Ronaldo Valdez

Career

Valdez started his earlier career as a leading man and was known for portraying paternal roles and antagonists in both TV and film.

Valdez was discovered by Dolphy at a neighborhood basketball court while he was searching for a new actor to pair with Susan Roces in the 1966 film Pepe En Pilar. His first major break came in the 1969 movie The Mad Doctor of Blood Island.

Valdez subsequently did many films in the 1970s and 1980s, where he gained popularity playing important father roles and rich father figures. He continued to be cast in this role in the 1990s and 2000s, most notably in TV dramas such as Mula sa Puso (1997–1999), Ang Munting Paraiso (1999–2002) and Sa Dulo ng Walang Hanggan (2001–2003), and the romantic comedy movie Labs Kita... Okey Ka Lang? (1998). To later generations, he was known for starring in TV series such as Los Bastardos (2018–2019) and 2 Good 2 Be True (2022), and films such as The Mistress (2012), All You Need Is Pag-ibig (2015) and Seven Sundays (2017). He also guest-hosted several television programs such as SOP Rules, Nuts Entertainment, Eat Bulaga!, Kakasa Ka Ba sa Grade 5?, Power of 10, All Star K! and Sunday All Stars.

In 2017, Valdez was selected by KFC to become the first Filipino Colonel after appearing in a viral comedic audition video for the role alongside Leo Martinez and Pen Medina.

His last two films that he was part of, GG (Good Game): The Movie (co-starring Donny Pangilinan, Maricel Laxa, Baron Geisler & Gold Aceron) and Itutumba Ka ng Tatay Ko (top-billed by his son Janno Gibbs in his directorial debut and starring Xia Vigor and Jeric Raval), were both posthumously released on January 24, 2024.

Personal life

Valdez was married to Maria Fe Ilagan with whom they had two children, Janno and Melissa, who are both actors. He is also related to the Ilagan clan through his father-in-law Gerardo De Leon, Maria Fe's father, among whom are actors Jay Ilagan, Robert Arevalo and wife Barbara Perez, and Kenneth Ilagan, and to cousin Angelo Castro Jr. and wife June Keithley, and nephew Mondo Castro through his uncle, the former Chief Justice Fred Ruiz Castro.

In 2022, Valdez underwent surgery for prostate cancer.

Death

Valdez died at the age of 76 on December 17, 2023, in Quezon City. The Daily Tribune, citing police investigators, reported that he had died from a gunshot wound to the head, although the Quezon City Police District said it was waiting for the results of laboratory testing to be released. Authorities later confirmed that a .45 caliber pistol with an empty magazine was found near Valdez’s body. He was discovered by his driver in his room at his home in New Manila and was rushed to hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival.

Following his death, three police officers were fired after graphic footage taken by first responders of the immediate aftermath of Valdez being found shot was leaked online. The Quezon City government ordered an investigation into the leak while Valdez's manager Jamela Santos threatened legal action against those responsible. Three civilians who also uploaded the footage on social media were also charged for cybercrime offenses and breaches of privacy laws. On January 16, 2024, the Quezon City Police District apologized to Valdez's family over the footage and subsequent leak.

Filmography

Film

Television

Awards and nominations

Ronaldo Valdez was one of the few actors who have won all four of the major awards in the Philippines for the same work. He joined the exclusive Grand Slam club in 1994, when he won the Best Supporting Actor awards in the Film Academy of the Philippines Awards, FAMAS Awards, Gawad Urian, and the Star Awards for his role in May Minamahal.

References

References

1. (24 October 2014). "In honor of Manong Gerry". Philstar.com.
2. (19 June 2017). "LOOK: Janno Gibbs takes trip down memory lane with dad Ronaldo Valdez". GMA News Online.
3. "How Ronaldo Valdez's Chance Encounter With Dolphy Led Him to a Career in Acting". Esquire.
4. "Remembering Ronaldo Valdez: some of his memorable roles". GMA News.
5. "Ronaldo Valdez: A notable career timeline". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
6. "Want to know how Ronaldo Valdez became the first Filipino Colonel?". Spot.ph.
7. "Ronaldo Valdez's legacy: 10 films, series to get to know the late veteran actor". [[Rappler]].
8. Santos, Rhea Manila. (2024-01-13). "'GG (Good Game) the Movie' cast dedicates their film to the late Ronaldo Valdez". [[ABS-CBN News]].
9. Almo, Nherz. (January 17, 2024). "Janno Gibbs, nakatrabaho ang yumaong amang si Ronaldo Valdez sa unang niyang directorial job". [[GMA Network News]].
10. (18 December 2023). "Ronaldo Valdez tackles love in twilight years in last film". Manila Standard.
11. (18 December 2023). "PH show biz mourns Ronaldo Valdez's death". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
12. Wang, Nickie. (December 17, 2023). "Veteran actor Ronaldo Valdez dies at 76".
13. (December 19, 2023). "Probe deeper into actors death". The Manila Times.
14. Villamente, Jing. (2023-12-18). "Actor Ronaldo Valdez allegedly died by suicide — QCPD". [[Daily Tribune (Philippines).
15. Malasig, Jeline. (2023-12-18). "Public urged to avoid drawing conclusions about Ronaldo Valdez's death". Interaksyon.
16. Malasig, Jeline. (2023-12-19). "'Yakap': Support pour in for Janno Gibbs after post about dad Ronaldo Valdez". Interaksyon.
17. Casucian, Jiselle Anne. (2023-12-20). "QC mayor orders probe into leaked alleged Ronaldo Valdez video". GMA News.
18. (2023-12-20). "2 QCPD policemen dismissed for circulation of video of late actor Ronaldo Valdez". [[Rappler]].
19. (2023-12-20). "3 cops axed over leak of Ronaldo Valdez video". The Philippine Star.
20. (16 January 2024). "Quezon City police sorry for leaked Ronaldo Valdez video". ABS-CBN.
21. Gallardo, Ricky T.. "Piolo basks in grand-slam glory".
22. (26 April 1994). "Santos, Salvador win in filmfest". Manila Standard.
23. (29 December 1997). "MMFF Awards: Maricel wins, but where was she?". Manila Standard.
24. [https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000431/1997 "Metro Manila Film Festival:1997"]. ''IMDB''. Retrieved April 9, 2014.
25. (8 November 2013). "PMPC announces the nominees of the 27th Star Awards for Television". LionhearTV.
26. (5 November 2014). "28th Star Awards for Television nominees revealed". PEP.ph.