Rudy Fernandez (actor)

{{Short description|Filipino actor and producer (1952–2008)}}

{{other uses|Rudy Fernandez (disambiguation)}}

{{Philippine name|Padilla|Fernandez}}

{{Use Philippine English|date=March 2023}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2023}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Rudy Fernandez

| image =

| imagesize =

| birth_name = Rodolfo Valentino Padilla Fernandez

| birth_date = {{birth date|1952|3|3}}

| birth_place = Tondo, Manila, Philippines{{cite web|url=https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-14229-100798-79?cc=1686086&wc=SBQ1-827:129556201,129739901,147344501|title=Philippines, Manila, Civil Registration, 1899-1994 Image Philippines, Manila, Civil Registration, 1899-1994; pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-14229-100798-79 — FamilySearch.org|website=FamilySearch|access-date=March 17, 2015}}

| death_date = {{death date and age|2008|6|7|1952|3|16|mf=y}}

| death_place = Quezon City, Philippines

| nationality =

| party = LDP{{Cite web|date=May 23, 2001|title=Daboy concedes to SB|url=https://www.philstar.com/metro/2001/05/23/106105/daboy-concedes-sb |access-date=December 31, 2023|website=Philstar.com|language=en-US}} (2001)

| othername = Daboy

| occupation = Actor, producer

| restingplace = The Heritage Park, Taguig, Metro Manila

| yearsactive = 1970–2008

| spouse = {{marriage|Lorna Tolentino|June 1, 1983}}

| children = 3, incl. Mark Anthony and Renz

| parents = Gregorio Fernandez{{cite news|last=Pareja|first=Lynn|title=Gregorio Fernandez, neglected film master|url=https://entertainment.inquirer.net/13881/gregorio-fernandez-neglected-film-master|access-date=June 7, 2021|work=INQUIRER.net}}
Paz Padilla

| relatives = Padilla family

| awards = {{Unbulleted list|FAMAS Fernando Poe, Jr. Memorial Award|2007|FAMAS Best Actor|1988 Operation: Get Victor Corpus, the Rebel Soldier|1984 Batuigas...Pasukuin si Waway|FAP Best Actor|1984 Batuigas...Pasukuin si Waway|PMPC Star Awards: Male Star of the Night|2000}}

}}

Rodolfo Valentino Padilla Fernandez{{cite news|title=Actor Rudy Fernandez dies|url=http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/breakingnews/breakingnews/view/20080607-141303/UPDATE-3-Actor-Rudy-Fernandez-dies |newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer|date=June 7, 2008|access-date=June 7, 2008}} (March 3, 1952 – June 7, 2008), better known as Rudy Fernandez or Daboy, was a Filipino actor and producer. He came to prominence as an action star in Philippine cinema during the 1970s up to the 1990s.

Early life and career

Fernandez was born at 8:36 PM on March 3, 1952, at Mary Johnston Hospital in Tondo, Manila. He was the eldest son of dentist and filmmaker Gregorio Fernandez and Paz Padilla, daughter of José Padilla Sr.{{cite news|last=Francisco|first=Butch|title=The Butcher | Merle Fernandez: The first bomba star|url=https://pikapika.ph/pikadaily/the-butcher-merle-fernandez-the-first-bomba-star/the-butcher|access-date=February 22, 2025|work=Pikapika |publisher=Viva Communications|date=February 4, 2024}}{{cite encyclopedia |author=Lena Pareja |editor=Nicanor Tiongson |editor-link=Nicanor Tiongson |encyclopedia=CCP Encyclopedia of Philippine Art |title=Philippine Film|edition=1st |year=1994 |publisher=Cultural Center of the Philippines|volume=VIII |location=Manila |pages= 247 |isbn=971-8546-31-6 }} Both his parents were from Lubao, Pampanga, which he considered his hometown.{{cite web|author=Alejandro & Teresita Camiling|url=http://www-rcf.usc.edu/~camiling/history_lubao.htm|title=The Town of Lubao, Pampanga: Land of the Brave|access-date=March 15, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071223051216/http://www-rcf.usc.edu/~camiling/history_lubao.htm |archive-date=December 23, 2007}} He made his film debut at the age of three, appearing in Luksang Tagumpay (1956), which was directed by his father. He also appeared in another film of his father's, Emily (1960). Fernandez's mother committed suicide in their home in 1957 due to postpartum depression, while one of his brothers also committed suicide out of fear of being punished for his actions by his father.{{cite news|title=The Ferraren Case|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9oJRZbzyBO4C|access-date=February 22, 2025|work=Philippines Free Press|via=Google Books|publisher=Philippines Free Press, Inc.|date=January 2, 1960|page=7|quote=[...] Merle, 20-year-old daughter of Dr. Fernandez [in 1959].}}

