Leonardo Santiesteban, “Maraca”: “Cubans will continue to arrive”

SAN LUIS POTOSÍ, Mexico.- Although Leonardo Santiesteban’s career began in the 1980s in his native Holguín, one of the decisive moments that would launch him to popularity came with the duo Los Drakus.

Having proven himself at the Aquelarre Festival, the following years saw him forge a solid career that would come to fruition in the early 2000s with his participation in the popular program And what makes you laugh?

His first recognized character was Pepitin, a mischievous child who commits mischief.

Leonardo, then Pepitin, was developing an independent career that launched him to stardom.

Later, Maraca would appear, an old man who appeared in Let me tell you and which would be, perhaps, the most popular of his creations.

“Personally, it is a challenge to make sure that one character does not resemble another in any way. I am very careful about that, although in some way some common traits may appear since I am the same actor. However, I am very satisfied when they tell me that one does not resemble the other; that is where the idea of ​​doing the child (Pepitín) first and then Maraca came from, so that the distance between one and the other can be distinguished,” he said in an interview for Cuban Television a few years ago.

Pepitín, Maraca and Koqui –another character he brought to life–, went with Santiesteban to the United States at the end of 2022.

There he was “signed” by Univista TV, where he played Raúl Castro in the series Putin’s childrenwhere the old Cuban dictator usually leaves with the phrase: “I’ll leave you, I’m in a hurry.”

He also joined the recording of a comedy show, Havana in Hialeahwhich also features Gelliset Valdés, Irela Bravo, Omar Franco and Yasbell Rodríguez, among others.

Camila Aquino, according to what she told Rivero, made a complicated journey to the United States after arriving in Nicaragua.

In Mexico, she traveled in a bus cabin, crammed in, under the suitcases, so that the checkpoints would not see her.

In Mexico, Santiesteban said, he spent more than four months waiting for an appointment for political asylum through the CBP One application.

“Without sleeping. She didn’t sleep and I didn’t sleep either,” said the comedian about his partner’s stay in Mexico.

That was also the fate of his son, who arrived across borders.

“And many children, young children, pregnant women, elderly people come. And they will continue to arrive. Because every day there are more people arriving. One way or another, they close here, but they sneak in there,” said Santiesteban.

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