Eugenio Francisco Reyes Morande is a Chilean film, theater and television actor. First appeared on the screen in 1989 in the TVN series Sor Teresa de Los Andes. It was this role that made Reyes out of a little-known elite actor. From that moment on, Francisco's career went unusually successful. His most successful roles are considered to be those where he starred with his screen partner, Chilean actress Claudia di Girolamo, who is ideally suited to his personality type.
Biography and personal life
Francisco Morande was born on July 6, 1954 in Santiago, Chile. Francisco's father, Carlos Reyes, was a politician and militant in the Christian Democratic Party.
Educated at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile with a degree in Architect. But immediately after graduation, he gave up everything he studied and began to compose music. At the same time, he entered the theater, in the acting workshop of director Fernando Gonzalez Maradona.
From a young age, Reyes is a member of the Popular Unity Party and after the coup in Chile in 1973 he was an active fighter against the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet. Subsequently, he took part in the election races on the side of the future presidents of Chile, Eduardo Frey (twice), Riccardo Lagos, Michelle Bachelet (twice) and Alejandro Guillet.
Reyes played his first role in the theater in the production of The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonne directed by Bertold Brecht. At that time, Chile was a military-civilian dictatorship, and the state did not guarantee its citizens personal safety. Therefore, Morandé decided to leave in 1985 for France, where he took part in actions of solidarity with Chile.
His wife is Carmen Romero, whom Francisco married in 1983. In the marriage, the couple made five children. Carmen Romero is a Chilean theater actress, theater director and cultural manager, an active member of the Teatro de Mil Foundation.
Career and creativity
For the first time, Francisco got on television when recording a Teleduc program on Channel 13 in Chile. On the same program, he met Claudia di Gilorama, with whom he subsequently had to act a lot.
Francisco Moranda's career took place during the Golden Age of Chilean television. Therefore, his numerous appearances on the Nacional de Chile (TVN) channel brought him the greatest popularity among other Chilean actors.
The first fame and elitism of the actor was brought by his work in the TV series "Teresa de Los Andes" directed and produced by Sonia Fuchs.
Along with the actress Claudia Lee Girolamo, Francisco took part in the largest number of soap operas, almost always playing the main roles in them.
Between 1990 and 2006, Reyes starred with director Vincente Sabatini as the lead actor in soap operas titled The Golden Age, The Foolish Cupid, La Fiera, Roman, The Pampa Illusion, Los Pincheira and others.
In 2003, Francisco stars as Marcello Ferrari in the TV series Sibierra. And in 2004 he starred in the series "Manchuk" by Andreas Wood and "Picnics" by Raul Ruiz.
In 2006 he was ranked first among the best Chilean television actors of all time.
In 2007, Francisco took part in the television show "Dancing" on the TVN channel and took first place, despite the fact that at the time of participation, the actor was 53 years old.
In the same year, Wiken magazine named him the best actor in all 50 years of Chilean television.
In 2009, he starred in the film "Where is Eliza?" with actress Maria Eugenia Rencoret, who again began her career on television.
In 2011, he starred in the drama series Profugos for the HBO channel directed by Pablo Larrain. In the same year he took part in several other soap operas, such as Poor Rico and Come Back Early.
Together with his wife Carmen Romero took part in numerous theatrical performances, as well as at the International Theater Festival in Santiago am Main.
In 2017, Reyes received international recognition and an Academy Award for Best Foreign Film for his portrayal of Orlando in Fantastic Woman.
In 2019, 30 years after starting his career, Francisco Reyes announced his retirement. At that time, he, Di Giloramo, Bastian Bodenhöfer and Alvaro Rudolfi were considered the main characters of Chilean television and the best actors in Chilean cinema.
Filmography
Sussi (1987) directed by Gonzalo Justinian.
Angels (1988) - the role of Juan Segovia Caceres.
Der Redfahrer von San Cristobal (1989) directed by Peter Lilienthal.
The Wandering Romance (1990) directed by Raul Ruiz as Franklin.
There's Something There (1990), directed by Pepe Maldonado as Daniel.
My Last Man (1996) directed by Tatiana Gaviola as Alvaro.
Associate Professor Chance (1997) directed by J. Ossang as Georg Trakl.
