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Ronaldo Valdez
Valdez on a film poster for Seven Sundays (2017)
Born	Ronald James Dulaca Gibbs (1947-11-27)November 27, 1947 Sampaloc, Manila, Philippines
Died	December 17, 2023(2023-12-17) (aged 76) Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1966–2023
Spouse	Maria Fe Ilagan Gibbs (separated)
Children	2 (including Janno Gibbs)
Relatives	Bing Loyzaga (daughter-in-law) Gerardo De Leon (father-in-law; deceased)

Ronald James Dulaca Gibbs (November 27, 1947 – December 17, 2023), popularly known by his screen name Ronaldo Valdez (Tagalog: [ɾɔˈnɐldɔ bɐlˈdɛs]), was a Filipino actor whose career spanned almost five decades.

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

1. "In honor of Manong Gerry". Philstar.com. October 24, 2014. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
2. "LOOK: Janno Gibbs takes trip down memory lane with dad Ronaldo Valdez". GMA News Online. June 19, 2017. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
3. ^ "How Ronaldo Valdez's Chance Encounter With Dolphy Led Him to a Career in Acting". Esquire. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
4. "Remembering Ronaldo Valdez: some of his memorable roles". GMA News. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
5. "Ronaldo Valdez: A notable career timeline". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
6. "Want to know how Ronaldo Valdez became the first Filipino Colonel?". Spot.ph. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
7. "Ronaldo Valdez's legacy: 10 films, series to get to know the late veteran actor". Rappler. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
8. Santos, Rhea Manila (January 13, 2024). "'GG (Good Game) the Movie' cast dedicates their film to the late Ronaldo Valdez". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
9. Almo, Nherz (January 17, 2024). "Janno Gibbs, nakatrabaho ang yumaong amang si Ronaldo Valdez sa unang niyang directorial job" [Janno Gibbs has worked with his late father Ronaldo Valdez in his first directorial job] (in Tagalog). GMA Network News. Archived from the original on February 2, 2024. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
10. Wang, Nickie (December 18, 2023). "Ronaldo Valdez tackles love in twilight years in last film". Manila Standard. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
11. "PH show biz mourns Ronaldo Valdez's death". Philippine Daily Inquirer. December 18, 2023. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
12. ^ Wang, Nickie (December 17, 2023). "Veteran actor Ronaldo Valdez dies at 76". Manila Standard.
13. "Probe deeper into actors death". The Manila Times. December 19, 2023. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
14. ^ Villamente, Jing (December 18, 2023). "Actor Ronaldo Valdez allegedly died by suicide — QCPD". Daily Tribune. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
15. Malasig, Jeline (December 18, 2023). "Public urged to avoid drawing conclusions about Ronaldo Valdez's death". Interaksyon. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
16. Malasig, Jeline (December 19, 2023). "'Yakap': Support pour in for Janno Gibbs after post about dad Ronaldo Valdez". Interaksyon. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
17. Casucian, Jiselle Anne (December 20, 2023). "QC mayor orders probe into leaked alleged Ronaldo Valdez video". GMA News. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
18. "2 QCPD policemen dismissed for circulation of video of late actor Ronaldo Valdez". Rappler. December 20, 2023. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
19. "3 cops axed over leak of Ronaldo Valdez video". The Philippine Star. December 20, 2023. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
20. "Quezon City police sorry for leaked Ronaldo Valdez video". ABS-CBN. January 16, 2024. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
21. ^ Gallardo, Ricky T. "Piolo basks in grand-slam glory". Philstar.com. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
22. "Santos, Salvador win in filmfest". Manila Standard. April 26, 1994. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
23. Red, Isah V. (December 29, 1997). "MMFF Awards: Maricel wins, but where was she?". Manila Standard. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
24. "Metro Manila Film Festival:1997". IMDB. Retrieved April 9, 2014.
25. Paglicawan, Mc Richard (November 8, 2013). "PMPC announces the nominees of the 27th Star Awards for Television". LionhearTV. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
26. "28th Star Awards for Television nominees revealed". PEP.ph. November 5, 2014. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
27. "2015 Golden Screen TV Awards full list of winners". Inquirer. November 13, 2015. Retrieved November 13, 2015.

External links

• Ronaldo Valdez at IMDb

• 1947 births
• Filipino people of American descent
• 2023 deaths
• 2023 suicides
• ABS-CBN people
• GMA Network (company) people
• Filipino male comedians
• Filipino male film actors
• Filipino male models
• Filipino male television actors
• Ilocano people
• People from Sampaloc, Manila
• Male actors from Manila
• Suicides by firearm in the Philippines