INQUISITR.COM / News & Politics

Brazilian Actor Domingos Montagner Drowns On Set In River Where Soap Opera Got Its Name From

By Kwao Saa
Published on: 22:09 PST, Sep 15, 2016

One of Brazil’s most popular actors, Domingos Montagner, who was starring in a soap opera about the Sao Francisco River, has died after drowning in the same river.

Montagner, 54, was swimming in the river with actress Camila Pitanga, who also stars in the TV show, when the incident occurred.

According to the BBC, Montagner and Pitanga were taking a swim in the Sao Francisco River in Sergipe after shooting some scenes for the Velho Chico soap opera and having lunch.

While they were swimming, Pitanga claims that Montagner was dragged away by powerful currents. Pitanga, who is said to have clung to a rock, cried for help, but locals were slow to respond as they thought the two were still acting, the BBC reported.

The military police, the fire department, and local fishermen were involved in the frantic search for Montagner, Extra reported. Montagner’s body was found underwater a few hours after he was reported missing.

A video posted on social media shows Pitanga sitting in a boat and crying on the shore moments after the incident. Pitanga was Domingos Montagner’s partner in the soap opera.

A local official explained that while Montagner and Pitanga thought they had chosen a safe place in the Sao Francisco River to swim, the area was actually the most dangerous and is usually avoided.

In light of the news of the death of Domingos Montagner, many fans have expressed condolences on social media.

The Sao Francisco River is the theme of the Velho Chico soap opera that Montagner was shooting before he died. Velho Chico, which can be translated as “Old Frank,” is actually another name for the river. Montagner’s character had survived after drowning in the river in the soap opera.

Velho Chico, which premiered earlier this year on Globo, has been described as one of the most popular soap operas in Brazil.

Domingos Montagner is not the first actor to die on the set of Velho Chico. In April, veteran Brazilian actor Umberto Magnani, who also starred in Velho Chico, died on the set of the soap opera after suffering from a stroke. According to TV Jurerê, Magnani was unwell when he showed up to the set of Velho Chico on the day that he died. That day also happened to be his 75th birthday. Magnami was rushed to the hospital after suffering a stroke on the set, but he was pronounced dead.

Domingos Montagner, who has Italian ancestry, was born in Sao Paolo. He had a stint in the circus before moving to acting. Montagner appeared in several movies and TV shows including Diva, Save Jorge, Rare Jewel, and Seven Lives. He also won several awards including the Contigo Best Miniseries Actor award for The Bravo Resounding in 2013.

A statement from Globo described Montagner as “one of the great actors of our time.” According to Extra, Montagner had been recording his final scenes in the soap opera before he died. Since the character he played is a major part of the plot of Velho Chico, it is unclear what would become of the project.

Domingos Montagner was married to Luciana Lima. The couple, who tied the knot in 2002, had three children.

Aerial view of the Sao Francisco river in Sobradinho, Brazil. [Photo by Eraldo Peres/AP Photo]

The 2,914 kilometer long Sao Francisco River where Montagner died is one of the largest rivers in the country. In 2005, the Brazilian government announced a controversial project to divert water from the river through canals to semi-arid regions nearby. The project, which is currently under construction, is set to be completed in 2025, according to the BBC. Environmentalists, who disapprove of the project, claim that the Sao Francisco River, which already hosts several hydro-electrical dams, is overused.

[Featured Image by Eraldo Peres/AP Photo]

Share this article: Brazilian Actor Domingos Montagner Drowns On Set In River Where Soap Opera Got Its Name From
brazil Soap Opera
More from Inquisitr