José Ramón Arellano Rodríguez, known to generations of children in southern Chile as Tony Pulguita, was a clown, singer and children's television presenter from the Biobío Region. For more than 30 years he entertained young audiences on regional television and in schools, nurseries, squares and children's homes. He died of cancer in Concepción on 13 November 2026, aged 63.
His artistic life began on the streets and continued in the circus, where he developed the character of Pulguita, a cheerful clown in a bowler hat, red nose and white face paint. In 1993 he joined Canal 9 Regional, now Canal 9 Bío Bío Televisión, as co-host of the children's programme A la ronda ronda alongside the presenter known as Tía Sandra. The show became hugely popular across the region in the 1990s and turned him into a familiar figure for families throughout Biobío.
Television fame took him on tour to kindergartens, schools, public squares and homes for children. Over his career he built a repertoire of around 40 songs that still circulate online. He was also known for his social commitment, visiting hospitals to bring some joy to children facing serious illness, and he kept receiving recognition from local communities long after his television heyday.
In his last years his appearances became occasional. He had been undergoing cancer treatment for several months, travelling often between Concepción and Santiago, and in October 2026 his family organised a bingo to help pay for his care. He had announced his retirement from the stage in March 2026 because of his health.
He died at about four in the afternoon on Friday 13 November 2026 at the Sanatorio Alemán in Concepción, accompanied by his loved ones, as his family told Canal 9 Bío Bío. The mayor of Concepción, Héctor Muñoz, declared a day of municipal mourning for 14 November, with flags at half mast, and the mayor of Coronel, Boris Chamorro, decreed three days of mourning, saying he left a legacy of affection, joy and social commitment that would remain in the memory of generations.
