In 1969 there was a new baby in the house, but not much sleep. That’s when I met Juan Valdez and his wonderful coffee. Actor Carlos Sánchez Jaramillo played the role from 1969 to 2006, having taken over from Cuban actor José F. Duval, who established the role in 1958. Jaramillo was succeeded in 2006 by Carlos Castañeda, a coffee grower from the town of Andes, Antioquia, Colombia. And all three actors were accompanied by the lovable, loaded mule Conchita (“little shell”), sometimes called Lana.

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