Anselmo Duarte Bento was a renowned Brazilian actor, screenwriter, and film director, born on April 21, 1920, and passing away on November 7, 2009. He initially gained recognition as a leading man in popular Brazilian musical comedies, also known as "chanchadas".
Duarte made his debut as a filmmaker in 1957 with the film "Absolutamente Certo", in which he also starred. His subsequent film, "O Pagador de Promessas", released in 1962, was adapted from a stage play by Dias Gomes and won the prestigious Golden Palm award at the 1962 Cannes Film Festival. This achievement marked a significant milestone, as it was the only Brazilian feature film to receive this honor and the first Golden Palm awarded to a Southern Hemisphere film.
Throughout his illustrious career, Duarte received numerous accolades, including the Order of The Cultural Merit, Brazil's highest cultural civilian honor, and the Order of Ipiranga, the state of São Paulo's highest civilian honor. He was also awarded titles of merit citizenship by various Brazilian municipalities, including Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and Salto, his birthplace.
In 2009, the municipality of Salto inaugurated the Centro Cultural e Educacional Anselmo Duarte, a multimillion-dollar cultural and educational center that houses a 500-seat amphitheater for film and theatrical events. The center also displays the original Golden Palm award won by Duarte at the 1962 Cannes Film Festival.
Duarte was a dedicated philanthropist and founded the Instituto Anselmo Duarte in 2008, a cultural organization aimed at restoring selected Brazilian films and creating educational projects for young filmmakers. After his passing, his son, Ricardo Duarte, took over as the institute's president.
In his later years, Duarte struggled with Alzheimer's dementia, which was diagnosed in 2002. He spent his remaining years under the care of his son, Ricardo, and granddaughter, Daphne, a prominent Brazilian artist. Despite his illness, Duarte continued to work on his film projects and remained an inspiration to his family and colleagues.
Tragically, Duarte's life was cut short due to complications from a massive hemorrhagic brain stroke, which occurred after he was diagnosed with bladder cancer. He passed away on November 7, 2009, leaving behind a legacy of remarkable achievements in the world of Brazilian cinema.
