Brazilian actor and director Gracindo Jr., a pioneering figure of television and a veteran of more than five decades in the arts, died at his home in Rio de Janeiro at the age of 83. Son of actor Paulo Gracindo, he leaves behind an extensive legacy across theater, film, and television.
The Brazilian entertainment industry is mourning the loss of Epaminondas Xavier Gracindo, widely known as Gracindo Jr., who died on the night of Tuesday, September 1, at his home in Rio de Janeiro. His son, actor Pedro Gracindo, confirmed the death, stating that the veteran artist passed away from natural causes. Although initial reports from family members confirmed the passing, the specific cause of death was not initially revealed to the broader public.
Early Beginnings and Persecution Under the Military Dictatorship
Morreu Gracindo Jr.: ator brasileiro marcou gerações na televisão
Born in Rio de Janeiro on May 21, 1943, Gracindo Jr. grew up immersed in the arts as the son of actor Paulo Gracindo. He launched his professional career in his teens after passing tests at age 15 to join Rádio Nacional in 1959, working variously as an actor, writer, and disc jockey. Though he enrolled in a psychology program, he never practiced, devoting his life entirely to the stage, radio, and screen. In 1961, he made his theatrical debut in the play “A Escada,” written by Oswald de Andrade.
His rising trajectory hit severe political barriers following the 1964 military coup. As a militant in the Brazilian Communist Party, Gracindo Jr. faced political persecution and was stripped of his rights alongside roughly 38 other artists, including Dias Gomes and Mário Lago, which barred him from working in radio during that turbulent era.
A Founding Presence at TV Globo and Memorable Collaborations With His Father
Morre Gracindo Júnior, ator de O Bem-Amado e diretor
Despite political setbacks, Gracindo Jr. became an integral part of television history as one of the original artists hired by TV Globo before the network even officially launched. In an interview with the Memória Globo project, he recalled joining the company in December 1964, months ahead of the channel’s April 1965 premiere. Before the rise of the network, he also accumulated work history across channels including TV Rio, TV Excelsior, and TV Tupi.
During the early years of TV Globo, he appeared in early telenovelas such as Rosinha do Sobrado,
“Padre Tião,” A Rainha Louca,
A Próxima Atração,
and Os Ossos do Barão.
In the 1973 production “O Bem-Amado,written by Dias Gomes, he shared the screen with his father, Paulo Gracindo. Three years later, the father-and-son duo portrayed different ages of the exact same character in the telenovela
O Casarão.”
Extensive Directing Career and Tributes From Friends and Family
Morre o ator e diretor Gracindo Jr., pioneiro da
In addition to acting, Gracindo Jr. built an expansive directing career across television and theater. He directed programs such as Memórias de Amor
and “Marron-Glacé,and took over the direction of
Os Trapalhões” in 1983, while also supervising drama productions. His television credits as an actor later expanded to include productions like ‘Dona Beija,’ ‘O Salvador da Pátria,’ and ‘Celebridade,’ as well as work on Record.
/extras/conteudos/gracindo_junior.webp "Photo: omelete.com.br")
Following his passing, tributes emerged across Brazil. Close friend and actor Leonardo Bricio shared that he stood alongside the family during the artist’s final moments. Bricio noted that his beloved friend had taken his last breath, and it was God’s will that he was by the side of his biological children and his wife at that exact moment.
Gracindo Jr. is survived by his wife, Daisy, and his children.
