Rodolfo Valentino Padilla Fernandez
(March 3, 1952 – June 7, 2008),
better known as Rudy Fernandez or Daboy, was a
Filipino actor
An actor or actress is a person who portrays a character in a performance. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. The analogous Greek term is (), lit ...
and
producer. He came to prominence as an action star in Philippine cinema during the 1980s up to the early 1990s.
Early life and career
Fernandez was born at 8:36 PM on March 3, 1952 at Mary Johnston Hospital in
Tondo,
Manila
Manila ( , ; fil, Maynila, ), officially the City of Manila ( fil, Lungsod ng Maynila, ), is the capital of the Philippines, and its second-most populous city. It is highly urbanized and, as of 2019, was the world's most densely populated ...
. He is the eldest son of the late film director
Gregorio Fernandez and actress Pilar Padilla (daughter of
José Padilla Sr.).
Both his parents were from
Lubao, Pampanga, which he considered his hometown.
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 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
Action film is a film genre in which the protagonist is thrust into a series of events that typically involve violence and physical feats. The genre tends to feature a mostly resourceful hero struggling against incredible odds, which include life ...
is ''Markang Bungo'' (Skull Mark), a film based on a true story, where he portrayed the well-known Baguio
Baguio ( ,
), officially the City of Baguio ( ilo, Siudad ti Baguio; fil, Lungsod ng Baguio), is a 1st class highly urbanized city in the Cordillera Administrative Region, Philippines. It is known as the "Summer Capital of the Philippines", ...
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. ''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
Alfredo "Fred" Siojo Lim Jr.. (; December 21, 1929 – August 8, 2020) was a Filipino politician and police officer who served as a Senator of the Philippines from 2004 to 2007. He also served as the Mayor of Manila twice: first from 1992 to ...
, Vincent Crisologo, and Ping Lacson
Panfilo "Ping" Morena Lacson Sr. (; born June 1, 1948) is a Filipino former politician and police general who served as a Senator for three terms: from 2001 to 2013 and from 2016 to 2022. He was the Director General of the Philippine National ...
. 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
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 ...
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
''Twin Hearts'' is a Philippine television drama romance series broadcast by GMA Network. Directed by Dominic Zapata and Erick Salud, it stars Dingdong Dantes, Tanya Garcia, Dennis Trillo and Karylle. It premiered on October 20, 2003 on the net ...
'' and '' Atlantika''. He was also the host of the docu-drama ''Kasangga''.
Awards
Fernandez has won two FAMAS
The FAMAS (''Fusil d'Assaut de la Manufacture d'Armes de Saint-Étienne'', "Assault Rifle from the Saint-Étienne Weapon Factory") is a bullpup assault rifle designed and manufactured in France by MAS in 1978, a year after the Austrian Ste ...
Best Actor awards for the action films
Action film is a film genre in which the protagonist is thrust into a series of events that typically involve violence and physical feats. The genre tends to feature a mostly resourceful hero struggling against incredible odds, which include life ...
''Batuigas...Pasukuin si Waway'' (Batuigas...Make Waway to Surrender) (1984) and ''Operation: Get Victor Corpuz, The Rebel Soldier'' (1988).[ In addition to these wins, FAMAS has also nominated Rudy Fernandez an additional 13 times from 1976 to 1998.] He also won two FAP Best Actor awards for ''Batuigas...'' and for Birador (1998).
In 2007, FAMAS awarded him the Fernando Poe, Jr.
Ronald Allan Kelley Poe (August 20, 1939 – December 14, 2004), known professionally as Fernando Poe Jr., and often referred to by his initials FPJ, was a Filipino actor, film director, producer, screenwriter, and politician. His long and s ...
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
PMPC Star Awards for Movies is an annual award-giving body recognizing the outstanding films in the Philippines. It was operated by entertainment writers founded by the Philippine Movie Press Club in 1985. These are the award categories to be ...
. He was also the recipient of the Film Academy of the Philippines FPJ Lifetime Achievement Award.
Personal life
Fernandez hometown is Lubao, Pampanga
Pampanga, officially the Province of Pampanga ( pam, Lalawigan ning Pampanga; tl, Lalawigan ng Pampanga ), is a province in the Central Luzon region of the Philippines. Lying on the northern shore of Manila Bay, Pampanga is bordered by Tarlac ...
. He came from famous Padilla showbiz clan in his maternal side. Robin
Robin may refer to:
Animals
* Australasian robins, red-breasted songbirds of the family Petroicidae
* Many members of the subfamily Saxicolinae (Old World chats), including:
**European robin (''Erithacus rubecula'')
** Bush-robin
**Forest r ...
, BB Gandanghari, and Rommel Padilla are his cousins and Zsa Zsa Padilla is a niece. He has one son, Mark Anthony Fernandez, with former partner Alma Moreno
Venesa Moreno Lacsamana (born; May 25, 1959), professionally known as Alma Moreno, is a Filipina actress and politician.
