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Simply he was, and for many people still is, the greatest football player of the world. Not a single thing was impossible for him: he won three World Cups with his National Team of Brazil (Sweden 1958, Chile 1962, Mexico 1970). He scored more than 1.200 goals during his long career (more than 1.300 official matches). He also won many national Leagues and Continental Cups ("Copa Libertadores"), with his team, the Santos Futebol Clube (of Brazilian 'São Paulo' State). In the '60s, he was nick-named "O Rei" (The King), and in the '70s, ninety-five people out of 100 knew his name. ("Wow, man, you're popular!" said Robert Redford, some years ago, after seeing Pelé give dozens of autographs in New York while he was not asked for one). In the late 1960s, when he and his team, Santos, went to Nigeria to play a few friendly matches, the ongoing civil war stopped for the duration of his visit. He finished his career in the New York Cosmos, in 1977. He later became a United Nations Ambassador and has been also Minister for Sports in his country, but, for the people who saw him make magics with his right foot, he is, now and forever, the biggest footballer in the world, and the one and only "King".

José Mojica Marins was born on March 13, 1936 in San Paulo, Brazil, to a family of simple means. José's love of movies began at an early age. He spent a great deal of his time with his family at the local movie house, which his father helped manage. By the time he was eighteen, he had completed over eighty films. From his earliest years, his interest has been in horror movies or ones that offer shocking social commentary.

When José was offered the lead role of "Coffin Joe" in Brazil's first full-length horror movie "At Midnight I'll Take Your Soul", the character quickly became his trademark. His look included a black top hat, suit and cape. Initially, he wore long artificial nails, but for over thirty years, grew his own nails to grotesque lengths. He finally cut his famous nails in 1998.

Interestingly, the first two "Coffin Joe" movies from the 1960s, "At Midnight I'll Take Your Soul" and "This Night I'll Possess Your Corpse", are now officially part of a trilogy. José completed filming of the third "Coffin Joe" film in December, 2006, more than forty years after the release of the first film in the series. Fans will be pleased to know that this new movie, "The Embodiment of Evil" is expected to be released in the summer of 2008.

Those who would like some interesting insights into José Mojica Marins' unique world may wish to view the documentary of his life. The movie is called "Coffin Joe: The Strange World of José Mojica Marins" and was produced in 2001.

Hector Babenco was born on 7 February 1946 in Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina. He was a director and writer, known for Carandiru (2003), Pixote (1980) and Foolish Heart (1998). He was married to Bárbara Paz, Xuxa Lopes and Raquel Arnaud. He died on 13 July 2016 in São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.

Josef Mengele was born on 16 March 1911 in Günzburg, Bavaria, Germany. He was married to Martha Mengele and Irene Schoenbein. He died on 7 February 1979 in Bertioga, São Paulo, Brazil.

He graduated from ENERC (Escuela Nacional de Experimentación y Realización Cinematográfica), the most prestigious film school in Argentina, including Lucrecia Martel among its alumni and Anahí Berneri among its lecturers. He worked in several films as Assistant Director or co-writer, until his script 'Nueve Reinas' won a screenwriting contest that meant a turning point in his career. His son recently graduated from ENERC too, and he is taking his first steps as editor and best boy.

Walter Hugo Khouri was born on 21 October 1929 in São Paulo, Brazil. He was a director and writer, known for O Último Êxtase (1973), O Anjo da Noite (1974) and Iguassu: The Devil's Throat (1960). He died on 27 June 2003 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Carlos Reichenbach was born on 14 June 1945 in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. He was a cinematographer and actor, known for Buccaneer Soul (1996), Dois Córregos: Verdades Submersas no Tempo (1999) and Lilian M.: Relatório Confidencial (1975). He was married to Lygia Reichenbach. He died on 14 June 2012 in São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.

Eva Wilma Riefle was the daughter of Otto Riefle, and Luiza Carp, both new immigrants to São Paulo. Otto Riefle was a German metalworker born in Pforzheim, the Black Forest region near Stuttgart, Germany, who in 1929, aged 19, emigrated to Rio de Janeiro, to work at the Levy-Frank metalworking company, but was transferred the next year to São Paulo, where in 1933, during the city's Carnival, he met met Luiza. Luiza Carp was a pianist, born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, to Jewish parents from Kiev, Ukraine., then a soviet socialist republic. Eva was conceived of their union, and the couple married shortly after, before she was born.

