Rubén Aguirre Fuentes (Spanish pronunciation: [ruˈβen aˈɣire]; 15 June 1934 – 17 June 2016) was a Mexican actor.

He is best remembered for his characterization of Profesor Jirafales in the Televisa's television show El Chavo del Ocho. Aguirre also participated in another well known television show of the era, El Chapulín Colorado, albeit less frequently.

Life and work

Rubén Aguirre was born in Saltillo, Coahuila. He began his acting career in Monterrey, Nuevo León, working with a character (a famous clown) named Pipo. He went on to Mexico City, where he worked on several television scripts with Chespirito, creator and main star of bothEl Chavo and El Chapulín Colorado.

Aguirre garnered fame across Latin America when both El Chavo and El Chapulín Coloradobecame major international hits. The group of actors that comprised the casts of both shows toured often, and sometimes they would venture out on their own. Aguirre was not the exception, visiting such places as Puerto Rico, Venezuela and Brazil many times. Chespirito owned the rights to El Chavo and El Chapulín Colorado. After Aguirre's participation in both shows was over, he moved to Argentina and opened a circus there. Chespirito had no copyrights in Argentina, and Aguirre was able to name his circus El circo del Profesor Jirafales.

Death

Aguirre died on 17 June 2016, from complications of pneumonia, two days after his 82nd birthday.