Txema Blasco

José María Blasco Echeguren (13 July 1941 – 28 June 2024), better known as Txema Blasco, was a Spanish actor known mainly for his work in film and television.

Early life
Born in the early days of General Francisco Franco's dictatorship, Blasco went to primary school at the Samaniego and Jesús Obrero de Vitoria colleges. While studying at college, and for several years, he formed part of the clown duo of Hermanos Chetti ("Brothers Chetti") together with Tito Aldama, making a total of 4,316 appearances.

After his mother's death when Blasco was thirteen years old, he went out to work at the age of 14 at Aranzabal as a bellboy, combining it with his studies for a secondary-level diploma, and in psychology and business, years later becoming the company's accountant. At the same time he formed part of the theatrical groups La Farándula, Gasteiz or Arlequín.

Career
In 1966, Blasco took part in the Álava provincial government's Amateur Cinema Division, filming a great many short films, participating in the 1970s in El sacamantecas ("The Bogeyman"), directed by Jesús del Val, and in José Ramón Aguirrezabal's En el cura alavés ("In the Álava Clergyman").

In the 1980s, he took part in the film La fuga de Segovia ("The Segovia Prison Break" — based on an actual event in 1976), directed by Imanol Uribe, and in Montxo Armendáriz's film Tasio. After acting in Tasio, Blasco worked in three short films by the same director, Pello Varela, foremost among which was Coja usted el siguiente ("Take the Next One"), selected in the 1986 San Sebastián International Film Festival, until in 1991 he once again appeared in a feature-length film by Enrique Urbizu: Todo por la pasta (released in English under the title "Anything for Bread"). From this time forth, Blasco's career was heavily bound to the cinema, and he repeatedly worked with more than one director, Julio Medem, Pello Varela or Montxo Armendáriz.

In 1992, he gave up his accountant's job at Aranzabal to give himself over wholly to his acting career, taking part in this decade in Alas de mariposa ("Butterfly Wings"), Vacas ("Cows"), Los años oscuros ("The Dark Years"), La ardilla roja ("The Red Squirrel"), Cómo ser infeliz y disfrutarlo ("How to Be Unhappy and Enjoy It"), Sálvate si puedes ("Save Yourself If You Can"), Salto al vacío ("Jump into the Void") or Cuernos de mujer ("Woman's Horns").

Blasco alternated his cinematic appearances with television projects such as Del Miño al Bidasoa ("From the Minho to the Bidasoa"), El joven Picasso ("The Young Picasso"), Pepa y Pepe, Colegio Mayor ("Residential College"), Más que amigos ("More Than Friends"), Blasco Ibáñez, la novela de su vida ("Blasco Ibáñez, the Novel of His Life"), La virtud del asesino ("The Murderer's Virtue") and Médico de familia ("Family Doctor").

In the 2000s, Blasco appeared in the films Maestros, Leo, Aunque tú no lo sepas (literally "Although You Never Knew It", but entitled "What You Never Knew" in English) and Para que no me olvides (literally "So That You Don't Forget Me", but entitled "Something to Remember Me By" in English), and in various series such as Paraíso, Robles, investigador, Policías, en el corazón de la calle, Un lugar en el mundo, Hospital Central and TVE's Cuéntame cómo pasó, in which he spent three years.

In the 2010s, Blasco appeared in many television series, among which were Águila Roja, Los misterios de Laura, Gran Hotel, Aída, Con el culo al aire and Rabia. He also appeared on the big screen in films such as Vidas pequeñas ("Little Lives"), Que baje Dios y lo vea ("Let God Come Down and See It") and Lo nunca visto ("That Which is Never Seen").

Later years
In the 2020s, Blasco participated in fewer projects, retiring in 2021. In 2020, he received the Celedón de Oro, awarded by Vitoria-Gasteiz city council in recognition of the actor's extensive professional career. (Celedón is a modern legendary figure in Vitoria-Gasteiz). Throughout all his years as an actor, Blasco took part in 103 television series, 82 feature-length films and 167 short films, making him the Spanish actor who has appeared in the most short films. He also directed 28 works and two zarzuelas.

After having health problems in his later years, he went to live at the Sagrada Familia nursing home in Cucho, in the Province of Burgos.

Death
Blasco died in Condado de Treviño, Burgos on 28 June 2024, at the age of 82. He was divorced. Blasco had four children, Marta, Óscar, Yoset and Gaizka, and five grandchildren, Javier, Íñigo, Aimar, Uxue and Aiala.