Eva Wilma had a daughter and a son with her first husband John Herbert: cinema director Vivian Buckup (b. 1956) and musician John Herbert Junior (b. 1958). Eva had five grandchildren: Miguel (b. 1986) and Mateus (b. 1990) by Vivian; and Gabriela (b. 1987), Francisco (b. 2000), and Vitorio (b. 2006) by John Herbert Junior.

Tarcísio Meira was born on 5 October 1935 in São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. He was an actor and director, known for Roda de Fogo (1986), Pages of Life (2006) and Torre de Babel (1998). He was married to Glória Menezes. He died on 12 August 2021 in São Paulo, SP, Brazil.

Fernando was the star of only one film in his short life. He played Pixote - a street child - in Pixote (1980). During his short period of fame, Fernando was seen as a symbol of hope for the Brazilian street kids. He grew up in a poor neighborhood of Diadema - a industrial city close to São Paulo - Brazil. Illiterate and poor, Fernando played Pixote at the age of 11 years old. His only previous experience in acting was an amateur play. After the success of Pixote, Fernando moved briefly to Rio de Janeiro. There, he tried his luck as an actor in a "novela" (Brazilian soap opera). The fame was brief, without literacy, he could not memorize the scripts. He ended up returning to Diadema. There, he had the same fate as many like him. He got involved with gangs and drug dealing. At age 19, he was killed inside his house by the police. The circumstances of his death are are still a mystery. Three of Fernando's brothers were also killed in the streets of the Brazilian inner cities. Fernando is survived by a daughter. Although he never lived in the streets and always had a family, he stands as a symbol of the Brazlian street children, until this date.

Raul Cortez was born on 28 August 1932 in São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. He was an actor and casting director, known for The King of the Cattle (1996), Esperança (2002) and Capitu (1968). He was married to Tânia Caldas and Célia Helena. He died on 18 July 2006 in São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.

Zé Carlos was born on 14 November 1967 in Presidente Bernardes, São Paulo, Brazil. He died on 25 October 2024 in Osasco, São Paulo, Brazil.

Duarte left his hometown, at 14, and moved to São Paulo where he started working as a typist in an accounting office. In the early 1940s, after graduating in Economics, he went to Rio de Janeiro, where he had a bit-part on It's All True (1943). He then made some appearances in radio soap operas and worked as a writer and reporter for the 'Observatório Econômico e Financeiro' newspaper.

His big break debut as a leading actor came with Italian director Alberto Pieralisi's film Querida Susana (1947). The following year, Duarte was hired by 'Atlântida Empresa Cinematográfica do Brasil', performing in Terra Violenta (1949) and becoming one of the biggest heartthrobs on Brazilian movie screens. In 1951, he switches to 'Companhia Cinematográfica Vera Cruz', another important Brazilian film studio of the time, commanding the highest salary of its contract players.

in 1957, he returned to São Paulo and began his career as a director, with the short documentary 'Fazendo Cinema' followed by a feature film. He left for Europe during a few years, where he appeared in several productions in Portugal, France, and Spain.

Back in Brazil in 1961, he decided to buy the rights to the play 'O Pagador de Promessas', by playwright Dias Gomes, and adapted it to the screen, with the co-production of Oswaldo Massaini. In 1962, the film was selected to represent Brazil at the XV International Film Festival in Cannes, where it won the 'Palme d'Or'. In the same year, it is awarded in more than ten festivals in Brazil and abroad.

His participation in Independência ou Morte (1972) influenced him to become a Freemason. In 1979, he made his only telenovela appearance, guest starring in Feijão Maravilha (1979).

In 2008, at 88, Duarte founded the 'Instituto Anselmo Duarte', a cultural organization dedicated to restoring selected Brazilian films and creating special educational projects aimed at young filmmakers to improve their technical filmmaking skills. After his death, his son, became the institute's president.

Rogério Sganzerla was born on 4 May 1946 in Joaçaba, Santa Catarina, Brazil. He was a director and writer, known for The Red Light Bandit (1968), O Signo do Caos (2005) and A Mulher de Todos (1969). He was married to Helena Ignez. He died on 9 January 2004 in São Paulo, Brazil.

Milton da Silva was married to Neyde Senna. He died on 27 October 2021 in São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.

