Breno mello biography of albert

Home / Celebrity Biographies / Breno mello biography of albert

Camus cast Mello to star in the classic 1959 film Orfeu Negro (Black Orpheus), in which Mello played the role of Orfeu. He scored de Moraes’ play Orfeu do Carnaval in 1956 which became the film Black Orpheus in 1959, scored by Jobim and Luis Bonfa. Bosley Crowther, reviewing the film for The New York Times in 1959, criticized his acting, stating: "He performs the role more as a dancer than as an actor trying to show a man in love." On the other hand, Mello's performance has also been described as natural, reflecting real talent.

Antonio Carlos Jobim was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to cultured parents. (Last Update: December 11, 2023)

Before he began his acting career before that, he played soccer with his club Gremio Esportivo Renner, Fluminense and Santos soccer clubs.

A tragic coincidence occurred when both he as well as co-stars from his Black Orpheus co-star Marpessa Dawn passed away from heart attacks within a month of each other.

Height, Weight & Body Measurements

Breno Mello height Not available right now.

He had his youngest daughter, Letícia, with her. His contributions extended beyond scoring, as he provided assists and maintained possession in midfield, helping Renner reach the final and clinch the title with a 2-1 aggregate win over Internacional.[10]Under the guidance of Renner's coaching staff during this period, Mello honed his athletic physique through rigorous daily training sessions that emphasized endurance running, ball control drills, and tactical scrimmages, which built his 1.78-meter frame into a robust, agile presence on the pitch.[11] The team's dynamics revolved around a collective work ethic, with Mello forming effective partnerships alongside forwards like Valdir Joaquim de Moraes and Ênio Andrade, fostering a cohesive unit that relied on quick transitions from defense to attack in the competitive Gaúcho leagues.[10] By 1955, his performances earned him a spot in the Rio Grande do Sul state selection, solidifying his status as an emerging talent in southern Brazilian football.[11]

Move to Fluminense

After Renner, Mello briefly played for Corinthians in 1957, appearing in four friendly matches and scoring two goals.[12] In 1958, he transferred to Fluminense from his previous club, seeking greater competitive opportunities in Rio de Janeiro's vibrant football scene, which was home to the prestigious Campeonato Carioca and major clubs like Flamengo and Botafogo.[13][10] This move was motivated by his ambition to elevate his career beyond regional leagues, leveraging the skills he had honed in earlier years.[3]During his time at Fluminense in 1958 and 1959, Mello appeared in 30 matches and scored 5 goals across the Campeonato Carioca and other competitions, contributing to intense rivalries such as the Fla-Flu derby against Flamengo.[13] Notable performances included his participation in a 5-1 victory over Corinthians in the 1959 Rio-São Paulo Tournament on April 15, though the team did not secure any major titles during his stint.[10] His role as a midfielder emphasized his physical presence and scoring ability in high-stakes Carioca matches.The shift to Rio marked a significant lifestyle adjustment for Mello, transitioning from the quieter pace of Porto Alegre to the bustling urban environment of the city, including its iconic beaches and cultural hubs, which ultimately positioned him for opportunities beyond football.[13][3]

Acting career

Casting in Black Orpheus

In 1958, while playing as a professional footballer for Fluminense in Rio de Janeiro, Breno Mello was unexpectedly discovered by French director Marcel Camus, who spotted him walking in the city and immediately saw potential for the lead role in Black Orpheus (Orfeu Negro).

While Mello acted the part of Orfeu, his singing voice was dubbed by Agostinho dos Santos.

Orfeu was the most successful role of Mello's acting career.

breno mello biography of albert

Camus, aiming to capture authentic Brazilian life through non-professional performers, was drawn to Mello's athletic build and striking physical resemblance to the mythological Orpheus, casting him on the spot despite his complete lack of acting experience.[2][14]Camus's deliberate choice of amateurs like Mello emphasized raw, unrefined portrayals suited to the film's setting in Rio's vibrant favelas, where the story unfolds amid Carnival festivities.

His father was a diplomat, and his mother founded a primary school. Breno Mello celebrates birthday on September 7 of every year.

Breno Mello

Mello was born in Porto Alegre, the capital of Rio Grande do Sul, a state of Southern Brazil. This influence extends to subsequent performers embodying multifaceted, athletic protagonists in cultural adaptations, inspiring portrayals that blend physical prowess with emotional depth in Latin Americanstorytelling.

He played soccer for Renner and Fluminense, and also for Santos FC, where he met Pelé.