Fernandez started his active film career while a student at the University of Santo Tomas, when he was signed to a contract by Sampaguita Pictures in 1970. He was first featured by Sampaguita Pictures in For Your Mama (1970), then paired with Connie Angeles in Sweet Matutina (1970). Fernandez spent the next few years in teenage parts until he made his breakthrough as an action star with Bitayin si... Baby Ama? (1976). His viability as an action star was further enhanced with the box-office success of Ang Leon, ang Tigre at ang Alamid (1979).

Beginning with Baby Ama, a biopic of a well-known Filipino criminal, Fernandez specialized in portraying true-to-life characters. One of his notable action films is Markang Bungo (Skull Mark), a film based on a true story, where he portrayed the well-known Baguio police officer Bobby Ortega, was released in 1992. From this film came a signature line of Fernandez's, "Walang personalan, trabaho lang" ("Strictly business, nothing personal"), which has since been cited as among the most memorable quotes in Philippine cinema by QTV's Ang Pinaka television program.{{cite web|url=http://www.gmanews.tv/story/48092/Ang-Pinakas-most-memorable-movie-lines|title=Ang Pinaka's most memorable movie lines|publisher=GMANews.TV|date=June 25, 2007|access-date=March 15, 2008}} Iligpit si Bobby Ortega: Markang Bungo 2 (Execute Bobby Ortega, Skull Mark 2) is a sequel that was released in 1995.

Aside for portraying a real police officer, he was cast in the lead roles for the biopics of Filipino politicians Alfredo Lim, Vincent Crisologo, and Ping Lacson. In the film Lagalag: The Eddie Fernandez Story, he starred as Eddie Fernandez, a Filipino actor during the 1970s and the father of Pops Fernandez.

With the decline of production of Filipino action films during the 2000s, Fernandez turned to television roles. In the short-lived GMA Network sitcom Da Boy, en Da Girl, he starred opposite Rosanna Roces. He also played as a supporting role in other TV series in GMA like Twin Hearts and Atlantika. He was also the host of the docu-drama Kasangga.

=Awards=

Fernandez has won two FAMAS Best Actor awards for the action films Batuigas... Pasukuin si Waway (Batuigas... Make Waway Surrender) (1984) and Operation: Get Victor Corpus, the Rebel Soldier (1988). In addition to these wins, FAMAS has also nominated Rudy Fernandez an additional 13 times from 1976 to 1998.{{Cite web|url=http://www.freewebs.com/famas_awards|title=The Unofficial Website of the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences}} He also won two FAP Best Actor awards for Batuigas... and for Birador (1998).

