Richard Frank Icasiano Gomez (; born April 7, 1966) is a Filipino actor, television presenter and director, politician, and

épée The ( or , ), sometimes spelled epee in English, is the largest and heaviest of the three weapons used in the sport of fencing. The modern derives from the 19th-century , a weapon which itself derives from the French small sword. This contain ...

fencer. He has been serving as the Representative of Leyte's 4th district since 2022, and was mayor of Ormoc from 2016 to 2022. Gomez was a leading actor in the early 1990s, earning several awards and nominations. He played the title character in '' Super Islaw and The Flying Kids'' (1986) and appeared in the romantic drama films ''

Nagbabagang Luha ''Nagbabagang Luha'' () is a 1988 Filipino romantic drama film directed by Ishmael Bernal and produced by Regal Films, adapted from the "komik" of the same name by Elena Patron. It stars Lorna Tolentino, Gabby Concepcion, Richard Gomez, and Alic ...

'' and ''

Babaing Hampaslupa ''Babaing Hampaslupa'' () is a 1988 Filipino romantic drama film directed by Mel Chionglo, written by Ricardo Lee, and starring Maricel Soriano as the titular vagabond Remy. It also stars Gina Alajar, Janice de Belen, Richard Gomez, Edu Manzano ...

'' (both 1988), and starred in '' Hihintayin Kita sa Langit'' (1991) opposite

Dawn Zulueta Marie Rachel Salman Taleon-Lagdameo (born March 4, 1969), known professionally as Dawn Zulueta (), is a Filipino actress, host and commercial model. She was recognized as the only Filipino actor to win two different major accolades in acting cat ...

. From 1987 to 1998, he co-starred in the

ABS-CBN ABS-CBN (an initialism of its two predecessors' names, Alto Broadcasting System and Chronicle Broadcasting Network) is a Philippine commercial broadcast network that serves as the flagship property of ABS-CBN Corporation, a company unde ...

sitcom ''

Palibhasa Lalake ''Palibhasa Lalake'' is a Philippine sitcom on ABS-CBN which ran from March 3, 1987, to November 9, 1998, and directed by Johnny Manahan. Sypnopsis The show began on March 3, 1987, with the original cast composed of Joey Marquez, Richard Gom ...

'' alongside

John Estrada John Anthony Siason Estrada (born June 13, 1973) is a Filipino film and TV actor who has starred in a number of roles as a leading man, comedian and villain. He is a contract actor of ABS-CBN, where he remained there from 1990 to 2018 and ...

and Joey Marquez. In 1998, he married actress Lucy Torres, who later also became a politician. The couple starred in the ABS-CBN sitcom '' Richard Loves Lucy'' from 1998 to 2001. He was then part of the main casts of '' Mano Po'' (2002) and ''The Trial'' (2014), and appeared in the GMA sitcom ''

Lagot Ka, Isusumbong Kita ''Lagot Ka... Isusumbong Kita!'' () is a Philippine television situational comedy series broadcast by GMA Network. Starring Joey Marquez, Benjie Paras, Richard Gomez, and Raymart Santiago it premiered on October 20, 2003 on the network's KiliTV ...

'' (2003–2007), and teleseryes ''Captain Barbell'' (2006–2007), ''Marimar'' (2007–2008), and '' Codename: Asero'' (2008). He was paired again with Zulueta in ''Walang Hanggan'' (2012), ''The Love Affair'' (2015), and ''You're My Home'' (2015–2016). He also co-hosted the talk show '' S-Files'' (2002–2007), and presented the Philippine version of '' Family Feud'' (2008–2009). In politics, Gomez had an unsuccessful start. His party was disqualified in the 2001 House of Representatives elections, and he then lost in the 2007 Senate election. He moved to his wife's hometown of Ormoc to run for the local House seat in 2010 but was disqualified for failing to establish residency. In

2013 File:2013 Events Collage V2.png, From left, clockwise: Edward Snowden becomes internationally famous for leaking classified NSA wiretapping information; Typhoon Haiyan kills over 6,000 in the Philippines and Southeast Asia; The Dhaka garment fa ...

