Birth Name: Walter Moreira Salles, Jr.
Place of Birth: Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Date of Birth: April 12, 1956
Ethnicity: Brazilian (Portuguese, distant Sephardi Jewish, possibly other)
Walter Salles is a Brazilian filmmaker, film producer, and editor.
He was born in the city of Rio de Janeiro to Brazilian parents, Walther Moreira Salles and Elisa Margarida Gonçalves. He has two brothers, Pedro and João.
Walter’s paternal grandfather was João Theodoro Moreira Salles, the son of José Amâncio de Salles and Ana Rosa Moreira. José Amâncio’s patrilineal line can be traced back to a Jewish Portuguese man, Francisco (Richion) da Costa Pereira, who was born near Braga, Portugal, moved to Brazil, c. 1760, and converted to Catholicism.
Walter’s paternal grandmother was Lucrécia Vilhena de Alcântara. Her parents were Saturnino Vilhena de Alcântara (the son of Joaquim Pedro de Alcântara and Maria de Jesus de Vilhena Braga) and Georgina Augusta Duarte (the daughter of Francisco de Paula Duarte and Francisca Brazilina Marques Teixeira).
Maria de Jesus’ maternal great-grandfather, Matias Gonçalves Moinhos de Vilhena, was born, c. 1687, in Pitões das Júnias, Montalegre, Portugal. Francisca Brazilina’s paternal grandfather, Manuel Teixeira de Carvalho, was originally from Celorico de Basto, Braga, Portugal.
Walter’s maternal grandfather was José Augusto Gonçalves.
He speaks fluent Portuguese, Spanish, French, and English.
Sources: Genealogy of Walter Salles’ father, Walther Moreira Salles – https://www.geni.com/people/Walther-Moreira-Salles/6000000020058502231
http://www.arvore.net.br/feliciano/pafg01.htm
http://bestaesfolada.blogspot.com.br/2010/11/o-avo-dos-moreira-salles-vilella-paula.html
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