Osvaldo Laport biography

The actor Osvaldo Laport was born in Uruguay but made a name for himself throughout Latin America after moving in 1976 to Buenos Aires, where he enrolled in drama school. Thirty years later he is a star whose career has spanned the theatre, cinema and television.

Laport broke into Corrientes, the Argentine version of New York's Broadway in 1980. He starred in a number of hit plays, including the lead role in Oscar Wilde's classic "The Importance of Being Earnest." He also played opposite Soledad Silveyra in "El Cuarto Azul." In 1983, he landed a part in the soap opera, "Cara a Cara," starring Verónica Castro. The actor has never looked back, acting in about 30 soap operas - playing the lead in more than half of them.

His roles in soaps such as "Brujas," "Amor en Custodia," and "Campeones" have made him a household name in more than two dozen countries around the world, including Argentina, Australia, Bulgaria, Chile, Israel, Italy, Malaysia, Spain, Uruguay and Venezuela.

They have also won prizes. Laport won Italy's prestigious Telegatto award for his role in "Renzo e Lucía." He is also a two-time recipient of Argentina's Martín Fierro - the country's most important national television and radio award - for his roles in "Amor en Custodia" and "Campeones." "Amor en Custodia" also picked up Argentina's Clarin entertainment award for best daily fiction drama.

Laport began supporting UNHCR in 2004, when he donated a percentage of the earnings from his men's fragrance, Tiempo, to the refugee agency. The same year, he donated his services for an award-winning television spot marking World Refugee Day.

The following year he delivered another message of hope on World Refugee Day and he has taken every opportunity - be it on TV shows, at concerts, celebrity auction or sports events - to help and promote the work of UNHCR and tell the public about the plight of refugees and asylum seekers.

He has met with refugees in Argentina and Chile, and has pushed their case in media interviews. In September 2006, he accompanied a group of refugees living in Argentina when they handed over a petition asking Congress to move ahead with a draft refugee law approved in 2005 by the upper chamber.