Nobel Vega (August 21, 1931 – August 7, 2023), better known as Tio Nobel or Uncle Nobel, was a Cuban actor and children's television personality.[1] Vega is mostly remembered for his character as a boat captain who appeared on Puerto Rico's WKAQ-TV's "El Show del Tio Nobel" ("Uncle Nobel's Show"), a daily children's game show he hosted in which children played for prizes, usually Mattel branded toys. His show competed with Spaniard Pacheco's "Cine Recreo", shown on WAPA-TV, Telemundo Puerto Rico's rival television station.

Nobel Vega
Born(1931-08-21)August 21, 1931
Cuba
DiedAugust 7, 2023(2023-08-07) (aged 91)
Miami, Florida, United States
Other namesTio Nobel, Uncle Nobel
OccupationActor

Early life and career

edit

Nobel Vega became an actor in his native Cuba and he participated in various films before, after the Cuban revolution, he, like many other Cuban nationals of the era, left his country. He settled in Puerto Rico where he found television work and fame, first playing Bozo the Clown for young Puerto Rican audiences on WAPA-TV.[2] Vega also participated in a telenovela, 1969's Conciencia Culpable.[1]

Vega then moved to Telemundo Puerto Rico, where he starred as "Tio Nobel" for more than 20 years on the "Tio Nobel Show" as well as in "El Mundo Infantil del Tio Nobel" ("Uncle Nobel's Children's World") and "El Festival del Tio Nobel" ("Uncle Nobel's Festival"). In later years, he took his "Tio Nobel" character and moved to another Puerto Rican channel, Tele Once.

Personal life

edit

Vega moved from Puerto Rico during the later stages of his life and he resided in Miami, Florida.[3] He was married to his longtime wife, Nadine Zayas.[4]

Illness and death

edit

Vega in his older age suffered a number of health issues, including having a brain stroke which left him with difficulty to speak, heart problems which led to having a pacemaker installed, several injuries and Alzheimer's disease.[5]

Nobel Vega died at his home in Miami on August 7, 2023, at the age of 92.[6]

Filmography

edit

Vega participated in three films, including one Hollywood film.[7]

See also

edit

Fellow Cuban expatriates in Puerto Rico

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ a b "Una mirada al libro de oro del "Tío Nobel"". Primera Hora. 17 September 2016. Retrieved 2020-08-26.
  2. ^ "En la casa del Tío Nobel". El Nuevo Día. 10 February 2012. Retrieved 2020-08-26.
  3. ^ "Capitán de todos el Tío Nobel". Primera Hora. 29 October 2011. Retrieved 2020-08-26.
  4. ^ Venes, Pablo. "Tío Nobel enfrenta diagnóstico de alzheimer". Metro (in Spanish). Retrieved 2020-08-26.
  5. ^ "Tío Nobel enfrenta diagnóstico de alzheimer". Metro Puerto Rico. October 8, 2019.
  6. ^ "Fallece Nobel Vega, quien hizo el famoso personaje infantil "Tío Nobel"". El Nuevo Día. August 7, 2023.
  7. ^ "Nobel Vega". IMDb.