José Wilker Death: Sonia Braga, Reynaldo Gianecchini And More Celebrities Remember The Late Brazilian Actor

Brazil lost a living legend with the passing of José Wilker on Saturday, April 5. The veteran actor was found dead from an apparent heart attack at the age of 66 in his Rio de Janeiro home. No official cause of death has been revealed, but Wilker has left an emptiness in the Brazilian telenovela world. Celebrities have taken to social media to express their sadness and remember the legacy that he left. The actor had just finished his on-air appearance earlier this year in Globo's primetime series "Amor à Vida" where he played the tenacious Dr. Herbert. From all the messages gathered, he was a kind, professional and loyal colleague with a great sense of humor.

UPDATE: Susana Vieira On José Wilker Death: Telenovela Wife Says, 'I Am His Great Widow'

Writer Aguinaldo Silva who worked with him for years and gave him one of his biggest breaks when Wilker took the male lead of "Roque Santeiro" in 1985. "I knew him since 1961, we used to live in Recife," Silva wrote on Twitter. "We worked on dozens of projects together. He was too young to die. Without José Wilker we are less and and more poor. I disconnected all the phones. I don't want nobody to ask me what I think about his death. I am sad. I died a little. I don't know what to say." Renata Sorrah who worked with the actor in various telenovelas including "Senhora Do Destino" and "Duas Caras" said, "He knew a lot about cinema, and also about life."

Sonia Braga who worked with the actor on "Doña Flor And Her Two Husbands" uploaded a photo with him on her Facebook page to remember his legacy. "My dear friend, forever," she wrote. "I met Wilker when I went to Rio with the play "Hair" in 1969 and I fell in love with that beautiful person. Throughout my life I continued to love him intensely and platonically. Wilker has always been and will continue to be one of my best and dearest friends." His "Amor à Vida" co-stars, his las telenovela project, also took the time to remember the actor after his passing. Caio Castro: "In broad Saturday daylight, in love, a Saturday that looks more like a Sunday, one of the most beautiful Saturday's I have ever seen... Heaven gains one more idol, a reference, a man. My condolences to his family but above all my gratitude for everything I learned from him." Read on more reactions from celebrities down below:

Reynaldo Gianecchini: "Have a good trip Wilker! Lot's of light."

Mariana Ximenes: "Profoundly saddened with the loss of a marvelous artist, an example of love to our industry."

Elizabeth Savalla: "My dear friend, he laughed a lot. Fantastic humor, irreverent, acid.. I lived incredible moments with him, we made many projects; my first, "Gabriela," he was Mudinho and I was Malvina, two revolutionary characters from Jorge Amado. Today I am sad, very sad, may you have peace my friend. Today the spiritual world is throwing a party and our hearts are broken."

Claudia Raia: "Zezinho, the world has lost an intelligent man with a unique sense of humor, a great actor. Brasil already misses you."

Isis Valverde: "Today heaven has gained a great gift and our dramaturgy says goodbye with a clenched heart. My condolences to his family and may he rest in peace."

Gabriela Duarte: "I always admired Jose Wilker's talent. People like him are immortal, I will continue to admire him."

Thiago Fragoso: "Thank you, Ze. I am saddened. The world is less intelligent with your loss."

Malvino Salvador: "I am very, very sad. One of the most brilliant persons I've ever known has left us. He was a reference to me. May you stay with God."

Barbara Paz: "Thank you for everything that you taught me. Thank you Ze!"

Deborah Secco: "José Wilker, great actor, great colleague, he was my father once... You will always be in my heart..."

Klara Castanho: "I prefer to keep in my hear the image of people celebrating life. #RIP May good put his soul in a good place."

Paula Braun: "Zé has died. A great friend, a very loved person and very special in my life. We lost one of the good ones, intelligent and sensitive."