMKF radio station in Holguín reciting verses. I remember it was on a stellar program that aired right at 7 at night. It was sponsored by La Época, one of the department stores in Holguín. They paid me 12 pesos with clothes. Back then a really good pair of pants was worth six pesos and some change. I debuted with new clothing every month at 16 years old and that was a privilege back then. Besides, I worked in a cabaret that was across from the park and there, also for reciting, they paid me five pesos a month".

He made his debut on the amateur program La corte suprema del arte where he achieved the status of Rising Star. This program gave him "The possibility, first, of meeting Aurora Basnuevo. We were sweethearts for two years and we got married in '60. Also, the opportunity to be in the CMK world. After that, being a Rising Star I had new opportunities, I established relationships and started to make my mark as an actor".

In 1959 he began working at the Cuban National Circuit, today Radio Rebelde, in dramatic programs. Later he went to the National Theater to formally study performing arts. He had as teachers Adolfo de Luis, Julio Mata, Guido González del Valle and Iván Tenorio.

Until 1965 he belonged to the Guernica theatrical group of the National Theater where he played leading roles in Blood Wedding by García Lorca, The Impure Ones by Miguel de Carrión and The Fat Cows by Abelardo Estorino.

On television he has had a long and successful career: The first role he did in that medium was a small character in an adventure, later he has acted in television plays, comedies, adventures and serials. His character of Sergeant Arencibia in the program San Nicolás del Peladero is very remembered by the public. He recalls with love the character of: "Nacho Verdecia. I played Maceo, because the Verdecias were the Maceos, beyond the historical details. The children shouted 'Long Live Free Cuba', they had wooden machetes. All thanks to that character".

In 1964 he performed his first leading role in cinema, in the film La decisión directed by José Massip.

Mario Limonta has stated that the biggest mistake of his life has been: "Drinking. I spent a time drinking and I got very bad. In the Special Period precisely. It's not something I hide. Fortunately, since '94 I completely stopped drinking because Titón was going to make a movie called Guantanamera and they called me for the audition. We had just finished making the film De cierta manera, which I starred in alongside Sara Gómez. Drinking had destroyed me, I was skinny, to the point that people would ask Aurora if I was sick. That same day I stopped drinking. 1994. Drinking almost ended my life".

Filmography

La decisión. Dir. José Massip. 1964 Asalto al tren central. Dir. Alejandro Saderman. 1967 De cierta manera. Dir. Sara Gómez. 1974 El Brigadista. Dir. Octavio Cortázar. 1977 Retrato de Teresa. Dir. Pastor Vega. 1979 Las profecías de Amanda. Dir. Pastor Vega. 1998 Miel para Oshún. Dir. Humberto Solás. 2001 Santa Camila de la Habana Vieja. Dir. Belkis Vega. 2002 Barrio Cuba. Dir. Humberto Solás. 2005 Mata, que Dios perdona. Dir. Ismael Perdomo. 2008 El cuerno de la abundancia. Dir. Juan Carlos Tabío. Los dioses rotos. Dir. Ernesto Daranas.

Awards and Recognition

Distinction for National Culture, awarded by the Council of State of the Republic of Cuba. Barrio Cuba. Best Supporting Actor Award. 46th Cartagena Film Festival, 2006. Lengua de Pájaro Special mention in the Caricato competition of the Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba. Miel para Oshún Paoa Award for best supporting actor. XIII International Film Festival of Viña del Mar. Chile, 2001. National Television Prize 2009 Gitana Tropical Distinction 2012, awarded by the Provincial Department of Culture of Havana. National Humor Prize 2016, for a lifetime of work