Brazilian comedian's Covid-19 death unites nation in grief

Paulo Gustavo died May 4 evening in a Rio de Janeiro hospital after spending more than a month in intensive care. Photo: AFP

Paulo Gustavo, a popular comedian whose character Dona Herminia dealt with everyday family and LGBTQ issues in some of Brazil's biggest-box office movies and television shows, died of Covid-19, sparking an outpouring of grief across a country polarised by the pandemic. He was 42.

Gustavo died Tuesday (May 4) evening in a Rio de Janeiro hospital after spending more than a month in intensive care. Fans had begun a vigil for him outside the hospital.