The humorist Ary Toledo, one of the greatest icons of Brazilian humor, passed away this Saturday (12) at the age of 87 in São Paulo.
Admitted to the Sírio-Libanês Hospital, Ary passed away around 08:17 am, as his family reported in an official statement on social media.
His death marks the end of a career full of success and laughter, but few know an interesting side of his story: Ary Toledo had Italian ancestry.
Ary Toledo's Italian roots
Born Ary Christoni from Toledo Pizza, in Martinópolis, in the interior of São Paulo, the comedian belonged to the fifth generation of the Christoni family, Italian immigrants who arrived in Brazil at the end of the 19th century.
His ancestors settled in Pirassununga, and later in Ourinhos, contributing to the growth of the city with farming, commerce and even the creation of villages that still bear the family name today.
The history of the Christoni family in Brazil began with Carlos Christoni, who in 1887, at the age of 39, left his homeland, Curtatone, province of Mantua, in northern Italy, and boarded the ship Birmania bound for Santos, São Paulo, with his wife, Signorina Santa, and his children.
A life dedicated to laughter and culture
While the Christonis devoted themselves to agriculture and commerce in Ourinhos, Ary Toledo followed a different path. He conquered Brazil with his unique humor, which delighted audiences of all ages. With irreverent jokes and sharp social commentary, Ary became a beloved figure in the Brazilian art scene.
Throughout his career he has worked on television stations such as TV Tupi, Record and SBT, in addition to having written several joke books and recorded several albums.
For 40 years he was married to the theater director Marly Marley, who passed away in 2014, aged 75.
Despite his brilliant career and his countless contributions to the country's culture, Ary Toledo He also carried with him the legacy of his Italian family, although he rarely mentioned this side of his life.
Your maternal surname, Christoni, is a permanent reminder of this heritage.
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