José María Blasco Echeguren (13 July 1941 – 28 June 2024), better known as Txema Blasco, was a Spanish actor known mainly for his work in film and television.
Early life Born in the early days of General Francisco Franco's dictatorship, Blasco went to primary school at the Samaniego and Jesús Obrero de Vitoria colleges. While studying at college, and for several years, he formed part of the clown duo of Hermanos Chetti ("Brothers Chetti") together with Tito Aldama, making a total of 4,316 appearances.
After his mother's death when Blasco was thirteen years old, he went out to work at the age of 14 at Aranzabal as a bellboy, combining it with his studies for a secondary-level diploma, and in psychology and business, years later becoming the company's accountant. At the same time he formed part of the theatrical groups La Farándula, Gasteiz or Arlequín.
Career In 1966, Blasco took part in the Álava provincial government's Amateur Cinema Division, filming a great many short films, participating in the 1970s in El sacamantecas ("The Bogeyman"), directed by Jesús del Val, and in José Ramón Aguirrezabal's En el cura alavés ("In the Álava Clergyman").
In the 1980s, he took part in the film La fuga de Segovia ("The Segovia Prison Break" — based on an actual event in 1976), directed by Imanol Uribe, and in Montxo Armendáriz's film Tasio. After acting in Tasio, Blasco worked in three short films by the same director, Pello Varela, foremost among which was Coja usted el siguiente ("Take the Next One"), selected in the 1986 San Sebastián International Film Festival, until in 1991 he once again appeared in a feature-length film by Enrique Urbizu: Todo por la pasta (released in English under the title "Anything for Bread"). From this time forth, Blasco's career was heavily bound to the cinema, and he repeatedly worked with more than one director, Julio Medem, Pello Varela or Montxo Armendáriz.
In 1992, he gave up his accountant's job at Aranzabal to give himself over wholly to his acting career, taking part in this decade in Alas de mariposa ("Butterfly Wings"), Vacas ("Cows"), Los años oscuros ("The Dark Years"), La ardilla roja ("The Red Squirrel"), Cómo ser infeliz y disfrutarlo ("How to Be Unhappy and Enjoy It"), Sálvate si puedes ("Save Yourself If You Can"), Salto al vacío ("Jump into the Void") or Cuernos de mujer ("Woman's Horns").
Blasco alternated his cinematic appearances with television projects such as Del Miño al Bidasoa ("From the Minho to the Bidasoa"), El joven Picasso ("The Young Picasso"), Pepa y Pepe, Colegio Mayor ("Residential College"), Más que amigos ("More Than Friends"), Blasco Ibáñez, la novela de su vida ("Blasco Ibáñez, the Novel of His Life"), La virtud del asesino ("The Murderer's Virtue") and Médico de familia ("Family Doctor").
In the 2000s, Blasco appeared in the films Maestros, Leo, Aunque tú no lo sepas (literally "Although You Never Knew It", but entitled "What You Never Knew" in English) and Para que no me olvides (literally "So That You Don't Forget Me", but entitled "Something to Remember Me By" in English), and in various series such as Paraíso, Robles, investigador, Policías, en el corazón de la calle, Un lugar en el mundo, Hospital Central and TVE's Cuéntame cómo pasó, in which he spent three years.
In the 2010s, Blasco appeared in many television series, among which were Águila Roja, Los misterios de Laura, Gran Hotel, Aída, Con el culo al aire and Rabia. He also appeared on the big screen in films such as Vidas pequeñas ("Little Lives"), Que baje Dios y lo vea ("Let God Come Down and See It") and Lo nunca visto ("That Which is Never Seen").
Later years In the 2020s, Blasco participated in fewer projects, retiring in 2021. In 2020, he received the Celedón de Oro, awarded by Vitoria-Gasteiz city council in recognition of the actor's extensive professional career. (Celedón is a modern legendary figure in Vitoria-Gasteiz). Throughout all his years as an actor, Blasco took part in 103 television series, 82 feature-length films and 167 short films, making him the Spanish actor who has appeared in the most short films. He also directed 28 works and two zarzuelas.
After having health problems in his later years, he went to live at the Sagrada Familia nursing home in Cucho, in the Province of Burgos.