, he lost the mayoral election but won in

2016 File:2016 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: Bombed-out buildings in Ankara following the 2016 Turkish coup d'état attempt; the Impeachment of Dilma Rousseff, impeachment trial of Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff; Damaged houses duri ...

and was re-elected in 2019. In fencing, he was a member of the Philippines team that won gold in the team men's épée event at the 2005 Southeast Asian Games. He is also serving as president of the Philippine Fencing Association (PFA) since 2016.

Biography and entertainment career

He is the only child of race car driver Eddie Kelly Gomez and Josephine Icasiano (also known as, Stella Suarez), an actress in the 1960s. His cousin is Stella Suarez Jr. (also known as, Pinky Suarez) who was adopted by his parents and raised as his sibling. He was raised by his grandmother after his parents separated. He was working at

McDonald's McDonald's Corporation is an American multinational fast food chain, founded in 1940 as a restaurant operated by Richard and Maurice McDonald, in San Bernardino, California, United States. They rechristened their business as a hambur ...

when he was discovered by his late talent manager Douglas Quijano. He then became one of the faces of Bench, a Philippine clothing brand. He debuted in acting in the 1984 movie ''Hindi Mo Ako Kayang Tapakan''. In 1998, he married Lucy Torres with whom he has a daughter. In 2002, he transferred to GMA network with his first melodrama show, '' Ang Iibigin ay Ikaw'' and its sequel '' Ang Iibigin ay Ikaw Pa Rin'' as well as presenting '' S-Files''. His first GMA sitcom was ''

'' which aired from 2003 to 2007. He was a gold medalist in

fencing Fencing is a group of three related combat sports. The three disciplines in modern fencing are the foil, the épée, and the sabre (also ''saber''); winning points are made through the weapon's contact with an opponent. A fourth discipline, ...

at the 2005 Southeast Asian Games, and was elected president of the Philippine Fencing Association (PFA) in 2016; he was re-elected in 2021. He is an organizer for "Goma Cup" and MAD (Mamamayan Ayaw sa Droga), a campaign against use of illegal drugs. He became one of the owners of "FELIX", a restaurant in Greenbelt 5 Makati. Gomez hosted the Philippine edition of '' Family Feud'' on

GMA Network GMA Network (Global Media Arts or simply GMA) is a Philippine free-to-air television and radio network. It is the flagship property of publicly traded GMA Network, Inc. Its first broadcast on television was on October 29, 1961. GMA Network (f ...

. He is a GMA Network contract artist under GMA Artist Center. After his movie ''Filipinas'' in 2003, Gomez made a comeback in the indie film ''Bente'' which starred Senator Jinggoy Estrada and Iza Calzado. He briefly returned to GMA Network in the weekly drama anthology, '' Claudine'', and returned to the Kapatid Network

The 5 Network TV5 (also known as 5 and formerly known as ABC) is a Philippine free-to-air television network based in Mandaluyong, with its alternate studios located in Novaliches, Quezon City. It is the flagship property of TV5 Network, Inc. with Cignal TV ...

after 17 years by hosting the weekend variety show, ''

P.O.5 {{Infobox television , alt_name = Party on Five: Sunday Afternoon Dancing Party on TV , image = , caption = , genre = Variety and Dance Party , camera = , picture_format ...

.''. He appeared in the drama show, '' My Driver Sweet Lover'', and ''

Mga Nagbabagang Bulaklak ''Mga Nagbabagang Bulaklak'' () is a 2011 Philippine drama series produced and aired by TV5 from March 21, 2011 to June 17, 2011. Starring Sheryl Cruz, Ruffa Gutierrez, Arci Muñoz, Carla Humphries, Valerie Concepcion and the ''Star Factor'' fi ...

''. Gomez was part of the teleseries '' Walang Hanggan'' from January 16, 2012. He co-hosted '' The Biggest Game Show In The World (Asia)'' with Joey de Leon, and appeared in the

comedy-drama Comedy drama, also known by the portmanteau ''dramedy'', is a genre of dramatic works that combines elements of comedy and drama. The modern, scripted-television examples tend to have more humorous bits than simple comic relief seen in a typical ...