In 2007, FAMAS awarded him the Fernando Poe, Jr. Memorial Award. The next year, the Philippine Movie Press Club (PMPC) bestowed the 2008 Ulirang Artista Lifetime Achievement Award to Rudy Fernandez, at the 24th PMPC Star Awards for Movies. He was also the recipient of the Film Academy of the Philippines FPJ Lifetime Achievement Award.{{Cite web|url=https://www.asianjournal.com/|title=Asian Journal Media Group—Your News. Your Community. Your Journal.|website=Asian Journal News}}

Personal life

Fernandez's hometown was Lubao, Pampanga. He was a member of the Padilla family in his maternal side. Actress Merle Fernandez was his sister, Robin, BB Gandanghari, and Rommel Padilla were his cousins and Zsa Zsa Padilla was his niece. He had two sons, Raphael Fernandez and Renz Fernandez with Lorna Tolentino, his wife, and one son, Mark Anthony Fernandez, with former partner Alma Moreno. His grandson Grae (son of Mark Anthony Fernandez) also joined the entertainment industry.

He was survived by his wife, sons, and cousins; consequently, as he was the Padilla brothers' cousin, his grandson, Grae Fernandez, is the nephew of teen king Daniel Padilla.OMG! We bet you didn't know that these celebs are related! ABS-CBN.com February 4, 2017, 10:45 PM - https://entertainment.abs-cbn.com/tv/shows/starmagic/photos/albums/109020417-celebrities-you-probably-never-knew-were-related

=Politics=

During the 2001 elections, Fernandez ran for mayor of Quezon City under the banner of Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino's Puwersa ng Masa. Although he garnered most of the votes in District 2 where the voters were composed mostly of indigent citizens, he lost in the remaining three districts and was defeated by then-House Speaker Sonny Belmonte of the People Power Coalition.{{Cite web |last=Sison Jr |first=Bebot |last2=Felipe |first2=Cecille Suerte |title=Belmonte proclaimed QC mayor |url=https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2001/05/27/90786/belmonte-proclaimed-qc-mayor |access-date=2023-12-10 |website=Philstar.com}}

=Illness and death=

In 2007, it was revealed by Lorna Tolentino on Startalk that her husband had been diagnosed with periampullary cancer.{{cite news|author=Elyas Isabelo Salanga|url=http://www.pep.ph/articles/12025/Rudy-Fernandez:-I-ain't-gonna-die-yet!|title=Rudy Fernandez: "I ain't gonna die yet!"|publisher=Philippine Entertainment Portal|date=March 11, 2007|access-date=March 15, 2008}}{{cite news|author=Amita Legaspi|url=http://www.gmanews.tv/story/33775/Lorna-T-reveals-hubby-Rudy-is-battling-cancer|title=Lorna T. reveals hubby Rudy is battling cancer|publisher=GMANews.TV|date=March 10, 2007|access-date=March 15, 2008}} Fernandez underwent treatment in Tokyo, Japan.{{cite news|url=http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/news/view_article.php?article_id=63451|title=Ailing Rudy Fernandez off to Tokyo for cancer treatment |newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer|date=May 1, 2007|access-date=March 15, 2008}} After a healing Mass on May 10, 2008, by several friends at the Christ the King Church, Quezon City, he was rushed to a San Juan hospital for back pains.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/94859/showbiz/rudy-fernandez-confined-due-to-back-pains-report/|title=Rudy Fernandez confined due to back pains - report|website=GMA News Online|date=May 13, 2008 }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.pep.ph/lifestyle/16999/judy-ann-santos-ready-to-face-the-courts-verdict-on-her-tax-evasion-case|title=Judy Ann Santos ready to face the court's verdict on her tax-evasion case|website=PEP.ph}} The Sun Star reported that Fernandez was actually suffering from pancreatic cancer, instead.{{Cite web|url=http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/man/2008/05/14/life/daboy.rushed.to.hospital.html|title=sunstar.com.ph "Daboy rushed to hospital"|website=SunStar }}

Fernandez celebrated his 25th wedding anniversary with Lorna Tolentino on June 1, 2008. He suffered a seizure three days later on June 4, but refused to be taken back to the Cardinal Santos Memorial Center in San Juan.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/video/balitapilipinas/23818/qtv-sen-bong-revilla-on-the-late-rudy-fernandez/video//|title=Qtv: Sen. Bong Revilla on the late Rudy Fernandez|website=GMA News Online}}

Fernandez died from periampullary cancer at his home in Quezon City on the morning of June 7, 2008.

