Grande Otelo

Grande Otelo was a Brazilian actor, comedian and singer who achieved fame in the 20th century. He was born in Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, on 18 October 1915, as Sebastião Bernardes de Souza Prata. He was orphaned as a child and ran away from several foster families until he found his passion for art. He started his career in the circus and then moved to the theater, where he performed in musicals, revues and dramas. He also worked in radio and recorded several songs. He became famous for his comic duo with Oscarito, with whom he starred in many movies, such as Carnaval Atlântida, Matar ou Correr and O Homem do Sputnik. He also appeared in other films, such as Macunaíma, Rio Zona Norte and It's All True. He was praised for his versatility, charisma and improvisation skills. He also worked in television, where he participated in several shows, such as Balança Mas Não Cai, Faça Humor, Não Faça Guerra and Escolinha do Professor Raimundo. He received many awards and honors for his contribution to Brazilian culture, such as the Order of Cultural Merit, the Molière Award and the Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival. He died of a heart attack at the Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris on 26 November 1993, at the age of 78. He was buried in his birth town of Uberlândia, where a museum was built in his honor. He is considered one of the greatest actors and comedians of Brazilian cinema and one of the most influential artists of his generation.