The actor Juca de Oliveiraone of the greatest icons of our dramaturgy, died at age 91 this Saturday (21), in São Paulo. The death information was confirmed by the artist’s press office.
He had been hospitalized in serious condition since March 13th at Hospital Sírio-Libanês, facing one.
The artist’s advisor updated his health status firsthand at CNN Brasil, on the afternoon of last Thursday (19). “The latest information they just gave me is that the doctors are evaluating whether he is capable of undergoing heart surgery,” he said in a statement.
About Juca de Oliveira’s career
With more than six decades of dedication to the arts, Juca de Oliveira has established himself as a master of Brazilian dramaturgy, shining in theater, cinema and television.
His artistic career gained momentum on the stages of the Teatro Brasileiro de Comédia (TBC), in the 1960s, and achieved national recognition when he played the protagonist of the soap opera “Nino”, o Italianinho, shown on TV Tupi.
At TV Globo, he consolidated a career marked by memorable characters from Brazilian television drama. Among them are the enigmatic João Gibão, from “Saramandaia” (1976), Professor Praxedes, from “Fera Ferida” (1993), and the iconic Dr. Albieri, from “The Clone” (2001). Years later, he surprised the public again by playing the villain Santiago in “Avenida Brasil” (2012).
In addition to being an actor, Juca also built a solid career as a playwright, writing 11 plays throughout his life. His recognition in the literary world led him to occupy chair number 8 at the Academia Paulista de Letras, reinforcing his contribution to culture and the arts in Brazil.
*With information from Felipe Carvalho and Ana Beatriz Dias, from CNN Brasil, and Jonathan Pereira, in collaboration with CNN Brasil.
