José Pinto was over 30 years old when he arrived on the theater stage in 1962. He was an electrical technician by profession and combined both activities, reaching television screens in the following decade. His presence in cinema marked his sixtieth birthday, in the 1990s. José Pinto died in the early hours of this Friday, aged 95. The news of his death reached his personal Facebook page.
“It is with great regret that we announce the death of our José Pinto, having passed away calmly at his home last night”, says the message addressed to the actor’s “esteemed friends”. “Let us take this moment not only to mourn this sad news, but also to celebrate the life and work of a man who always sought to give the best of himself to others, whether through the small or big screen, theater or face to face with those who loved him. were closer”, it can also be read.
José Pinto was born in Vila Nova de Gaia on January 15, 1929. He was, for many years, an employee of the Anglo-Portuguese Telephone Company, one of the first Portuguese telephone operators. It was only in 1962, after the age of 30, that he began to become interested in acting, first on stage, with the Teatro Experimental do Porto (TEP). At the end of that decade, he began reconciling the two activities. His first appearances on television, in the following decade, were in filmed theater. Parts like Bandarra’s Propheciesby Almeida Garrett, in 1972, The Mutiny or Death in the Neighborhood. It could also be seen in series such as The Man Who Killed the Devilstarring Herman José, or A Taxi in the City. It was only at the turn of the 1980s and 1990s, already pre-retirement, that he became a professional actor.
Appeared in Vale Abraãoof Manoel de Oliveirawith whom he also worked on Journey to the Beginning of the World, Restlessness, Word and Utopia e Christopher Columbus – The Enigma. With João Botelho, he ran What else Tu?, Traffic e The Fatalist. He was also part of Cold Landby António Campos, The Shadow of the Vulturesby Leonel Vieira, Out of sight e Two womenby José Mário Grilo, Jaimeby António-Pedro Vasconcelos, Malby Alberto Seixas Santos, The Dolphinby Fernando Lopes, Low Altitude Flying Devicede Solveig Nordlund, The Fascinationby José Fonseca e Costa, The Police Womanby Joaquim Sapinho, Angerby Sérgio Tréfaut, Lost Mindby Margarida Gil, or Bad thing, by Tiago Guedes and Frederico Serra. She also worked with Tiago Guedes in Os BoysRTP series from 2016.
In 2015, he played António de Oliveira Salazar, a figure with whom he had some similarities, also used in the 2019 institutional campaign Two Minutes to Change Your Lifeem Captain Falconcomedy by João Leitão, for those who had already starred in the short film O Great Monteleone. Another figure with whom he resembled physiognomically was Miguel Torga, so it is not surprising that he played the role of the writer born Adolfo Correia da Rocha in a 2007 television documentary, Miguel Torga, My Portugalby Ângelo Peres.
On television, he also appeared in series such as Claxon, Paradise Club, The Andrades, Major Absolutely, Tell me how it was, Naked City or Old friends. In the world of soap operas, The Legend of the Crane, Greed, The Serpent’s Gaze, Dawn, Dear Beasts, I Gave You Almost Everything, Dancin’ Days, Women or Saint Barbara.
In 2016, he won a Sophia Award for Best Supporting Actor for his work in Captain Falcon. He was also distinguished with the Pena by Camilo Castelo Branco at the Famalicão Film and Video Festival (FamaFest).
According to the post posted on the actor’s Facebook page, the funeral will take place this Saturday, February 17th, at 10am at the Candal Church in Vila Nova de Gaia. It is also there that José Pinto’s body will be in a burning chamber from 2pm this Friday.
The actor António Capelo, who is director of Teatro do Bolhão, published a photograph of José Pinto and lamented: “Querido Zé…”, with the symbol of a black heart marking mourning. António Pedro Afonso, also an actor, wished “a good trip” to “our dear Zé”, adorning the publication with emoji of the masks that represent the seventh art.