José Mojica

About

Though he is perhaps best remembered for his roles in One Mad Kiss, Las Fronteras del Amor, and other musical films of the 1930s, this Mexican-born singer and actor devoted the bulk of his entertainment career to the opera, performing at Mexico's Teatro Ideal and at both the Chicago Civic Opera and the Metropolitan Opera in the United States.

Before Fame

After training at Mexico's National Conservatory of Music, he made his operatic debut at Mexico City's Teatro Arbeu in a 1916 production of The Barber of Seville.

Trivia

After retiring from acting and singing, he relocated to Peru, where he devoted himself to a Roman Catholic monastic life.

Family Life

Born Crescenciano Abel Exaltacion de la Cruz Jose de Jesus Mojica Montenegro y Chavarin and better known by his professional name of Jose Mojica, he grew up in San Gabriel, Jalisco state, Mexico.

Associated With

While living in New York City, he became acquainted with the Italian tenor Enrico Caruso. Caruso became his mentor and helped him secure a position with the Chicago Civic Opera company.