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Luiz Bonfá(1922-2001)

  • Composer
  • Actor
  • Music Department
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Luiz Bonfá, a great Brazilian guitarist and composer, wrote such iconic soundtracks as "Black Orpheus" and "The Gentle Rain," among other 20 movies that he scored. His songs were recorded by Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Elvis Presley, Sarah Vaughan, Luciano Pavarotti, Paco De Lucia, John McLaughlin, Al DiMeola, Larry Coryell, McCoy Tyner, George Benson, Ithamara Koorax, Diana Krall and many others.
BornOctober 17, 1922
DiedJanuary 12, 2001(78)
BornOctober 17, 1922
DiedJanuary 12, 2001(78)
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Add photos, demo reels

Known for

Julianne Moore, Danny Glover, Gael García Bernal, and Mark Ruffalo in Blindness (2008)
Blindness
6.5
  • Soundtrack
  • 2008
Shailene Woodley and Sam Claflin in Adrift (2018)
Adrift
6.6
  • Soundtrack
  • 2018
Pierce Brosnan, Lena Olin, Chris Cooper, Emilie de Ravin, and Robert Pattinson in Remember Me (2010)
Remember Me
7.1
  • Soundtrack
  • 2010
Larry David in Whatever Works (2009)
Whatever Works
7.1
  • Soundtrack
  • 2009

Credits

IMDbPro

Composer

  • Doechii: Anxiety (2025)
    Doechii: Anxiety
    5.6
    Music Video
    • Composer
    • 2025
  • Mýa: Fallen
    6.5
    Music Video
    • Composer
    • 2003
  • Paul Freeman in Prisoner of Rio (1988)
    Prisoner of Rio
    5.7
    • Composer
    • 1988
  • River of Mystery
    7.7
    TV Movie
    • Composer
    • 1971
  • Quatro Contra o Mundo (1970)
    Quatro Contra o Mundo
    6.5
    • Composer (segments "História da Praia", "Anjo, O", "Jovem Retaguarda")
    • 1970
  • Métamorphoses
    Short
    • Composer
    • 1968
  • Pour un amour lointain (1968)
    Pour un amour lointain
    6.5
    • Composer
    • 1968
  • The Gentle Rain (1966)
    The Gentle Rain
    5.5
    • Composer
    • 1966
  • 22-2000 Cidade Aberta
    • Composer
    • 1965
  • O Santo Módico (1964)
    O Santo Módico
    7.7
    • music by
    • 1964
  • Selva Trágica (1964)
    Selva Trágica
    7.5
    • Composer
    • 1964
  • The Beggars (1963)
    The Beggars
    6.4
    • Composer
    • 1963
  • The Hours of Love (1963)
    The Hours of Love
    6.3
    • Composer
    • 1963
  • As Sete Evas (1962)
    As Sete Evas
    6.1
    • Composer
    • 1962
  • José María Langlais in Tercer Mundo (1962)
    Tercer Mundo
    • Composer
    • 1962

Actor

  • Robert Wagner in It Takes a Thief (1968)
    It Takes a Thief
    7.5
    TV Series
    • Musician
    • 1969
  • Bon soir, Kathrin! (1957)
    Bon soir, Kathrin!
    7.3
    TV Series
    • 1963
  • Carnival of Crime (1962)
    Carnival of Crime
    3.0
    • 1962
  • Anselmo Duarte, Eliana Macedo, Dercy Gonçalves, and Grande Otelo in Depois Eu Conto (1956)
    Depois Eu Conto
    7.6
    • 1956
  • Destiny in Trouble (1953)
    Destiny in Trouble
    6.0
    • 1953
  • Theresa Amayo in Perdidos de Amor (1953)
    Perdidos de Amor
    • 1953
  • Aí Vem o Barão (1951)
    Aí Vem o Barão
    7.0
    • (as Quitandinha Serenaders)
    • 1951
  • Não É Nada Disso
    6.9
    • (as Quitandinha Serenaders)
    • 1950
  • Não Me Diga Adeus (1949)
    Não Me Diga Adeus
    • (as Quitandinha Serenaders)
    • 1949
  • É com Este Que Eu Vou (1948)
    É com Este Que Eu Vou
    7.1
    • (as Quitandinha Serenaders)
    • 1948
  • E o Mundo se Diverte (1948)
    E o Mundo se Diverte
    7.3
    • (as Quitandinha Serenaders)
    • 1948
  • Este Mundo É um Pandeiro
    7.2
    • (as Quitandinha Serenaders)
    • 1947

Music Department

  • Justin Bieber: Hold On (2021)
    Justin Bieber: Hold On
    7.0
    Music Video
    • Music Department
    • 2021
  • Josie Antello and Bel García in A Love Movie (2003)
    A Love Movie
    4.8
    • composer: song "De Cigarro em Cigarro"
    • 2003
  • Paul Freeman in Prisoner of Rio (1988)
    Prisoner of Rio
    5.7
    • music performer: guitar
    • 1988
  • River of Mystery
    7.7
    TV Movie
    • guitars
    • 1971
  • The Gentle Rain (1966)
    The Gentle Rain
    5.5
    • musician: guitar
    • 1966

Personal details

  • Alternative names
    • Luiz Bonfa
  • Born
    • October 17, 1922
    • Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
  • Died
    • January 12, 2001
    • Rio de Janeiro, Brazil(cancer)

Did you know

  • Trivia
    Bonfá, who was well-known for his musical contributions to the Brazilian film Black Orpheus (1959) ("Black Orpheus") died on the same day, in the same year as actor Ademar da Silva, who starred in the film playing the role of the "angel of death" that follows the main character throughout the film.

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