Rubens de Falco da Costa (October 19, 1931 – August 22, 2008) was a Brazilian actor best known for his work in telenovelas, specifically his portrayal as a slave owner in the 1976 telenovela, Escrava Isaura (The Slave Isaura) and the 1986 telenovela Sinhá Moça (Little Missy).[1][2]

Rubens de Falco
Falco in 2004
Born
Rubens de Falco da Costa

(1931-10-19)October 19, 1931
DiedAugust 22, 2008(2008-08-22) (aged 76)
São Paulo, Brazil
OccupationActor
Years active1952–2008

Career

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De Falco was born in São Paulo, Brazil on October 19, 1931. He began his acting career in the local theater. In 1955, he joined the group "Os Jograis", of São Paulo, and performed beside such actors as Ruy Afonso, Italo Rossi and Felipe Wagner. He made his cinema debut in 1952 in the film Apassionata, for the Companhia Cinematográfica Vera Cruz.

In television, he had prominent parts in telenovelas such as O Rei dos Ciganos (1967), A Rainha Louca (1967), O Passo dos Ventos (1968), Gabriela (1975), O Grito (1975), Escrava Isaura (1976), Dona Xepa (1977), A Sucessora (1978) and Sinhá Moça (1986).

Perhaps his best-known work came in 1976, when he portrayed the cruel villain Leôncio Almeida, a powerful farm owner and ruthless slave owner in the telenovela Escrava Isaura.[1] De Falco's character, Leôncio Almeida, fell in love with one of his slaves, played by Brazilian actress Lucélia Santos.[1]

Escrava Isaura was extremely well received globally and became a hit in Africa, Eastern Europe and Latin America.[1] Escrava Isaura was the first soap opera ever broadcast in Poland and the Soviet Union and became the first television series to air in China with foreign actors in the lead role.[1] Rubens de Falco, who played Leôncio Almeida as one of his trademark villains, was called "the great villain of Brazilian television drama" by Lucélia Santos.[1]

He again portrayed a powerful farm owner and ruthless slave owner, the cruel villain Baron de Araruna in the 1986 telenovela, Sinhá Moça alongside Lucélia Santos who starred this time as his rebellious daughter.

De Falco's last television role was as Almeida in 2004 in the Rede Record remake of A Escrava Isaura,[1] and his last film role was as Deputado Ernesto Alves in 2008 in Fim da Linha.

Death

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Rubens de Falco died on February 22, 2008, of heart failure at the CIAI Center for the Aged in São Paulo, Brazil.[1] He was not married and left no descendants.

Filmography

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On television

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Year Title Role Broadcaster
1961 Maria Antonieta TV Cultura
1966 O Rei dos Ciganos Claude Ludenwerg Rede Globo
1967 A Rainha Louca Emperor Maximiliano
1968 Demian, o Justiceiro Anderson
Passo dos Ventos René Antoine
1969 A Última Valsa Emperor Francisco José
1973 Tempo de Viver Maurício Rede Tupi
1974 Supermanoela Diógenes Rede Globo
1975 Gabriela Pimentel
Escalada Commander
O Grito Agenor
1976 Escrava Isaura Leôncio Almeida
1977 Dona Xepa Heitor Camargo
O Astro Samir Hayala
1978 A Sucessora Roberto Steen
1979 Gaivotas Daniel Rede Tupi
Os Maias RTP
1980 Cabaret Literário TV Cultura
Drácula, uma História de Amor Drácula Rede Tupi
Um Homem Muito Especial Conde Vladimir "Drácula" Rede Bandeirantes
1981 Os Imigrantes Antonio di Salvio
1982 Campeão Jorge Salém
La Bruja Venacio Do Santos Venevision
1983 Maçã do Amor Daniel e Paulo Cardoso Rede Bandeirantes
1984 Padre Cícero Floro Bartolomeu Rede Globo
Viver a Vida Rodolfo Rede Manchete
1985 Grande Sertão Veredas Joca Ramiro Rede Globo
1986 Sinhá Moça Colonel Ferreira "Barão de Araruna"
1987 Bambolê Nestor Barreto
1989 Pacto de Sangue Abílio Mendonça
1990 Brasileiras e Brasileiros Ramiro SBT
1991 Salomé McGregor Rede Globo
1994 Memorial de Maria Moura Colonel Tibúrcio do Garrote
Confissões de Adolescente Dr. Rogério (Episode: "Essa Tal de Virgindade") TV Cultura
1995 Sangue do Meu Sangue Mário Albuquerque Soares SBT
1997 Os Ossos do Barão Cândido Caldas Penteado
1998 Brida Vargas Rede Manchete
2004 A Escrava Isaura Leopoldo Almeida Record TV

On film

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Year Title Role
2008 Fim da Linha Deputy Ernesto Alves (posthumous release)
2001 Sonhos Tropicais General Travassos
1996 O Monge e a Filha do Carrasco Master Salineiro
1985 Un hombre de éxito Iriarte
Na Hora Texaco Julio
1984 Macho y hembra Vicente
1981 Pixote, a Lei do Mais Fraco Judge
1980 A Dama de Branco Maurício
1979 Os Foragidos da Violência Pedreira[3]
1978 Colonel Delmiro Gouveia Colonel Delmiro Gouveia[4]
1977 Este Rio Muito Louco
1976 O Homem da Cabeça de Ouro Daniel
Deixa Amorzinho... deixa
1975 O Sósia da Morte Narciso
Nós, Os Canalhas Herculano "Tatá"
1974 O Mau Caráter Moreira Silva
1973 Café na Cama Flávio
1972 Missão Matar John Dorcas
A Difícil Vida Fácil Ricardo
1971 Uma Pantera em Minha Cama Renato Lira
1970 Anjos e Demônios Lawyer on Tribunal
1969 Tempo de Violência "F"
O Impossível Acontece
1968 O Homem que Comprou o Mundo Emperor Maximiliano
1966 Engraçadinha — Depois dos Trinta
Essa Gatinha É Minha
1958 O Pão Que o Diabo Amassou
1957 O Capanga
1954 Floradas na Serra Moacir
1953 Esquina da Ilusão Rubens
1952 Apassionata

Narration

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Year Title Notes
1959 Moral em Concordata documentary

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "Brazilian telenovela actor Rubens de Falco, star of The Slave Isaura, dies at 76". International Herald Tribune. Associated Press. 22 February 2008. Archived from the original on 24 September 2008. Retrieved 24 February 2008.
  2. ^ "Little Missy (1986)". Internet Movie Database.
  3. ^ "Os Foragidos da Violência". Cinemateca Brasileira. Retrieved 2024-05-14.
  4. ^ Cinemateca Brasileira Coronel Delmiro Gouveia [em linha]
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