DEAD ICON: Africans Mourn Brazil’s Milton Gonçalves,Bids Farewell To A Great Africanist, Actor, Director
One of the greatest icons of Brazilian TV, cinema and theater, Milton Gonçalves , died today , 30 May 2022 , at the age of 88. The news of his death was confirmed by the family this afternoon, citing complications from strokes as the cause of his death.
An Africanist , defensor of Black emancipation , actor and diretor , Milton began his career in the Television in the 1960s. He debuted on Globo Television in 1965, in soap operas; A Moreninha and Padre Tião.
Milton did outstanding works in Irmãos Coragem (1970), O Bem-Amado (1973, playing the classic character Zelão das Asas), Gabriela (1975) and Pecado Capital (1975).
In the following decades, he continued acting and directing soap operas and series for Globo Television , such as Baila Comigo (1981), Sinhá Moça (1986), Que Rei Sou Eu? (1989), A Grande Família (2001), Esperança (2002), Cobras & Lagartos (2006) and A Favorita (2008). His last appearance was in last year’s “Daughters of Eve series”
The actor’s curriculum in cinemas was also notable, participating in classics of national filmography such as Cinco Vezes Favela (1962), Macunaíma (1969), Lúcio Flávio, o Passageiro da Agonia (1977), Eles Não Usam Black-Tie (1981), Kiss of the Spider-Woman (1985), What’s This, Mate? (1997) and Carandiru (2003).
His last performance on the big screen was in the biography Pixinguinha, Um Homem Carinhoso (2021). Milton won three awards at the Gramado Festival: for his performances in Barra Pesada (1977) and Filhas do Vento (2004) and for his entire career, in 2003.
A Brazilian of African Origin , Milton Gonçalves was married since 1966 to Oda Gonçalves, with whom he had three children, including actor Maurício Gonçalves.
The African Communities in Brazil , Afro Brazilian Communities , Yoruba descendants in Brazil sends condolences, bids farewell to the great artist , activist , actor and promotor of African arts , culture , tradition and religion .
