Julio Aleman, a television and movie actor who starred in Mexico's first telenovela ever produced, died April 11, 2012. He was 78.
According to Televisa reports, Aleman was admitted to a hospital in Mexico City just days before his passing. He had been fighting lung cancer for over a decade.
During a career that spanned 50 years, Aleman appeared in dozens of telenovelas and feature films. The first Mexican telenovela was El Zarco, in 1959. His final telenovela, Soy tu dueño, was produced two years ago.
In addition to pioneering the telenovela industry and acting in movies, Aleman served as a state representative.
Born in Morelia, Mexico, on November 29, 1933, he had six children and is survived by nine grandchildren.
