Jose Vargas Martinez, 70; Mexico’s Bozo the Clown

Jose Manuel Vargas Martinez, Mexico’s Bozo and later Nino the clown, died of respiratory problems Friday in Mexico City. He was 70.

Vargas considered becoming a tango singer or a bullfighter before settling into acting. He was working at a cabaret in 1961 when a friend asked if he could play a clown. With red hair, bright makeup and a perpetual smile, he became Bozo, entertaining generations of children on Mexican television.

The name change to Nino the clown came because the U.S. had a trademark Bozo appearing on more than 180 locally produced shows. Faced with a lawsuit, Vargas abandoned Bozo and became Nino.

Clown colleagues wore customary oversized shoes and brightly colored costumes and wigs for his funeral Saturday, which ended with fireworks and confetti.

Vargas told Mexico’s news agency Notimex shortly before his death that he would do it all over again, because “for me, to be a child is a part of my life.”