Cuban actor and comedian Orlando Manrufo Córdova, recognized for giving life to the popular character of Mariconchi, passed away today in Havana, the Center for the Promotion of Humor (CPH) reported through its social media channels.

The institution expressed its condolences to the artist's family, friends, and colleagues, although it did not specify the cause of death.

Born in Havana, Manrufo Córdova graduated as a maritime transport engineer, a profession he practiced for 16 years before devoting himself entirely to the arts and, especially, to comedy.

His artistic career began in 1988 when he joined the amateur theater group Olga Alonso, a space where he shared the stage with renowned figures of the Cuban scene such as Corina Mestre (1954–2024), Bárbaro Marín, Laura de la Uz, and Jorge Perugorría.

The character of Mariconchi, an elderly woman with an easygoing nature, sharp tongue, and unique sense of humor, was born—according to accounts—from an improvisation in a dressing room based on a parody of the television show Nuestros hijos.

At the suggestion of comedian Osvaldo Doimeadiós—then director of the CPH—Manrufo took the character beyond those first sketches and presented it at the Aquelarre National Humor Festival through the monologue Aventuras y desventuras de Mariconchi, a proposal that won the Aquelarre Award in 1996.

For years, La esquina de Mariconchi at the América Theater became one of the most attended comedy venues in Havana, featuring regular Thursday performances and close communication with the audience, a distinctive element of his presentations. Everyone sought to laugh with that uninhibited woman whose clever banter made people forget their troubles while reflecting on seemingly trivial matters that were actually essential to life.

Manrufo defended a style of comedy he considered far removed from aggressiveness and offense, recognizing emblematic figures such as Eloísa Álvarez Guedes (1916–1993), María de los Ángeles Santana (1914–2011), and Natalia Herrera (1923–2018) among his references.

His work also reached other entertainment and television spaces, including "Bailando en Cuba 2: la historia no contada" and the program Vivir del cuento, where he shared the stage with members of its cast.

With the death of Orlando Manrufo, one of the performers who found in popular comedy a way to connect with the public passes away—a figure who, through mischief, ease, and the codes of daily Cuban life, left an indelible mark on the national comedy landscape.