Early life
Moreno was born in Cervantes, Ilocos Sur to her parents Frank Lacsamana, from Pampanga, and Jean Moreno.
Acting ...
and two sons, Raphael Fernandez and Renz Fernandez with Lorna Tolentino, his wife. His grandson Grae (son of Mark Anthony Fernandez) also joined the showbiz industry.
He was survived by his wife, sons, and cousins; consequently, as he is the Padilla brothers' cousin, his grandson, Grae Fernandez
Grae Cameron Garcia Fernandez (born November 7, 2001) is a Filipino actor, host and recording artist. He is best known as one of the vocalists of Star Magic's boy-group Gimme 5.
Early life
Fernandez was born on November 7, 2001, in Manila, ...
, is the nephew of teen king Daniel Padilla.
Politics
During the 2001 elections, Fernandez ran for mayor
In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilities of a mayor as well ...
of Quezon City
Quezon City (, ; fil, Lungsod Quezon ), also known as the City of Quezon and Q.C. (read in Filipino as Kyusi), is the List of cities in the Philippines, most populous city in the Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a populatio ...
under the banner of the Puwersa ng Masa
The Puwersa ng Masa Coalition (Force of the Masses) was the Philippine opposition's political multi-party electoral alliance in the May 14, 2001 midterm Legislative elections. The coalition was created after the EDSA Revolution of 2001 that ou ...
. Although he garnered most of the votes in District 2 District 2 may refer to:
Places by country
* II District, Turku, in Finland
* District 2, Düsseldorf, Germany
*District 2, Grand Bassa County, a district in Liberia
*District 2, an electoral district of Malta
*District 2, a police district of Ma ...
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
People Power Coalition (PPC), formerly called "EDSA Forces", was a Philippine administration-based political multi-party electoral alliance in the May 14, 2001 midterm Legislative elections. The coalition was created after the EDSA Revolution of ...
.
Illness and death
In 2007, it was revealed by Lorna Tolentino on '' Startalk'' that her husband had been diagnosed with periampullary cancer. Fernandez underwent treatment in Tokyo, Japan. After a healing
With physical trauma or disease suffered by an organism, healing involves the repairing of damaged tissue(s), organs and the biological system as a whole and resumption of (normal) functioning. Medicine includes the process by which the cells ...
Mass on May 10, 2008 by several friends at the Christ the King Church, Quezon City
Quezon City (, ; fil, Lungsod Quezon ), also known as the City of Quezon and Q.C. (read in Filipino as Kyusi), is the List of cities in the Philippines, most populous city in the Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a populatio ...
, he was rushed to a San Juan San Juan, Spanish for Saint John, may refer to:
Places Argentina
* San Juan Province, Argentina
* San Juan, Argentina, the capital of that province
* San Juan, Salta, a village in Iruya, Salta Province
* San Juan (Buenos Aires Underground), ...
hospital for back pains. The ''Sun Star'' reported that Fernandez was actually suffering from pancreatic cancer, instead.
Fernandez celebrated his 25th wedding anniversary with Lorna Tolentino on June 1, 2008. He suffered a seizure
An epileptic seizure, informally known as a seizure, is a period of symptoms due to abnormally excessive or synchronous neuronal activity in the brain. Outward effects vary from uncontrolled shaking movements involving much of the body with lo ...
three days later on June 4, but refused to be taken back to the Cardinal Santos Memorial Center in San Juan San Juan, Spanish for Saint John, may refer to:
Places Argentina
* San Juan Province, Argentina
* San Juan, Argentina, the capital of that province
* San Juan, Salta, a village in Iruya, Salta Province
* San Juan (Buenos Aires Underground), ...
.
Fernandez died from periampullary cancer at his home in Quezon City
Quezon City (, ; fil, Lungsod Quezon ), also known as the City of Quezon and Q.C. (read in Filipino as Kyusi), is the List of cities in the Philippines, most populous city in the Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a populatio ...
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.]
Filmography
Movies
Television
References
External links
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fernandez, Rudy
1952 births
2008 deaths
20th-century comedians
20th-century Filipino male actors
21st-century Filipino male actors
Burials at The Heritage Park
Deaths from cancer in the Philippines
Deaths from pancreatic cancer
Rudy
Filipino actor-politicians
Filipino male child actors
Filipino male comedians
Filipino male film actors
Filipino male television actors
Filipino people of Chinese descent
Filipino people of Spanish descent
Filipino Roman Catholics
Filipino television personalities
Kapampangan people
Male actors from Manila
Padilla family
People from Tondo, Manila
People from Pampanga
University of Santo Tomas alumni
GMA Network personalities