Iconic Brazilian actor Milton Gonçalves died last Monday, May 30, in Rio de Janeiro, at 88 years old, of complications from a stroke he suffered in 2020. The trailblazer Afro-Brazilian actor was a leading performer in Brazilian Cinema and television. Milton was one of the biggest names on the country's largest broadcaster, Rede Globo, starring in more than thirthy soap operas. He had a fruitful career spanning over six decades, working in over fifty films with filmmakers such as Carlos Diegues, Joaquim Pedro de Andrade, Paul Mazursky, Eduardo Coutinho, Roberto Farias, Héctor Babenco, Karim Aïnouz, Bruno Barreto, and Paul Leduc.
Gonçalves was born on December 9, 1933, in the small town of Monte Santo in the state of Minas Gerais. At a young age, he moved with his family to São Paulo, where he worked as an apprentice of a shoemaker and tailor. His professional acting debut happened in 1957 in a local adaptation of John Steinbeck's play Of Mice and Men, when he moved to Rio de Janeiro, where he lived until his death. One year later, he made his cinematic debut in the 1958 film O Grande Momento by Roberto Santos.
One of Milton Gonçalves' first works as an actor was playing Bráulio in the play "They Don't Wear Black-Tie" written by Gianfrancesco Guarnieri in 1958. Years later, in 1981, he played the same role again in the film adapted from the theater play with the same name by Leon Hirszman. The film won the Grand Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival. They Don't Wear Black-Tie is a political-idealistic adventure in the confused Brazilian pre-democratic social reorganization after the military dictatorship. The film follows the life of a couple about to get married. At the same time, a strike movement breaks out and divides the metallurgical category. Worried about his marriage and fearful of losing his job, Tião (the protagonist) fights the strike, coming into conflict with his father, Otávio (Gianfrancesco Guarnieri), an old union militant who has spent three years in jail during the military regime.
Other key film credits include the segment “Couro de Gato” by Joaquim Pedro de Andrade in the 1962 omnibus film Favela Five Times / Cinco Vezes Favela; The Man Who Bought the World / O Homem Que Comprou o Mundo (1968) by Eduardo Coutinho; The Angel Was Born / O Anjo Nasceu (1969) by Júlio Bressane; Macunaíma (1969) by Joaquim Pedro de Andrade; This Is Simonal / É Simonal (!970) by
Domingos de Oliveira.
In 1985, Gonçalves starred in the role of the police chief opposite William Hurt, Raul Julia, and Sônia Braga in the Academy Award nominated film Kiss of the Spider Woman by Héctor Babenco. The film premiered in the Palme d’Or competition at the Cannes Film Festival, where Willian Hurt won the Best Actor Award. Based on the novel by Argentine writer Manuel Puig, the film devolves from the relationship of two prisoners who share a saddle. One of them is homosexual and is in prison for immoral behavior. The other was detained for political reasons.
Gonçalves also acted in the Hollywood comedy Moon Over Parador by Paul Mazursky starring Richard Dreyfuss, Raul Julia, Sônia Braga, Jonathan Winters, and Fernando Rey. Gonçalves worked with Babenco again in the 2003 prison drama Carandiru, and he also worked with Carlos Diegues in the films Quilombo (1984), Subway to the Stars / Um Trem para as Estrelas (1987, co-directed by Tereza Gonzalez, and Orfeu (1999). In 2011, he participated in the The Silver Cliff / O Abismo Prateado by Karim Aïnouz.
In 2003, Gonçalves received an honor at the Gramado Film Festival for his contributions to national Cinema, participating in more than 100 films. In 2006 he was nominated for Best Actor at the International Emmy Awards for his performance in the soap opera Sinhá Moça.
Gonçalves also overcame prejudice and fought for the recognition of the work of Black people inside and outside Brazilian television. Gonçalves, during years, was part of the Teatro Experimental do Negro. During his life, he became a significant political figure in the country. He was on the board of directors of the Union of Artists and Technicians in Entertainment Shows of the State of Rio de Janeiro (Sated/RJ).
The director and actor Luiz Antonio Pilar had been working since before the pandemic on a documentary in honor of the life of the great Gonçalves. Their relationship began years ago when Milton also starred in his non-fiction film about the fight against racism and for the inclusion of people of color. The new movie doesn't step back from his political approach but, in addition, focuses on Milton's trajectory, bringing a more intimate look into his life.