Adhemar Ferreira da Silva was born on 29 September 1927 in São Paulo, Brazil. He was an actor, known for Black Orpheus (1959), Olympic Games: 1956 (1956) and Abolition (1988). He died on 12 January 2001 in São Paulo, Brazil.

One of the most known and loved film artists in Brazil. He was an actor, director and producer who worked in, at least, 32 movie projects in within 1950 and early 1980's, when he passed away. Despite the fact that his movies were never well accepted by the film critics, his movies always sold out tickets to movie theaters. We can measure his importance through the way he has, until today, influenced filmmakers in Brazil. A museum in his tribute was created in Taubate (Sao Paulo) at the place where it used to be the studio that he built to film his movies. Some in Brazil labeled him as one of the "Fathers" of Brazilian cinema.

Jose Adilson "Maguila" Rodriguez was the greatest heavyweight boxer in the history of Brazil. A 6 feet 1 inch, 218 pound powerhouse, Rodriguez dominated the South American heavyweight scene for over 10 years. Won the South American Heavyweight Title in 1986. Captured the WBF Heavyweight Championship in 1995. Took the IBF Latin American Heavyweight Crown in 1996. Compiled a record of 77-7-1 with 61 knockouts. Lost to heavyweight champions George Foreman and Evander Holyfield both by 2nd round knockouts.

Ivete Bonfá was born on 4 March 1940 in São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. She was an actress. She was married to Cícero Leandro. She died on 30 March 1991 in São Paulo, Brazil.

Rita Lee was born on 31 December 1947 in São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. She was a music artist and actress, known for After the Sunset (2004), Wood & Stock: Sexo, Orégano e Rock'n'Roll (2006) and The Next Victim (1995). She was married to Roberto de Carvalho and Arnaldo Baptista. She died on 8 May 2023 in São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.

Arnaldo Jabor was born on 12 December 1940 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He was a writer and director, known for All Nudity Shall Be Punished (1973), Tudo Bem (1978) and I Love You (1981). He was married to Suzana Villas Boas. He died on 15 February 2022 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Began carreer at the age of 15 as a model and started acting on her own doing theater pieces. Then she entered the movie industry at 17 and worked on 22 movies along with 8 soap operas (listed here as TV series).

He was born in Lins suburbs and grew up in the slum of Mangueira, Rio de Janeiro. He won the "Mussum" nickname from friend Grande Otelo, when he was still a musician. In 1969, Chico Anysio took him to work in his TV Tupi show, Escolinha do Professor Raimundo (1990). With the musical group "Os Originais do Samba", he recorded 12 albums, and had several radio hits, including "Assassinaram o Camarao". In 1981, he left the group to dedicate exclusively to his acting career. He is best remembered for his work in the famous comedy troupe Os Trapalhões (1969-1994), which he joined in 1976. He died in São Paulo, on July 29 1994, at 53 years old, of heart complications after a heart transplant.

John's parents were Hans Buckup (b. 1902) and Kitty. He has a brother: Achim (b. 1931) and a sister: Ursula (b. 1934). He's descendant from Germany and English. He studied Law. He has a daughter and a son with actress Eva Wilma: Vivien (b. 1956) and John Herbert Junior (b. 1958). Vivien is a cinema director and has two sons: Miguel and Mateus. John Junior is a musician and has three children: Gabriela, Francisco and Vitorio. John Herbert is married to Claudia Librach (1978-present). They have two boys: Ricardo (b. 1979) and Eduardo (b. 1983).

A child prodigy who conquered viewers for his role as Paçoca in Chiquititas (2013), Rafael Miguel is also best remembered due to a hilarious TV commercial where he breaks down in despair when his mother doesn't buy him broccoli at the market. The commercial launched his career in many TV series, two films and one miniseries.

His first credits were in Cristal (2006) and the miniseries JK (2006). Another roles include Pé na Jaca (2006), the film Meu Mundo em Perigo (2007) and Cat's Cradle (2009). After Chiquititas (2013) he took a break from acting; but sadly returning on TV and on the news due to a tragic event.

On the afternoon of 9 June, 2019 - a month shy of his 23rd birthday - Rafael was brutally killed by his girlfriend's father at their house. His parents were also murdered in what would be a simple conversation between both families to discuss the couple's relationship; however, the girl's father didn't offered them any chance, shooting all three and fleeing the crime scene.

Rafael Miguel will be remembered as a young talent, full of energy, who sadly left us too soon.