Antonio Mingote

Son of the musician Ángel Mingote, and the writer Carmen Barrachina, Ángel Antonio Julián Orson Dulce Nombre de María Mingote –his full name– was born on January 17, 1919 in the Barcelona coastal town of Sitges. He spent his childhood in Daroca, Calatayud and especially in Teruel, and soon became fond of reading. In addition, from a very young age he stood out making drawings, which he gradually improved in a self-taught way. He came to take classes with the painter Ángel Novella.

At the age of 17, the Civil War broke out, and the young Mingote had to enlist in the army and fight on the national side. He makes his professional debut in the magazine “La cabra”, from a military academy, in which he publishes drawings. At the end of the war, he enrolled in Philosophy and Letters at the University of Zaragoza, but did not graduate, as he moved to Madrid to start his career as a humorous cartoonist.

In the capital, he befriends other talented young people, such as Rafael Azcona and the humorist Álvaro de Laiglesia, who lives in the same pension, and who, after realizing his immense talent, introduces him to the director of “La codorniz”, the most prestigious Spanish humor magazine of all time, where he was signed in 1946. After publishing his first novel, “Las palmeras de carton”, he began his regular collaboration with the newspaper ABC, where he has continued to be one of the most prominent figures until his death. He was also one of the creators of another legendary humor magazine, “Don José”, which he directed for the first 100 issues.

In 1955 he married and soon had a son, Carlos Mingote. But he separates and pairs up with Isabel Vigiola, whom he met at Edgar Neville ‘s house , for whom she worked as a secretary.

He debuted as a screenwriter with producer José Luis Dibildos , with whom he co-wrote the films Soltera y madre en la vida , Crescent leg, waning skirt , Until marriage separates us and Vote Gundisalvo . Antonio Mercero entrusted him with the script for the television series Ese señor de negro , in which José Luis López Vázquez starred . He also designed sets for two episodes of the series No Sleep Stories .

Mingote loved to make cameos or play small roles, as he appears in films such as Suéltate el pelo , La colmena , In the pale light of the moon or Those who play the piano ; he was also a regular on the José Luis Coll series Sonría, por favor and played himself in an episode of Farmacia de guardia . Pedro Delgado directed a film, Puerta del tiempo , based on drawings and designs by the illustrator. Mingote is also considered a prominent figure on the radio, as he was a regular collaborator with Luis del Olmo, in the “Debate on the State of the Nation.”