Brazilian actress Glória Menezes dies in Rio de Janeiro at age 91
The television and film performer, who starred in more than 40 telenovelas and the 1962 Cannes Palme d'Or winner 'O Pagador de Promessas', died of natural causes at her home.
Passing in Rio de Janeiro
Brazilian actress Glória Menezes died on Tuesday, 18 August 2026, at the age of 91. Her press representatives confirmed to Brazilian media outlets including G1, O Globo, and CNN Brasil that she passed away of natural causes at her apartment in Rio de Janeiro. Her death coincided with the passing of fellow Brazilian actress Laura Cardoso, who died at age 98 at her residence in São Paulo after falling ill earlier the same day. Speaking to the newspaper O Globo on Tuesday, family secretary Tadeu Lima confirmed the news and connected the departure of the two veteran figures.
She passed away like Dona Laurinha.
Theatrical beginnings and cinema recognition
Menezes began her acting training in São Paulo while attending the School of Dramatic Art at the University of São Paulo (USP). During her time at the university, she established the theatre group Jovens Independentes to pursue stage acting. She subsequently left her formal university studies to dedicate her time entirely to the theatrical company and its productions. She entered television in the late 1950s before branching into feature films, accumulating seven film appearances across her career. Her debut film was the 1962 feature "O Pagador de Promessas", which won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival and established her early presence in Brazilian cinema.
Six decades in television drama
Over a career spanning more than six decades, Menezes appeared in more than 40 telenovelas, miniseries, and series, primarily produced and broadcast by TV Globo. She was an early pioneer in Brazilian broadcasting, starring in the country's first daily telenovela format. Her range encompassed both heroic figures and villains across multiple television productions that gained wide followings in Brazil and Portugal. Key roles included Doña Sol in the 1967 production "Sangue e Areia", Ana Preta in the 1979 telenovela "Pai Herói", and the villainous socialite Laurinha Figueroa in "Rainha da Sucata" in 1990. Other productions in her portfolio included "Cavalo de Aço" (1973), "Espelho Mágico" (1977), "Guerra dos Sexos" (1983), "Corpo a Corpo" (1984), "Deus nos Acuda" (1992), "A Próxima Vítima" (1995), "Torre de Babel" (1998), "Porto dos Milagres" (2001), "O Beijo do Vampiro" (2002), "Senhora do Destino" (2004), "Páginas da Vida" (2006), and "A Favorita" (2008).
- Stars in 'O Pagador de Promessas', winning the Palme d'Or at Cannes
- Portrays Doña Sol in the telenovela 'Sangue e Areia'
- Plays Ana Preta in the telenovela 'Pai Herói'
- Stars as antagonist Laurinha Figueroa in 'Rainha da Sucata'
- Appears in final telenovela role as Stelinha in 'Totalmente Demais'
- Makes last television appearance in 'Tá no Ar: a TV na TV'
- Passes away at age 91 in Rio de Janeiro
Screen partnership and retirement
Menezes shared nearly six decades of marriage with fellow actor Tarcísio Meira after meeting him through joint theatrical and television productions. Together, they formed one of the most prominent on-screen and off-screen acting partnerships in Brazilian television history, frequently sharing leading roles on screen until Meira's death from Covid-19 complications in 2021. Menezes concluded her telenovela career in 2015 when she played Madame Stelinha in the TV Globo production "Totalmente Demais", after which she stepped away from public life to maintain a discreet routine. Her final recorded appearance on television took place in 2018 during an episode of the comedy program "Tá no Ar: a TV na TV".
