Ernesto de la Cruz is the main-antagonist of Coco (2017).
History[]
Background[]
Origins[]
Ernesto de la Cruz was born in 1896 and lived in Santa Cecilia, Mexico. He was a singer who worked alongside his childhood friend, songwriter Héctor Rivera and toured Mexico with him. In 1921, Héctor wanted to return home to his wife and daughter, prompting Ernesto to poison Ernesto's tequila so he could steal his guitar and book of songs, while taking credit for them as his own. Ernesto staged Héctor's murder to appear to be the result of him having choked to death on a chorizo and that he had abandoned his family.
Using Héctor's plagiarized music, Ernesto became a celebrated musician and movie-star. In one of these movies, he even adapted the way in which he murdered Héctor. Prior to his death, he appears to have visited the Lamplight Lounge in the California amusement park, "Pixar Pier" and left an autographed photograph of himself behind.
In 1942, Ernesto did a musical performance of Héctor's song, "Remember me" where an accident caused a large prop bell to fall and crush Ernesto to death. Ernesto was subsequently given an extravagant tomb and became a celebrity in the Land of the Dead, with his crimes still being a secret.
Land of the Dead[]
Appearances[]
The guitar which de la Cruz used in life appears alongside Miguel and Coco inspired scenery in the parks.
Lamplight Lounge[]
In this lounge there is a photograph of a living Ernesto, signed, "! Vive tu momento!- Ernesto de la Cruz" (Spanish: "Live in the/your moment!").[1]
Mexico Pavilion[]
A poster near the Mariachi band area has Ernesto's likeness across from Hector's, alongside Miguel's face.[2]
Miguel's El Dorado Cantina[]
Ernesto's likeness appears outside the restaurant.
Oogie Boogie Bash[]
Ernesto appeared live on Buena Vista Street, doing a musical performance.
Trivia[]
- Ernesto de la Cruz and Charles Muntz from Up are both Pixar villains who have signed photographs in the Lamplight Lounge.