Milton Gonçalves

Biography

Milton Gonçalves OMC (born December 9, 1933, in Monte Santo de Minas - passed away May 30, 2022, in Rio de Janeiro) was a prominent Brazilian actor, director, singer, voice actor, and producer, recognized as one of Brazil's most celebrated Black actors. He had notable collaborations with the esteemed director Hector Babenco on two occasions.

Gonçalves embarked on his artistic journey in São Paulo, initially in an amateur theater group. His transition to a professional ensemble led him to cross paths with Augusto Boal, who sought an actor to portray an elderly Black character. By joining Boal's Teatro de Arena, Gonçalves found a supportive space for engaging in political, philosophical, and artistic dialogues, free from racial discrimination.

His contributions to theater include writing four plays, one of which was produced by the Teatro Experimental do Negro under the direction of Dalmo Ferreira. Gonçalves once remarked, “There I learned everything I know about Theater. It was fundamental for my comprehension of the world.”

An advocate for the Black Movement, he even ventured into politics in the 1990s, running for the governorship of Rio de Janeiro state. Milton Gonçalves is the father of actor Maurício Gonçalves and has been married to Oda Gonçalves since 1966, leaving behind a lasting legacy in Brazilian culture.