Juan Valdez
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Juan Valdez is a fictional character that has appeared in advertisements for the National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia since 1959, representing the Colombian coffee farmer. He typically appears alongside his mule Conchita, carrying sacks of harvested coffee beans. He has become an icon for Colombia as well as coffee in general.
The advertisements were designed by the Doyle Dane Bernbach ad agency, with the goal of distinguishing 100 per cent Colombian coffee from coffee blended with beans from other countries.
Juan Valdez made his first TV appearance in 1983.
Initially portrayed by José F. Duval, Juan Valdez has been portrayed by Carlos Sánchez since 1969 and voiced by Norman Rose. In 2006, Sánchez announced his retirement, and Carlos Castañeda, a grower from the Andes, was selected by the National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia as the new face of Juan Valdez.
The name "Juan Valdez" is by no means unique, as both Juan and Valdez are common Hispanic names and there are possibly thousands of men with this name alive today. In fact, on the morning of April 30, 1975, Master Sgt. Juan Valdez was the last American to leave Saigon as the war in Vietnam came to a close. Valdez had been serving at the U.S. Embassy in Saigon and, with nine fellow Marines, was evacuated on the final American helicopter to depart before South Vietnamese president Duong Van Minh surrendered that same day to People's Army Colonel Bui Tin.
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[edit] Trivia
- The character made a cameo appearance in the 2003 film Bruce Almighty when he poured a cup of coffee for the lead character, played by Jim Carrey.
- José Duval, the first actor to play Juan Valdez on television, died in 1993 at the age of 72.
[edit] Gallery
 Juan Valdez ad |
 An actor plays Juan Valdez at the National Coffee Park in Montenegro, Colombia. |
 Carlos Castañeda the new Juan Valdez |
 Carlos Sanchez, the "old" Juan Valdez. |
