Fannie Kauffman

Fannie Kauffman
Vitola, with el enano Santanon and her son
Born	Fannie Kauffman (1924-04-11)April 11, 1924 Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Died	February 21, 2009(2009-02-21) (aged 84) Mexico City, Mexico
Occupation	Actor, comedian
Years active	1943–1997 (approx.)

Fannie Kauffman (April 11, 1924 – February 21, 2009), who was often known by the stage name Vitola, was a Canadian-born Mexican actress and comedian.

Kauffman was born on April 11, 1924, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. She moved with her parents to Cuba and was raised in Havana, where she resided until she was 22 years old. She began her entertainment career in Cuba as a child singer at the age of 8, when she thought of becoming an opera singer.

Kauffman's parents entered her in a radio contest when she was eleven and a half years old. The contest was looking for a girl to appear on the daily children's radio show, La Escuelita. Kauffman won the contest and began appearing on the radio with the Cuban comic team, Agapito y Timoteo. Kauffman earned her lifelong nickname, Vitola, while working in Cuban radio. Her nickname is based on the vitola of Cuban cigars.

Kauffman transitioned to comedy and moved to Mexico in 1943, shortly before she turned 23 years old. In 2007, Kauffman told the newspaper, El Universal, that though she was raised in Canada and Cuba, she emphasized that, "Soy mexicana" (I am Mexican), after more than 60 years of residing in the country.

She made her Mexican debut at the Teatro Arbeu in Mexico City in 1943. Kauffman met Germán Valdés, who was better known as Tin-Tan, while working at the Teatro Arbeu. Kauffman and Tin-Tan developed a close professional relationship which spanned both of their careers. The two often appearing opposite one another on screen and stage.

In 1946, Kauffman launched her film career in the 1946 movie, Se acabaron las mujeres, directed by Ramón Peón. She co-starred in the 1949 Mexican film, El Rey del Barrio, opposite Silvia Pinal and Tin-Tan. Kauffman also starred or appeared in films throughout the Golden Age of Mexican cinema, including the 1950 film, También de Dolor se Canta, starring Pedro Infante and films opposite Adalberto Martínez.