The actor Clive Arrindell, known in Spain for his role as the Lotería’s Calvo, passed away in 2024. His image, associated for years with Christmas Lottery commercials, became a true emblem of Spanish television between 1998 and 2005, marking an era and the beginning of the Christmas spirit for millions of viewers.
Passing of the actor who embodied the magic of Christmas
The news of Clive Arrindell’s death was recently announced by Miguel Ángel Zapata, owner of the El Perolo administration in San Pedro del Pinatar (Murcia), who posted a farewell message on his business website after receiving a letter from a friend of the performer. According to this testimony, the actor died suddenly during the summer of 2024.
Born in Trinidad and Tobago in 1950, Arrindell trained as an actor in London, where he built a solid theatrical career before achieving international fame thanks to his participation in the Christmas Lottery commercials. His performance, accompanied by the melody of Doctor Zhivago, marked an era and became a symbol of the Spanish Christmas spirit.
His figure, elegant and silent, became the emblem of the illusion of the Christmas lottery for seven consecutive years. However, in 2005, Loterías y Apuestas del Estado decided to do without him, even though his contract was still valid for four more years. Since then, no other ad has been able to match the impact and recall of those spots.
His passing has been received with sadness by those who remember him as the face that, for years, gave life to the hope of every draw.
A discreet career, an indelible mark
After his farewell to the Lottery, Arrindell continued to be linked to the world of show business, albeit in a more discreet way: in 2016 he made a cameo in the Netflix series “The Crown”, where his hairy appearance prevented many from recognizing him. Years later, in 2019, he starred in a new Christmas ad, this time for Pescanova, demonstrating that his image was still associated with the festive spirit.
Off-camera, the actor went through difficult personal moments: in an interview granted to El Mundo in 2018, he revealed that he had suffered the loss of two nephews in a short period of time due to mental health problems, an experience he described as devastating.
Despite the blows of life, Clive Arrindell always maintained a serene and philosophical attitude, faithful to his Buddhist vision of the world. Today, almost two decades after his last appearance as the Lottery Baldy, his figure remains synonymous with nostalgia, magic and illusion, inseparable elements of the Spanish Christmas spirit.
