Francisco Cuoco's son's statement about his father's situation before he died

Francisco Cuoco passed away on Thursday (June 19), at the age of 91, and his wake was held in São Paulo, in a ceremony open to fans and family. The actor's youngest son, Diogo Cuoco, spoke to the press and shared emotional details about his father's final moments.

According to Diogo, Cuoco was sedated and surrounded by family members before he passed away. "We would like to say that we are, naturally, sad, dismayed, but that we are at peace. My father passed away very calmly, very serenely," he said.

During the wake, Diogo also highlighted that the artist's long life was primarily due to his passion for his craft. "I think his longevity is closely linked to him finding this purpose, this craft that he loved so much and that he did with so much love and dedication. It is often difficult for us to understand the dimension that he had," he commented.

The youngest also highlighted his father's personality off-camera. "He was exactly the same person. Extremely humble, generous, kind. Being around him was fantastic," he said. He added: "We've seen a lot of people saying this over and over again. It was a characteristic of his, in fact. So, we're sure that this remains in us, remains alive in the family, in the children, in the grandchildren, in the fans."

The farewell ceremony was marked by tributes and a strong presence of family and colleagues. The coffin, kept open, was surrounded by wreaths of flowers, including one sent by Rede Globo, the network with which Cuoco worked since the 1970s. Rodrigo, Tatiana and Diogo Cuoco were present, as was actress Aldine Muller, who worked with the actor in "O Salvador da Pátria".

The burial was reserved for family only, as reported by the artist's advisors.

Francisco Cuoco was born in São Paulo on November 29, 1933 and established himself as one of the leading names in Brazilian television drama. His career, which spanned more than five decades, included roles in theater, film and television. A graduate of the São Paulo School of Dramatic Art, he was a member of groups such as Teatro Brasileiro de Comédia and Teatro dos Sete, performing alongside figures such as Fernanda Montenegro and Sérgio Britto.

Among his most notable roles are the soap operas "Redenção" (1966) and "Pecado Capital" (1975), in addition to several performances alongside Regina Duarte, with whom he formed a romantic couple in more than one production.