Domingos Montagner has drowned in a river where the crew had been recording scenes for Brazil’s most popular soap opera, Velho Chico.
The 54-year-old played the leading role in Velho Chico, a soap opera named after the Sao Francisco River where he died.
One of Brazil’s best-loved TV actors, Domingos Montagner had gone for a swim with fellow actress Camila Pitanga after a day of shooting in the north-eastern state of Sergipe.
She said he was dragged away by the river’s strong currents.
Image source Facebook
Camila Pitanga cried for help but local people failed to act initially as they believed the drowning was a scene in the soap opera.
Authorities said there was little that anyone could have done.
In the soap opera, Domingos Montagner played a farmer who often fought off local gunmen. In one of those clashes, he was shot multiple times and appeared to drown in the same Sao Francisco River, but reappeared weeks later.
Police chief Antonio Francisco Filho told O Globo: “They thought they had chosen a safe spot to swim, but that is one of the most dangerous areas in the town of Caninde and usually avoided by locals.”
One person, on average, has drowned every year in the town since 2005, reports said.
Four hours after the incident, rescue teams found Domingos Montagner’s body underwater, some 984ft from where he drowned.
Domingos Montagner was born in Sao Paulo and had a career in the circus before becoming a TV actor, in 2008.
This was his 12th role on television. His first significant soap opera role was in 2011, and he had his film debut in 2012.
Domingos Montagner had been married for 14 years to actress Luciana Lima, with whom he had three children.
The news of the actor’s death has caused commotion in Brazil, where fellow actors and social media users have paid tributes to the actor.
The soccer team he supported, Corinthians, praised him also for his success as a handball player for the club’s affiliate in the 1980s.
Domingos Montgner’s latest film, Um Namorado Para Minha Mulher (A Boyfriend For My Wife), was released two weeks ago.
Mexican actress Lorena Rojas has died at the age of 44 following a lengthy battle with breast cancer.
Lorena Rojas starred in more than a dozen soap operas.
The actress was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008 and became an advocate for cancer education in Latino communities.
Lorena Rojas passed away at her home in Miami. Her last message to her fans was sent on Twitter less than a week ago.
In the birthday message, Lorena Rojas wrote: “Thank you all for celebrating my birthday with me. Beautiful day.”
Lorena Rojas starred in such acclaimed Spanish soaps as El Cuerpo del Deseo, Pecados Ajenos, Alcanzar Una Estrella and, most recently, the series Demente Criminal.
She also appeared in movies such as Manos Quietas and Aventurera.
In addition, Lorena Rojas wrote and recorded an album of children’s music called Hijos del Sol, which was inspired by her daughter Luciana.
Lorena Rojas was initially thought to have made a recovery after her original breast cancer diagnosis. But in 2012 she was told her cancer had spread to her bones, and last year the tumor spread to her liver.
Her boyfriend, family and friends were by her side when she died, her agent Latin WE said.
A statement from Latin WE said: “Lorena takes a step into eternal life leaving as her greatest legacy the love for animals and for art in all its forms, her tender devotion to her daughter, her passion for life, the appreciation of all her Lobitas and fans who she loved until the end.”
Generations fans have been cut off from South Africa’s most popular show following the August sacking of its cast for demanding better pay.
The last available episode of Generations was broadcast on September 30.
The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) said it would be at least two months before a “revamped” version of the show returns – with a completely new group of 16 actors.
Generations is South Africa’s longest-running soap, having launched in 1994.
Watched daily by some seven million viewers, it follows predominantly black middle-class characters working in Johannesburg’s advertising industry.
The cast first went on strike in August after a long-running dispute over pay and contracts.
They claimed they were underpaid and received no repeat fees for their work, which is also screened in other African countries.
Generations is South Africa’s longest-running soap
The actors were asked to continue filming while negotiations were taking place, but were sacked after they did not return to work. The SABC has now run out of new editions to broadcast.
“We don’t have enough episodes of Generations, so we will only go until today,” SABC spokesman Kaizer Kganyago told the AFP news agency on Tuesday.
“We are hoping that Generations will have episodes ready for the first week of December.”
At the time of the cast’s sacking, executive producer Mfundi Vundla told a South African radio station that the actors were not irreplaceable and the soap would continue without them.
“There were other actors before, there will be other actors in the future,” he told Talk Radio 702.
“Generations will go on, it doesn’t mean the demise of the series.”
The cast have since approached the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration in an effort to get their jobs back.
The Congress of South African Trade Unions has urged other actors not to be persuaded to join the soap as replacements.
“Don’t be used by the arrogant producing companies in order to maintain and continue the exploitation of your fellow actors,” said secretary general Zwelinzima Vavi.
Actor Charles Keating has died at the age of 72 after a long battle with cancer.
Charles Keating has starred on daytime dramas All My Children, Port Charles and Another World.
Charles Keating has starred on daytime dramas All My Children, Port Charles and Another World (photo Getty Images)
The veteran soap opera actor’s work as Carl Hutchins on Another World garnered him an Emmy in 1996.
Additionally, Charles Keating was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Actor in 1986 for a revival of Joe Orton’s Loot.
Charles Keating’s extensive credits include the films The Thomas Crown Affair, The Bodyguard and Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo.
He also appeared on TV shows Alias, Xena: Warrior Princess and Hercules.
Charles Keating was born on October 22, 1941 in London, England. He is survived by his wife Mary and two sons.
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