Roque Santeiro Returns to Globo with Cast Marked by Great Losses

The return of Roque Santeiro to Globo's programming in 2026 brought back characters that left their mark on Brazilian television, but also evoked a longing for artists who are no longer alive. The soap opera, written by Dias Gomes with co-authorship by Aguinaldo Silva, premiered in 1985 and returns to the Special Edition slot four decades later.

Roque Santeiro Returns to Globo with Cast Marked by Great Losses

Over the years, several cast members have passed away. Among them are performers of characters fundamental to the story, such as José Wilker, Armando Bógus, Paulo Gracindo, and Yoná Magalhães.

José Wilker Played the Protagonist Roque Santeiro

José Wilker brought to life the character who lends his name to the soap opera. In the plot, Roque is an artisan of religious images who comes to be considered a martyr after supposedly dying while confronting criminals. Seventeen years later, he reappears alive in Asa Branca and jeopardizes the entire structure created around his legend. Wilker died in 2014, at 69 years old, a victim of a sudden heart attack while sleeping at home in Rio de Janeiro.

Armando Bógus and Paulo Gracindo Also Left a Legacy of Fond Memories

Armando Bógus played Zé das Medalhas, a merchant who found a lucrative way to exploit the devotion of Asa Branca's residents to the supposed saint. The actor died in 1993, at 63 years old, due to complications caused by leukemia. Paulo Gracindo brought to life Father Hipólito, a conservative religious figure who defended the myth created around Roque. The actor died in 1995, at 84 years old, a victim of prostate cancer.

Yoná Magalhães Made Her Mark on the Soap Opera as Matilde

Yoná Magalhães played Matilde, owner of the Sexus nightclub and one of Asa Branca's most irreverent figures. The character maintained a close friendship with Sinhozinho Malta, played by Lima Duarte. The actress died in 2015, at 80 years old, after complications resulting from heart surgery.

Rui Rezende and Arnaud Rodrigues Also Departed

Rui Rezende played Professor Astromar Junqueira, who fueled Asa Branca's imagination and eventually became associated with the legend of a werewolf. The actor died in January 2026, at 88 years old. Arnaud Rodrigues became known in the soap opera as Blind Jeremias, a character who roamed the streets of Asa Branca singing verses and commenting on the city's events. The artist died in 2010, at 67 years old, after a boat sank in the lake of the Lajeado Hydroelectric Plant in Tocantins.

Other Losses in the Cast

The list of artists who participated in the production and have died over the decades also includes Lilian Lemmertz, Cláudio Cavalcanti, Eloísa Mafalda, Ilva Niño, Elizângela, João Carlos Barroso, Luiz Armando Queiroz, Wanda Kosmo, Maurício do Valle, Nelson Dantas, Waldyr Sant'Anna, Oswaldo Loureiro, and Sandro Solviatti, among others.

Roque Santeiro's Rerun Represents a Trip Back to Asa Branca

The rerun of Roque Santeiro, therefore, represents not only a trip back to Asa Branca but also an opportunity to revisit the work of a generation of artists who helped transform the soap opera into one of the great classics of Brazilian television.

With information from NaTelinha, Portal UAI, diariodamidia.com.br.