José Luis López Vázquez de la Torre MMT (11 March 1922 – 2 November 2009) was a Spanish actor, comedian, costume designer, scenic designer and assistant director. He was best known internationally for his lead role in the surrealist horror TV film La cabina (The Telephone Box, 1972). A prolific performer, he was an integral part of Spanish cinema for six decades, appearing in almost 250 films between 1948 and 2007. Born in Madrid of working-class parents, López Vázquez began his career on stage at 17 as a costume designer and set decorator before making his breakthrough as an actor. In film he initially worked as a costume designer and assistant director, while playing bit parts. However, his comedic talent soon allowed him to get bigger roles, cultivating an image as Spain's on-screen everyman in numerous comedies during the Franco era, although he later revealed his ability to play dramatic roles. At the time he took part in a distinctive Spanish art cinema led primarily by directors Luis García Berlanga, Juan Antonio Bardem, Carlos Saura and screenwriter Rafael Azcona, which gained international attention. He also worked with renowned foreign filmmakers such as Marco Ferreri and George Cukor. He acted in the films
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