, ''

Madam Chairman ''Madam Chairman'' is a Philippine television comedy drama broadcast by TV5 starring Sharon Cuneta, Jay Manalo and Byron Ortile. It aired on October 14, 2013 to February 28, 2014 on the network's primetime block. It is credited as Cuneta's firs ...

''. In 2015, he starred in the mystery drama '' You're My Home'' with Dawn Zulueta and an ensemble cast. Aside from his native tongue

Tagalog Tagalog may refer to: Language * Tagalog language, a language spoken in the Philippines ** Old Tagalog, an archaic form of the language ** Batangas Tagalog, a dialect of the language * Tagalog script, the writing system historically used for Taga ...

, Gomez is also fluent in English and Cebuano.

Education

He graduated from the University of the Philippines Open University (Associate in Arts, 2009) and the University of Perpetual Help System DALTA (Masters in Business Administration, 2016). He earned a doctorate in public administration from the

Cebu Technological University Cebu Technological University ( ceb, Unibersidad Teknolohiko sa Sugbo), abbreviated as CTU and also known as Cebu Tech, is a public, non-sectarian, coeducational, state-funded higher education institution located in Cebu, Philippines. CTU was o ...

in 2019.

Political career

Gomez was a nominee of Mamamayan Ayaw sa Droga (MAD) Partylist in the Congressional election of 2001. Their party won but was disqualified for failing to present proof of sectoral representation. He planned to run as

governor A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...

Bulacan Bulacan, officially the Province of Bulacan ( tl, Lalawigan ng Bulacan), is a province in the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region. Its capital is the city of Malolos. Bulacan was established on August 15, 1578, and part of the Me ...

province but, lacking the residency requirements, ran instead as an independent in the 2007 Senatorial elections which he lost. In 2010, he ran for a seat in the Congress for the 4th district of Leyte but was disqualified by the

Commission on Elections An election commission is a body charged with overseeing the implementation of electioneering process of any country. The formal names of election commissions vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, and may be styled an electoral commission, a c ...

(Comelec) for failing to establish residency in Ormoc City. His wife,

Lucy Torres-Gomez Lucy Torres-Gomez (born Lucy Marie Martinez Torres; December 11, 1974), is a Filipina actress and politician. She has served as Mayor of Ormoc and as the Representative for Leyte's 4th legislative district from June 2013 to June 2022, and pre ...

, took his place and won. He served as his wife's chief of staff during her term as congresswoman. In 2013, he ran for mayor of Ormoc City but lost. He was finally elected as Mayor in 2016 and was reelected in 2019. He ran for a seat in the Congress for the 4th district of Leyte in 2022, switching places with his wife and eventually won.

Filmography

Films

1984 *''Hindi Mo Ako Kayang Tapakan'' - Jun 1985 *''Naked Paradise'' *''Inday Bote'' - Edward Salameda *''Mga Kwento ni Lola Basyang'' ("Zombie" segment) - Zombie *''I Can't Stop Loving You'' - Alvin Laurel 1986 *''Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow'' *''Blusang Itim'' - Angelo *''When I Fall in Love'' - Dong *''Balimbing: Mga Taong Hunyango'' *''Paalam...Bukas ang Kasal Ko'' - Paul Raymundo *'' Super Islaw and the Flying Kids'' - Islaw/Super Islaw *''Nasaan Ka Nang Kailangan Kita'' - Dinky *''Tuklaw'' 1987 *''Once Upon a Time'' - Rommel *''Tagos ng Dugo'' - Pepito *''Forward March'' - Danny *''Ibigay Mo sa Akin ang Bukas'' *''Kid, Huwag Kang Susuko'' - Cesar 'Shawie' Arroyo *''Paano Kung Wala Ka Na'' - Sonny *''Kumander Gringa'' 1988 *''Fly Me to the Moon'' - Prinsipe Dax *''Stupid Cupid'' ("Forever My Love" segment) - Ruel *''Nasaan Ka Inay'' - Donald *''Buy One, Take One'' *''

'' - Bien *''Sa Akin Pa Rin ang Bukas'' *''Lamat sa Kristal'' (TV movie) *''

