Chuy Bravo (born Jesús Melgoza; December 7, 1956 – December 14, 2019) was a
Mexican-American
Mexican Americans are Americans of full or partial Mexican descent. In 2022, Mexican Americans comprised 11.2% of the US population and 58.9% of all Hispanic and Latino Americans. In 2019, 71% of Mexican Americans were born in the United State ...
actor and entertainer. He was the sidekick of host
Chelsea Handler
Chelsea Joy Handler (born February 25, 1975) is an American stand-up comedian, actress, writer, television host, and producer. She hosted the late-night talk show '' Chelsea Lately'' on the E! network from 2007 to 2014 and released a documenta ...
on the talk show ''
Chelsea Lately
''Chelsea Lately'' is an American late-night comedy talk show created by Brody Stevens and hosted by comedian Chelsea Handler. The show was produced by Handler's production company (Borderline Amazing Productions), and taped its later years a ...
'' during its run from 2007 to 2014. He usually provided comedic relief to Handler's show, and was the topic of many of her jokes.
Michoacán
Michoacán, formally Michoacán de Ocampo, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Michoacán de Ocampo, is one of the 31 states which, together with Mexico City, compose the Political divisions of Mexico, Federal Entities of Mexico. The stat ...
, Mexico, the youngest of seven children. At the age of fifteen he came with his family to the
San Fernando Valley
The San Fernando Valley, known locally as the Valley, is an urbanized valley in Los Angeles County, Los Angeles County, California. Situated to the north of the Los Angeles Basin, it comprises a large portion of Los Angeles, the Municipal corpo ...
.
In his new home, Bravo had a difficult time fitting in and finding work. After graduating from
Sylmar High School
Sylmar Charter High School is a charter school in the northeast San Fernando Valley in the Sylmar, Los Angeles, Sylmar district of Los Angeles, California. Established in 1961, it is part of the Los Angeles Unified School District, District 2, a ...
, he took a job assembling PC boards. He also began his own janitorial service business. In the 1990s he fell into alcohol abuse, and was imprisoned for sixteen months for
driving under the influence
Driving under the influence (DUI) is the crime of driving, operating, or being in control of a vehicle while one is impaired from doing so safely by the effect of either alcohol (drug), alcohol (see drunk driving) or some other drug, whether re ...
.
Upon his release, he resolved to straighten out his life, and took acting classes for two years. He went on to find an agent and began auditioning. His first film role, in ''
Austin Powers in Goldmember
''Austin Powers in Goldmember'' is a 2002 American spy comedy film directed by Jay Roach. It is the third and final installment in the ''Austin Powers'' film series and stars Mike Myers in four different roles: Austin Powers, Dr. Evil, Goldme ...
'' (2002), did not make the final cut.
Acting career
Bravo began acting in the early 1990s.
He appeared in the films ''
Tiptoes
''Tiptoes'' is a 2002 American comedy-drama film written and directed by Matthew Bright. The film stars Gary Oldman, Kate Beckinsale, Patricia Arquette, and Matthew McConaughey. The film's plot revolves around an average-sized man (McConaughey ...
'' (2003) with
Matthew McConaughey
Matthew David McConaughey ( ; born November 4, 1969) is an American actor. He achieved his breakthrough with a supporting performance in the coming-of-age comedy '' Dazed and Confused'' (1993). After a number of supporting roles, his first su ...
; ''
The Rundown
''The Rundown'' (known internationally as ''Welcome to the Jungle'') is a 2003 American action comedy film directed by Peter Berg and written by James Vanderbilt and R.J. Stewart from a story by Stewart. It follows an aspiring chef working as ...
The Honeymooners
''The Honeymooners'' is an American television sitcom that originally aired from 1955 to 1956, created by and starring Jackie Gleason, and based on a recurring comedy sketch of the same name that had been part of Gleason's variety show. It f ...
'' (2005) with
Cedric the Entertainer
Cedric Antonio Kyles (born April 24, 1964), better known by his stage name Cedric the Entertainer, is an American stand-up comedian, actor and television host. He hosted BET's '' ComicView'' during the 1993–1994 season and '' Def Comedy Jam'' ...
and an uncredited role in '' Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End'' (2007).
