Carlos Petrel was the artistic name of Juan Carlos Manuel López Alcantud, a Spanish-born actor and opera singer who became a pivotal figure in Mexican dubbing. He was born in Ferrol, La Coruña, Spain, on March 30, 1924. Forced into exile by the Spanish Civil War, he spent his youth in France, where he debuted as a singer in 1943. He later moved to Mexico, initially working as a cabaret singer in Mexico City's nightlife, often performing the songs of Agustín Lara in French. His career in broadcasting began on radio station XEB, and he subsequently became one of the pioneers of Mexican television at Televicentro.

His entry into the world of dubbing came in 1955 when he joined the group of actors that founded the CLADSA company. In the late 1970s, he was part of the first wave of Spanish-language actors to work at ESM International Dubbing Inc. in the United States, where he also began directing dubbing projects, a role he continued upon his return to Mexico throughout the 1980s and 1990s.

While Petrel's career spanned live-action film and television, he is most renowned for his extensive voice work in animation and dubbing. One of his most iconic and recurring roles was providing the Spanish voice for Mr. Spock, originally played by Leonard Nimoy, in the television series Star Trek and its subsequent films. This collaboration extended even further, as he voiced Nimoy himself in cameo appearances for the Latin American Spanish dubs of The Simpsons episodes Marge vs. the Monorail and The Springfield Files.

In the realm of anime and animated series, his work was prolific. He voiced Gigante in The Adventures of the Little Prince, confirming the user's example. His other anime credits include roles such as Professor Tobishima in Groizer X, Roland and Vicente Lusan in Hello! Sandybell, Izanami in The Little Prince and the Eight-Headed Dragon, and Poseidón in Umi no Triton. He also voiced characters in series like Tom Sawyer and El Justiciero. Beyond anime, his voice was ubiquitous in Western animation, including Abraham Simpson on The Simpsons from its inception until his death, Venger in Dungeons & Dragons, Sortílego in Galaxy Rangers, and the adult Shere Khan in The Jungle Book and its spin-offs.

Petrel's deep and grave voice made him a sought-after talent for villainous and authoritative characters in animated films. He is memorably remembered as the voice of Scar in The Lion King and Lumière in Beauty and the Beast. His filmography also includes dubbing Darth Vader in the first Spanish dub of Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope, Pepe Le Pew in various Looney Tunes projects, and the narrator for films like The Black Cauldron and Ben-Hur.

Carlos Petrel passed away on September 17, 2000, in Mexico City due to complications from hepatitis that led to cirrhosis. His death marked the end of an era in Latin American dubbing, with his roles, particularly Abraham Simpson, being taken over by other actors. His legacy is defined by his immense body of work, his directorial contributions to the industry, and his distinctive voice that brought countless beloved characters to life for Spanish-speaking audiences.