The host Silvio Santos was one of the biggest names in Brazilian television, especially known for his long-running show, “Programa Silvio Santos.” The businessman had been hospitalized since the beginning of the month following an H1N1 infection.
Businessman and TV host Silvio Santos passed away at 93 on Saturday (August 17th). According to the Albert Einstein Hospital, he died due to bronchopneumonia caused by an influenza (H1N1) infection.
Silvio was a towering figure in Brazilian television, particularly as the face of “Programa Silvio Santos,” which he hosted since 1963, and of SBT (Sistema Brasileiro de Televisão), which began broadcasting in 1981.
On July 18, 2024, the TV host was admitted to Albert Einstein Hospital in São Paulo to recover from H1N1. He was released two days later. On August 1st, he was hospitalized again, according to SBT’s press office, for imaging tests.
In a statement, Globo mourned his passing:
“Today, Brazil bids farewell with sadness to a passionate communicator and one of its greatest talents. We thank Silvio for all he did for Brazilian television and send our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, colleagues, and fans.”
Silvio Santos was born Senor Abravanel on December 12, 1930, in Lapa, Rio de Janeiro. His parents, Alberto and Rebeca, were Jewish immigrants, and he was the eldest of five siblings.
He studied accounting and, in his free time, worked as a street vendor in Rio, selling pens and plastic covers for voter IDs during the 1946 elections. Around the same time, he began doing small radio gigs.
At 18, in 1948, he served in the Army at the Paratrooper School. On Sundays, he worked for a radio station in Rio. After leaving the military, he continued as a radio announcer, among other jobs, like selling ads on loudspeakers on the Rio-Niterói ferry.
In 1954, Silvio signed his first permanent contract as an announcer with Rádio Nacional in São Paulo. He was later invited by businessman Manuel de Nóbrega to be a presenter on his show at Rádio Nacional.
In 1958, he took over the company Baú da Felicidade, previously owned by Nóbrega. The following year, he began performing in circuses to sell the company’s installment books.
That same year, on February 7, he debuted his first television show, “Hit Parade,” on TV Paulista.
In 1962, he became the host of “Vamos Brincar de Forca” on TV Paulista (channel 5, later purchased by TV Globo). Shortly after, his “Programa Silvio Santos” began airing on TV Globo.
In 1965, he also became a presenter on TV Tupi. His shows had various names: “Festa dos Sinos,” “Sua Majestade: o Ibope,” “Cidade Contra Cidade,” and “Silvio Santos Diferente.”
In 1975, he won the bid to acquire Channel 11 in Rio de Janeiro and, the following year, inaugurated TVS. In 1976, he left TV Globo. His show began airing on TV Tupi and TVS in Rio.
Silvio later obtained other broadcasting licenses, and in 1981, SBT was launched, one of several companies in his group. “Programa Silvio Santos” became its flagship show, featuring unforgettable segments like “Domingo no Parque,” “Qual é a Música,” “Show de Calouros,” and “Porta da Esperança.”
His ability to captivate viewers with a variety show that could last over ten hours, along with his mastery of the audience with catchphrases like “Come over here, come over here” and “Who wants money?” showcased the host’s charisma.
Silvio also enjoyed success singing carnival songs, such as “Coração Corintiano” and “A Pipa do Vovô,” recorded on albums between the 1970s and 1990s.
In 1989, Silvio Santos announced his candidacy for the Presidency of Brazil just two weeks before the first round of elections, but the candidacy was rejected by the Supreme Electoral Court a week later.
In February 2001, Silvio Santos was honored at Rio’s Carnival by the Tradição samba school.
In August of that same year, his daughter Patricia was kidnapped for seven days. After she was released, the kidnapper broke into Silvio’s house in São Paulo and held him hostage for seven hours. The Governor of São Paulo at the time, Geraldo Alckmin, came to the scene, spoke with the kidnapper, and convinced him to surrender.
In 2010, a massive financial fraud was uncovered in one of Silvio Santos Group’s companies, Banco Panamericano—later, in 2018, seven former directors were convicted of the fraud. In 2011, Silvio Santos sold Panamericano to BTG Pactual.
In December 2020, Silvio Santos celebrated his 90th birthday without public events, staying isolated with his daughters due to the pandemic.
On August 1, 2021, after receiving two vaccine doses, Silvio returned to host his show for the first time since 2019.
Just weeks after his return, he contracted COVID-19 and was hospitalized. He recovered and resumed recording his show but not with the same frequency as before.
To the tune of the opening music, “Silvio Santos vem aí,” he entered cheerfully, saying, “Stop everything, I’m here. I’ve arrived!” It was the first of many jokes to entertain the audience on what would be his final show.
Silvio Santos leaves behind his widow, Íris Abravanel, with whom he had been married since 1978, and their daughters Daniela, Patricia, Rebeca, and Renata. He also leaves behind daughters Cíntia and Silvia from his first marriage to Cidinha, who passed away in 1977.
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