Leopoldo Serran, the Brazilian screenwriter behind Dona Flor and Her Two Husbands, and Bye Bye Brazil, has died. He was 66.

Serran died Wednesday morning of liver cancer, hospital officials in Rio de Janeiro said. He was buried the same day at Rio's Sao Joao de Batista cemetery.

Serran, who was known for his arthouse hits, is considered a stalwart of Brazil's Cinema Novo movement.

He co-wrote the 1963 film Ganga Zumba, adapted from a novel by Felicio dos Santos, which marked the directorial debut of long-time colleague Caca Diegues.

His biggest hit was the 1976 feature Dona Flor and Her Two Husbands adapted from the Jorge Amado novel of the same name. The film sold nearly 12 million tickets and became Brazil's biggest box office success.

He again worked with Diegues to create the 1979 feature Bye Bye Brazil, about a Brazilian circus troupe, which like Dona Flor made a splash internationally.

He also penned an Oscar nominee, O Quatrilho, which was nominated in the best foreign film category in 1995.

In addition to films, Serran wrote telenovelas and mini-series for Brazil's Globo TV network.

His adaptation of Fernando Gabeira's What's This, Comrade became the 1997 feature film Four Days in September. It tells the story of the 1969 kidnapping of American Ambassador Charles Elbrick.

His last screenplay was 2004's Onde Anda Voce (Where You Walk) directed by Sergio Rezende.

Serran is survived by two sons, Guilherme and Paulo, and two grandchildren, Maria Antonia and Julio.

With files from the Associated Press