Comedy King
By Valerie López

In one of the first scenes from “Lo que le pasó a Santiago,” the title character—played by Tommy Muñiz—leaves a restaurant in Hato Rey where, moments earlier, he was feted on his retirement. Unhappy with this new turn in his life, Santiago drives home, not before stopping at an intersection, yielding to a crossing funeral procession. The camera then switches from the hearse to Santiago , who watches the procession with a glimmer of fear in his eyes. Once the hearse and its accompanying cars drive past him, Santiago continues his commute home, silently. That scene became more poignant on Jan. 15, when Muñiz passed away at age 86 after battling ill health for over a decade.

“When someone falls into one of these conditions in which he does not recognize anyone, you say ‘God, please don't make him suffer any more' and ask Him to give him peace. Then when the moment comes, although he is finally in peace, estamos hechos una porquería todos,” commented actor and TV producer Luisito Vigoreaux on Muñiz's passing.

Although he had been out of the public eye for several years, Muñiz was still remembered by many as a successful producer, writer and actor and one of the greatest icons of Puerto Rican television. As soon as his family notified the press of Muñiz's passing, the tributes poured in from virtually all sectors of island life.

“Do you know whom I compare Tommy to? To Bill Cosby,” noted comedian Luis Raúl during Muñiz's wake at Ciudad Torito in Parque de las Ciencias in Bayamón. “Because he was real and that was what he transmitted when he wrote, when he produced or directed.”

“He was the first producer to give me a job in a soap opera called ‘Historia de dos mujeres,' also in “Jiji jojo con Agrelot,” which was a comedy,” said actress Ángela Meyer “I feel very fortunate because I walked into television through the front door with Don Tommy.”

Newly inaugurated Gov. Luis Fortuño declared three days of national mourning for Don Tommy, as Muñiz was affectionately known, and ordered the Puerto Rican flags to fly at half-mast. Representatives Iris Miriam Ruiz, Carmen Yulín Cruz and former House President José Aponte presented the Muñiz family with a resolution of condolence on behalf of the Puerto Rico Legislature during the public wake at Cuidad Torito, during which hundreds of people came along to pay their final respects to the late producer. The venue was the same place where, four years earlier, scores of people arrived to say goodbye to another beloved cultural icon, José Miguel “Don Cholito” Agrelot, a long-time friend and colleague of Muñiz. Agrelot's widow Yolanda also came by to pay her respects to Muñiz.

Others in attendance were former governors Aníbal Acevedo Vilá and Sila María Calderón, former San Juan Mayor Héctor Luis Acevedo and Bayamón Mayor Ramón Luis Rivera Jr. But the crowd was dominated by members of Puerto Rico 's clase artística, such as TV producer Luisito Vigoreaux, TV personality Sandra Zaiter and actress Luz María Rondón, who mingled with fans who grew up with and still remember Muñiz's brand of family-oriented entertainment. “If you watch local TV nowadays, lots of shows that you see bear the essence of what [Muñiz] used to do,” comments Luis Raul. “He was el rey de esbaratarte de la risa sin pocavergüenza. That touch of raunchiness is always there because we are Caribbean , and maybe even un chin de toquesito saleroso... And forget about double entendre…”

Don Tommy's closed casket was on view inside the “Lo que le pasó a Santiago ” Museum, a replica of the old home featured in the movie. A Puerto Rican flag draped the lid; old pictures from his life were placed on top. Two other portraits, one in color that showed Don Tommy in his later years and another in sepia showing Muñiz on his wedding day to his wife of 64 years, Luz María García de la Noceda, stood on easels on each side of the casket. As mourners walked past, they could also watch clips of Don Tommy's many appearances in television and films on several plasma screens throughout the premises.

That day, New Progressive Party Sen. Luis Daniel Muñiz submitted a motion to rename the Puerto Rico Convention Center after Don Tommy.

A private wake for family and close friends was held at the Buxeda Funeral Home in Hato Rey the day before. The commemorative acts concluded on Jan. 18 with a mass at the Old San Juan Cathedral.

Family Man

Considered one of the greatest figures in Puerto Rican television, Muñiz made an imprint on Boricua culture as a writer, producer and actor. Aside from leaving a legacy of many classic comedy and family shows such as “Esto no tiene nombre,” “El show del mediodía,” and “El show de Tommy,” his work has become a template for other producers to emulate.

“If you watch local TV, lots of shows that you see now bear the essence of what he used to do,” observed Luis Raúl.

But Muñiz will be best known as the creator of hit shows “El colegío de la alegría,” in which he played “El maestro” to long-time friend Agrelot's “Torito;” and the family sitcom “Los García,” in which Muñiz played the stern but lovable patriarch Juan García.

Aside from his work on radio and television, Muñiz was also remembered for his love of animals. He was a very successful breeder of pura sangre horses and was inducted into the Puerto Rican Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 1986. But in that area, he will probably be best remembered as the creator of El Monoloro Animal Park in Carolina in 1970.

