Mario Lago

Mário Lago OMC ( November 26, 1911 – May 30, 2002) was a Brazilian lawyer, poet, radio broadcaster, composer, actor and singer.

In the 1940s and 1950s he was known for composing popular samba songs, such as "Ai! que saudade da Amélia" and "Atire a primeira pedra", both in partnership with Ataulfo Alves.

Biography

Lago was born in Rio de Janeiro, son of the maestro Antônio Lago and Francisca Maria Vicencia Croccia Lago, and grandson of the Italian anarchist and musician Giuseppe Croccia. After graduation, Lago worked briefly as a lawyer.

Because of his political beliefs, Lago was imprisoned seven times – in 1932, 1941, 1946, 1949, 1952, 1964 and 1969.

He married Zeli, daughter of the communist militant Henrique Cordeiro, until her death in 1997. The couple had five children: Antônio Henrique, Graça Maria, Mário Lago Filho, Luís Carlos (named after Luís Carlos Prestes) and Vanda. He was a supporter of Fluminense Football Club.

Artistic career Lago started writing poetry at 15 years old, publishing a poem in the magazine "". He wrote revue plays and songs from 1933 to 1958, also acting in stage and radio plays, invited by fellow actor . Three years later, Orlando Silva recorded Mario's song "Nada além". His best known works were "Ai! que saudade da Amélia", "Atire a primeira pedra", in partnership with Ataulfo Alves; "É tão gostoso, seu moço", with Chocolate, "Número um", with Benedito Lacerda, the samba "Fracasso" and the carnival song "Aurora", with Roberto Roberti, recorded by Carmen Miranda.

Lago played in more than 30 films, among them The Priest and the Girl, Entranced Earth, Os Herdeiros and S. Bernardo. He also acted in several telenovelas, most of them on TV Globo, including O Sheik de Agadir, Cavalo de Aço, O Casarão, and Dancing Days.

Death He died on 30 May 2002, aged 90, at his house in Rio de Janeiro South Zone. His funeral was on Teatro João Caetano, where he spent most of his career as an actor. Since his death, the theater of Colégio Pedro II is named as Teatro Mário Lago. He was buried in Cemitério de São João Batista, in Rio de Janeiro.

In 2001, in his honor the TV Globo program Domingão do Faustão created the Troféu Mário Lago, awarded to the best telenovela actor or actress.

Filmography

Television

Cinema