Little Known Spaghetti Western Actors ~ Nicolau Breyner

[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)