Actress Laura Cardoso dies at age 98

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Legendary Brazilian actress Laura Cardoso has passed away at the age of 98 after a long and celebrated career spanning over six decades.
She holds the record for the most telenovela titles in Brazilian television history, with appearances ranging from her debut in 1952 to roles as recent as 2019.
Cardoso was deeply devoted to late husband Fernando Balleroni, choosing never to remarry and remaining a proud grandmother until shortly before her death.
Her family has confirmed she died peacefully at home on May 17th, and neighbors have been invited to honor her memory outside the funeral venue in São Paulo.

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Actress Laura Cardoso, a distinguished figure in Brazilian dramaturgy, has died at the age of 98. Her daughter, Fatima Cardoso, confirmed that Laura passed away on Monday night, May 17th, at her residence in the Sumare neighborhood of West Sao Paulo, shortly after midnight. Born Laurinda de Jesus Balleroni in 1927, Cardoso began her acting career at fifteen. She made her television debut in 1952 with Tribunal do Coracao on Tupi TV. Throughout her career, she amassed credits in over 60 telenovelas, holding the record for the most titles in Brazilian television history. Information regarding Cardoso’s death was first announced on her official Instagram profile early Tuesday morning, May 18th. The account is managed by Fernando Faria, her great-grandson, who told Quem magazine that she passed away at 11:24 p.m. on Monday from natural causes. A wake will be held on Tuesday, May 18th, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Funeral Home in Bela Vista. While the service will be private, the public is welcome to pay their respects outside the venue.

Brazil’s Laura Cardoso Honored For Decades of Iconic Telenovela Roles Before Passing at 98

Cardoso was known for her role as Dona Isaura in the 1993 telenovela Mulheres de Areia, where she portrayed the mother of twins Ruth and Raquel, characters played by Gloria Pires. Her extensive filmography also includes appearances in the 1991 telenovela Felicidade, the 2016 telenovela Sol Nascente as Dona Sinha, and the role of Caetana in O outro lado do paraiso. Archival photos and footage exist of her work in productions such as A Viagem, Algemas de Ouro, Pao Pao, Beijo Beijo, and Como uma Onda. Her final television role was in the 2019 telenovela A Dona do Pedaço, and she appeared in the film Dona Rosinha, released in 2025. In her personal life, Laura Cardoso was married to actor and director Fernando Balleroni from 1949 until his death in 1980. The couple had three children: Fatima, Fernanda, and Jose. Jose passed away shortly after birth. Widowed at 58, Cardoso often stated in interviews that she never considered remarrying, as she believed she would never find another love equivalent to her late husband. She was also a grandmother and great-grandmother. Information provided by G1.