Leonardo Villar

Leonardo Villar was a Brazilian film, stage, and television actor and director. He started his career as a radio announcer in his hometown of Piracicaba, then moved to Recife and joined the Movimento de Cultura Popular, a group that promoted culture and education for the people. He moved to Rio de Janeiro in the 1960s and began working in cinema and theater. He made his film debut in 1962, starring with Fernanda Montenegro in A Falecida. He became famous for his roles in films such as O Pagador de Promessas, Lampião, o Rei do Cangaço, A Hora e a Vez de Augusto Matraga, and Brava Gente Brasileira. He also starred in many popular TV shows, such as Os Miseráveis, Escalada, Estúpido Cupido, and JK. He won several awards for his acting, including a Molière Prize and a Contigo! Award. He was also a cinema critic and a president of Rio Filmes, a public film company. He died of a cardiac arrest in 2020, at the age of 96. He was considered one of the most talented and versatile actors in Brazil.