Editing Cantinflas (section)

== Early and personal life ==
Mario Fortino Alfonso Moreno Reyes was born in [[Santa María la Redonda]] neighborhood of [[Mexico City]], then grew up in [[Tepito]]. He was one of eight children born to Pedro Moreno Esquivel, an impoverished mail carrier, and María de la Soledad Reyes Guízar (from [[Cotija, Michoacán]]). Moreno's mother, Soledad Reyes, came from an affluent family, but was disinherited when she married Pedro Moreno. The others were Pedro, José ("Pepe"), Eduardo, Esperanza, Catalina, Enrique, and Roberto.<ref name="yahoo bio">Yahoo [https://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1800014289/bio Cantinflas biography]. Retrieved 9 February 2006.</ref>

He made it through difficult situations with the quick wit and street smarts that he would later apply in his films. His comic personality led him to a circus tent show, and from there to legitimate theatre and film.

He married Valentina Ivanova Zubareff, of Russian ethnicity, on 27 October 1936 and remained with her until her death in January 1966. A son was born to Moreno in 1961 by another woman;<ref name="stavans37">[[Ilan Stavans]]. ''The riddle of Cantinflas: Essays on Hispanic popular culture'', 1st ed. {{ISBN|0-8263-1860-6}}. Albuquerque, NM: University of New Mexico. 1998, p. 37.</ref> the child was adopted by Valentina Ivanova and was named Mario Arturo Moreno Ivanova, causing some references to erroneously refer to him as "Cantinflas' adopted son".<ref name="variety bio">[https://variety.com/1993/scene/people-news/cantinflas-106186/ Biography from ''Vanity Magazine''] Retrieved 29 January 2006.</ref> Moreno Ivanova died on 15 May 2017, of a presumed heart attack.<ref>{{cite web|author=Sughey Baños|url=http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/articulo/espectaculos/farandula/2017/05/15/mario-moreno-ivanova-dejo-todo-en-orden-viuda|title=Mario Moreno Ivanova dejó todo en orden: viuda|language=es|publisher=Eluniversal.com.mx|date=15 May 2017|access-date=17 August 2017}}</ref>

Moreno served as president of one of the Mexican actors' guilds known as ''Asociación Nacional de Actores'' (ANDA, "National Association of Actors") and as first secretary general of the independent filmworkers' union ''[[Union of Cinema Production Workers|Sindicato de Trabajadores de la Producción Cinematográfica]]'' (STPC).{{Citation needed|date=November 2009}} Following his retirement, he devoted his life to helping others through charity and humanitarian organizations, especially those dedicated to helping children. His contributions to the [[Roman Catholic Church]] and orphanages made him a folk hero in Mexico.{{Citation needed|date=September 2015}}

He was a [[Freemasonry|Freemason]], initiated at Chilam Balam Lodge.<ref>{{cite web|author=Diario Masónico|url=http://www.diariomasonico.com/masones-famosos/solicitud-de-ingreso-en-la-masoneria-de-mario-moreno-cantinflas|title=Solicitud de ingreso en la masonerĂ&shy;a de Mario Moreno "Cantinflas"|publisher=Diariomasonico.com|date=12 August 2017|access-date=17 August 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://freemasonry.bcy.ca/biography/cantinflas/cantinflas.html|title=Cantinflas|publisher=Freemasonry.bcy.ca|access-date=17 August 2017}}</ref>

In 1961, Cantinflas appeared with U.S. Vice President [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] at shopping centers and supermarkets in San Antonio, Texas, to support the successful [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] nominee to the United States House of Representatives for [[Texas's 20th congressional district]], [[Henry B. Gonzalez]], who defeated his [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] challenger, [[John W. Goode]]. Gonzalez was the first Hispanic elected to the [[Texas State Senate]] and as a U.S. congressman from Texas.<ref>Gilbert Garcia, "Castro unlike O'Rourke has much to lose," ''[[San Antonio Express-News]]'', 31 March 2017, p. A2.</ref>