His remains were brought to The Heritage Park in Taguig City, and his interment took place on June 12, 2008, at 3 p.m. for his burial.{{cite news|title=Fernandez brought to Heritage Memorial Park|url= http://www.gmanews.tv/story/99856/(Update)-Fernandez-brought-to-Heritage-Memorial-Park|publisher=GMA News.TV|date=June 7, 2008|access-date=June 7, 2008}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/topofthehour.aspx?StoryId=120941|title=Actor Rudy Fernandez dies}}

Filmography

=Film=

class="wikitable"
Year

! Title

! Role

! Notes

1959

| Luksang Tagumpay

|

|

1960

| Emily

|

|

1970

| For Your Mama

|

|

rowspan="2"| 1974

| Patayin ang Dugong Tirador

|

|

7 Crazy Uragons

|

|

1975

| The Goodfather

|

|

rowspan="6"| 1976

| Bitayin si... Baby Ama?

| Baby Ama

|

Bongbong

| Mando

|

Wanted: Agad-Agad

|

|

Wanted...Ded or Alayb?

| Raymond

|

Ikaw... Ako Laban sa Mundo

|

|

Usigin ang Maysala

|

|

rowspan="5"| 1977

| Makahiya at Talahib

| Arturo Clemente

|

Alfredo Lim: Sa Kamay ng Ibabaw

| Alfredo Lim

|

Gameng

| Wilfredo J. Gameng

|

Valentin Labrador

|

| Muntinlupa Riot 1950

Iligpit si Pretty Boy

|

|

rowspan="4" | 1978

| Bilangguan Walang Rehas

|

|

Doble Kara

|

|

Joe Quintero

| Quintero

|

Teteng Salonga ng Tondo

|

|

rowspan="6" | 1979

| Hoodlum Killer

|

| Re-released in December 1987{{cite news|title=Now Showing|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=8cBNEdFwSQkC&dat=19871211&printsec=frontpage&hl=en|access-date=May 3, 2019|work=Manila Standard|publisher=Standard Publications, Inc.|date=December 11, 1987|page=11}}

Holdup (Special Squad, D.B.)

|

|

Isang Araw Isang Buhay

| Arturo Porcuna

|

Maynila

|

|

Nuwebe De Pebrero

|

|

Star

|

|

rowspan="5" | 1980

| Tatak Angustia

| Rene

|

Sa Init ng Apoy

|

|

Pader at Rehas

|

|

Deadly Brothers

| Ading

|

Puga

| Wilfredo "Willy" S. Mercado

|

rowspan="8" | 1981

| Pepeng Shotgun

| Medrano

|

Ulo ng Gapo

|

|

Lukso ng Dugo

|

|

Kosa

|

|

Kumander Kris

| Abdul

|

Death Row

|

|

Dakpin: Killers for Hire

|

|

Laya

|

|

rowspan="8" | 1982

| Tres Kantos

| Edgar

|

Bagong Boy Condenado

| Boy Condenado

|

Mga Pambato

| Peping Guwapo

|

Ang Tapang Para sa Lahat!

| Alex

|

Get My Son Dead or Alive

| Lt. Renato Parraguas

|

Kumander Elpidio Paclibar

|

|

Guillermo Soliman

|

|

Enkuwentro

|

|

rowspan="7" | 1983

| Somewhere

| Logarte

|

Sumuko Ka Ronquillo

| Ronquillo

|

Kumusta Ka na Hudas?

