Entertainment
Brazilian comedian Paulo Gustavo dies aged 42 from Covid-19
Brazilian comedian Paulo Gustavo has died aged 42 after a battle with Covid-10.
The star had spent over a month in intensive care in hospital in Rio de Janeiro, before he died on Tuesday evening.
Fans set up a vigil outside the hospital, while Conservative President Jair Bolsonaro tweeted his regret at Gustavo’s death, saying ‘his talent and charisma won the affection of all of Brazil’.
Former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva called Gustavo a ‘great Brazilian, who celebrated our country with so much joy’.
Singer Caetano Veloso shared pictures of Gustavo on Instagram, and wrote: ‘The Brazilian people, who filled the cinemas to laugh with Paulo Gustavo, are in mourning. And it must revolt against those responsible for our vulnerability in the face of the pandemic that this beloved person took from us.’
Tina Knowles paid tribute to the comic on Instagram, saying that she and her daughter Beyonce were big fans.
She wrote: ‘Sadly we Lost a very beloved Actor and Comedian Mr. Paulo Gustavo. Mr Gustavo was such a huge fan of Beyonce and a member of the Behive [sic]. She was a fan of his as well. We are praying for his family and all of his fans. You are sadly missed Paulo.’
The actor’s husband Thales Bretas shared a post a day after Gustavo’s death, writing that it was difficult to process.
He wrote: ‘How happy I have been in these past 7 years that I had the privilege of living with you! As I learned, I grew up! I hope I can pass on a little of your legacy of generosity, affection, joy and love.
‘You are a hurricane! A star that shone a lot here on Earth, and will shine even more in the sky, always looking out for our family !!! I love you so much … and I will always love you, for the rest of my life! I can’t write a hundredth of how much you were and it’s important to me and the world. And it will continue to be, forever…’
The couple are parents to two two-year-olds Romeu and Galel, who were born to surrogate mothers in the US in April 2019.
Gustavo was hospitalised in mid-March after testing positive for Covid-19, and a week into his hospitalisation, he was intubated for breathing difficulties and eventually needed an artificial lung.
The day before his death, he suffered a pulmonary embolism and his condition, which had been improving, dramatically worsened.
His final Instagram post came on March 13 when he celebrated his anniversary with his husband.
Gustavo was best known for playing suburban mother Dona Hermínia in various smash hit movies and television shows in Brazil, including Minha Mãe é uma Peça and its two sequels.
The drag character was praised for the way she dealt with her gay son’s sexuality, and Gustavo was commended for his positive representation of LGBTQ+ people and families.
He is survived by husband Thelas and their two children.
Brazil has recorded 15 million cases of coronavirus since the start of the pandemic, with over 400,000 people dying from the virus.
