Miguel Gila

Miguel Gila Cuesta (12 March 1919 in Madrid - 13 July 2001 in Barcelona, Catalonia) was a Spanish comedian.
Early life.
When Gila was 13 years old he left school because his father died. His first job was in a garage in Madrid. Several years later he went back to school to finish his studies. He got a degree in aircraft mechanics. He worked in the Elizalde of Barcelona Workshops. Later he was milling in Construcciones SA Aircraft (CASA) in Getafe. 
Spanish Civil War.
Gila was a member of Unified Socialist Youth (JSU). When the Spanish Civil War began, he joined the republican troops. He came close to being shot by the rebel volunteers. He was able to survive. According his own words: "the fascist troops take me among others to be executed ("Paseo": "Walking" in English), but they were too drunk for shoot us, so they failed". Therefore he left JSU.
Career.
Gila made his debut as vignettist in 1945. He become famous as a monologuist in 1951. Most of his repertory was about war histories. Gila's most known catchphrase was: "Está el enemigo?, que se ponga [al teléfono]" (Are the enemy there?, take him at phone).
"According to his own autobiography, success came in 1951 when he starred in Madrid as spontaneous theater Fontalba, where he told an impromptu monologue about his experience as a volunteer in a war. From there his career took off."
Body of work.
Screenplays.
Gila worked on the scripts of "Cinderfella" and "The man traveling slowly". He took part in the animated film, "Tales of love and slaughter" in 1975. It was directed by Já (Jordi Amoros). Gila wrote the screenplay with with Chumy Chúmez, Ivà and Jaume Perich. They all worked on the drawings, or animations for the movie.
Later in life.
Gila died in Barcelona from respiratory failure. He had a chronic lung illness.