At the age of 99, Ruy de Carvalho receives Medal of Honor for Lisbon

ANDm public meeting, on a proposal from the mayor, Carlos Coins (PSD), and the councilor of Culture, Diogo Moura (CDS-PP), the municipal executive also made it possible to award the Municipal Medal of Cultural Merit to the entrepreneur and philanthropist Ilídio Pinho, actress Maria do Céu Guerra, the writers Isabel Alçada and Ana Maria Magalhães, the ACT- Escola de Aores and the singer António Calvario.

In the presentation of the proposals, Carlos Coins highlighted the “great importance” of the award of these medals, highlighting the Medal of Honor of the City to Ruy de Carvalho: “Uncountable actor, person, heart so great, one of the biggest Lisboners and therefore give him the medal of honor, which is the most important medal.”

Born in Lisbon, on March 1, 1927, Ruy de Carvalho debuted as an actor at the age of 9 and “over almost 85 years of professional activity gained a unique prestige with the public, criticism and cultural institutions, projecting the name of Lisbon and Portugal both nationally and internationally”, reads the proposal.

“ Over several decades, Ruy de Carvalho has contributed decisively to the projection of Lisbon’s cultural life, bringing theater, television and cinema closer to the city’s publics”, reads the document.

At the age of 99, Ruy de Carvalho is currently the oldest active actor in the world.

It was also unanimously approved to give the Municipal Medal of Cultural Merit to ACT – School of Actors, an institution that “has developed remarkable work with very positive results at educational and cultural levels, which should be emphasized and worthy of public recognition”, the proposal states.

With 16 votes in favor and one abstention, the executive awarded the Municipal Medal of Cultural Merit to the entrepreneur and philanthropist Ilídio Pinho, recognizing “his unique path, which combines business vision, social responsibility and cultural and scientific mecenate”.

The award of the medal to Maria do Céu Guerra was approved with 16 votes in favor and one against, distinguishing the actress in the year of the 50th anniversary of the theater group Barraca, a company that founded and which remains “a pillar of cultural commitment”, indicates the proposal, stating that this recognition is justified “not only by its curriculum of excellence”, but by being a woman who made the stage “a place of freedom and social reflection”.

They were also distinguished, with a abstention and 16 votes in favor, the writers Isabel Alçada and Ana Maria Magalhães, considered the most relevant pairs of Portuguese children’s literature, “with a work of exceptional cultural, educational and civic impact, deeply linked to the city of Lisbon”, highlighting the collection “An Adventure”.

With two blank votes and 15 in favour, the award of the medal to António Calvary was approved, with an artistic route “many eclectic”, in which, in addition to the song and music, the cinema and the theater are included, namely the magazine to Portuguese.

From the PS, Carla Madeira thanked the “relevant contribution” for the culture and artistic and intellectual life of the personalities to be distinguished, stating that the socialist approach “supports fully” the award of these medals.

On the other hand, Bruno Mascarenhas, do Cávez, asked for speed in the award of the medal to Ruy de Carvalho, with a ceremony that “prestigates and honors a lifetime dedicated to theater and culture”.