The world of Cuban humor lost one of its most cherished figures on Wednesday. Orlando Manrufo Córdova, creator and performer of the iconic character "Mariconchi," passed away in Havana on November 4, 2026, as confirmed by the Humor Promotion Center. As of Thursday, the cause of his death had not been publicly disclosed.
The news sparked a wave of condolences on social media from colleagues, friends, and followers. Luis Silva, the popular Pánfilo from "Vivir del cuento," was one of the first to react: "I just learned about the passing of the great comedian, and such a charming man, Orlando Manrufo (Mariconchi). Sad news. My condolences to his family. To Olivia, his eldest daughter (Indirita from Vivir del cuento), with whom we worked for several years. Teatro América was the home, for years, of La Esquina de Mariconchi. Rest in peace."
The comedian Gustavito Sabadazo published an extensive message summarizing the sentiment of the community: "Today I have to do something that is very difficult for comedians: to speak with a heavy heart and without finding the humorous side of life."
In that same text, he emphasized the significance of Manrufo's legacy: "To speak of Orlando is to speak of talent, charisma, that natural grace that cannot be learned in any school. It is to speak of an artist who knew how to earn the love of his people and who, with his unforgettable character Mariconchi, left an indelible mark on the history of Cuban humor."
Carlos Otero, for his part, shared a video of both of them and remembered him as "one of the most beloved figures in comedy on the island."
Javier Berridy Alonso, who shared photos with Manrufo from 2004, emphasized a sentiment echoed by his colleagues: "Mariconchi (Orlando Manrufo) has passed away, one of the funniest comedians I've seen on stage, with an improvisational quick wit that never missed the mark."
Ernesto Flacomimico bid him farewell as a "colleague of so many battles."
Iván Camejo wrote that Manrufo "has likely departed today to some stage in the beyond where the audience must be eagerly waiting for him, ready to laugh, just as it always was."
Antolín El Pichón shared a video with the words: "This is how we will all remember you, those of us who worked with you."
Manrufo came to art later in life. He was an operations engineer in maritime transport, with studies in former Germany and Russia, and worked in that profession for approximately 16 years before turning to theater. In 1988, he joined the amateur theater group Olga Alonso and made his debut in the play "Santa Camila de La Habana Vieja."
The character of Mariconchi was born in the late part of that decade during an improvisation where Manrufo donned a wig and parodied an elderly woman alongside actress Laura de la Uz. It was the comedian Osvaldo Doimeadiós who suggested turning that sketch into a standalone monologue. With "Adventures and Misadventures of Mariconchi," he won an award at the Aquelarre National Humor Festival in the mid-nineties, which solidified his career.
For more than 25 years, Manrufo directed the humorous group "La Esquina de Mariconchi", first presented on Thursdays at the Teatro América and later at the Cine Yara in Vedado. The character—a foul-mouthed, contentious, and hypercritical older woman—ironically satirized the everyday problems of life in Havana. In February 2026, the official newspaper Juventud Rebelde had dedicated an interview to him on the occasion of Mariconchi's 30 years on stage, a sign that the comedian remained active until shortly before his death.
The farewell took place at the Bernardo García funeral home, located at Zanja No. 405, Centro Habana. Her daughter, actress Olivia Sofía Manrufo Hernández —known for her role as "Indirita" in "Vivir del cuento"—, requested from Lima, Peru, where she currently resides, that the community come together to support the family during this time.
"Mariconchi is not going away. Mariconchi will remain forever in the memory of our people. Rest in peace, brother," wrote Gustavito Sabadazo to conclude his farewell.
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