Chuy Bravo 1956-2019
Chuy Bravo (December 7, 1956 – December 15, 2019) was a Mexican-American actor and entertainer.
Born Jesús Melgoza in Tangancícuaro, Michoacán, Mexico, he immigrated to the United States at age 15, moving to the San Fernando Valley. He graduated from Sylmar High School. Bravo began acting in the early 1990s. He appeared in the films The Honeymooners (2005) and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007). He was the sidekick of host Chelsea Handler on the talk show Chelsea Lately during its run from 2007 to 2014. In 2013, Bravo was a competitor on the celebrity diving reality competition show Splash on ABC. Bravo had dwarfism, and was 4 feet 3 inches (130 cm) tall. In 2012, Bravo revealed that he survived prostate cancer, 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. He also started the Bravo Academy in Los Angeles, stating to have a focus on the Latin community in Hollywood. The academy's purpose is to help its talents participate in different projects in television, cinema and theater. He was the founder and face of Chuy's restaurant, and was known to be spotted visiting these locations and making surprise visits to his franchises. He usually provided comedic relief to Handler's show, and was the topic of many of her jokes.
Bravo passed away in Mexico City on December 15, 2019, at the age of 63.