---
name: "Alfonso Arau"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/alfonso-arau"
fi1m_id: "alfonso-arau"
imdb_id: "nm0000778"
tmdb_id: 22767
wikidata_id: "Q920072"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "11 January 1932"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 5
average_fi1m_score: 79
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 5
updated: "2026-10-04T18:27:51.569325+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Alfonso Arau

## Identity

Alfonso Arau

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/alfonso-arau
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** alfonso-arau
- **IMDb ID:** nm0000778
- **TMDB ID:** 22767
- **Wikidata ID:** Q920072
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfonso_Arau, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q920072, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000778/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/22767

Actor. Born 11 January 1932 in Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 11 January 1932, Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico
- **Active:** 1969–2017
- **Also known as:** Альфонсо Арау, Alfonso Aráu
- **Average Fi1m score:** 79, as actor, over 5 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1960s 84 (1), 1970s 67 (1), 1980s 79 (2), 2010s 84 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 78 to 73 across 4 titles
- **Score spread:** 3 at 80+, 2 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 3 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Adventure 3, Drama 2, Western 2, Action 1, Animation 1, Comedy 1
- **Screen time:** 8 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $902m across 3 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfonso_Arau, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q920072, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000778/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/22767

## Streaming the US now

- **Disney+:** [*Coco*](https://film.one/film/coco.md) (84)
- **Tubi:** [*Romancing the Stone*](https://film.one/film/romancing-the-stone.md) (77)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Biography

Alfonso Arau is a Mexican actor and director. Born in Mexico City on 11 January 1932, he began his career as an actor in Mexican films and television in the 1950s, later appearing in Hollywood productions.

He is known for acting roles including Herrera in *The Wild Bunch* (1969), Juan in *Romancing the Stone* (1984), El Guapo in *¡Three Amigos!* (1986), and Papá Julio in *Coco* (2017). As a director, his breakthrough came with *Like Water for Chocolate* (1992), adapted from the novel by his then wife Laura Esquivel. Other directing credits include *A Walk in the Clouds* (1995). Arau has won multiple Ariel Awards, including for best director on *Like Water for Chocolate*, and received a BAFTA nomination.

*Sources: imdb.com, en.wikipedia.org, rottentomatoes.com.*

## On Fi1m (5)

- *Coco* (2017), Fi1m 84, as Papá Julio (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/coco.md)
- *Miami Vice* (1984), Fi1m 81, as Jorge Cruz — [page](https://film.one/tv/miami-vice.md)
- *Romancing the Stone* (1984), Fi1m 77, as Juan — [page](https://film.one/film/romancing-the-stone.md)
- *El Topo* (1970), Fi1m 67, as Bandit 1 — [page](https://film.one/film/el-topo.md)
- *The Wild Bunch* (1969), Fi1m 84, as Herrera — [page](https://film.one/film/the-wild-bunch.md)

## Complete filmography (52)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Drunk Angry Idiot* (2018), as Ernesto Pino
- *Coco* (2017), as Papá Julio (voice) — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/coco.md)
- *I Heart Shakey* (2012), as Raoul
- *L'imbroglio nel lenzuolo* (2010), Director
- *The Dead One* (2007), as Tezcatlipoca (voice)
- *Zapata: The dream of a hero* (2004), Director, Producer, Writer
- *A Painted House* (2003), Director
- *The Magnificent Ambersons* (2002), Director
- *Picking Up the Pieces* (2000), as Dr. Amado · Director, Executive Producer
- *Committed* (2000), as Grampy
- *A Walk in the Clouds* (1995), Director
- *Polvora En La Piel* (1992), Actor
- *Like Water for Chocolate* (1992), Director, Producer
- *Camino largo a Tijuana* (1991), Actor
- *Where the Hell's That Gold?!!?* (1988), as Indio
- *The Marked Hour* (1988), series, as Ernesto Godin
- *Stones for Ibarra* (1988), as Chuy Santos
- *Walker* (1987), as Raousset
- *¡Three Amigos!* (1986), as El Guapo
- *Round* (1986), Actor
- *Chido Guan, el tacos de oro* (1986), Screenplay, Story, Director
- *227* (1985), series, Actor
- *Miami Vice* (1984), series, as Jorge Cruz — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/miami-vice.md)
- *Romancing the Stone* (1984), as Juan — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/film/romancing-the-stone.md)
- *Mojado Power* (1983), as Nato Solís · Director, Writer, Producer
- *The Day Pedro Infante Died* (1982), as Anselmo
- *Used Cars* (1980), as Manuel
- *Tivoli* (1975), as Tiliches · Writer
- *Posse* (1975), as Pepe
- *Inspector Calzonzin* (1974), as Calzonzín · Director, Producer, Writer
- *Nest of Virgins* (1972), as Lucas Lucatero
- *Run, Cougar, Run* (1972), as Etio
- *Aunt Isabel's Garden* (1972), Actor
- *El águila descalza* (1971), as Poncho / Jonathan Eaglepass / Mascalzzone · Director, Writer
- *Scandalous John* (1971), as Paco
- *El Topo* (1970), as Bandit 1 — Fi1m 67, [page](https://film.one/film/el-topo.md)
- *Paradise* (1970), as El Perro
- *The Useless Life of Pito Pérez* (1970), Actor
- *Jóvenes de la Zona Rosa* (1970), Actor
- *Tres amigos* (1970), Actor
- *The Wild Bunch* (1969), as Herrera — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/the-wild-bunch.md)
- *El aviso inoportuno* (1969), Actor
- *Operación carambola* (1968), as Capulina's Aid #1
- *Pedro Paramo* (1967), as 'Saltaperico'
- *There Are No Thieves in This Village* (1965), Actor
- *...And Your Love Too* (1962), as Alfredo
- *Los pistolocos* (1960), Actor
- *Trip to the Moon* (1958), as Carlos Vera
- *Música en la noche* (1958), Actor
- *New faces* (1956), Writer
- *Gunsmoke* (1955), series, as Mando
- *Hallmark Hall of Fame* (1951), series, as Chuy Santos · Director

## Gallery

- ![Alfonso Arau y Sergio Corona en 1957, durante las filmaciones de película de comedia grabada en La Habana, Cuba.](https://film.one/media/person/102708/gallery-4728cdb6738c.png) Alfonso Arau y Sergio Corona en 1957, durante las filmaciones de película de comedia grabada en La Habana, Cuba. — Unknown, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/36/Alfonso_Arau_y_Sergio_Corona_en_1957.png/1280px-Alfonso_Arau_y_Sergio_Corona_en_1957.png?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Los artistas Alfonso Arau y Sergio Corona en los años 50, en la Habana.](https://film.one/media/person/102708/gallery-c5246823f2fb.jpg) Los artistas Alfonso Arau y Sergio Corona en los años 50, en la Habana. — HER-BAR, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/60/Alfonso_Arau_y_Sergio_Corona_en_los_a%C3%B1os_50.jpg/1280px-Alfonso_Arau_y_Sergio_Corona_en_los_a%C3%B1os_50.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Alfonso Arau y Sergio Corona en Cuba, en los años 50. (1950)](https://film.one/media/person/102708/gallery-776540f8a547.webp) Alfonso Arau y Sergio Corona en Cuba, en los años 50. (1950) — Unknown, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/92/Alfonso_Arau_y_Sergio_Corona_en_los_a%C3%B1os_50.webp/1280px-Alfonso_Arau_y_Sergio_Corona_en_los_a%C3%B1os_50.webp?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)

## Awards

### Other awards — 1 won

- Salvador Toscano Medal 2016: Salvador Toscano Medal (won)

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/alfonso-arau