Juan Manuel Lebrón
Encyclopedia
Juan Manuel Lebron is a well known Puerto Rican
actor
, model
, screenwriter
, television producer
and salsa
singer.
In 1976, Lebron made his debut as an actor, when he was hired to play "JuanMa" in channel 2
's comedy show, "En Casa de JuanMa y Wiwi" ("At JuanMa and Wiwi's Home"). Lebron acted alongside Awilda Carbia
, who played "JuanMa"'s wife "Wiwi". The pair became one of Puerto Rico
's most popular television couples in history, and their show lasted fourteen years on Puerto Rican television. In 1978, Lebron was recognized with the Diplo
comedian of the year award, an award given to Puerto Rican comedy actors. By 1980, he had been recognized by the Puerto Rican Junior Commerce Chamber as one of the "top ten Puerto Rican youngsters".
Having already participated in his first album
(as a member of Orquesta Sensacional), Lebron in 1982 released a single. "Amores sin Sentido" ("Nonsense Love Relationships"), which became a chart topper in Puerto Rico. By then, he formed part, alongside Lourdes Chacon
, Otilio Warrington
, Shorty Castro
and Adrián García, among others, of another comedy show, "Los Kakukomicos" ("The Telemundo Comedians"). In "Los Kakukomicos", Lebron formed part of a mock music group that satirized Menudo
, a well known boy band
of the era. He and Warrington also became popular as a comic duo as time went by.
In 1985, Lebron represented Puerto Rico in the Festival OTI for Latin America
n singers. He sang "Represento", a major hit song that was written by Lou Briel
. One of the people who backed the choosing of Lebron as Puerto Rico's participant at that festival was Lola Flores
.
In 1986, Lebron was awarded the "Buho de Oro" trophy in Panama
as a popular entertainer in that Central America
n country, where he earned a golden album that same year, for the sales produced by his album, "Represento".
During the 1980s also, Lebron was a popular talk show visitor, being invited to many of Puerto Rico's talk shows on multiple occasions. In 1990, production of "En Casa de JuanMa y Wiwi" ceased, and Lebron released another album, "El Primero" ("The First One"), of which one single, "Ella y Tu" ("You and Her"), earned Lebron a nomination for salsa singer of the year at the Premios Lo Nuestro awards.
By 1992, Lebron was chosen by channel 2 as their spokesman for the yearlong celebrations of the quicentennial of the discovery of the Americas by Cristobal Colon
. He represented Puerto Rico at the Expo '92
, which was held that year in Sevilla, Spain.
Lebron in 1993 received the Paoli
award as Puerto Rican salsa singer of the year. He has released a total of nine albums or CD's; these include dedications to Nat King Cole
and Tito Rodriguez
and a production, "Una Obra de Amor" ("An Act of Love"), which was later re-edited and dedicated to children with HIV
.
In 1995, Lebron made his Hollywood debut in "Assassins
", with Sylvester Stallone
and Antonio Banderas
. "Assassins" remains as Lebron's only Hollywood movie.
Juan Manuel Lebron and Junior Abrahms, a former sportscaster turned actor and show host, are in charge of hosting a game show named "Atrevete" ("Dare"). Nevertheless, he has dabbed in on Telemundo Puerto Rico's main rival, WAPA-TV
, making sporadic appearances at WAPA shows, usually when friends of his work at a particular WAPA show. He also acted in "Los Seijo-Dones" ("The Seijo-Dones Family") and "Anda Pa'l Cara
" (which loosely translates to "Holy Cow!").
Lebron has also collaborated on many television commercials, for companies such as AT&T
, Eastern Air Lines
, Gulf Oil
and Church's fried chicken, among others.
Juan Manuel Lebron has also acted on theater plays. In 2005, he participated in his second film, Puerto Rican production "El Vacilon: The Movie" ("Goofing Off: The Movie").
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, model
Model (person)
A model , sometimes called a mannequin, is a person who is employed to display, advertise and promote commercial products or to serve as a subject of works of art....
, screenwriter
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
, television producer
Television producer
The primary role of a television Producer is to allow all aspects of video production, ranging from show idea development and cast hiring to shoot supervision and fact-checking...
and salsa
Salsa music
Salsa music is a genre of music, generally defined as a modern style of playing Cuban Son, Son Montuno, and Guaracha with touches from other genres of music...
singer.
