Javier Carranza

Javier Carranza, known professionally as El Costeño, is a Mexican character comedian born on February 7, 1977, in Acapulco, Guerrero. He performs under a stage persona built around his coastal origin, recognizable by his patterned shirts, sandals, hat, and marked Acapulco accent. Carranza describes his work as observational comedy about everyday life, relationships, children, men and the small absurdities of daily routine, delivered with sharp local color from the Pacific coast of Mexico. He is among the better known character comedians on Mexican television and live stages of his generation, and gained additional national attention from late 2019 after viral political comedy clips.

Javier Carranza grew up in the port of Acapulco, where his father Venustiano Carranza, a locksmith and ventriloquist, gave him his first exposure to comedy and performance. He began working at age 16 as a master of ceremonies in nightclubs and originally developed a character called Tlahuica Jr., an indigenous figure, before Manuel Rodriguez Ajenjo suggested he switch to a character closer to his own coastal background, which became El Costeño. He rose to wider visibility on Mexican television programs including Hoy and La hora pico, and built a national live touring schedule across Mexico and Mexican communities in the United States. In December 2019 he went viral when material mocking President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and the Morena party, performed at the Feria Nacional de San Marcos in Aguascalientes, spread across social media. In March 2024 he was injured when the vehicle he was traveling in fell into a ravine on the Mexico to Tampico federal highway near Calnali, Hidalgo, and he later returned to stage work after recovery. He also drew attention in 2025 for personal controversies and for criticism directed at the municipal government of Acapulco.

El Costeño tours regularly across Mexico in theaters, fairs and corporate events, and performs in the United States in cities with strong Mexican audiences. Clips of his routines, character bits and viral political segments are widely available on YouTube and TikTok, and he is active on Instagram and TikTok under the handle elcostenooficial. He has also appeared on Mexican TV variety programs including Hoy and La hora pico.