[These daily posts will cover little known actors or
people that have appeared in more recent films and TV series. Various degrees
of information that I was able to find will be given and anything that you can
add would be appreciated.]
Nicolau Breyner was born João Nicolau de Melo Breyner
Moreira Lopes on July 30, 1940, in Serpa, Portugal. He spent over 55 years in
his career as an actor, producer, director and one of the most popular figures
of national fiction. He is the cousin of the writer Sophia de Mello Breyner
Andersen [1919-2004]
After his childhood in Serpa, he came to Lisbon with his
family, having attended the Camões High School and the Faculty of Law. He soon
gave up Law, eventually graduating in Theatre at the National Conservatory. He
made his acting debut in the play “Leonor Telles”, by Marcelino Mesquita, at
Teatro da Trindade. Soon after, it became popular in comedy, both in the revue
and on television, demonstrated in programs such as ‘Nicholas in Wonderland’, ‘I
Show Nico’ and ‘Euronic’. Recently he appeared on “Esta Noite Choveu Prata” (Tonight
it Rained Silver) by Pedro Bloch, produced by Sérgio de Azevedo.
Breyner appeared in over 40 films from 1961-2012. Besides
being an actor and receiving three Golden Globe Awards he was a co-author of
the first Portuguese soap opera, ‘Vila Faia’ “Beech Village”.
Breyner was married to Mafalda Maria de Alpoim Vieira
Barbosa [1947- ] (19??-19??). He then
married actress Sofia Sá da Bandeira (Sofia de Freitas Branco de Sá da
Bandeira) [1963- ] (1996-2001). He fathered
two daughters Mariana Fidalgo Ramos de Melo Breyner Lopes [1986- ], Constanca Fidalgo Ramos de Melo Breyner
Lopes [1991- ] with writer Cláudia
Fidalgo. He then married producer, actress Mafalda Bessa (Mafalda Gomes
de Amorim Bessa) [1968- ]
(2006-2016).
In 1995 he unsuccessfully ran for political office for
the office of Mayor of Serpa
Nicolau was awarded Grand-Officer of the Order of Merit
[2005], Grand-Officer of the Order of Prince Henry [2016].
He died at home in
Lisbon, Portugal of "natural causes" on March 14, 2016, of a heart
attack.
Breyner appeared in the Euro-western Bonanca & C.a
(1969) as Adão.
BREYNER, Nicolau (João Nicolau de Melo Breyner Moreira
Lopes) [7/30/1940, Serpa, Portugal - 3/14/2016, Lisbon, Portugal (heart
attack)] – producer, production manager, director, writer, theater, film, TV
actor, married to Mafalda Maria de Alpoim Vieira Barbosa [1947- ] (19??-19??), married to actress Sofia Sá
da Bandeira (Sofia de Freitas Branco de Sá da Bandeira) [1963- ] (1996-2001), father of Mariana Fidalgo
Ramos de Melo Breyner Lopes [1986- ],
Constanca Fidalgo Ramos de Melo Breyner Lopes [1991- ] with Cláudia Fidalgo Ramos, married to producer, actress Mafalda Gomes (Mafalda
Gomes de Amorim Bessa) [1968- ]
(2006-2016), awarded Grand-Officer of the Order of Merit [2005], Grand-Officer
of the Order of Prince Henry [2016].
Bonança & C.a - 1969 (Adão)