Career
Juan Manuel Lebron began his show business career as a youngster, when he became a singer at the Sexteto Ritmico group. Not long after, Lebron became the lead singer of Orquesta Sensacional, a popular salsa orchestra of the era.In 1976, Lebron made his debut as an actor, when he was hired to play "JuanMa" in channel 2
WKAQ-TV
WKAQ-TV is a full-power television station located in San Juan, Puerto Rico transmitting over digital 2.1. The station is owned and operated by NBCUniversal and is branded simply as Telemundo....
's comedy show, "En Casa de JuanMa y Wiwi" ("At JuanMa and Wiwi's Home"). Lebron acted alongside Awilda Carbia
Awilda Carbia
Awilda Carbia was an actress, comedian, and impersonator.- Early years :Awilda Carbia started her acting career as a 7-year-old child, without ever suspecting that later in her acting career, 1970s, she would portray a children's television show host that was called: Estrella Galaxia, , broadcast...
, who played "JuanMa"'s wife "Wiwi". The pair became one of Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
's most popular television couples in history, and their show lasted fourteen years on Puerto Rican television. In 1978, Lebron was recognized with the Diplo
Ramón Rivero (Diplo)
Ramón Rivero — known as Diplo — was a comedian, actor, composer and a pioneer in Puerto Rico's television and cinema industries...
comedian of the year award, an award given to Puerto Rican comedy actors. By 1980, he had been recognized by the Puerto Rican Junior Commerce Chamber as one of the "top ten Puerto Rican youngsters".
Having already participated in his first album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
(as a member of Orquesta Sensacional), Lebron in 1982 released a single. "Amores sin Sentido" ("Nonsense Love Relationships"), which became a chart topper in Puerto Rico. By then, he formed part, alongside Lourdes Chacon
Lourdes Chacón
Lourdes Chacón is a dancer, actress and singer vedette from the Caribbean.-Biography:Lourdes enjoyed huge popularity and media exposure during the 1980's and 1970's across every medium in the island of Puerto Rico...
, Otilio Warrington
Otilio Warrington
Otilio Warrington, known popularly as Bizcocho is a comedian, best known for his roles of "Bizcocho" and "Cuca Gómez".-Early years:...
, Shorty Castro
Shorty Castro
Israel Castro, better known as Shorty Castro is a Puerto Rican comedian, comedy writer and musician, with a career spanning over 60 years. He is regarded as one of the best stage directors in Puerto Rican comedy...
and Adrián García, among others, of another comedy show, "Los Kakukomicos" ("The Telemundo Comedians"). In "Los Kakukomicos", Lebron formed part of a mock music group that satirized Menudo
Menudo (band)
Menudo was a Puerto Rican boy band that was formed in the 1970s by producer Edgardo Díaz, releasing their first album in 1977. The band achieved much success, especially during the 1980s, becoming the most popular Latin American teen musical group of the era....
, a well known boy band
Boy band
A boy band is loosely defined as a popular music act consisting of only male singers. The members are expected to dance as well as sing, usually giving highly choreographed performances. More often than not, boy band members do not play musical instruments, either in recording sessions or on...
of the era. He and Warrington also became popular as a comic duo as time went by.
In 1985, Lebron represented Puerto Rico in the Festival OTI for Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
n singers. He sang "Represento", a major hit song that was written by Lou Briel
Lou Briel
Lou Briel, is a Puerto Rican singer, composer, comedian, producer, pianist, and host, among other things.-Early Years with Anexo 3:...
. One of the people who backed the choosing of Lebron as Puerto Rico's participant at that festival was Lola Flores
Lola Flores
María Dolores "Lola" Flores Ruiz was a Spanish singer, dancer, and actress.- Professional career :Flores was born in Jerez de la Frontera, Cadiz . Although thought to be only part gypsy, she strongly identified with the Spanish gypsy culture...
.
In 1986, Lebron was awarded the "Buho de Oro" trophy in Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
as a popular entertainer in that Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
n country, where he earned a golden album that same year, for the sales produced by his album, "Represento".
During the 1980s also, Lebron was a popular talk show visitor, being invited to many of Puerto Rico's talk shows on multiple occasions. In 1990, production of "En Casa de JuanMa y Wiwi" ceased, and Lebron released another album, "El Primero" ("The First One"), of which one single, "Ella y Tu" ("You and Her"), earned Lebron a nomination for salsa singer of the year at the Premios Lo Nuestro awards.
By 1992, Lebron was chosen by channel 2 as their spokesman for the yearlong celebrations of the quicentennial of the discovery of the Americas by Cristobal Colon
Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus was an explorer, colonizer, and navigator, born in the Republic of Genoa, in northwestern Italy. Under the auspices of the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, he completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean that led to general European awareness of the American continents in the...
