Dennis Trillo

Abelardo Dennis Florencio Ho (born May 12, 1981), known professionally as Dennis Trillo (), is a Filipino actor. He is known for his role as Eric del Mundo in the first ever gay-themed series on Philippine TV, '' My Husband's Lover'', Juan Crisóstomo Ibarra y Magsalin "Simoun" in Netflix's '' Maria Clara at Ibarra'', and Colonel Yuta Saitoh in '' Pulang Araw'' aired on GMA Network and on Netflix . Trillo received his first acting award in 2004 for his role as a cross-dressing spy in the 2004 war film '' Aishite Imasu 1941: Mahal Kita''. In May 2016, he appeared in another primetime television series, '' Juan Happy Love Story'', opposite his '' Dwarfina'' leading lady Heart Evangelista. Trillo has worked with GMA Network for over 20 years, being dubbed as the network's "Drama King".

Personal life

Dennis Trillo, born as Abelardo Dennis Florencio Ho on May 12, 1981, in Quezon City, is the son of Abelardo Leslie Ho, a Chinese Filipino from Dumaguete, Negros Oriental, and Florita Florencio, a Filipino. He completed his high school education at Jose Abad Santos Memorial School in Quezon City and attended grades 1–7 at the Ateneo De Manila University. For his college education, he enrolled at Miriam College, earning a B.A. in International Studies.

He has a son with his ex-girlfriend, Carlene Aguilar, born in 2007. Cristine Reyes and Trillo began dating in 2007 and later broke up in May 2009.

On November 15, 2021, Dennis Trillo married his longtime girlfriend, Jennylyn Mercado. Together, they have a daughter named Dylan Jade, born on April 25, 2022.

In December 2024, Trillo and Mercado relaunched and re-branded their lounge, beauty salon and nail spa, with the new name ''DYLN Style Lounge'' at Barangay U.P. Campus, Quezon City.

Career

Early years

Prior to starting his career in show business, Trillo was once a member of the band Moyg. For a short period, he played the drums for the DIY band in Baguio. His career in entertainment started on ABS-CBN in 2001 when he was introduced as part of ABS-CBN's Star Circle (now known as Star Magic) batch 10 along with Bea Alonzo, Alfred Vargas and TJ Trinidad. He had minor roles in ABS-CBN's hit television soap operas '' Pangako Sa 'Yo'' and '' Sa Dulo ng Walang Hanggan''.

2003–2005: Breakthrough as Kapuso

After transferring to GMA Network and becoming a contract star, he landed his first role for the network in the youth-oriented drama '' Kahit Kailan'' where he played a supporting character named David. He was also cast in several outings like '' Twin Hearts'' and '' Love to Love''.

In 2004, was cast in his first main character role in the fantasy show '' Mulawin'' as Gabriel, a half-human and half-''Ravena.'' In film, Trillo landed his breakthrough performance when he starred in the Metro Manila Film Festival official entry '' Aishite Imasu 1941: Mahal Kita'' as a transgender woman during World War II. In this film he received his first acting award as Best Supporting Actor in the 30th Metro Manila Film Festival.

Following this recognition, he received five more Best Actor trophies from the Film Academy of the Philippines, the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences, the PMPC Star Awards for Movies, Golden Screen Awards and the Young Critics Circle. He was also included in the third installment of ''Mano Po''.

The following year, 2005, Trillo was paired with Angel Locsin in the 2005 television adaptation of '' Darna''. He also starred in the afternoon family drama '' Now and Forever: Agos'' where he received a Best Drama Actor nomination from PMPC Star Awards for TV. That same year, he reprised his role for '' Mulawin: The Movie'', and appeared in the film '' Blue Moon''.

2006–2010: Kapuso leading man and music debut

In 2005, Trillo was cast as lead character in '' Etheria'', where he portrayed the Sapirian prince, Raquim. Midway through the series, GMA announced that Trillo would be pulled from the show to once again star in another fantasy-themed television series '' Majika''. In the end Trillo was allowed to complete '' Etheria''. He also starred in the horror-suspense film '' Pamahiin'' and was included in the network's noontime show '' SOP'' as a co-host where he also played drums as part of the show's "Starband".

Trillo released his self-titled debut album in 2007 under IndiMusic. That same year, he made his fourth Lenten drama special for GMA Network under APT Entertainment entitled ''Unico Hijo''. On August 21, 2007, he started taping for the fantasy series '' Zaido: Pulis Pangkalawakan'' with Aljur Abrenica and Marky Cielo.

On April 27, 2008, five thousand spectators witnessed the ''Battle of Mactan'' play, with Trillo playing Ferdinand Magellan at the Mactan, Cebu Shrine. The same year, Trillo joined the cast of '' Magdusa Ka'', an afternoon soap opera which later earned an International Emmy nomination. Trillo also starred in the comic-based superhero series '' Gagambino''. After ''Gagambino'', he starred in two more primetime dramas: '' Adik Sa'Yo'' and the 2009 remake of '' Darna''.

Trillo's hosting roles continued when he replaced Dingdong Dantes as a co-host in Season 5 of '' StarStruck'' in 2009. In 2010, he also began co-hosting the variety show, '' Party Pilipinas''. He appeared in '' Sine Novela Presents:'' '' Gumapang Ka Sa Lusak'' opposite Jennylyn Mercado and portrayed Andrew Tantoco in the Philippine adaptation of the hit Korean series '' Endless Love''.

