Dennis de Carvalho (September 27, 1947 – February 28, 2026) was a Brazilian director, actor, and voice actor.
Early life Born in the Mooca neighborhood of São Paulo, known for its large Italian immigrant population, Dennis was the son of Erasmo de Carvalho and Djanira Lucchesi, both born in Uberaba, in the interior of Minas Gerais. On his mother's side, he was a descendant of Italian immigrants from Tuscany.
Career Carvalho was only 11 years old when he took his first audition at TV Paulista to participate in the soap opera Oliver Twist. In 1964, he joined TV Tupi and participated in numerous telenovelas. He was then hired by TV Globo, where he built a long career.
As actor, worked in many soap operas like O Meu Pé de Laranja Lima, , Pecado Capital, O Casarão, Brilhante, Brega & Chique, Vale Tudo, História de Amor, among others. He began directing soap operas and series with Sem Lenço, sem Documento in 1977. Among his work behind the camera, notable soap operas include , Corpo a Corpo, Roda de Fogo, Vale Tudo, Fera Ferida, Explode Coração, Celebridade, and Paraíso Tropical, as well as miniseries such as Anos Rebeldes and Dalva e Herivelto: Uma Canção de Amor, and the series Malu Mulher, , and . He was also one of the directors of the highly successful weekly comedy show Sai de Baixo. He was responsible for directing the nine o'clock soap opera Insensato Coração, written by Gilberto Braga (his regular partner) and . In 2013, he directed the seven o'clock soap opera Sangue Bom by Maria Adelaide Amaral and .
He worked in voice acting, providing the voice of Roger "Race" Bannon in Jonny Quest, Corporal Rusty in Rin Tin Tin, Captain Kirk in Star Trek, and Jerry in The Time Tunnel in Brazilian versions.
After 47 years, he was dismissed from Rede Globo in 2022. In an interview with Veja magazine, he stated that "it is inevitable to feel some resentment" and that he felt it was "hasty" and "unfair." He explained that ", who was my assistant and learned a lot from me, called me into his office and said: 'We're not going to renew your contract, dear. We'd rather call you in for specific jobs, okay?' 'Okay,' I said, and left."
In 2023, he directed the theater show Elis, a musical, about the life of Elis Regina, a play that had already been performed ten years earlier by the director.
In 2025, he returned to Globo to direct a scene for the network's 60th anniversary special. During the broadcast, he directed a comedy sketch featuring famous villains from Brazilian soap operas, including Adriana Esteves, Joana Fomm, Susana Vieira, Flávia Alessandra, Renata Sorrah, Glória Pires, Letícia Colin, Lília Cabral, and actor Cauã Reymond.
Personal life He was married to actress and politician Bete Mendes, physical education teacher Maria Tereza Schimidt, and actresses Christiane Torloni, Monique Alves, Tássia Camargo, , and Deborah Evelyn, to whom he was married for 24 years before separating in 2012. He is the father of , an actor, his son with Christiane, Tainá, Monique's daughter, and Luísa, from his relationship with Deborah. With her help, he overcame serious conflicts, such as the accidental death of his son Guilherme, Leonardo's twin, in 1991, and drug abuse, like cocaine.
In 2010, actor Nilson Gomes recorded a video, posted on YouTube, in which he accuses the director of forcing him to take the "casting couch" and maintain a relationship with him in exchange for a role in his next soap opera. Nilson lost the lawsuit for failing to provide evidence of his accusation.
On December 26, 2022, Dennis Carvalho was admitted to Copa Star Hospital in Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, after experiencing persistent fatigue initially attributed to stress. Diagnosed with extensive pneumonia that progressed to sepsis, a severe systemic infection, his condition became critical, necessitating intensive care. Carvalho was intubated and placed in an induced coma for approximately 20 days, during which he faced life-threatening complications, including pulmonary embolism and cardiac arrhythmia, requiring a pacemaker implantation. Carvalho was discharged in late January 2023, after over a month of hospitalization, and began recovery at home, focusing on physiotherapy to regain muscle mass and adopting healthier habits, such as quitting smoking and alcohol. Reflecting on the ordeal, he described it as a "second chance" at life, crediting his survival to skilled medical care.
He was Buddhist. He was São Paulo FC fan.
Death Carvalho died in Rio de Janeiro on February 28, 2026, at the age of 78.
Filmography
Television As director YearTitleRole1977Sem Lenço, sem DocumentoDirector1978Te Contei?Dancin' Days1979Malu Mulher1981198219831984Corpo a CorpoGeneral director1986Selva de PedraRoda de Fogo19871988Vale Tudo1990DirectorGeneral director1991O Dono do MundoDirector1992Anos RebeldesGeneral director1993Fera FeridaGeneral director and head of production1994Pátria Minha1995Explode Coração1996–2002, 2013Sai de BaixoDirector19971998General director1999Andando nas NuvensGeneral director and head of production2000O Cravo e a RosaHead of production2001Um Anjo Caiu do CéuGeneral director and head of production2002Desejos de Mulher2003Celebridade2004Como uma Onda2006JK2007Paraíso Tropical2008Três Irmãs2010Dalva e Herivelto: uma Canção de Amor2011Insensato Coração2012Lado a Lado2013Sangue Bom2013–2014MalhaçãoHead of production2014Director2014–20152015BabilôniaHead of production2016Rock StoryArtistic director2018Segundo Sol2025Show 60 AnosDirector
As actor YearTitleRoleNotes1954–59As Aventuras de Rin Tin TinRusty (voice)Voice dubbing1964–65Jonny QuestRace Bannon (voice)1966Dudu1966–67The Time TunnelJerry (voice)Voice dubbing1966–69Star TrekCaptain Kirk (voice)1967Plínio1968Eduardo Dias Leme1969Julinho1970Zé LuísO Meu Pé de Laranja LimaHenrique Muniz1971Rodrigo1972FlôDécio1974Jean1975Roberto Mathias(Censored by Military dictatorship in Brazil)Pecado CapitalNélio Porto Rico1976O CasarãoAtílio de Souza1977LocomotivasNetinho1978Te Contei?Alex1979Malu MulherPedro Henrique1981BrilhanteInácio Newman1981–1986Presenter1984Corpo a CorpoMaurício1985Roque SanteiroTomazini1987Brega & ChiqueBaltazar1988Vale TudoWilliam1991O Dono do MundoRubens1993Wálter Moreira BorgesO Mapa da MinaErasmo1995História de AmorGomide2001A Grande FamíliaHimselfEpisode: "O Papai Está com a Cachorra"Um Anjo Caiu do CéuJaime2002O Beijo do VampiroCount Dracula2003CelebridadeEduardo Luís2004Programa NovoHimselfYear-end special2007Paraíso TropicalSenator Luís Fernando CardosoEpisode: "September 28"2010Himself2011Insensato CoraçãoPresenterTheater director2015BabilôniaLauro PetrucceliEpisode: "August 28"
Film YearTitleRole1970ElasMiro1971Benê1976Aurélio1982Artur1984Sole nudoDe BernardisEspelho de CarneÁlvaro Cardoso1987Flávio Cavalcanti2001Carlos2006If I Were YouArnaldo
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