Death Blasco died in Condado de Treviño, Burgos on 28 June 2024, at the age of 82. He was divorced. Blasco had four children, Marta, Óscar, Yoset and Gaizka, and five grandchildren, Javier, Íñigo, Aimar, Uxue and Aiala.
Works Filmography (incomplete list)
Year Title CharacterDirectorNotes1979El sacamantecas–Jesús del Val and Juan Carlos Ruiz de GordoaFeature-length1981La fuga de SegoviaJudgeImanol Uribe1986Coja usted al siguienteJuana GorriPello VarelaShort1987A los cuatro vientosManoloJosé A. ZorrillaFeature-length Azpiko GizonaSergeantPello Varela ShortAquel mundo de Jon–Aitor Mantxola1988Bi, marra bereanPello Varela 1989EskorpionOrbeaErnesto TelleríaFeature-lengthAkixo–Juanma Bajo UlloaShort1991Todo por la pastaCarajaulaEnrique UrbizuFeature-lengthAlas de mariposaGrandfatherJuanma Bajo Ulloa1992VacasManuelJulio MedemLos años oscuros–Arantxa Lazkano1993La ardilla rojaChief of Neurology Julio MedemMirageVíctor Michael AguilóShortY creó en el nombre del padre–Óscar del Caz1994Cómo ser infeliz y disfrutarloMaldonadoEnrique UrbizuFeature-lengthLa canción de Valhia–Óscar del CazShort1995Sálvate si puedesMaîtreJoaquín TrincadoFeature-lengthSalto al vacíoJudge 1Daniel CalparsoroCuernos de mujerLawyerEnrique UrbizuMorirás en ChafarinasColonelPedro OleaBelmonteLuis RozalemJuan Sebastián BollaínAdiós Toby, adiósGrandfatherRamón BareaShortSirenasFernando León de AranoaEl discoKingJuan Luis Jiménez de No and Miguel Marichalar AranzadiHotel y domicilioCourt policemanErnesto del Río Feature-length...Que ciento volando–José García Hernández Short1996CachitoDon CayetanoEnrique UrbizuFeature-lengthCanela que tú me dieras–Gustavo FerradaShortTierraTomás Julio MedemFeature-lengthAgurraGrandfatherIñaki ElizaldeShortEl buscadorClergymanDamián RubioMenos que ceroGoyoErnesto TelleríaFeature-length Ya no me acuerdoGrandfatherMorrosko Vila San JuanShort Sabor latinoMarcialPedro CarvajalFeature-lengthTabarkaBrother CasanovasDomingo RodesAdiós prisiónCerebroMichael AguilóShortUrgenciaGentleman 1José Luis Serrano1997Hazlo por míAntonio RoblesÁngel Fernández SantosFeature-lengthSuerteFatherErnesto TelleríaLa fabulosa historia de Diego MarínGrandfatherFidel CorderoPlaneta extrañoDon JoséPedro Pérez Jiménez ShortCien maneras de hacer el pollo al txilindrónSeteroKepa SojoTodos a tus piesDon EulogioGustavo FerradaLa gentileza de los desconocidosWalbergLuis M. Alonso1998Manos de sedaAntique dealerCésar Martínez HerradaFeature-length La vuelta de El CoyoteOfficialMario CamusAtilano, presidenteEsteveSantiago Aguilar and Luis GuridiLa hora de los valientesTeacher's brother-in-lawAntonio MerceroFeliz NavidadWise ManÓscar del CazShort MaríaGrandfatherJesús Solera1999Rincones del paraísoClient 2Carlos Pérez MerineroFeature-length Las huellas borradasEutimioEnrique GabrielPatesnak, un cuento de NavidadOld manIñaki ElizaldeShortLorcaGrandfatherCuando vuelvas a mi ladoEmilioGracia QuerejetaFeature-lengthPídele cuentas al reyMan with beretJosé Antonio QuirósEl beso de la tierraJosé Lucinda TorreShort Ángel –Pablo CantosMi RositaManoloÁngeles Diemant-HartzElena–Jesús García-Soler2000MaestrosÓscar del CazFeature-length LeoDon MiguelJosé Luis BorauAunque tú no lo sepasBenitoJuan Vicente CórdobaEl viaje de AriánArián's fatherEduardo BoschLa gran vida–Antonio CuadriLa escapadaPepeDavid GallartShortAnoche soñé que habías muertoVagabondJavier