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

Susana Vieira worked with José Wilker on numerous telenovela projects and undoubtedly his death was a great loss for the actress. Both thespians worked on Globo series like "Senhora Do Destino," "Duas Caras" and his last soap "Amor à Vida." Vieira was at the wake for the late actor in an Ipanema theatre in Rio de Jaineiro. "He was my best 'husband,' my best companion," she told media outside the venue. "I worked with him multiple times and we had 42 years of marriage. I am his great 'widow.'" Wilker was found dead at the age off 66 in his home on Saturday, April 5. The cause of death has not been determined, but it's suspected that a heart attack could have taken his life.

"He was so delicate and didn't deserve to be sick," Vieira added. "We had a relationship for years. He never forgot my birthday. José was very similar to Giovanni Improtta (his character on 'Senhora Do Destino']. 'If you need me, just call,' was what his character and he always said." 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." Click here to read more reactions from celebrities!