Arturo Vergara Medina (13 July 1920 – 19 June 1986), better known by his stage name Bentot or Ben Cosca, was a Filipino

comedian A comedian (feminine comedienne) or comic is a person who seeks to entertainment, entertain an audience by making them laughter, laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting foolishly (as in slapstick), or employing prop c ...

and vaudevillian who spent most of his career under

LVN Pictures LVN Pictures, Inc. was a Filipino film studio that was considered one of the biggest in the history of Philippine cinema and its foremost establishment in motion picture post-production until 2005. In its heyday of motion picture production, LV ...

. He had many

box office A box office or ticket office is a place where ticket (admission), tickets are sold to the public for admission to an event. Patrons may perform the transaction at a countertop, through a hole in a wall or window, or at a Wicket gate, wicket. ...

hits with another famed comedian Pugo who played his father in their films. He also appeared on the Manila bodabil circuit in its heyday in the fifties and early sixties.

Biography

Arturo Vergara Medina was born in San Simon, Pampanga on 13 July 1920. He made his first movie appearance in 1947's ''Maria Kapra'', a musical by

Sampaguita Pictures Sampaguita Pictures was a Philippine film production company. It was named for the Philippine national flower, sampaguita. Though no longer functioning, the company's Sampaguita Compound remains in Quezon City. History Sampaguita Pictures was e ...

with Angel Esmeralda. He made his second and last movie for Sampaguita in 1951's ''Batas ng Daigdig'' aka ''Rule of the World''. Then he moved to the rival studio of Sampaguita, LVN, and stayed until the film studio closed in 1961. Bentot had a second life in radio and television, appearing as Bitoy in the radio and later TV comedy series ''Tang Tarang Tang'' with Pugo,

Sylvia La Torre Sylvia Reyes La Torre-Perez de Tagle (June 4, 1933 – December 1, 2022) was a Filipino singer, actress, and radio star. Early life La Torre was born on June 4, 1933, to director Olive La Torre and actress Leonora Reyes. Career Singing La Tor ...

, Rosa Aguirre, and Marita Zobel. He is the father of former child star Bentot Jr.

Death

Bentot died in June 19, 1986 in Manila, Philippines at the age of 65 due to heart failure, a month shy of his 66th birthday.

Filmography

Film

*''Maria Kapra'' (1947) *''Batas ng Daigdig'' (1951) *''Phone Pal'' (1957) *''Sebya, Mahal Kita'' (1957) *Alembong (1958) *''Mr. Kuripot'' (1958) *''Nukso ng Nukso (1960) *''Oh Sendang!'' (1960) *''Krus Na Daan'' (1960) *''Prinsipe Diomedes at ang Mahiwagang Gitara'' (1961) *''Lalaban Kami'' (1961) *''Dugo ng Sugatan'' (1964) *''Pagkatapos ng Kasal'' ("Sama ng Loob" segment, 1965) *''Tatlong Mabilis'' (1965) *''Mga Saragate'' (1965) *''Tatlong Mabilis sa Hongkong'' (1966) *''Pitong James Bonds'' (1966) *''Sexy sa Laban'' (1966) *''Pitong Zapata'' (1967) *''Si Inday sa Balitaw'' (1970) *''John & Marsha'' (1974) *''Loose Connection'' (1975) *''Kung May Tiyaga May Nilaga'' (1975) *''Harabas Is My Name'' (1975) *''Yolindina'' (1975) *''Taho-Ichi'' (1976) *''The Crazy Professor'' (1985) *''Praybeyt Depektib Akademi'' (1986)

Television

*''Talagang Ganyan'' (1976)

Discography

*"Jeproks" (1978) - Plaka Pilipino Records *"Burloloy" (1978) - Plaka Pilipino Records

References

External links

*
Bentot film clips
1920 births 1986 deaths 20th-century Filipino comedians 20th-century Filipino male actors Filipino male comedians Filipino male film actors Filipino television personalities Male actors from Pampanga {{Philippines-actor-stub