'' - Jimmy 1989 *''Kailan Mahuhusgahan ang Kasalanan'' - Robert Quintana *''Kahit Wala Ka Na'' - Patrick *''Impaktita'' - Rudy *''Eastwood and Bronson'' - Eastwood *''Rape of Virginia P.'' *''Isang Araw Walang Diyos'' - Lt.Cary Altamonte *''Rosenda'' - Efren 1990 *''Dyesebel'' - Edward *''Nagsimula Sa Puso'' - Carlo *''Hanggang Saan ang Tapang Mo'' - Ruben Alejandro *''Kapag Langit ang Humatol'' - Hector *''Iputok Mo....Dadapa Ako'' - Tricycle Driver *''Lover's Delight'' - Machete *'' Shake, Rattle & Roll II'' ("Aswang" segment) - Tricycle Driver 1991 *''I Want to Live'' *''Para sa Iyo ang Huling Bala Ko'' - Quintin *'' Hihintayin Kita sa Langit'' - Gabriel *''Buburahin Kita sa Mundo'' - Rodel Segovia 1992 *''Your Dream Is Mine'' *''True Confessions (Evelyn, Myrna & Maggie)'' *''Lumayo Ka Nga sa Akin'' - Raul *''Ikaw ang Lahat sa Akin'' - Cesar *''Iisa Pa Lamang'' - Arman *''Buddy en Sol (Sine Ito)'' *''Ang Siga at ang Sosyal'' *''Paminsan-minsan'' *''Ngayon at Kailanman'' - Edwin Torres *''Ikaw Pala ang Minahal'' - David 1993 *''Saan Ka Man Naroroon'' - Miguel 1994 *''Wating'' - Ardo *''Bakit Pa Kita Minahal'' - Teddy *''Maalaala Mo Kaya: The Movie'' - Mike *''Sana'y Mapatawad Mo'' - Bong *''Kapantay ay Langit'' - Steve 1995 *''

Eskapo ''Eskapo'' is a 1995 Filipino historical thriller film directed by Chito S. Roño and written by Roy Iglesias and Jose Lacaba. It stars Christopher de Leon and Richard Gomez as Eugenio "Geny" Lopez Jr. and Sergio "Serge" Osmeña III respective ...

'' -

Sergio Osmeña III Sergio may refer to: * Sergio (given name), for people with the given name Sergio * Sergio (carbonado), the largest rough diamond ever found * ''Sergio'' (album), a 1994 album by Sergio Blass * ''Sergio'' (2009 film), a documentary film * ''Se ...

*''Sa'yo Lamang'' - Andrew *''Dahas'' - Jake 1997 *''Kahit Kailan'' *''Hanggang Kailan Kita Mamahalin'' - Mike Reyes 1998 *''Walang Katumbas ang Dugo'' *''Ang Babae sa Bintana'' - Mitch 1999 *''Linlang'' - Lance 2000 *''Minsan Minahal Kita'' - Albert Simone 2002 *''Ikaw Lamang Hanggang Ngayon'' - Ryan *'' Mano Po'' - Raf 2003 *''Walang Kapalit'' - Dennis Rustia *''Filipinas'' - Samuel Filipinas 2006 *''Eternity'' - Fencing Instructor 2009 *''Bente'' - Roman 2013 *''Sonata'' with

Cherie Gil Evangeline Rose Gil Eigenmann (; June 21, 1963 – August 5, 2022), known professionally as Cherie Gil, was a Filipino actress. With a career spanning nearly 50 years, she was dubbed the "''La Primera Contravida''" ("The Prime Villain") for he ...

2014 *'' She's Dating the Gangster'' - Old Kenji *''The Janitor'' with Dennis Trillo *'' The Trial'' - Julian Bien 2015 *'' The Love Affair'' - Vince Ramos 2016 *''

Love Me Tomorrow "Love Me Tomorrow" is a song written by Peter Cetera and David Foster for the group Chicago and recorded for their album ''Chicago 16'' (1982), with Cetera singing lead vocals. The second single released from the album, it reached No. 22 on th ...

