Enrique Rivera

Enrique Rivera, also known as Papá, is a character from the 2017 Disney/Pixar movie, Coco. He is the father of Miguel Rivera who hopes Miguel will join their family's shoemaking business.

Official Description

 * Miguel's supportive father who hopes that someday, Miguel will join him in the family shoemaking business.

Role in the film
Enrique first appears in the Rivera shoe shop making shoes to sell in the store. His mother Elena and brother Berto comes in with Miguel. Elena informs Enrique that Miguel was in Mariachi Plaza, to his disapproval. Miguel explains that he was just shining shoes but Enrique scolds him for disobeying Elena and forbids him from returning to the plaza. Later, he, his mother, and Luisa tell Miguel that they have decided to let Miguel into the shoemaking business. Miguel hesitantly asks what would happen if he isn't good at making shoes, although Enrique and Luisa dismiss the notion, as Enrique proclaims Miguel has his family to guide him. At sunset, Miguel appears claiming to the family that Ernesto de la Cruz is his great-great-grandfather and that he's going to become a musician. Enrique is doubtful to the point where he states “We’ve never known anything about this man! But whoever he was he still abandoned his family. This is no future for my son!” He and Elena try to talk Miguel out of this idea; but Miguel persists Elena ultimately destroys Miguel's guitar to prevent him from pursuing this path, despite Enrique urging his mother not to do so, knowing the action would send a terrible message.

Enrique feels guilty for upsetting his son especially after he runs off, so much so that he and Luisa follow Miguel to the cemetery to look for him, unaware that Miguel has transformed into a spirit and is thus unable to see Miguel. The next morning, Enrique spots Miguel returning home to help Mamá Coco. At first, Enrique is upset with Miguel, but quickly understands that Miguel was only trying to help that he comforts his son. When Miguel decides to play Mamá Coco a song, Enrique holds back his mother from interfering as he believes that Miguel can help Mamá Coco. Enrique and the rest of the family are moved by the heartfelt moment, and from Coco he learns his great-grandfather was Héctor.

In the events leading to the next Día de los Muertos a year later, Enrique becomes the father to the newest member of the Rivera clan, Socorro. He holds her in his arms as he and his wife watch Miguel play his now-accepted great-grandfather's guitar.