Jose Romulo (born Romulo Alib Zuño; October 11, 1931 – August 5, 2015) was a Filipino actor and one of the leading men of

Philippine cinema The cinema of the Philippines began with the introduction of the first moving pictures to the country on August 31, 1897, at the ''Salón de Pertierra'' in Manila. The following year, local scenes were shot on film for the first time by a Spaniar ...

during the 1950s. Known for his good looks, brown Filipino complexion, and acting talent, he was hailed as the first "brown Adonis" to grace the Philippine movie screen.

Early life and career

Romulo was born on October 11, 1931, in Rosario, Batangas, Philippines. Before entering the entertainment industry, he served as a police officer in his hometown. He was discovered by

Premiere Productions Premiere Entertainment Productions was a Philippine film production company. It was among the country's major film companies, along with Sampaguita Pictures, LVN Pictures and Lea Productions. It now operates as an investment holding company. ...

, a major film studio at the time, which signed him to a contract and developed him into one of the era's prominent leading men. Romulo quickly rose to fame for his versatility and on-screen presence, following the footsteps of actors like

Leopoldo Salcedo Leopoldo Ganal Salcedo Sr. (March 12, 1912 – June 11, 1998) was a Filipino film actor dubbed as "The Great Profile" who specialized in portraying dramatic heroes. Early life Salcedo was born in Cavite. His father was of Spanish descent who ...

Film career

Jose Romulo made his breakthrough as the lead actor in ''DI-13'', a movie based on a popular serialized komiks novel about a fictional police detective. Over the course of his career, he appeared in nearly 200 films, often playing leading roles during the 1950s.

Freelance work

In the 1960s, Romulo transitioned to freelance acting and frequently collaborated with

FPJ Productions 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 ...

, owned by actor Fernando Poe Jr. One of his notable performances in this period was in the film ''

Lakay ''Lakay'' (subtitled ''A True to Life Story of P/Col Juanito Lagasca'') is a 1992 Filipino action film directed by Nilo Saez, written by Jose Carreon, and starring Fernando Poe Jr. as the titular police colonel. It also stars Charo Santos, Ri ...

'', where he took on a significant supporting role.

Personal life

Jose Romulo was married to Lydia, with whom he had five children: Rey, Rizaldy, Marivic, Carmen, and Richmond. His daughter Marivic recalled her father as a generous and loving parent who often entertained his family with stories about the movie industry.

Death

On August 5, 2015, Romulo passed away at the age of 83 due to pneumonia resulting from complications of diabetes. He died at Parañaque Doctors Hospital in Parañaque City. His nephew, Nestor Cuartero, a journalist for ''Tempo'' and the ''Manila Bulletin'', remembered him as "a gentleman of the old school" and "a true actor." Romulo's interment took place on August 9, 2015, at

Loyola Memorial Park The Loyola Memorial Park is a cemetery and columbarium in Marikina, Metro Manila, Philippines. It was established in 1964, and was developed by Group Developers, Inc., which operates a second Loyola Memorial Park in Sucat, Parañaque. The Marikin ...

in Sucat, Parañaque City.

Legacy

Jose Romulo remains a beloved figure in Philippine cinema, particularly remembered for his significant contributions during the golden age of Philippine movies. As the first "brown Adonis" on the local silver screen, he paved the way for actors who followed in his footsteps.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Romulo, Jose 1931 births 2015 deaths Filipino male film actors Filipino police officers Male actors from Batangas Celebrities from Rosario, Batangas Deaths from pneumonia in the Philippines 20th-century Filipino male actors