I couldn’t sustain myself with cinema," leading to an extended hiatus from the industry.[28]After retiring from football around 1964, inconsistent offers prompted Mello to shift to other livelihoods in Porto Alegre.[28][3][5]

Personal life

Marriages and family

Breno Mello's first marriage was to Liége de Lourdes dos Santos Mello, with whom he had four children: Jorge Luiz, Paulo Roberto, Susete Teresinha, and Liéte Aparecida Mello.[29] The couple, married for 32 years, resided in Rio de Janeiro during Mello's early acting endeavors and football stints with Fluminense in the late 1950s, before relocating to Novo Hamburgo in Rio Grande do Sul—Liége's hometown—for approximately 20 years, where Mello resumed playing soccer locally.[1][30] They separated in 1979.[30]Following the separation, Mello married Amelina Santos Corrêa, known as Mana, with whom he had his fifth child, daughter Letícia Mello.[30] The couple settled in Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, where Letícia was born, maintaining family life there until Mello's later return to Porto Alegre.[31]

Later years and death

In the 1960s, Mello continued his professional football career, playing for Santos alongside Pelé before retiring around 1964.[32] He cited the instability and low pay in Brazil's film industry as reasons for prioritizing soccer, which offered better financial security.[3]In later decades, Mello led a low-profile life in his hometown, occasionally taking non-speaking or minor roles in films, such as in O Negrinho do Pastoreio (1973) and The Prisoner of Rio (1988).[2] By the 2000s, he had retired from active work and supported himself by selling advertising handouts on the streets of Porto Alegre.[3]Mello died of a heart attack on July 11, 2008, at his home in Porto Alegre, at the age of 76.[2][32] He lived alone and was found two days later on July 13 by family members, who confirmed he left behind five children, 12 grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren; the family handled private arrangements following his death.[1]

Legacy

Cultural impact

The film Black Orpheus (1959), directed by Marcel Camus, achieved significant international acclaim by winning the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival and the AcademyAward for Best Foreign LanguageFilm, thereby popularizing Afro-Brazilian culture, samba music, and the vibrancy of favela life to global audiences.[33] These accolades positioned the film as a cultural ambassador, introducing Western viewers to the rhythmic energy of Carnival in Rio de Janeiro's slums and blending Greek mythology with Afro-Brazilian traditions, which reshaped perceptions of Brazil as a land of exotic yet authentic folk expression.[34] The soundtrack, featuring samba compositions by Antônio Carlos Jobim and Luiz Bonfá, further amplified this exposure, embedding Brazilian sounds into international consciousness during the late 1950s.[35]Breno Mello's portrayal of Orfeu played a pivotal role in humanizing Black Brazilian identity, presenting the character as a charismatic samba singer whose vitality and emotional depth countered stereotypes of marginalization.[35] As a former professional soccer player with no prior acting experience, Mello's athletic physique and natural charisma bridged the worlds of sports and artistic performance, infusing the role with an authentic physicality that resonated as a celebration of Black masculinity and cultural pride.[17] His background enabled a grounded depiction of Orfeu navigating love and loss amid favela festivities, contributing to the film's construction of a positive image of BlackBrazil for international viewers.[35]The film's enduring influence extended to inspiring subsequent cinematic works that explored Carnival settings and mythological themes within Brazilian contexts, such as the 1999 remake Orfeu and later favela narratives like City of God (2002).[34] Prior to the global rise of bossa nova in the early 1960s, Black Orpheus shaped international views of Brazil as a pulsating hub of Afro-Brazilian rhythms and communal joy, fostering a pre-bossa nova appreciation for samba's roots and favela resilience that influenced cultural exchanges in music and film across Europe and the United States.[36] This legacy underscored the film's role in globalizing elements of Brazilian identity, broadening worldviews through its vivid portrayal of cultural fusion.[37]

Recognition and tributes

Breno Mello received significant international recognition through his lead role as Orfeu in the 1959 film Black Orpheus (Orfeu Negro), directed by Marcel Camus.

He recorded with orchestrators Claus Ogerman and Nelson Riddle, vocalist Frank Sinatra, and several jazz musicians. Jobim was among several Brazilians to perform that year at Carnegie Hall. It borrowed from the samba, jazz rhythms, and European harmonies. However, the filmmakers of this documentary had to search for Mello in order to secure his participation in the film.

Mello also lived in Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, where he met Amelina Santos Corrêa, also known as Mana.

The most well-known actor is his part in the Oscar Award-winning film Black Orpheus, this Brazilian actor was also featured in the movies Os Vencidos (1963); San Rata de Puerto (1963) and O Negrinho do Pastoreio (1973).

He as well as British actor He and British actor Steven Berkoff were both in the cast of the 1988 film Prisoner of Rio. were both actors in the film from 1988 Prisoner of Rio.

He was raised and born within Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

His Black Orpheus co-star, American-born actress Marpessa Dawn, died 42 days later of a heart attack, in Paris, France. Mello died in his hometown of Porto Alegre, Brazil, at the age of 76 years on July 11, 2008, from a heart attack.