. He represented Puerto Rico at the Expo '92
World's Fair
World's fair, World fair, Universal Exposition, and World Expo are various large public exhibitions held in different parts of the world. The first Expo was held in The Crystal Palace in Hyde Park, London, United Kingdom, in 1851, under the title "Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All...
, which was held that year in Sevilla, Spain.
Lebron in 1993 received the Paoli
Antonio Paolí
Antonio Paoli was a Puerto Rican tenor. He was known at the height of his fame as "The King of Tenors and The Tenor of Kings." He is considered to be the first Puerto Rican to reach international fame in the musical arts...
award as Puerto Rican salsa singer of the year. He has released a total of nine albums or CD's; these include dedications to Nat King Cole
Nat King Cole
Nathaniel Adams Coles , known professionally as Nat King Cole, was an American musician who first came to prominence as a leading jazz pianist. Although an accomplished pianist, he owes most of his popular musical fame to his soft baritone voice, which he used to perform in big band and jazz genres...
and Tito Rodriguez
Tito Rodriguez
Tito Rodríguez was a popular 1950s and 1960s Puerto Rican singer and bandleader. He is known by many fans as "El Inolvidable" , a moniker based on his most popular interpretation, a song written by composer Julio Gutierrez.-Early years:Rodríguez , born in Santurce, Puerto Rico,...
and a production, "Una Obra de Amor" ("An Act of Love"), which was later re-edited and dedicated to children with HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
.
In 1995, Lebron made his Hollywood debut in "Assassins
Assassins (film)
Assassins is a 1995 American action film written by the Wachowskis and Brian Helgeland, directed by Richard Donner, and starring Sylvester Stallone, Antonio Banderas and Julianne Moore.-Plot:...
", with Sylvester Stallone
Sylvester Stallone
Michael Sylvester Gardenzio Stallone , commonly known as Sylvester Stallone, and nicknamed Sly Stallone, is an American actor, filmmaker, screenwriter, film director and occasional painter. Stallone is known for his machismo and Hollywood action roles. Two of the notable characters he has portrayed...
and Antonio Banderas
Antonio Banderas
José Antonio Domínguez Banderas , better known as Antonio Banderas, is a Spanish film actor, film director, film producer and singer...
. "Assassins" remains as Lebron's only Hollywood movie.
Juan Manuel Lebron and Junior Abrahms, a former sportscaster turned actor and show host, are in charge of hosting a game show named "Atrevete" ("Dare"). Nevertheless, he has dabbed in on Telemundo Puerto Rico's main rival, WAPA-TV
WAPA-TV
WAPA-TV is an independent television station located in San Juan, Puerto Rico transmitting over digital channel 27, virtual channel 4. The station is owned by InterMedia Partners and is branded as WAPA Television....
, making sporadic appearances at WAPA shows, usually when friends of his work at a particular WAPA show. He also acted in "Los Seijo-Dones" ("The Seijo-Dones Family") and "Anda Pa'l Cara
Anda Pa'l Cara
Anda Pa'l Cará was a Spanish-language television program, a late-night talk and variety show from Puerto Rico. It started in 2000 on WLII-TV Tele Once as a late night show with comedian Silverio Pérez as host, but has evolved into a more youth-oriented format with a focus on celebrity news and...
" (which loosely translates to "Holy Cow!").
Lebron has also collaborated on many television commercials, for companies such as AT&T
AT&T
AT&T Inc. is an American multinational telecommunications corporation headquartered in Whitacre Tower, Dallas, Texas, United States. It is the largest provider of mobile telephony and fixed telephony in the United States, and is also a provider of broadband and subscription television services...
, Eastern Air Lines
Eastern Air Lines
Eastern Air Lines was a major United States airline that existed from 1926 to 1991. Before its dissolution it was headquartered at Miami International Airport in unincorporated Miami-Dade County, Florida.-History:...
, Gulf Oil
Gulf Oil
Gulf Oil was a major global oil company from the 1900s to the 1980s. The eighth-largest American manufacturing company in 1941 and the ninth-largest in 1979, Gulf Oil was one of the so-called Seven Sisters oil companies...
and Church's fried chicken, among others.
Juan Manuel Lebron has also acted on theater plays. In 2005, he participated in his second film, Puerto Rican production "El Vacilon: The Movie" ("Goofing Off: The Movie").