Rabal Valera, Francisco

▪ 2002

“Paco” 

      Spanish actor (b. March 8, 1925, Aguilas, Spain—d. Aug. 29, 2001, Bordeaux, France), during his nearly 60-year stage and screen career, evolved from a handsome leading man into an impressive character actor, notably in films directed by Luis Buñuel—including Nazarín (1958), Viridiana (1961), and Belle de jour (1967)—and in Pedro Almodóvar's ¡Átame! (1990; Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!). Rabal was named best actor at the 1984 Cannes Film Festival for Los santos inocentes (The Holy Innocents) and at the 1991 Montreal Film Festival for L'Homme qui a perdu son ombre (The Man Who Lost His Shadow). In 2000 he won the Goya, Spain's highest acting award, for his leading role in Goya (1999; Goya in Bordeaux). Rabal had just been given a lifetime prize at the Montreal Festival and was flying back to Spain, where he was to receive the Donostia Lifetime Achievement Award at the San Sebastián Film Festival, when he suddenly was taken ill.

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