2011–2021: GMA's Drama King; ''My Husband's Lover''

In 2011, Trillo appeared in the romantic-fantasy series '' Dwarfina'' with Heart Evangelista. After playing the lead role in the Philippine adaptation of '' Temptation of Wife'', Trillo was cast in his most controversial role to date as Eric del Mundo in the gay drama series '' My Husband's Lover''. Trillo received one acting award from two nominations and a commendation from the Asian TV Awards.

After the success of the series, the cast of '' My Husband's Lover'' held a concert at the Araneta Coliseum named ''"One More Try: My Husband's Lover The Concert"''. The same year, Trillo and his screen partner Tom Rodriguez released their album titled ''TomDen,'' which is now a certified Platinum record according to the PARI with over 15,000 copies sold.

In 2014, he top-billed the primetime drama series '' Hiram na Alaala'' with Kapuso actress Kris Bernal. He also co-starred in the weekly medical drama '' Sa Puso ni Dok'' under GMA News & Public Affairs. Trillo visited ABS-CBN via his guesting in '' Kris TV'' to promote his 2015 movie '' You're Still The One'' alongside Maja Salvador, Ellen Adarna and Richard Yap under Regal Entertainment Inc. and Star Cinema. The same year, Trillo launched his first VIVA Films movie, '' Felix Manalo'', where he received a Movie Actor of the Year award from the PMPC Star Awards for Movies.

After doing several heavy drama soap operas, Trillo starred in 2016 in the light drama series '' Juan Happy Love Story''.

In 2021, Trillo starred in the cultural drama series Legal Wives where he played the role of a Maranao Muslim with Alice Dixson, Andrea Torres, and Bianca Umali as his wives.

Trillo starred in Erik Matti's crime thriller film, '' On the Job: The Missing 8'' in 2021. He played the role of Roman, a prisoner temporarily released from prison to perform assassinations. For this film, Dennis wore a prosthetic over his nose, making it appear disfigured to immerse himself in his character.

2022–present: Television shows ''Maria Clara at Ibarra'', ''Voltes V: Legacy''

In 2022, Trillo starred as Crisostomo Ibarra, the main character in Jose Rizal's novels, Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo in the TV drama '' Maria Clara at Ibarra''.

In 2023, Trillo renewed his exclusive contract with GMA Network on 20th anniversary with the network. He stars in the family drama '' Pulang Araw'' and reunion movie project with his wife Jennylyn Mercado for 2024.

Philanthropy and activism

In 2024, Trillo donated his P100,000 MMFF Best Actor award ( sponsored by Playtime PH) to persons deprived of liberty as requested by Jennylyn Mercado. Trillo's road manager Jan Enriquez handed the amount to Green Bones' content creator Joseph Conrad Rubio for the General Trias PDL's " Wish tree" facility. The GenTri jail's real ''Tree of Hope'' inspired Rubio to conceive the theme of the Metro Manila Film Festival Award for Best Picture,in memory of his late father Zaldy.

Discography

Albums

Studio albums

* ''Dennis Trillo'' (2007, IndiMusic)

Collaboration albums

* ''TomDen'' (with Tom Rodriguez) (2013, GMA Records) ( PARI Certification: Platinum)

Compilation appearances

* ''Seasons of Love'' (2014, GMA Records)
:Track 6: "Tibok ng Puso"

Singles

* "All About Love" (2007)
* "Lumilipad" (2007)
* "Hinahanap-Hanap Kita" ('' Adik Sa'Yo'' theme song) (2009)
* "Forever" (with Tom Rodriguez) (2014)
* "Kailan Man" (''A 100-Year Legacy'' theme song) (2014)
* "Tibok ng Puso" ('' Sa Puso ni Dok'' theme song) (2014)
* "Sa Iyo na Lang Ako" ('' Hiram na Alaala'' theme song) (2014)
* "Overdrive" (''Lakbay 2 Love'' theme song) (with Solenn Heussaff) (2016)

Filmography

Television

Television series

Television shows

Drama anthologies

TV specials

Film

Accolades

Trillo's accolades includes 18 total wins of 2x MMFF Best Actor Award, 1x MMFF Best Supporting Actor Award, 1x Asian TV Awards Best Actor Award, 1x FAMAS Best Actor Award, 1x LUNA Best Actor Award, 2x PMPC Movies Best Actor Award, 1x FAMAS Best Supporting Actor Award, 2x Golden Screen Movies Best Supporting Actor Award, 2x Golden Screen TV Best Actor Award and a Seoul International Drama Award.

References

External links

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Dennis Trillo - GMA homepage

{{DEFAULTSORT:Trillo, Dennis
1981 births
Living people
Filipino male television actors
Filipino male film actors
Ateneo de Manila University alumni
21st-century Filipino male actors
21st-century Filipino male singers
Filipino male models
Filipino television variety show hosts
Filipino male comedians
Comedians from Quezon City
Filipino people of Chinese descent
Miriam College alumni
GMA Network (company) people
GMA Music artists
Viva Artists Agency
Male actors from Quezon City