{{Short description|Uruguayan comedian (1943–2025)}} {{Family name hatnote|Frade|Pintos|lang=Spanish}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2025}}
'''Julio César Frade Pintos''' (3 November 1943 – 19 September 2025) was a Uruguayan pianist, comedian, actor, and broadcaster. One of the most recognized figures in Uruguayan culture and entertainment, his career spanned almost seven decades.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Cisnero |first=Fernán |date=20 September 2025 |title=Adiós al maestro Julio Frade, un artista que hizo reír y emocionar en las dos orillas del Río de la Plata |url=https://www.elpais.com.uy/tvshow/tv-y-radio/adios-al-maestro-julio-frade-un-artista-que-hizo-reir-y-emocionar-en-las-dos-orillas-del-rio-de-la-plata |access-date=22 September 2025 |website=EL PAIS |language=es-UY}}</ref> He was part of television programs such as ''Telecataplúm'', ''Comicolor'', Hupumorpo, Hiperhumor, and ''Decalegrón''. Alongside colleagues like Ricardo Espalter, Enrique Almada, Berugo Carámbula, and Eduardo D'Angelo, he was considered one of the last exponents of Uruguay's "golden generation" of comedy.<ref name="chau">{{cite web |url=https://brecha.com.uy/chau-julio/ |title=Chau, Julio |date=26 September 2025 |access-date=26 September 2025 |last=Atienza |first=Ángel |website=Brecha |language=es }}</ref>
Frade pursued a parallel career in music, performing with Astor Piazzolla in 1982, directing orchestras, and representing Uruguay in 26 editions of the OTI Festival. He served as musical director of Uruguayan television channels, as director of Canal 5, and as general manager of Radio Carve and Radio Oriental. For four decades, he hosted the radio program ''Frade con permiso''. In 2012, he was named Illustrious Citizen of Montevideo. Frade died in Montevideo on 19 September 2025.
== Early life and education == Frade was born in Montevideo in 1944.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Palomino |first=Ester |date=20 September 2025 |title=Murió Julio Frade, célebre músico, humorista y conductor uruguayo |url=https://www.infobae.com/entretenimiento/2025/09/20/murio-julio-frade-celebre-musico-humorista-y-conductor-uruguayo/ |access-date=22 September 2025 |website=infobae |language=es-ES}}</ref> Frade began studying piano at age four, made his professional debut at 14 with the orchestra of the Embassy cabaret, and at 17 received a scholarship to study jazz in New York. Lodging with a local family who bought him a piano two weeks later, he joined his school's jazz band and immersed himself in the city's scene.<ref name=":0" />
== Career == === Music === On his return to Uruguay, Frade joined the jazz band Chicago Stompers and later led various orchestras. In 1982, he performed with Astor Piazzolla, becoming the only Uruguayan to do so. He served as musical director at Uruguay's Channels 4, 10, and 12, and between 1990 and 1995 was director of Canal 5.<ref name=":1" /> He represented Uruguay in 26 editions of the OTI International Festival and produced the music events Costa a Costa and Parque del Plata.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=20 September 2025 |title=Murió Julio Frade, el humorista uruguayo que hizo reír a los argentinos en los '70 y '80 |url=https://www.perfil.com/noticias/protagonistas/murio-julio-frade-el-humorista-uruguayo-que-hizo-reir-a-los-argentinos-en-los-70-y-80.phtml |access-date=22 September 2025 |website=Perfil |language=es}}</ref> In September 2024, he performed a concert at the Nelly Goitiño Auditorium to mark his 80th birthday.<ref name=":0" />
Frade recorded ''Música en serio'' in 1974 and arranged Rubén Rada's album ''Radeces'' in 1975. In 2000, he released ''Tango Sur Trío'' with Danie Lagarde and Mario Núñez. In 2017, he released ''Sesenta años no es nada'' to mark six decades of his career.<ref name=":0" />
=== Television and comedy === Frade's work as a comedian made him a well-known figure in both Argentina and Uruguay.<ref name=":0" /> He made his television debut on ''Telecataplúm'' as a musician and later as an actor. He later appeared on ''Comicolor'', ''Jaujarana'', ''Hiperhumor'' ''and'', ''Rapicómicos''.<ref name=":1" /> In the late 1970s, he joined the founding cast of ''Decalegrón'', which ran for nearly 25 years until 2001.<ref name=":2" /> His characters included Adrianita, El Chicho, El Buda, the "enlightened patron", and the children's character Abelardito in ''Casquito y Cascote''. He worked with Ricardo Espalter, Eduardo D'Angelo, Enrique Almada, and Andrés Redondo.<ref name=":1" /> Frade's final television appearance was as an expert on the Canal 4 version of ''Los 8 escalones'', hosted by Gustaf.<ref name=":0" />
=== Radio === Frade worked at stations including Carve and Oriental, where he became general manager. For forty years, he hosted the program ''Frade con permiso'' on Radio Clarín. In August 2025, he announced his retirement as his health had begun to decline.<ref name=":0" /> The show continued under the title ''Con su permiso'', hosted by Ivanna Vázquez and Roberto Riolfo.<ref name=":1" />
=== Other === In 2023, Frade published an autobiography, ''Gracias Señor.<ref name=":1" />''
== Awards and recognitions == In April 2012, the city of Montevideo named Frade an '''Illustrious Citizen of Montevideo''' in recognition of his artistic career. The decision was announced at a public ceremony held on 18 April 2012.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |title=Julio Frade será declarado Ciudadano Ilustre |url=http://historico.espectador.com/cultura/236583/julio-frade-sera-declarado-ciudadano-ilustre |language=es |website=Espectador |date=8 April 2012 |access-date=22 September 2025}}</ref>
== Personal life and death == Frade retired from public life in 2025 after leaving his long-running radio program ''Frade con permiso'', following a career of more than sixty years.<ref name=":2" /> He died in Montevideo on 19 September 2025 at the age of 81 from heart disease. He was buried at Cemeterio del Buceo. He was survived by his daughters, Virginia and Florencia, and by two grandsons.<ref>[https://10minutos.com.uy/murio-el-maestro-julio-frade-a-poco-de-cumplir-82-anos/ Obituary], 10minutos.com.uy. Accessed 27 September 2025.</ref>
== Bibliography == * {{Cite book |last=Atienza |first=Ángel |last2=Frade |first2=Julio |year=2023 |title=Julio Frade. Gracias, señor |language=Spanish |location=Montevideo |publisher=Editorial Planeta |isbn=9789915674889}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
== Further reading == * 2021 interview with Julio Frade, ''El País'' ("[https://www.elpais.com.uy/tvshow/musica/julio-frade-habla-de-los-ocho-escalones-su-autobiografia-y-su-paso-por-telecataplum Julio Frade habla de 'Los ocho escalones', su autobiografía y su paso por 'Telecataplúm']{{-"}})
==External links== * {{IMDb name|1029465}} * {{Discogs artist|Julio Frade}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Frade, Julio}} Category:1943 births Category:2025 deaths Category:20th-century Uruguayan male actors Category:21st-century male musicians Category:21st-century pianists Category:21st-century Uruguayan male actors Category:Berklee College of Music alumni Category:Entertainers from Montevideo Category:Male actors from Montevideo Category:Male pianists Category:Uruguayan male comedians Category:Uruguayan male musicians Category:20th-century Uruguayan male musicians Category:Uruguayan male television actors Category:Uruguayan pianists Category:Uruguayan radio personalities Category:Uruguayan radio presenters