Beloved Argentine-Uruguayan Entertainer Cacho de la Cruz Dies
Montevideo,Uruguay – Cacho de la Cruz,the Argentine musician and conductor who became a beloved fixture of Uruguayan television and a cherished figure for generations of children,has died. He was 85. the news was reported by El país and marks the end of an era for uruguayan entertainment.
Born in Argentina, de la Cruz found his greatest success in Uruguay, captivating audiences with his energetic personality and innovative children’s programming. he initially gained prominence as a conductor and musician on radio, before transitioning to television in the 1980s and 90s. Beyond his iconic Bochinche Chub programme, he created and hosted numerous other formats, and also enjoyed a period working on Ecuadorian television during the peak of his career.
Bochinche Chub, which De la Cruz envisioned as “the uncle or godfather who came home and threw little papers, organized games,” became a cultural touchstone. He recently embarked on a project to revive his extensive repertoire of children’s songs from the show, releasing video clips on YouTube with designer and producer Sandra Rios.
“Bochinche Chub He was like the uncle or godfather who came home and threw little papers, organized games. That was always the idea… That it be remembered however everyone wants. for me, it was a great satisfaction to do it. There is no greater recognition than when I walk down the street, someone says: “Look, there goes Cacho Bochinche.”” he stated in a recent interview.
De la Cruz’s career spanned decades. He retired from Bochinche Chub in 2010 following a shoulder injury, continuing his character “chichita” for two more years before a full television retirement in 2015. “It was time. I realized that television was no longer for me. It was simple,” he explained in 2024.
Despite his retirement, de la Cruz remained active, publishing a biography authored by Joaquín Doldán in 2022, and returning to the stage in 2024 with Doldán for theatrical performances reviewing his life and career in Punta del Este and Montevideo. He was honored as an Illustrious Citizen of Montevideo in 2024.
Personally, De la Cruz married hada Helena Reffino (Titina) in 1962, with whom he had three children: Daniella, Rodrigo, and Maximiliano (maxi) de la Cruz, who also pursued a career in television. The couple divorced at the end of the 1980s,and De la Cruz later began a relationship with Laura Martínez,with whom he had a son,Santiago,now 24. De la Cruz and Martínez divorced after more than 20 years together in 2009.
In his later years, De la Cruz sold his apartment and resided in a residential hotel in Punta Carretas, continuing to enjoy the company of friends and sharing stories. His passing leaves a notable void in the hearts of those who grew up with his music and infectious energy.
