Raul Velasco, 73; host of Mexican variety show

Raul Velasco, former host of one of Mexico’s most popular and enduring television programs, “Siempre en Domingo,” died Sunday at his Acapulco home, his network said. He was 73.

Velasco’s program has been compared to “The Ed Sullivan Show.” He was credited with launching many of Mexico’s biggest pop stars by having them on his show, which was broadcast from 1969 to 1998.

President Vicente Fox called the death an “irreparable loss” in an open letter to Velasco’s wife, Dorle Klokow, distributed by the president’s office.

Fox called Velasco “a founder of entertainment journalism,” adding that “he leaves us a particularly memorable story of the happiness and entertainment that he knew how to communicate.”

Announcers on the Televisa network, which broadcast “Siempre en Domingo” (Always on Sunday), broke into coverage of a Sunday soccer game to report Velasco’s death.

On its website, the Televisa network posted an article saying Velasco died “surrounded by his family at his home, after an intense struggle against several illnesses.”

“This closes a chapter in the history of Mexican television,” the article said.

“My idea from the very beginning,” Velasco told The Times in 1984, “was to realize the grand vision of [Simon] Bolivar to create a Latin America without national boundaries. Politically, that is impossible. But at a cultural level, at a feeling level, we’ve accomplished just that through TV.

“Curiously enough, we’ve had the greatest success within the U.S. itself. Here, people forget that they’re Mexican or Argentinian or Salvadoran when they watch our show. They identify with our common language and our common roots.”

Earlier this month, Velasco’s son Arturo told local media that stomach problems had prevented Velasco from appearing at a ceremony in his honor sponsored by an entertainers union.

An October homage to Velasco was attended by pop stars including Alejandra Guzman and Puerto Rican singers Ricky Martin and Chayanne.

In 1998, hepatitis forced Velasco to undergo a liver transplant, which local media said hastened the demise of his show.

Jovial in the show’s earlier years, Velasco showed a more spiritual side in later broadcasts. He became known for his favorite phrase: “Aun hay mas” (There’s more to come).