Eugenio Derbez

One of Mexico's most successful and well-loved comic actors, Eugenio Derbez parlayed his love for broad humor and eccentric characters into a two-decade career on television sketch comedy and features, including the record-breaking "Instructions Not Included" (2013).

Derbez began appearing on television as a child and broke into semi-stardom in the late '80s and early '90s with a string of programs that showcased his knack for outrageous characters. He was soon headlining his own comedy series, "Al Derecho y al Derbez" (Televisa 1993-1995), which led to even greater success with the surreal family sitcom "La familia P. Luche" (Televisa 2003- ). He co-wrote, directed, and starred in the comedy feature "Instructions Not Included," which surprised industry observers by becoming the highest-grossing Spanish-language film in North America upon its release. Its runaway success appeared to serve as notice to both American and Mexican audiences that Eugenio Derbez was the biggest name in Spanish-language comedy.

Born Eugenio González Derbez on September 2, 1961 in Mexico City, Mexico, he was the son of actress Silvia Derbez and publicist Eugenio González Salas. He spent his childhood on the sets of television shows starring his mother and began his own acting career as an extra on a telenovela. After honing his talents in drama classes and on stage, Derbez made his debut as a series regular on the high school comedy "Cachún cachún ra ra!" (Televisa 1981-1987). By the end of the decade, he was a fixture on Mexican television and in features, playing numerous roles in the sketch comedy series "Anabel" (Televisa 1988-1993) before earning his own successful variety series, "Al Derecho y al Derbez." The popular program gave Derbez a showcase to create some of his most enduring characters, including the bespectacled know-it-all Armando Hoyos, who created his own outlandish dictionary definitions. As Hoyos, Derbez penned two books, including a dictionary, which became best-sellers.

By the late 1990s, Derbez was among the most popular entertainers in Mexico. He was a one-man television industry, writing, producing, directing, and starring in numerous series, including the hit sketch comedy shows "Derbez en cuando" (Televisa 1999) and "XHDRbZ" (Televisa 2002-2006), which parodied Mexican network television.

The latter show also launched one of Derbez's most well-loved comedy shows, "La familia P. Luche," an offbeat family show set in a world where plush was the choice for clothes, furniture, and other items. Derbez's appeal with Spanish-speaking viewers eventually caught the attention of producers in the United States, who tapped him to provide the voices of Donkey for the Latin American releases of "Shrek" (2001) and "Shrek 2" (2004).

Though his appeal with Latino audiences in the U.S. was proven by his sold-out 2004 tour and limited Broadway run with the play "Latinologues," Derbez remained largely unknown to Anglo Americans, save for minor appearances in comedies like "Beverly Hills Chihuahua" (2008) and the Adam Sandler vehicle "Jack and Jill" (2011). His debut as an American television performer on the poorly received Rob Schneider-starring sitcom "Rob" was pulled after eight episodes.

In 2013, he earned his biggest hit to date with the feature "Instructions Not Included," about a playboy (Derbez) who discovers that he has a daughter. Derbez directed and co-wrote the film, which broke box office records in North America, grossing more than $39 million in the United States and $27 million in Mexico.