Antonio Ney Latorraca (Santos, 27 July 1944) is a Brazilian actor.

Biography

Ney Latorraca was born in the port city of Santos, São Paulo state, to Alfredo, a casino crooner, and Nena, a showgirl who performed in casinos. Actor Grande Otelo was his godfather, and he grew up in an artistic environment. Two years after his birth, casinos were forbidden in Brazil by a presidential decree, and his family thus lost their primary means of survival. As a result, his parents decided to move to São Paulo. His mother became a house wife and his father got a job at Rádio Record.

Latorraca started his acting career early. At six, he made an appearance on a radio series by Rádio Record. At nine, he made his first appearance on a TV programme, in the miniseries Alô, Doçura by Rede Tupi. In 1957 his family moved to Rio de Janeiro, where he continued his studies.

In 1964, Ney took part on his first play, "Pluft, O Fantasminha" written by Maria Clara Machado and directed by Serafim Gonzales. From that moment on, he decided that he would be a famous actor. His first professional opportunity came in the next year, when he was selected to join the cast of the play Reportagem de um Tempo Mau, a criticism of the military dictatorship that was ruling the country. The play was presented only once, being subsequently banned by the Federal Censorship and the whole cast arrested for a few days. Soon after, Latorraca moved back to Santos and participated in several amateur plays with the theatre group of the Faculty of Philosophy of Santos.

Beginning in 1967, Latorraca attended the University of São Paulo's School of Dramatic Art for 3 years, graduating as the first of his class. Marília Gabriela was the godmother of his graduating class.

From 1968 on, Ney Latorraca participated in numerous plays, telenovelas and movies. In 1979 he performed alongside with his godfather Grande Otelo in the musical play Lola Moreno. In the telenovela Um Sonho a Mais, Latorraca interpreted five different characters, including a woman. Some of his most memorable roles are the playboy Mederiquis in the soap opera Estúpido Cupido (1976), the polygamous Quequé in the miniseries Rabo de Saia (1984), and the old man Barbosa, in the comic series TV Pirata (1988).

In 1986 he premiered with Marco Nanini one of the most successful plays in Brazilian history, O Mistério de Irma Vap, directed by Marília Pêra. The play was staged for 11 consecutive years and watched by more than 2.5 million people, setting a Brazilian record included in the Guinness Book. The play originated a motion picture, Irma Vap – O Retorno (2006), also interpreted by the two actors.