“For him, it was important for families to have places where they could go to enjoy good clean fun,” said son Félix “Toño” Muñiz. “He loved animals. As a matter of fact, there was a time during which there was not a lot of work in radio [it was the era of radio and the beginnings of television] so he had a pet shop. When I was little, I remember my dad injecting the chicken eggs with colored dyes so the pollitos would come out with colors for Easter.”

That Muñiz made entertainment his life's work was no coincidence. His father, Tomas Muñiz Souffront was the owner of radio station WIAC and when he gave his then 19-year-old son the choice to work there or continue studies at the University of Puerto Rico 's secretarial school, he chose the former. By December 1943, Muñiz had made a vaudeville show tour to U.S. armed forces camps around the Caribbean , something he would do year-round for the next 10 years. In 1944, he married wife Luz and settled into family life with their children Tomás, Félix, Mario, Pedro, Manuel, Rafael, Luz Consuelo and Hilda Marie. The couple also raised Luz María, the daughter of one of Muñiz's cousins, as their own, bringing the Muñiz brood to nine.

By the late 1940s, Muñiz took his first steps as a comedian in popular radio shows such as “La familia Pérez” and “Torito & Co.,” which began his life-long collaboration with Agrelot. With the arrival of television on the island in 1954, Muñiz became one of the first radio producers to jump into the new medium. His first TV show was “El profesor Colgate,” which was the tube version of “El colegio de la alegría,” airing with the same cast of that radio show and with Muñiz as the professor. That was the first time he acted in front of the cameras. His company, Producciones Tommy Muñiz became one of the most successful, producing seven out of the top 10 shows in television in several seasons. Those included “Esto no tiene nombre,” “El show de Tommy,” “El show del mediodía” and “Borinquen canta,” just to name a few.

Perhaps Muñiz's most memorable show was “Los García,” which aired from 1976 to 1984, first on WAPA TV (channel 4), later on TeleLuz (channel 7.) The show became a family affair for Muñiz, as he teamed up with son Rafo, who played Godofredo, the boyfriend of Muñiz's TV daughter Ginny (Gina Beveraggi.)

“My dad was very strict with work; he was punctual, disciplined and demanding,” recalls Rafo Muñiz. “From him, I learned to do the same thing: to respect work and respect those who work with you.”

At a time when American shows began to dominate local TV, Muñiz bought TV station WRIK to ensure that there would be a place for local shows and work for Boricua actors. He renamed the channel TeleLuz after his wife and ran it for seven years before economic hardship and political problems forced him to sell the station. “Over the years, I've come to realize that he had a deep appreciation for audiences and for la clase artistica,” said Meyer. “He even bought a TV station in order to keep local programming on the air, and that is truly worthy of admiration and emulation.”

De aquí pa'Hollywood

Turning all his attention to his radio station, RadioLuz, Muñiz stepped onto las tablas for the very first time in 1987 with longtime friend and fellow producer/actor Paquito Cordero and son Rafo, with “Los muchachos de la alegría,” a Spanish version of Neil Simon's “The Sunshine Boys.” The play was directed by Jacobo Morales, another life-long friend and collaborator. Seeing Muñiz's interpretation on stage gave Morales the idea of having Muñiz play the title character in his film “Lo que le pasó a Santiago .” Released in 1989, the film re-teamed Muñiz with his “Los García” co-star Gladys Rodríguez and earned rave reviews. “ Santiago ” was nominated for an Academy Award in the Best Foreign Film Category in 1990.

“Local actors didn't respect my dad very much as an actor then,” said his son, producer and director Pedro Muñiz. “He did television comedies. Then, he did “Lo que le pasó a Santiago ” and they said ‘Hey, aqui hay un actor.' Then we came to Hollywood for this reception for those involved with the Best Foreign Language Film nominees and there was Gregory Peck. I asked him if I could get my picture taken with him and my family and he said “yes, of course.” Then when he saw my father come, he said ‘Oh, you are the actor from the movie. You are a wonderful actor!' I think that's the best homage that anybody could have given him as an actor.”

“Santiago” won Muñiz a part in “Crazy From the Heart,” a film for cable TV network TNT in 1991, along with Ruben Blades and Christine Lahti. He returned to local television with shows including “Carcajadas y algo más” and “El papá de mi papá,” plus documentaries such as “Latitud 18.5” and “Las otras islas de Puerto Rico .” His last TV appearance took place in 2002 on TuTV's “Imágenes.”

Don Tommy Muñiz may no longer walk this earth, but his work and the memories of those who worked with him and those who enjoyed his labor will always keep him alive in their hearts.

“For me, he was un emprendedor, a visionary. A person with great ideas. De cualquier cosa desarrollaba algo,” said Toño Muñiz. “He always thought about family because he came from an extended family…That was always important. That's where all these great TV shows came from. They gave families un respiro in the midst of their hectic lives.”