
Ignacio Retes
Acting • Born 1918-11-13 – Died 2004-04-23
Biography
José Ignacio Retes Guevara was a Mexican playwright, film, theater and television actor, director, and writer. Two-time winner of the Ariel Award. He studied at the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters of the National Autonomous University of Mexico in the 30s, where he was able to meet other prominent playwrights and directors of the time such as Rodolfo Usigli, Seki Sano and José Revueltas. He founded the University Theater of San Luis Potosí in 1937 and the theater company Lantern Magic with workers from the Mexican Union of Electricians. With Usigli he founded the company Midnight Theater (in reference to the free time that both had to collaborate in it); with Sano he would work as an assistant. In 1950 he made his directorial debut with "Los cuadrantes de la soledad" by José Revueltas, which reached 100 performances. Said montage also featured scenography designed by Diego Rivera. In 1944 he wrote his first play, "El día de Mañana". As a film actor, he made his debut in the 1950s and was directed by directors such as Jorge Fons, Felipe Cazals, Jaime Humberto Hermosillo, Sergio Olhovich and Arturo Ripstein. In his role as a screenwriter, he wrote the scripts for films such as Anguish Nights and Journey to Paradise, among others. He was also a public official, as director of the theaters of the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS), where he promoted the massive construction of public theaters, reaching 38 venues. In the 1960s he collaborated closely with the writer Vicente Leñero, with whom he made various works such as the theatrical version of Los albañiles and Los Niños de Sánchez, among others. The Hidalgo-Ignacio Retes Theater in Mexico City has been named after the actor since 2006 His son, Gabriel Retes, became a prominent actor, director and writer.
Filmography
44 credits
Aunt Alejandra
Movie • 1980
Doctor

The Hard Years
Movie • 1973

Three of Cups
Movie • 1986
Felipe Martínez

Deceitful Appearances
Movie • 1983
Tío Alberto

Mariana Mariana
Movie • 1987
Psychiatrist

Los Naúfragos II: Los Piratas
Movie • 1986
Emilio Albani

Chido Guan, el tacos de oro
Movie • 1986
Nacho Esquivel

Herencia maldita
Movie • 1987

Knock Out
Movie • 1984
Old man in the building

The Flying Pony
Movie • 1982
Don Luis (padrino de Diego)

Chin Chin el teporocho
Movie • 1976

Los años duros: El nacimiento de un guerrillero
Movie • 1989
El doctor

Playa azul
Movie • 1992
Matías

Bienvenido-Welcome
Movie • 1995
Producer

Motel
Movie • 1984
Cordova, Padrino

El centro del laberinto
Movie • 1985

If I Never See You Again
Movie • 1997
Poncho

Encuentro Inesperado
Movie • 1993
Ignacio Torres

El Reventón
Movie • 1977

The Big Dead Dog
Movie • 1981
Armendariz

El tahur
Movie • 1979

El rey de la vecindad
Movie • 1985
Don Matías

La casta divina
Movie • 1977
Don Emilio

Doña Perfecta
Movie • 1951
Jacintito

The Year of the Plague
Movie • 1978
Dr. Mario Zermeño

The Eve
Movie • 1982
Rubén Rocha

Mundo mágico
Movie • 1983

Paper Flowers
Movie • 1978
China

Lovers, Partners & Spies
Movie • 1988
Priest

Amor a la medida
Movie • 1993

A Married Woman
Movie • 1982
Papá de Irene

New World
Movie • 1978
Don Diego de Alba

Los Desalmados
Movie • 1971

Esmeralda Comes by Night
Movie • 1997
Don Gregorio, Esmeralda's father

Luna de sangre
Movie • 1984
Pastor

Broken Flag
Movie • 1979
Ernesto

The Realm of Fortune
Movie • 1986
Don Gil

La vida tiene tres días
Movie • 1955
Tomás, cartero

Cuartelazo
Movie • 1977
Coronel Rebelde

Everyone's Hell So Feared
Movie • 1981
Dr. Morales

Melodías de amor
Movie • 1955
Sr. Rentería (no acreditado)

Vintage Model
Movie • 1992
Basilio

Occupation of Darkness
Movie • 1981
Don Alfonso

The Castaways of Liguria
Movie • 1985
Emilio Albani