Bravo met Handler through a mutual director friend he was working with who told him that she was looking to cast a little person. After being introduced they soon became friends and started working together. Bravo appeared in every episode of ''
Chelsea Lately
''Chelsea Lately'' is an American late-night comedy talk show created by Brody Stevens and hosted by comedian Chelsea Handler. The show was produced by Handler's production company (Borderline Amazing Productions), and taped its later years a ...
'' from 2007 until its end in 2014. Bravo also appeared in the behind-the-scenes mockumentary ''
After Lately
''After Lately'' is an American television comedy. The series depicts, in mockumentary style, the behind the scenes goings-on at the office of the late-night talk show '' Chelsea Lately''. The cast is made up of the actual writers and performers ...
'' that ran concurrently from 2011 to 2013.
When Handler's show ended in 2014 Bravo went on to appear in ''The Sex Trip'' (2016) and ''Buscando Nirvana'' (2017). He appeared in the short film ''The One II - Resurrection of the Vampires'' (2015) and his last appearance in movies was a return to that series in ''The One: Horror – Cupido, Divinitas'' (2017).
Bravo also appeared in pornographic films, notably for
Vivid Entertainment
Vivid Entertainment Group is an American independent pornographic film production company,
''Splash''
In 2013, Bravo was a competitor on the celebrity diving reality competition show '' Splash'' on ABC. However, he suffered a freak injury prior to the competition's first round, breaking his heel, and was forced to withdraw. On the show Bravo said that he was very disappointed about his injury and that he wanted to show the world and a "special someone" (presumably Handler) that he was not lazy; he vowed to return for the second season of ''Splash'' if he was asked back and if the series was renewed (it was not).
Personal life and death
Bravo had
dwarfism
Dwarfism is a condition of people and animals marked by unusually small size or short stature. In humans, it is sometimes defined as an adult height of less than , regardless of sex; the average adult height among people with dwarfism is . '' ...
, and was tall.
In 2010 his book ''Little Nuggets of Wisdom Big Advice from the Small Star of Chelsea Lately'' was published.
In 2012, Bravo revealed that he survived
prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is the neoplasm, uncontrolled growth of cells in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system below the bladder. Abnormal growth of the prostate tissue is usually detected through Screening (medicine), screening tests, ...
, which was treated quickly after it was diagnosed. He also said he is a recovering alcoholic and was nearly homeless at one point in his life. "I have been through a lot in my life... but I've overcome my struggles and now I'm finally living my life."
Bravo started the Little Nugget Foundation in his hometown of Tangancicuaro to provide food and clothing for those struggling with alcoholism.
Bravo served as master of ceremonies for the national comedy tour ''Comedians of Chelsea Lately'' that included
Dov Davidoff
Dov Davidoff (born September 22, 1973) is an American comedian and actor.
Early life
Davidoff was born in Englishtown, New Jersey, where his father owned a junkyard.
Career
In addition to performing in clubs and colleges throughout the co ...
and Christina Pazsitsky.
He also started the Bravo Academy in
Los Angeles
Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...
, stating to have a focus on the Latin community in
Hollywood
Hollywood usually refers to:
* Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California
* Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States
Hollywood may also refer to:
Places United States
* Hollywood District (disambiguation)
* Hollywood ...
. The academy's purpose is to help its talents participate in different projects in television, cinema and theater.
In 2013 Bravo opened a taco stand in Hollywood ''Chuy Bravo's Taqueria'' selling "tacos, carne asada burritos, tortas, nachos and sopes." Bravo also created a signature line of chips and salsa, and sold other merchandise on his website.
Bravo developed
gastrointestinal bleeding
Gastrointestinal bleeding (GI bleed), also called gastrointestinal hemorrhage (GIB), is all forms of bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract, from the mouth to the rectum. When there is significant blood loss over a short time, symptoms may includ ...
on December 14, 2019, and was rushed to the emergency room at Dalinde Medical Center in Mexico City. He developed complications and had an acute heart attack, after which he was pronounced dead. He was 63 years old.