Biography

Milhem Cortaz (São Paulo, December 6, 1971) is a Brazilian actor and presenter. Of Arab and Italian descent, Cortaz started in theater at the age of 11, led by actor Walmor Chagas when he performed in the play O Santo Milagroso, in 1983. He moved at the age of 15 to live in Italy with his aunt to get rid of his cocaine addiction, where he graduated from the Piccolo Teatro di Milano and began doing street theater under the influence of Commedia dell'arte but returned to Brazil in 1990, joining the Centro de Pesquisa Teatral (CPT) and stood out, among others, for his performances in O Melhor do Homem in 1995, directed by Ulysses Cruz. He is known for Carandiru (2003), Elite Squad (2007) and A Wolf at the Door (2013).