
Acting
Born November 13, 1918 · Mexico City, Mexico
José Ignacio Retes Guevara was a Mexican playwright, film, theater and television actor, director, and writer. Two-time winner of the Ariel Award. He studied at the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters of the National Autonomous University of Mexico in the 30s, where he was able to meet other prominent playwrights and directors of the time such as Rodolfo Usigli, Seki Sano and José Revueltas. He founded the University Theater of San Luis Potosí in 1937 and the theater company Lantern Magic with workers from the Mexican Union of Electricians. With Usigli he founded the company Midnight Theater (in reference to the free time that both had to collaborate in it); with Sano he would work as an assistant. In 1950 he made his directorial debut with "Los cuadrantes de la soledad" by José Revueltas, which reached 100 performances. Said montage also featured scenography designed by Diego Rivera. In 1944 he wrote his first play, "El día de Mañana". As a film actor, he made his debut in the 1950s and was directed by directors such as Jorge Fons, Felipe Cazals, Jaime Humberto Hermosillo, Sergio Olhovich and Arturo Ripstein. In his role as a screenwriter, he wrote the scripts for films such as Anguish Nights and Journey to Paradise, among others. He was also a public official, as director of the theaters of the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS), where he promoted the massive construction of public theaters, reaching 38 venues. In the 1960s he collaborated closely with the writer Vicente Leñero, with whom he made various works such as the theatrical version of Los albañiles and Los Niños de Sánchez, among others. The Hidalgo-Ignacio Retes Theater in Mexico City has been named after the actor since 2006 His son, Gabriel Retes, became a prominent actor, director and writer.

If I Never See You Again
1997

Esmeralda Comes by Night
1997

Bienvenido-Welcome
1995

Amor a la medida
1993

Encuentro Inesperado
1993

Vintage Model
1992

Playa azul
1992

Los años duros: El nacimiento de un guerrillero
1989

Lovers, Partners & Spies
1988

Mariana Mariana
1987

Herencia maldita
1987

The Realm of Fortune
1986

Los Naúfragos II: Los Piratas
1986

Chido Guan, el tacos de oro
1986

Three of Cups
1986

El rey de la vecindad
1985

The Castaways of Liguria
1985

El centro del laberinto
1985

Motel
1984

Knock Out
1984

Luna de sangre
1984

Mundo mágico
1983

Deceitful Appearances
1983

The Flying Pony
1982

The Eve
1982

A Married Woman
1982

Everyone's Hell So Feared
1981

The Big Dead Dog
1981

Occupation of Darkness
1981

Aunt Alejandra
1980

The Gambler
1979

Broken Flag
1979

New World
1978

The Year of the Plague
1978

Paper Flowers
1978

La casta divina
1977

Cuartelazo
1977

El Reventón
1977

Chin Chin el teporocho
1976

The Hard Years
1973

Los Desalmados
1971

Melodías de amor
1955

La vida tiene tres días
1955

Doña Perfecta
1951