The enigmatic end of the ‘Calvo de la Lotería’: this is how the death of Clive Arrindell, the most iconic face of Spanish Christmas, was discovered a year later.

For almost a decade, Clive Arrindell was synonymous with illusion and Christmas. His face, wrapped in glitter and mystery, became an emblem of the Christmas Lottery ads, marking for millions of Spaniards the beginning of the holidays. But almost twenty years after his last appearance, his name is back in the news, this time for a tragic reason: his death, which occurred in the summer of 2024, went completely unnoticed until now.

The finding was discovered by chance thanks to Miguel Angel Zapata, director of lottery administration number 2 in San Pedro del Pinatar (Murcia). His determination to include the famous “bald man” in a Christmas route between his town and the Teatro Real in Madrid led him to investigate the whereabouts of the actor, discovering that he had died months before without any Spanish media had reported it.

The man who distributed luck every Christmas

In 1998, Clive Arrindell landed the role that would change his life. He went to a casting for the Christmas Lottery commercial and captivated the directors with his enigmatic image. The funny thing is that he wasn’t really bald, but had shaved his head because of the demands of another role. From that moment on, he repeated the gesture every year to maintain the image of the character that would make him immortal.

• A “pateras-taxi” network that charged for carrying migrants from Algeria is busted in Ibiza

For almost a decade, he was the most recognizable face of Spanish Christmas, appearing in commercials between 1998 and 2005. However, after his last campaign, the actor said goodbye to the character and his figure faded from the media spotlight.

An unexpected discovery from Murcia

Although many had forgotten him, Miguel Ángel Zapata did not. Moved by nostalgia, he decided to pay tribute to him as part of his Christmas route. In the process, he came across British news reports of his death, but no information in Spain confirmed it.

He then decided to investigate further, until last Sunday he published a poster in his administration with the news: “The ‘Calvo of the Lottery’ passes away”,accompanied by the phrase “the person who distributed more illusion in Spain”.

• New Year’s Eve in Ibiza: houses and apartments eclipse hotels once again

Zapata also found an in memoriam from the organization ‘UK Theatre’ and a tribute from the Old Augustinians school, where Clive studied. Finally, a friend of the actor confirmed the news: Arrindell had died suddenly in the summer of 2024.

Despite the confirmation, the circumstances of his death remain a mystery, as the cause has not been disclosed and no serious health problems were known.

“Clive died in 2024.”

After hearing the news, ABC contacted Bernabé Rico, film producer and representative of the actor in Spain. He was the one who confirmed the sad reality: “Unfortunately, that’s how it is: Clive died in 2024,” he said.

Rico further recounted the last conversation he had with the actor, at Christmas 2023, when he had already noticed a change in his mood: “He was very disenchanted. He stopped having an agent years ago, and I did little more than act as an intermediary. “, he explained.

According to the producer, Clive was no longer feeling well physically and had stopped leaving the house: “He told me that physically he wasn’t feeling very well and hadn’t left the house for a month,” he added.

• Ibiza adds a new air connection with London for the 2026 season

The filmmaker recalls with regret how he tried to cheer him up:”He left me very worried. I told him that I would help him in any way I could, but… “he confesses without finishing the sentence.

Regarding his emotional state, Rico clarifies: “Depression? No, I don’t know… It wasn’t exactly that. I was a very sensitive person, that’s all. “.

A life marked by art and discretion

Clive Arrindell was born in Trinidad and Tobago in 1950, but his family soon moved to the United Kingdom, where he developed his artistic career. Despite his fame in Spain, the actor always maintained a discreet life. He never married and never had children, although in several interviews he assured that he was a happy man and grateful for the opportunities that acting had given him.

Before becoming the iconic “Lottery Baldie”, Arrindell already had a solid theatrical and television career. He participated in several productions in London and, after his stint in Spanish advertising, he continued to work intermittently in television and theater.

• Unusual: a motorcyclist rides with her helmet upside down in Ibiza

In 2013, he returned to Spain to star in the Acción contra el Hambre Christmas campaign, a solidarity project that reaffirmed his bond with the country that had adopted him as a symbol of its holidays.

Later, he had an appearance in the first season of The Crown, the hit series about the British monarchy. On this occasion, he did it with his natural hair, which made many Spanish viewers not recognize him.