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Spanish actor and comedian Juan Joya Borja, popularly known as “El Risitas” has passed away at the age of 65. El Risitas is famously known for being the face behind the iconic “Spanish Laughing Guy” meme which brought him global fame.
According to news sources, he died on Wednesday 28, April, in a hospital in Seville, Spain. BBC reported that Borja was admitted for health issues last year. In March, he thanked fans for organising a fundraising campaign to buy him an electric mobility scooter after one of his legs was amputated.
In 2015, El Risitas which when loosely translated means “the giggles,” rose to global fame when a YouTube video of him laughing during an interview at a late-night show spawned dozens of celebrated parody clips. In the interview that actually dates back to 2007, El Risitas was vividly narrating his experience working as a kitchen helper.
Born in Seville, Spain, in 1956, El Risitas has been enjoying global fame for nearly seven years. Snippets of that interview he did in 2007 have been widely used to capture humor in almost all situations. It is believed that he didn’t make his first television appearance until 2000 when he appeared on Jesús Quintero’s show El Vagamundo.
El Risitas later appeared in the 2005 film Torrente 3: El Protector, and even featured in a Finnish commercial.
Tributes are now flooding social media for the man who was believed to have the ability to turn any situation into the funniest ever.
“I regret to inform you that this man you may know from memes, nicknamed 'El Risitas', has just passed away at 65. Posting this here since he was a well-known and loved comedian here in southern Spain. He was able to turn any story into the funniest thing you've ever heard. RIP,” @TodoNintendoS tweeted.
“RIP to a legend, El Risitas. I have him to thank for making funny moments in my videos that bit more funny. His laughter will live on eternally,” wrote @Torvesta.
