José Wilker de Almeida, a renowned Brazilian actor, was born on August 20th, 1947, in Juazeiro do Norte, Brazil. Initially, he worked as a radio speaker in his hometown before moving to Recife, where he became a member of the "Movimento de Cultura Popular" (MPC),a cultural group that not only brought entertainment but also education and political awareness to the people.
However, during the military repression, MPC was outlawed, and Wilker relocated to Rio de Janeiro, where he began his career in cinema. His first film, "A Falecida," starred the acclaimed actress Fernanda Montenegro.
In Rio, Wilker continued to work in theatre, writing his own plays, such as "O Trágico Acidente que Destronou Teresa" in 1968 and "A China é Azul" in 1972. He also acted in films, including "Os Inconfidentes" in 1972, and worked on his first TV series, "O Bofe," the same year.
Between 1976 and 1985, Wilker took a hiatus from theatre, focusing on his work in cinema and television. During this period, he appeared in several blockbuster films, including "Dona Flor e Seus Dois Maridos" (1976),"Xica da Silva" (1976),"Bye Bye Brasil" (1979),"Bonitinha Mas Ordinária" (1981),and "O Homem da Capa Preta" (1986). His TV work was also highly successful during this time.
In 1989, Wilker worked on two notable films, "Doida Demais" and "Dias Melhores Virão." The following year, he appeared in "Medicine Man," directed by John McTiernan and starring Sean Connery. Over the next five years, Wilker primarily worked in television.
In 1996, a compilation of his film reviews was published in a book titled "Como Deixar um Relógio Emocionado." The following year, he returned to film with "O Pequeno Dicionário Amoroso" and "A Guerra de Canudos," in which he played the lead role and served as producer.
Wilker continued his acclaimed TV career, but in 2000, he worked on "Villa Lobos, Uma Vida de Paixões." Two years later, he appeared in "Dead in the Water," starring Henry Thomas. He then had roles in three films: "O Homem do Ano" (2003),"Maria, Mãe de Deus" (2003),and "Redentor" (2004).
In 2003, Wilker was elected president of Rio Filmes, a prominent film company in Brazil.