|

|

Alex San Diego: Alyas Wanted

| Alex

|

Kunin ang Ulo ni Magtanggol

| Rufo Magtanggol

|

Inside Job

|

|

Tatak ng Yakuza

|

|

rowspan="6" | 1984

| Idol

|

|

Sarge

|

|

Montemayor: Tulisang Dagat

| Montemayor

|

Kriminal

|

|

Kahit Ako'y Lupa

|

|

Batuigas: Pasukuin si Waway

| Waway

|

rowspan="6" | 1985

| Anak ng Tondo

| Berting

|

Bilang Na ang Oras Mo

| Bobby

|

Baun Gang

| Sgt. Alejandrino Baun

|

Tatak Munti

|

|

Calapan Jailbreak

|

|

Sangley Point Robbery (The Day They Robbed America)

|

|

rowspan="5"| 1986

| Deadly Target

|

|

Mabuhay Ka... sa Baril!

|

|

Teritoryo Ko Ito

|

|

Lumuhod Ka sa Lupa!

|

|

Laban Kung Laban

| Dante

|

rowspan="3"| 1987

| Operation: Get Victor Corpus, the Rebel Soldier

| Victor Corpus

|

Humanda Ka... Ikaw ang Susunod

|

|

Vigilante

| Pantaleon

|

rowspan="2"| 1988

| Tubusin Mo ng Dugo

|

|

Sandakot Na Bala

|

|

1989

| Ipaglalaban Ko

|

|

rowspan="2"| 1990

| Ayaw Matulog ng Gabi

|

|

Kaaway ng Batas

| Lt. Sandoval

|

rowspan="2"| 1991

| Bingbong: The Vincent Crisologo Story

| Vincent Crisologo

|

Markang Bungo: The Bobby Ortega Story

| Bobby Ortega

|

rowspan="2"| 1992

| Kahit Buhay Ko...

| Marco

|

Kamay ni Cain

|

|

rowspan="2"| 1993

| Kung Kailangan Mo Ako

| Elmo

|

Tumbasan Mo ng Buhay

|

|

rowspan="2"| 1994

| Nagkataon, Nagkatagpo

| Gomer

|

Lagalag: The Eddie Fernandez Story

| Eddie Fernandez

|

rowspan="3"| 1995

| Iligpit si Bobby Ortega: Markang Bungo 2

| Bobby Ortega

|

Matimbang Pa sa Dugo

| Carlos

|

Kuratong Baleleng

|

|

rowspan="2"| 1996

| Itataya Ko ang Buhay Ko

| Capt. Edmund Rosario

|

'Wag na Wag Kang Lalayo

| Genner Ramirez

|

1997

| Ayos Lang Pare Ko!

| Turo

|

rowspan="2" | 1998

| Birador

| Sgt. Mike Santana

|

Ginto't Pilak

| Ben Pilak

|

rowspan="3"| 2000

| Palaban

| Major Jack Morales

|

Sagot Kita, Mula Ulo Hanggang Paa

| Fireman

|

Ping Lacson: Super Cop

| Panfilo Lacson

|

rowspan="3"| 2002

| Diskarte

| Jake

|

Hula Mo, Huli Ko{{Cite web|url=http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/topofthehour.aspx?StoryId=120966|title=abs-cbnnews.com, Rudy Fernandez: March 3, 1953 — June 7, 2008}}

| Inspector Tuazon

|

Ang Alamat ng Lawin

| Friend of Lawin

| Uncredited

2003

| Utang ng Ama{{cite news|last=Cruz|first=Marinel R.|title=Joey: I can win without Kris' help|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FLljAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA47|access-date=November 21, 2023|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer|publisher=The Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inc.|date=September 21, 2003|page=C7}}

|

|

=Television=

class="wikitable"

! Year !! Title !! Role

1999–2002KasanggaHost
2002–2003Daboy en Da GirlDaboy
2003–2004Twin HeartsOscar Saraga
2006Now and Forever: LinlangArman Barrinuevo
2006–2007AtlantikaCamaro (Last TV series appearance)

References

{{Reflist|2}}