Enemy of My Enemy (1998) and Diplomatic Siege (1998) are both directed by Gustavo Marino.
The Crillon Girl (1999) as Ramón Ortega and Requiem Mass (1999) as Miguel's father. Both films were directed by Alberto Diber.
Juan Farinha (2000) as Juan Farinha, directed by Marcelo Ferrari.
Death at Midnight (2001) directed by Enrique Murillo as co-engineer.
Looking for Miss Hyde (2001) directed by Pepe Maldonado as Bruno Delmas.
Nominee (2003) directed by Ignacio Argiro as Patrick.
Subterra (2003) directed by Marcelo Ferrari as Fernando Gutierrez.
Machuk (2004) directed by Andreas Wood as Patricio Infante.
Field Days (2004) directed by Raul Ruiz as Dr. Chadian.
Secrets (2008) directed by Valeria Sarmiento as Dr. Gregorio Liborio.
The Club (2015) as Alfonso's father and Neruda (2016) as Bianchi. Both films are directed by Pablo Larrain.
Fantastic Woman (2017) directed by Sebastian Lelio as Orlando Onetto Pertier.
Mr. Larrain (2018) directed by Gonzalo Menendez as Santiago Larrain.
Participation in serials and soap operas
On the TVN channel, under the direction of director Vincente Sabatini Reyes, he took part in the following series:
- The Miracle of Life (1990) as Riccardo Gomez;
- Start Over (1991) as Martin Baris;
- Traps and Masks (1992) as Maximiliano Kruchaga;
- Checkmate (1993) as Nicholas Belmar;
- Rompecorazon (1994) as Pablo Sierra;
- Dumb Cupid (1995) as Jaime Salvatter;
- Sucupira (1996) as Esteban Onetto;
- Green Gold (1997) as Diego Valenzuelo;
- Lorana (1998) starring Fernando Balbontine, Aristides Conch and Antoine Dumont;
- The Beast (1999) as Martin Ehaurren;
- Roman (2000) as Juan Bautista Dominguez's father;
- Pampa Illusion (2001) as Jose Miguel Inostroza;
- Doors Within (2003) as Jose Cardenas;
- Pincheira (2004) as Miguel Molina;
- Capo (2005) as Giorgio Capo;
- Collaborators (2006) as Harvey Slater;
- Heart of Mary (2007) as Mateo Garcia's father;
- The Merry Widow (2008) as Simon Diaz and Santiago Balmaceda.
And all of the above series only in "The Miracle of Life" and in "The Merry Widow" Francisco Reyes played supporting roles. In most of the films, he starred as the main character.
For director Victor Huerta, Reyes starred in the series Count Vrolock (2010) in the antagonistic role of Froilan Donoso and in the short story Come Back Early (2014) in the antagonistic role of Santiago Goikol.
With director Rodrigo Velazquez, Francisco Reyes starred in the novel "Where is Eliza?" in the antagonistic role of Bruno Alberti, in the TV series Alice's Labyrinth (2011) in the title role of Manuel Inostroza and in the short story Poor Rico in the title role of Maximum Kotapos.
In 2015, he took part in the filming of the novel "Matriarchs" directed by Italo Galleani, starring Gary Mendes.
In 2017, he will star in the TV movie Tell Who It Was, directed by Herman Barrig, starring Manuel Silva.
In 2018, he starred in the miniseries I Love to Die directed by Cear Olazo, playing the supporting role of Nicolas Vidal.
The last work of Francisco Reyes was the main role of Ernesto Orellan in the short story "I am Lorenzo" directed by Nicholas Alempart.
Awards and achievements
In 1993, Francisco Reyes participated in the Viña del Maar Festival as a member of the jury.
In 2011 he became an animator of the Blue Frame project on TVN channel.
In 2013, he appeared as a guest actor on the No Makeup show.
Francisco Reyes' list of awards includes:
- TV Drama Award (1995) - First Place for Best Leading Actor;
- TV Drama Award (2000) for winning the same nomination;
- Copihue de Oro (2006) for Best Actor;
- Chile's Choice (2007) for Best Chilean Actor of All Time.
Also in 2007, Francisco Reyes received the Wiken Award, dedicated to 50 years of Chilean television. Francisco became the winner and was named the best Chilean actor of all time.
