Nicolau Breyner

João Nicolau de Melo Breyner Moreira Lopes GOIH GOM (30 July 1940 – 14 March 2016), better known 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. Early life 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. Career Breyner's acting debut in theater was in the play Leonor Telles by Marcelino Mesquita.