He was married to actress and politician
Bete Mendes, physical education teacher Maria Tereza Schimidt, and actresses
Christiane Torloni,
Monique Alves,
Tássia Camargo, , and
Deborah Evelyn, to whom he was married for 24 years before separating in 2012. He is the father of , an actor, his son with Christiane, Tainá, Monique's daughter, and Luísa, from his relationship with Deborah. With her help, he overcame serious conflicts, such as the accidental death of his son Guilherme, Leonardo's twin, in 1991, and drug abuse, like
cocaine. In 2010, actor Nilson Gomes recorded a video, posted on YouTube, in which he accuses the director of forcing him to take the "
casting couch" and maintain a relationship with him in exchange for a role in his next soap opera. Nilson lost the lawsuit for failing to provide evidence of his accusation. On December 26, 2022, Dennis Carvalho was admitted to Copa Star Hospital in
Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, after experiencing persistent fatigue initially attributed to
stress. Diagnosed with extensive pneumonia that progressed to
septicemia (sepsis), a severe systemic infection, his condition became critical, necessitating intensive care. Carvalho was intubated and placed in an induced coma for approximately 20 days, during which he faced life-threatening complications, including pulmonary embolism and cardiac arrhythmia, requiring a pacemaker implantation. Carvalho was discharged in late January 2023, after over a month of hospitalization, and began recovery at home, focusing on physiotherapy to regain muscle mass and adopting healthier habits, such as quitting smoking and alcohol. Reflecting on the ordeal, he described it as a "second chance" at life, crediting his survival to skilled medical care.
Death Carvalho died in Rio de Janeiro on February 28, 2026, at the age of 78. == Filmography ==