Leopoldo Roberto Garcia Pelaez Benitez, also known by the stage name Polo Polo, a popular Mexican comedian, died on Monday, his son Paul Garcia told a local news channel. He was 78. Garcia said that his father was suffering from vascular dementia and he died of natural causes at his home in Mexico.
Polo Polo became famous in Mexico back in the 1970s for his adult-themed jokes and puns in Spanish. He also recorded a dozen of albums throughout the 2000s.
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“He had been with family, my sister had been taking care of him,” Garcia said. “We fulfilled his last wishes, he didn’t want to be checked into an institution, he wanted us [family] to take care of him and my sister did a great job.”
Who was Polo Polo?
Leopoldo was born in a family that worked in the shoe business in León, Guanajuato, Mexico. He spent several years working for the family business before discovering his comedic profession, which first required him to perform unpaid work in small businesses.
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Polo Polo’s reputation grew over time, and in 1976 he relocated to a larger venue named Keops Nightclub where he performed every night to sold-out crowds.
Additionally, the comedian collaborated with the record label Musart to make The Trip to Spain, his debut live album. The album sold over 100,000 copies despite not being played on radio (due to the explicit content of the “blue” material).
Polo Polo’s time in the 1970s was one of unmatched success and activity as he established the record for the longest-running show—a record that still stands.
