Francisco Colmenero is a highly influential Mexican voice actor and voice director, recognized as a foundational figure in Latin American dubbing. Born José Francisco Colmenero y Villanueva on February 28, 1932, in Mexico City, his career in the industry began in 1954 and has spanned over seven decades, during which he has voiced thousands of characters and become a familiar voice to multiple generations.

Colmenero's career began with the series The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin. His entry into the world of dubbing was facilitated by his brother-in-law, Edmundo Santos, a pioneering voice director who worked closely with Walt Disney. Initially hired as Santos's driver, Colmenero was encouraged to try voice acting and soon after began working as a voice director. He was an actor and director at the studio Grabaciones y Doblajes, S.A., also known as "Estrellita," a company he became a shareholder in following Santos's death in 1977.

He is perhaps best known for his extensive work with The Walt Disney Company, earning him the informal title of "the voice of Disney" in Mexico and across Latin America. For two decades, he was the official Spanish voice of Mickey Mouse, and for many years, he also voiced Goofy until the series Goof Troop. Another of his most iconic Disney roles is Pumbaa the warthog from The Lion King, a character he has voiced in all of its film and series appearances. He also provided the Spanish narration for several classic Disney films, including Beauty and the Beast and FernGully: The Adventures of Zak and Crysta. His voice work for the studio continued into the 21st century with roles such as the Sheriff in Cars and Don Hidalgo in the Pixar film Coco.

Beyond Disney, Colmenero's filmography is vast and includes some of the most beloved characters in animation history. He was the voice of Papa Smurf in The Smurfs, the narrator for the Super Friends series, Pablo Marmol (Barney Rubble) in The Flintstones, and Amos Slade in The Fox and the Hound. He also provided voices for Looney Tunes characters, including Daffy Duck and Elmer Fudd. His work extended to live-action television and film as well, where he was the Latin Spanish voice of John Locke in the series Lost and Bilbo Baggins in The Lord of the Rings film trilogy.

Dubbing is a family tradition for the Colmenero family. He was married to María Teresa Colmenero, a translator and adapter for Disney, and is the uncle of voice actress Diana Santos, the longtime Spanish voice of Minnie Mouse. His nephew, Edmundo Santos, and grandson, Francisco "Paco" Colmenero, have also worked in the industry.

Throughout his long career, Colmenero has not only acted but also served as a director, adapter, and translator on numerous projects. In recognition of his monumental contribution to the art of dubbing, he was honored with a tribute in Mexico City for his 80th birthday in 2012. In April 2019, he cemented his legacy by placing his handprints in the Plaza de las Estrellas (Paseo de las Luminarias) in Mexico City. Even in his nineties, Francisco Colmenero remained active in the industry, continuing his work as a voice actor and director.