'' - cameo 2018 *''

Three Words to Forever ''Three Words to Forever'' is a 2018 Philippine family romantic comedy-drama film directed by Cathy Garcia-Molina, starring Richard Gomez, Sharon Cuneta and Kathryn Bernardo. It was released on November 28, 2018, by Star Cinema. Cast * Ric ...

'' - Rick Andrada

Television

Awards and nominations

Film

*FAMAS Award for Best Actor for ''The Love Affair'' (nominee) * Gawad TANGLAW Awards 2015 for Best Supporting Actor for '' The Trial'' * 17th Gawad PASADO Awards 2015 for PinakaPASADOng Katuwang na Aktor for '' The Trial'' *FAMAS Award for Best Actor for ''Filipinas'' (nominee) *FAMAS Award for Best Actor for ''Dahas'' *FAP Award for Best Actor for ''Dahas'' (tied with Fernando Poe Jr. for ''Kahit Butas ng Karayom'') *Gawad Urian Award for Best Actor for ''Dahas'' (nominee) *Gawad Urian Award for Best Actor for ''Waiting'' *Gawad Urian Award for Best Actor for ''Ikaw Ang Lahat Sa Akin'' (nominee) *Gawad Urian Award for Best Actor for ''Saan Ka Man Naroroon'' *Gawad Urian Award for Best Actor for ''Nagsimula sa Puso'' (nominee) *Gawad Urian Award for Best Actor for ''Hihintayin Kita Sa Langit'' * Metro Manila Film Festival

2003 File:2003 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: The crew of STS-107 perished when the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated during reentry into Earth's atmosphere; SARS became an epidemic in China, and was a precursor to SARS-CoV-2; A ...

for People's Choice Awards for Best Actor for ''Filipinas'' * Metro Manila Film Festival

1995 File:1995 Events Collage V2.png, From left, clockwise: O.J. Simpson is acquitted of the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman from the year prior in "The Trial of the Century" in the United States; The Great Hanshin earthquake str ...

for

Best Actor Best Actor is the name of an award which is presented by various film, television and theatre organizations, festivals, and people's awards to leading actors in a film, television series, television film or play. The term most often refers to the ...

for ''Dahas'' *Star Awards for Movies: Actor of the Year for ''Dahas'' (1996)

Television

* 23rd PMPC Star Awards for TV Best Game Show Host for '' Family Feud (Philippine Edition)'' * 26th PMPC Star Awards for TV Best Drama Actor for '' Walang Hanggan'' (nominee) * Golden Screen TV Awards 2013 Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Drama Series for '' Walang Hanggan'' * 30th PMPC Star Awards for TV Best Drama Actor for '' You're My Home'' (nominee)

Sports

*2005 Southeast Asian Games for fencing (Men's Team Épée) - Gold Medalist

Others

* Metro Manila Film Festival

2011 File:2011 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: a protester partaking in Occupy Wall Street heralds the beginning of the Occupy movement; protests against Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi, who was killed that October; a young man celebrates ...

for Ellen Lising Male Face of the Night * GMMSF Box-Office Entertainment Awards

for All Time Favorite Love Team on Movies and TV (with

)"44th Guillermo Mendoza Box-Office Entertainment Awards"
''Pep.ph''. Retrieved 2014-05-19.

References

External links

*
Richard, Lucy Gomez celebrate tenth wedding anniversary, 05/02/2008
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gomez, Richard 1966 births Living people 20th-century Filipino male actors 21st-century Filipino male actors ABS-CBN personalities Asian Games competitors for the Philippines Competitors at the 2005 Southeast Asian Games Fencers at the 1998 Asian Games Fencers at the 2002 Asian Games * Filipino male comedians Filipino male épée fencers Filipino male film actors Filipino male models Filipino male television actors Filipino television directors GMA Network personalities Independent politicians in the Philippines Liberal Party (Philippines) politicians Male actors from Cebu Male actors from Manila People from Cebu People from Ormoc Southeast Asian Games gold medalists for the Philippines Southeast Asian Games competitors for the Philippines Southeast Asian Games medalists in fencing TV5 (Philippine TV network) personalities University of the Philippines Open University alumni University of Perpetual Help System DALTA alumni Filipino actor-politicians