Núñez Olivera had his kidney removed when he was 90 and a cataract operation aged 98, and is a veteran of the Spanish Civil War. He was nicknamed "Marchena" after Pepe Marchena, due to his resemblance to the singer. With the death of Israeli supercentenarian Yisrael Kristal on 11 August 2017, Núñez became the worlds oldest living man. He died on 29 January 2018.