MarmolejoNada–David Abajo, David Fernández and Luis Santamaría MoralesViaje de ida y vueltaNuria CabestanyFeature-length RosoCésar Fernández Jiménez Short 2001Carne de gallinaLuisónJavier MaquaFeature-length 2002El refugio del malMr. SantosFélix Cábez2003Pacto de brujasLiceoJavier ElorrietaSe buscan abrazosInocencioManuel García SerranoShort El misterio GalíndezRicardo's uncle Gerardo Herrero y Leigh RomeroFeature-length NieblaJuanMónica AlonsoShort Crédito cero–Rubén SalazarFeature-lengthHistoria de un puñalPriestJoan AyllónShort2004Muertos comunesHuete's neighbourNorberto Ramos del ValFeature-lengthMatar al ángelRabbiDaniel MúgicaUn héroe de acción–Gorka LosadaShort 2005Para que no me olvidesJuliánPatricia FerreiraFeature-lengthObabaTomásMontxo Armendáriz SomneMarquinaIsidro OrtizMala sombraTrainer Robles Miguel Ángel EscuderoShort La doctora sonrisasInocencio, KingManuel García Serrano Se vende–Carlos López Martínez 2006El síndrome de SvenssonLittle old manKepa SojoFeature-lengthLas locuras de Don QuijoteDon QuijoteRafael AlcázarNo me gustan los peces de colores–Short 2007La mosquita muertaNarratorImanol RayoShevernatze: Una epopeya marcha atrásPenderlingPablo PalazónFeature-length2 rivales casi igualesDon JaimeMiguel Ángel Calvo ButtiniSalomónEusebio Ignacio LasierraShortLe protecteurParanoiac 3Patxi Basabe2008Road Spain–Jordi Vidal–Verde de otoñoBrunoEduardo H. GarzaShort Todos estamos invitadosAzcoagaManuel Gutiérrez Aragón Feature-lengthImaginarioClientPablo CantosShort Cenizas del cieloManoloJosé Antonio QuirósFeature-lengthEl embaucadorElderly manDaniel RomeroShort 2009Lo que dura la eternidadFatherToño MartínLa culonaRomán Polo MenárguezSiempre hay tiempoHéctorAna Rosa DiegoFeature-length2010Llueve sobremojadoLuisJoan ÁlvarezShortLa vida fluyeIndigentToñi MartínMorir cada día–Aitor EcheverríaVidas pequeñasGumersindoEnrique GabrielFeature-length JaqueMiguelÍker FrancoVídeoSólo palabrasFatherYolanda MuleroShort BisarmesGüeloFrancisco Martínez and Pablo A. Quiroga 20118GrandfatherRaúl CerezoPosturasCasimiroÁlvaro OlivaLección debidaAlejandroIván Ruiz FloresFeature-lengthJugando con la muerteGrandfather EusebioPaul Urkijo AlijoShort Área de descansoGrandfatherMichael AguilóFeature-lengthUn cuento de pocas palabrasEmilioDaniel CortázarShort2012BaztánDon GregorioIñaki ElizaldeFeature-length Chan ChanRamónPilar PalomeroShort 2013CaminanteSantiagoJoaquín Calderón2014Objetos perdidosDon Manuel Álvaro OlivaEstado de bienestar–Jorge CalvoAgurGrandfather David Pérez Sañudo2015Broken Basket–Roberto Ruiz CéspedesEl audífonoFernando Samuel Quiles PalopEl bosque negro–Paul Urkijo Alijo2016AgustínManoloJavier CelayLas mujeres de CervantesCervantesRafael Alcázar–El andar del borrachoFidelPol ArmengolShort CefaleaMarcelinoMaría Sánchez Testón249. La noche en que una becaria encontró a Emiliano RevillaEmiliano Revilla Luis María FerrándezFeature-length2017Que baje Dios y lo veaFather HuertoCurro Velázquez2018TourneesRadio managerIsrael GonzálezShortOla de crímenesAndoni's fatherGracia QuerejetaFeature-length2019Lo nunca vistoPacoMarina SereseskyStalingradoIñakiAmaia San Sebastián Short El silencio de la ciudad blancaDon TiburcioDaniel CalparsoroFeature-length2020El frontón más largo del mundoMaestroLuis Alberto CabezónShort 2021Polvo somos–Estibaliz Urresola Solaguren
Television (incomplete list)