Rubens de Falco da Costa (October 19, 1931 – February 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).
Career 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. De Falco's character, Leôncio Almeida, falls in love with one of his slaves, played by Brazilian actress Lucélia Santos.
Escrava Isaura was extremely well received globally and became a hit in Africa, Eastern Europe and Latin America. 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. 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.
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, and his last film role was as Deputado Ernesto Alves in 2008 in Fim da Linha.
Death Rubens de Falco died on February 22, 2008, of heart failure at the CIAI Center for the Aged in São Paulo, Brazil. He was not married and left no descendants.
Filmography
On television YearTitle RoleBroadcaster1961Maria AntonietaTV Cultura1966O Rei dos CiganosClaude LudenwergRede Globo1967A Rainha LoucaEmperor Maximiliano1968Demian, o JusticeiroAndersonPasso dos VentosRené Antoine1969A Última ValsaEmperor Francisco José1973Tempo de ViverMaurícioRede Tupi1974SupermanoelaDiógenesRede Globo1975GabrielaPimentelEscaladaCommanderO GritoAgenor1976Escrava IsauraLeôncio Almeida1977Dona XepaHeitor CamargoO AstroSamir Hayala1978A SucessoraRoberto Steen1979GaivotasDanielRede TupiOs MaiasRTP1980Cabaret LiterárioTV CulturaDrácula, uma História de AmorDráculaRede TupiUm Homem Muito EspecialConde Vladimir "Drácula"Rede Bandeirantes1981Os ImigrantesAntonio di Salvio1982CampeãoJorge SalémLa BrujaVenacio Do SantosVenevision1983Maçã do AmorDaniel e Paulo CardosoRede Bandeirantes1984Padre CíceroFloro BartolomeuRede GloboViver a VidaRodolfoRede Manchete1985Grande Sertão VeredasJoca RamiroRede Globo1986Sinhá MoçaColonel Ferreira "Barão de Araruna"1987BambolêNestor Barreto1989Pacto de SangueAbílio Mendonça1990Brasileiras e BrasileirosRamiroSBT1991SaloméMcGregorRede Globo1994Memorial de Maria MouraColonel Tibúrcio do GarroteConfissões de AdolescenteDr. Rogério (Episode: "Essa Tal de Virgindade")TV Cultura1995Sangue do Meu SangueMário Albuquerque SoaresSBT1997Os Ossos do BarãoCândido Caldas Penteado1998BridaVargasRede Manchete2004A Escrava IsauraLeopoldo AlmeidaRecord TV
On film YearTitleRole2008Fim da LinhaDeputy Ernesto Alves (posthumous release)2001Sonhos TropicaisGeneral Travassos1996O Monge e a Filha do CarrascoMaster Salineiro1985Un hombre de éxitoIriarteNa Hora TexacoJulio1984Macho y hembraVicente1981Pixote, a Lei do Mais FracoJudge1980A Dama de BrancoMaurício1979Os Foragidos da ViolênciaPedreira1978Colonel Delmiro GouveiaColonel Delmiro GouveiaCinemateca Brasileira Coronel Delmiro Gouveia [em linha]1977Este Rio Muito Louco1976O Homem da Cabeça de OuroDanielDeixa Amorzinho... deixa1975O Sósia da MorteNarcisoNós, Os CanalhasHerculano "Tatá"1974O Mau CaráterMoreira Silva1973Café na CamaFlávio1972Missão MatarJohn DorcasA Difícil Vida FácilRicardo1971Uma Pantera em Minha CamaRenato Lira1970Anjos e DemôniosLawyer on Tribunal1969Tempo de Violência"F"O Impossível Acontece1968O Homem que Comprou o MundoEmperor Maximiliano1966Engraçadinha — Depois dos TrintaEssa Gatinha É Minha1958O Pão Que o Diabo Amassou1957O Capanga1954Floradas na SerraMoacir1953Esquina da IlusãoRubens1952Apassionata
Narration YearTitleNotes1959Moral em Concordatadocumentary
References
External links