Popular Mexican clown and actor Ricardo González Gutiérrez, lovingly called by fans as 'Cepillín', died on Monday due to respiratory failure after he was diagnosed with spinal cancer. He was 75. Cepillín had come to know about the cancer only recently after undergoing a spinal surgery and was in intensive care a few days back due to a respiratory failure. He had also been recovering for pneumonia from his operation and was waiting to begin his chemotherapy treatment. Cepillín's son, Ricardo González Jr., hours before his father’s death believed that he would make a recovery as the doctors had told him that the cancer had been detected on time. He further said that his father had taken the news of being affected by cancer in a calm manner. González Jr. said, "You know my dad. He said, 'I have to die of something.' He turned to see us and said, 'I have cancer,'". 

Born February 7, 1946, in Monterrey, Nuevo León, Ricardo González Gutiérrez was initially studying dentistry when he was invited to work in a children's program on the local Multimedios Televisión network. It was during his stint there when he discovered it was easy for him to approach children after having his face painted as a clown. Soon, he was called "Cepillín" (Brush) and advised children on how to clean their teeth, all while practising his career as a dentist. 

Cepillín then entered the world of television after he got an opportunity to do an educational program called "El Show de Cepillín", which earned him the nickname "El Payasito de la Tele," (the little clown of television). He subsequently became a successful children's music singer and went on to sell millions of copies of his albums. Cepillín also starred in three films and exited television before successfully starting his own circus, which saw fans throng for more than two decades. His last major television appearance was on the program "Viva la Familia", in which he was invited by Aracely Arámbula. 

2020 saw Cepillín announce his retirement from stage in the play "CuarenTenorio Cómico"  and was thus the final drawing of the curtains after a 50-year career. The iconic Mexican entertainer had also prepared a farewell tour, along with his two children, Cepi and Franki, who as well went on to follow their father's footsteps in comedy. Below are videos of Cepillín's final video appearance from his hospital bed and his body being taken for the last respects: