Édgar Vivar Biography: Movies, Ethnicity, Age, Wife, Net Worth, Religion, Awards

Édgar Ángel Vivar Villanueva is a Mexican actor and comedian who rose to fame through his memorable performances as “Señor Barriga” and his son “Ñoño” on the popular sitcom El Chavo del Ocho, as well as the character “El Botija” in the sketch-series with Roberto Gómez Bolaños.

He was able to bring warmth and humor to everyday characters; this won him widespread recognition across Latin America and beyond, establishing a long-running career in television, film and voice-acting. He has been active in the entertainment industry since the 1960s and remains a visible figure to the present day.

Profile

• Full name: Édgar Ángel Vivar Villanueva
• Date of birth: December 28, 1948
• Age: 77 years old
• Gender: Male
• Place of birth: Mexico City, Mexico
• Nationality: Mexican
• Profession: Actor, Comedian, Voice Actor
• Height: 5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
• Parents: Father – Ángel Vivar; Mother – Celia/Elia Villanueva Falconi
• Siblings: Enrique Vivar, Ricardo Vivar, Marcela Vivar
• Spouse: N/A
• Children: N/A
• Relationship status: N/A
• Religion: Christian
• Ethnicity: Mexican
• Net worth: US $4 million

Early Life and Education

Édgar Ángel Vivar Villanueva, now aged 76 years old, was born on December 28 1948 in Mexico City. He is the son of engineer Ángel Vivar and his mother Celia (or Elia) Villanueva Falconi. He grew up as the eldest among his siblings Enrique, Ricardo and Marcela.

His childhood was marked by the cultural environment of Mexico City in the mid-20th century and he experienced struggles with obesity and bullying from an early age due to his size.

He attended local schools in Mexico City and later entered the university environment; he initially studied medicine or a related field at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) though sources differ on whether he completed the degree.

Concurrently, he enrolled at the Centro Universitario de Teatro at UNAM to study acting and theatre. He began working in theatre as early as 1964. His early stage experience laid the groundwork for his later transition to television and film.

Personal Life

Vivar maintains a notably private personal life. There are no reliable public records confirming a spouse or children. He has occasionally addressed his long-standing health issues publicly—especially his battles with obesity, pulmonary embolisms and significant weight loss interventions.

Career

Édgar Vivar’s professional acting career began in theatre in 1964. From his stage work in Mexico City, he moved to television, becoming part of Roberto Gómez Bolaños’ ensemble in the variety sketch programme Chespirito in the early 1970s.

His breakthrough came when he was cast as Señor Barriga on El Chavo del Ocho, a role he played alongside the character of Ñoño (Barriga’s son) and in the spin-sketches of “Los Caquitos” as El Botija. These characters became iconic across Latin America and Spain, earning him recognition and touring opportunities.

In the 1990s and beyond, Vivar extended his work into telenovelas, international film appearances and voice-dubbing. Notable film roles include the bank manager in Bandidas (2006) and Dr. Balabán in The Orphanage (2007).

He also provided Latin American Spanish voice work for animated features such as Ratatouille (2007) and Up (2009). His career demonstrates a versatility that spans theatre, television, film and dubbing.

Awards and Nominations

• 1991 – TVyNovelas Award for Best Actor Comedy for Chespirito
• 2019 – TVyNovelas Award for Best First Actor for La Jefa Del Campeón

Net Worth

Édgar Vivar’s estimated net worth is approximately US $4 million. This estimate is derived from his earnings from decades of television, film roles, voice-acting, international tours and residuals.

Social Media

• Instagram: @varedg

Filmography

• El Chanfle (1979)
• El Chanfle 2 (1982)
• Don Ratón y Don Ratero (1983)
• El más valiente del mundo (1983)
• Frankenstein’s Great Aunt Tillie (1984)
• Escuadrón sida (1987)
• Música de Viento (1988)
• Gordo (1992)
• El Show del Vampiro (2004)
• Bandidas (2006)
• The Orphanage (2007)
• All Inclusive (2008)
• Juan & La Borrega (2011)
• Cementerio General 2 (2015)
• Overboard (2018)
• The Mighty Victoria (2021)
• El Roomie (2024)