Nicolau Breyner

João Nicolau de Melo Breyner Moreira Lopes GOIH GOM (30 July 1940 – 14 March 2016), known professionally as Nicolau Breyner, was a Portuguese actor, screenwriter, producer, director and television host. He was one of the most well-known figures in Portuguese television and cinema, having performed in more than 170 films and television series in his career.

Nicolau Breyner was born in Serpa, Portugal, on 30 July 1940. His parents were Nicolau Moreira Lopes (1915–1965) and Augusta Pereira da Silva de Melo Breyner Pereira (1920–2003).

Breyner and his family moved to Lisbon when he was 9 years old. There he studied at the Camões Secondary School. He studied singing and was part of the Portuguese Musical Youth chorus. He first enrolled in a Law school but later switched to vocal studies at the Conservatório Nacional. He initially pursued opera singing but opted for theater after finding that he did not have the discipline required for opera.

Breyner's acting debut in theater was in the play Leonor Telles by Marcelino Mesquita. His official acting career began in 1965 and did not end until his death. During this time, he went on to win two Portuguese Golden Globes and was nominated for five more. His highest rated film, Stefan Zweig, Farewell to Europe, where he played the character of Leopold Stern, went on to achieve a 90% rating from Rotten Tomatoes.

Breyner's first marriage was to Mafalda Maria de Alpoim Vieira Barbosa. His second marriage was to the Portuguese actress Sofia Sá da Bandeira, between 1996 and 2001. He had two daughters, Mariana and Constança Fidalgo Ramos de Melo Breyner Lopes, from a previous relationship with Cláudia Fidalgo. His third wife was Mafalda Gomes de Amorim Bessa.^{[citation needed]}

Breyner was a second cousin of Portuguese author Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen.

Breyner died in Lisbon from a cardiac arrest on 14 March 2016, aged 75. His body was cremated at the Alto de São João Cemetery in Lisbon.