Jacobo Morales Puerto Rican filmmaker Date of Birth: 12.11.1934 Country: USA

1. Jacobo Morales: An Icon of Puerto Rican Cinema
2. Early Career: From Radio to Television
3. Theater and "Los Rayos Gamma"
4. Hollywood and "Dios los cría"
5. Acting and Directing Career
6. Later Films and Productions

Jacobo Morales: An Icon of Puerto Rican Cinema

Born in the Catalan town of Lajas, Puerto Rico on November 12, 1934, Jacobo Morales is considered one of the most influential filmmakers in Puerto Rican history. Morales's Sephardic heritage has greatly influenced his artistic vision.

Early Career: From Radio to Television

At the age of 14, Morales began his career in radio and theater. His television career commenced in 1954 during the nascent era of Puerto Rican television. He became renowned for programs such as "Desafiando a los Genios," "Esto no tiene Nombre," and "La Tiendita de la Esquina."

Theater and "Los Rayos Gamma"

Concurrently with his early television success, Morales collaborated with journalist Eddie López in the comedic and politically satirical troupe "Los Rayos Gamma." This group has remained active in theater and made several television appearances in the 1980s and 1990s. Morales has starred in over 30 plays and authored and directed five.

Hollywood and "Dios los cría"

In the 1970s, Morales gained experience in Hollywood productions, including Woody Allen's "Bananas" (1971) and "Up the Sandbox" (1972) with Barbra Streisand. His directorial debut came in 1980 with "Dios los cría," a critically acclaimed and award-winning film that is considered a landmark in Puerto Rican cinema.

Acting and Directing Career

Following "Dios los cría," Morales starred in and directed "Nicolás y los demás" (1986), winning the Best Actor Award at the Cartagena de Indias Festival in Colombia. His third film, "Lo que le Pasó a Santiago" (1990), was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Morales's 1994 romantic comedy, "Linda Sara," garnered numerous awards and showcased the talents of singer Chayanne and former Miss Universe Dayanara Torres.

Later Films and Productions

In 2004, Morales released a sequel to "Dios los cría" and directed his final feature film, "Angel" (2007), which received critical acclaim. Despite being favored to represent Puerto Rico in the Best Foreign Language Film category at the Academy Awards, "Angel" was ultimately surpassed by "Maldeamores." Morales's last acting appearance was in the 2012 comedy, "Broche de Oro."