Many people know comedic actor Cheech Marin for his stoner comedy "Cheech & Chong" films in the '70s and '80s, but he's also made his mark as a director, writer, musician and a Chicano advocate and art collector. He's starred in feature film comedies and animated movies and has made bestselling bilingual children's music albums.

Marin recently spoke to Latin Post about his role in the animated fantasy-adventure "The Book of Life," directed by Jorge Gutierrez and produced by Oscar winner Guillermo del Toro, who Marin said "was a part of that Mexican cadres of filmmakers that were coming up."

During the Latin Post exclusive interview, Marin also reminisced about his early days in the industry and recalled other Latino trailblazers in film, including filmmaker and fellow Mexican-American, Robert Rodriguez.

Marin and Rodriguez have been collaborating for years and have worked together in several films, including the "Spy Kids" trilogy, "From Dusk Till Dawn," "Machete," "Desperado" and "Once Upon a Time in Mexico."

Marin has seen Rodriguez evolve from aspiring filmmaker to become a founder of his own English-language El Rey Network (which features the popular TV series "From Dusk Till Dawn," "Matador" and "El Rey Network Presents: The Director's Chair").

"It has been wonderful, man. I have known him from the very beginning. He had just come from the University of Texas, and he had made a student film, called 'Bedhead.' It was a little short, and he made it with his brothers and sisters. It was about adventures of this little kid," Marin told Latin Post. "You saw the visual style that he was working on -- and it was fully formed already."

"Bedhead," a 16mm short, went on to become an award-winning "family-comedy-fantasy film" that "chronicles the amusing misadventures of a young girl whose older brother sports an incredibly tangled mess of hair that she cannot tolerate."

When Marin was working on his children's music album, "My Name is Cheech, the School Bus Driver," someone suggested he work with Rodriguez. At the time, Marin said he initially thought, "What? Are you nuts! He's about blood and guts," since Rodriguez is known for his campy, grindhouse style and cult-like film following. "But they said, 'No, he has this kids thing.' And then 'Spy Kids' came out."

Rodriguez had another side to him and a child-like thrill for adventure. "Spy Kids" became so successful and well-received that it spawned two sequels. "When 'Spy Kids' came out, it was like, 'That's what I'm talking about, you morons!'" Marin said.

"Robert and I were friends from the beginning. He would come over the house with his wife and stay with me, he's like family. He knew that he could always call on me if he needed this or that," he said. "We have this direct communication. ... He's looking through the lens, the viewfinder and he's talking to me."

Also a longtime friend and collaborator of Quentin Tarantino, Rodriguez reportedly grew up shooting action and horror short films on video and editing on two VCRs. In the fall of 1990, his entry in a local film contest earned him a spot in the film program at the University of Texas (where he made "Bedhead").

"[Rodriguez] was the first digital director. He wasn't afraid of it. ... He had this reverence for film, because it came from when he was in high school and he had a job in a camera store. When the first digital cameras first came out, the store owner said, 'Well you're going to be selling this, so here's the camera, take it home for the weekend and use it.'" Once he saw what Rodriguez could do, according to Marin, he said, "'You have talent, don't be afraid of digital technology,'" so he used it, and he was much better right away."

Marin Behind the Mic, Lens and Animation:

In "The Book of Life," which hit theaters Oct. 17, Marin voices the hysterical Pancho Rodriguez, one of Manolo's (voiced by Diego Luna) mariachi friends, the "Rodriguez brothers" (also voiced by Gabriel Iglesias and Ricardo "El Mandril" Sanchez). In the film, they sing "fun, though hardly romantic versions of Rod Stewart's 'Do Ya Think I'm Sexy' and Biz Markie's 'Just a Friend' -- the latter to the accompaniment of a toy piano."

The film's themes include a love triangle, the strength of the human spirit and the celebration of Mexican culture, including its vibrant holiday, the Day of the Dead (el Dia de Los Muertos).

In addition to his other roles, Marin also provided his voice for several Disney animated films. In addition to "Oliver & Company" (1988), he voiced roles as Banzai in "The Lion King" (1994) and Ramone in "Cars" (2006) and "Cars 2" (2011). He also reprised the Banzai role in "Kingdom Hearts II." He also appeared in "Ghostbusters II" and the hit TV series "Lost" as Hurley's father.

Marin has released two bestselling, bilingual albums for kids:, "My Name is Cheech, the School Bus Driver" (1992) and "Coast to Coast" (1997). In July 2007, Marin added children's book author to his list of accomplishments with the release of "Cheech the School Bus Driver," which was illustrated by Orlando L. Ramirez. In 2005, Marin appeared as the character Juan Bobo in Nickelodeon's Dora the Explorer series in an episode titled "A Crown for King Bobo."

As mentioned, Marin was part of the wildly successful comedy duo Cheech & Chong. While he and Chong went their separate ways, Marin is still close friends with Chong, who is currently starring on "Dancing with the Stars." According to Marin, there is a new "Cheech & Chong" film in the works, but they are still finalizing the details.

Related