Ronaldo Valdez
The sudden death of veteran actor Ronaldo Valdez has undoubtedly shocked the local entertainment industry, given his remarkable talent and exceptional skills in acting.
Long before he was known as “Lolo Sir” in the television series “2 Good To Be True,” Valdez has made a name for himself as a consummate drama actor in his hey day. But do you know he was also a good singer? It must from him that his son Janno Gibbs got his natural singing voice.
After many years, he has proved to all and sundry that he is a pillar of Philippine cinema and television. Check out this list below of Ronaldo Valdez’s career highlights that showcase his milestones as actor.
‘Pepe en Pilar’
Valdez began his acting career when he was discovered by the late Comedy King Dolphy in the 1960s. Earlier accounts of his discovery claimed the ace comedian met Valdez in a basketball court and brought him to the press conference for the 1966 film “Pepe en Pilar,” directed by Romy Villaflor. That film topbilled by Dolphy and Susan Roces saw Valdez in an introducing role where he was able to showcase early on his acting abilities.
‘The Mad Doctor of Blood Island’
Valdez played Carlos Lopez in the 1969 film “The Mad Doctor of Blood Island,” starring Eddie Garcia and directed by Eddie Romero. The film also had a US release, but though it was not a critically acclaimed film, it was nonetheless a commercial success.
‘Fe, Esperanza, Caridad’
In 1974, Valdez starred in the trilogy film “Fe, Esperanza, Caridad” with superstar Nora Aunor. His role as Aunor’s love interest — as demon seducing Aunor’s character as a novice — in one of the trilogies (Caridad) earned him his first nomination for Best Actor in 1975’s 23rd FAMAS Awards. The film was directed by three acclaimed directors, namely Cirio H. Santiago and two National Artists for Film, Gerardo de Leon and Lamberto V. Avellana.
‘May Minamahal’
In 1993, Valdez starred in Star Cinema’s first romantic film, “May Minamahal” with Aga Muhlach and Aiko Melendez. His role as a loving, widowed father earned him his Best Supporting Actor award at the Film Academy of the Philippines (Famas) the following year.
‘Cedie’
Valdez was a gruff but loving grandfather to Tom Taus Jr’s character in “Cedie: Ang Munting Prinsipe,” a film adaptation of the children’s book by Frances Hodgson Burnett. Valdez’s Earl of Dorincourt spends time with his strange American grandson and heir, teaching him the ways of the British nobility, but in the end, it was the earl who was taught the values of compassion and social justice and simplicity.
‘Nasaan ang Puso’
In 1997, the veteran actor secured his Best Supporting Actor award in the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) after starring in an A-list star-dubbed drama film “Nasaan ang Puso” with Maricel Soriano, Christopher de Leon, Judy Ann Santos, and Gina Pareno.
‘The Mistress’
Valdez once again showcased his acting chops alongside Bea Alonzo and John Lloyd Cruz in the 2012 film “The Mistress,” which was the highest-grossing non-MMFF film of that year, and received several acting nods from various award-giving bodies. In this film, the veteran actor plays the role of the businessman Rico who was in an illicit affair with Alonzo’s Bea. The conflict is when Rico’s son JD learned about Bea’s illicit affair with his father.
Recent awards
For two consecutive years, 2013 and 2014, Valdez got nominated in the PMPC Star Awards for TV for Best Drama Supporting Actor for his remarkable roles in the top-rated series “Ina, Kapatid, Anak,” and “Ikaw Lamang.”
In 2015, he won the Golden Screen TV Awards’ Helen Vela Lifetime Achievement Award for Drama.
Exceptional roles
Valdez was last seen in the 2021 series “2 Good 2 Be True,” led by Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla, where he portrayed Sebastian Agcaoili, a real estate magnate stricken with Alzheimer’s disease. In this series, he became popularly known as “Lolo Sir,” the name given him by Bernardo’s character in the series.
Aside from his exceptional film and television roles, Valdez also made waves as the first Filipino Colonel Sanders for a friend chicken brand, with the fast food chain using his pictures in some of its advertisements as the first Filipino colonel for its ad campaigns.
Valdez also did some hosting stints for the GMA Network television shows “SOP Rules,” “Nuts Entertainment,” and “Eat Bulaga! Kakasa Ka Ba Sa, Grade 5?” “Power of 10,” “All Star K!” and “Sunday, All Stars.”
Among his other well-known projects are “Precious Hearts Romances Presents: Los Bastardos,” “Seven Sundays,” “The Mistress,” “Loving Someone,” “Pasión de Amor,” and “Sukob,” among others.
The veteran actor was survived by his wife, Maria Fe Ilagan Gibbs, and his children, Janno Gibbs and former actress Melissa Gibbs. Janno recently confirmed his father’s tragic death via an Instagram post.