Rafael Durán (actor)
Rafael Durán Espayaldo (15 December 1911 – 12 February 1994) was a Spanish actor. Born in Madrid, he left civil engineering studies to pursue show business, starting as a dancer and then working in theatre. He made his film debut in 1935 with Rosario la cortijera and became popular in 1939 with the comedy La tonta del bote, co-starring Josita Hernán. The two then acted together in six more films.
In the 1940s, Durán was a leading star alongside Alfredo Mayo. He appeared in several classics, including Eloísa está debajo de un almendro (1943); El clavo (1944) with Amparo Rivelles; Tuvo la culpa Adán (1944) and Él, ella y sus millones (1944) by Juan de Orduña; El destino se disculpa (1945) by José Luis Sáenz de Heredia; and La vida en un hilo (1945) by Edgar Neville with Conchita Montes.
In the 1950s his popularity declined, and he retired from film in 1965. He did appear in Jeromín (1953), Un ángel tuvo la culpa (1959) and El Valle de las espadas (1962). His daughter María Durán was briefly part of the musical group Acuario. In 1946 he won the Círculo de Escritores Cinematográficos Award for Best Actor for La pródiga. Durán died in Sevilla at age 82.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 20:53 (CET).