When you think of the legendary Roberto Gómez Bolaños—the man the world affectionately knows as Chespirito—you probably picture the barrel-dwelling Chavo or the clumsy Chapulín Colorado. But behind the scripts and the slapstick, the personal life of Latin America’s most famous comedian was surprisingly heavy. It wasn't just a simple Hollywood-style romance. It was a messy, decades-long saga involving two very different women who played pivotal roles in his rise and his eventual sunset years.
Most people immediately jump to Florinda Meza, the actress who played Doña Florinda. She was his partner for over 30 years and eventually his legal wife. However, there’s another name that often gets pushed into the shadows: Graciela Fernández. She was the woman who stood by him before the world knew his name, the mother of his six children, and the one who experienced the grueling ascent of a struggling writer becoming a global icon.
Graciela Fernández: The Woman Before the Fame
Long before the stadium tours and the international syndication, Roberto was just a young creative trying to find his footing in Mexican television. In 1956, he married Graciela Fernández Pierre. Honestly, it's hard to overstate how important she was during his formative years. While Roberto was busy inventing the "Supergenios de la Mesa Cuadrada," Graciela was the anchor.
They were together for over two decades. In that time, they had six children: Roberto, Graciela, Marcela, Paulina, Teresa, and Cecilia. If you’ve ever seen Roberto Gómez Fernández (the producer who keeps the Chespirito legacy alive today), he is the son of Graciela.
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But as the 1970s rolled in and El Chavo del Ocho became a cultural phenomenon, the marriage started to crack. Fame changes people. It’s a cliche, sure, but in Roberto’s case, it was true. He admitted later in his autobiography, Sin Querer Queriendo, that he carried a lot of guilt over how things ended with Graciela. He was constantly traveling, surrounded by fans, and—by his own admission—not always faithful. They eventually separated in the late 70s and officially divorced in 1989. Graciela passed away in 2013, just a year before Roberto, staying mostly out of the spotlight until the very end.
The Florinda Meza Era: Professional Partners turned Lifelong Companions
Then there’s Florinda. If Graciela was the foundation of his early life, Florinda Meza was the powerhouse of his peak years. Their relationship is still one of the most talked-about "office romances" in TV history.
They met on the set of Chespirito. At first, it was strictly professional. In fact, Florinda was actually in a relationship with Carlos Villagrán (Quico) and later with the show’s director, Enrique Segoviano. But Roberto was persistent. He reportedly sent her flowers every day for years, even while he was still married to Graciela.
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It took a long time for her to say yes. She knew the stakes. She knew he was a married man with six kids. But eventually, the chemistry was undeniable. By 1977, they were a "thing," though they didn't officially marry until 2004.
Why the Controversy Still Lingers in 2026
Even now, years after Roberto’s passing in 2014, the public is still divided. Some see Florinda as the "villain" who broke up a stable home. Others see her as the muse who kept Roberto sharp, creative, and protected during his aging years.
A few years back, when the bio-series Sin Querer Queriendo started development, the drama flared up all over again. Florinda has been very vocal about how she’s portrayed. She’s fiercely protective of Roberto’s image—and her own. You’ve probably seen the headlines: she’s fought legal battles over the rights to his stories and has been open about the "sacrifices" she made, including never having children of her own because Roberto had already had a vasectomy by the time they were serious.
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Life After Chespirito
Since Roberto’s death in 2014, Florinda Meza has basically become the guardian of the flame. It hasn't been easy. There were years where the shows were pulled off the air globally due to a dispute between the broadcaster (Televisa) and the family.
But honestly, she’s a survivor. At 76, she’s still active, still elegant, and still defending the man she calls "her Rober." Whether people love her or not, you can't deny that she was there for every single one of his final breaths in Cancún.
Key Takeaways for Fans
If you're trying to make sense of the Roberto Gómez Bolaños family tree or his romantic history, keep these specific points in mind:
- Graciela was the first wife: She was the mother of all six of his children and his wife during the 50s, 60s, and most of the 70s.
- The relationship with Florinda started on set: It began while El Chavo was at its peak, leading to significant tension within the cast (especially with Carlos Villagrán).
- No children with Florinda: Despite being together for over 35 years, they never had kids together.
- The 2004 Marriage: They were partners for 27 years before actually signing the papers to make it legal.
If you want to dive deeper into the history of the show itself, your best bet is to look for archival interviews from the late 80s. That’s where the "mask" usually slips, and you see the real-time shifts in the cast dynamics. You could also check out Roberto's memoir; it's a bit of a heavy read, but it's the only place where he truly explains the "why" behind his transition from one life to the next.
Understanding the women in Roberto’s life gives you a much clearer picture of why the show feels the way it does. The joy, the loneliness, the domestic squabbles—it wasn't just scripted. It was lived.