Michael Benedict P. Rodriguez (November 5, 1962 – February 14, 1997) was a Filipino actor and model. He got his start in show business when he was discovered by the filmmaker, a National Artist for Film,

Lino Brocka Catalino Ortiz Brocka (April 3, 1939 – May 22, 1991) was a Filipino film director. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential and significant filmmakers in the history of Philippine cinema. He co-founded the organization Concerned Ar ...

, who cast him in a Close Up commercial in 1981. Often referred to as the "Filipino

Christopher Reeve Christopher D'Olier Reeve (September 25, 1952 – October 10, 2004) was an American actor, best known for playing the title character in the film ''Superman (1978 film), Superman'' (1978) and three sequels. Born in New York City and raised in P ...

", he was most famous for his roles on the television 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 ...

'' and opposite

Sharon Cuneta Sharon Gamboa Cuneta-Pangilinan ( , ; born January 6, 1966) is a Filipino actress, singer, television host, and socialite. Regarded as one of the most successful and highest-earning individuals in the Philippine entertainment industry, she has ...

in the 1983 movie ''To Love Again''. He was nominated three times—1995, 1989, and 1986 respectively as Best Supporting Actor in the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences Awards (also known as the

FAMAS Award The Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences Awards (also known as the FAMAS Awards) are the annual honors given by the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS), an organization composed of award-winning writers and movie columni ...

s) for the films ''The Elsa Castillo Story'' (1994), ''Ibulong Mo sa Diyos'' (1988), and ''Partida'' (1985). He won the award in 1989 for playing the role of Mario Umali—a dance choreographer who raped the main protagonist, Monica Quijano (played by

Vilma Santos Rosa Vilma Tuazon Santos-Recto (, born November 3, 1953) is a Filipino actress, singer, dancer, TV host, producer, and politician. She served as a House Deputy Speaker since 2019 to 2022 and as the Representative of Batangas' 6th district sin ...

)—in ''Ibulong Mo sa Diyos.''

Other works and retirement

Rodriguez was also known for having appeared with

Snooky Serna Maria Milagros "Snooky" Sumayao Serna (born April 4, 1966) is a Filipina film and television actress. Regarded as the “''Eternal Star''” by local media, she is best known for her portrayals in Anak ni Waray, Anak ni Biday (1984); Blusang It ...

in the 1984 film ''Experience'' in which he played the character who protected Snooky from a person stalking her. Notably, he starred as the Filipino-Spanish ''

Ilustrado The Ilustrados (, "erudite", "learned" or "enlightened ones") constituted the Filipino educated class during the Spanish colonial period in the late 19th century. Elsewhere in New Spain (of which the Philippines were part), the term ''gente de r ...

'', Alfonsito, in the 1985 award-winning and daring period film ''

Virgin Forest ''Virgin Forest'' is a 1985 Filipino period film directed by Peque Gallaga. A self-described B-movie, it stars Sarsi Emmanuel, who plays a barrio lass of Chinese ancestry; Miguel Rodriguez, as a Filipino-Spanish illustrado; and, Abel Jurado, ...

'' directed by the celebrated and multi-awarded

Filipino Filipino may refer to: * Something from or related to the Philippines ** Filipino language, standardized variety of 'Tagalog', the national language and one of the official languages of the Philippines. ** Filipinos, people who are citizens of th ...

filmmaker,

Peque Gallaga Maurice Ruiz de Luzuriaga Gallaga (August 25, 1943 – May 7, 2020), better known as Peque Gallaga, was a multi-awarded Filipino film-maker. His most significant achievement in film was '' Oro, Plata, Mata'', which he directed after winning a scr ...

, and which musical score was provided by another film icon,

Jaime Fabregas Jaime Francisco García Fábregas (; born February 28, 1950) is a Filipino actor and musical scorer. Early life Jaime Francisco García Fábregas was born in Iriga City, Camarines Sur, Philippines to his parents Pedro Fábregas and Isabel Garc ...

. On June 26, 1986, Rodriguez and

Edu Manzano Eduardo "Edu" Manzano (; born September 14, 1955) is a Filipino-American actor, fashion model, TV commercial model, comedian, politician, United States Air Force veteran and television game host. He was previously the host of game shows ''The We ...

hosted Bb. Pilipinas 1986 Grand Coronation Night, held at the

Araneta Coliseum The Araneta Coliseum, also currently known by naming rights sponsorship as Smart Araneta Coliseum, is an indoor multi-purpose sports arena that is part of the Araneta City in the Cubao area of Quezon City, Philippines. Nicknamed as "the Big ...

. Ms. Chiqui Hollman-Yulo anchored the event. Seven years later, Miguel and Peque will have worked again in the movie, ''Adventures of Gary Leon and Kuting''. He eventually became an action film star, appearing in ''Bir Mammud: Alyas Boy Muslim'' (1989), ''Hindi Kita Iiwanang Buhay: Kapitan Paile'' (1990) and ''Hanggang Kailan Ka Papatay'' (1990). He retired from acting in 1996 after the release of ''Huwag Mong Isuko ang Laban'', the last film he worked on in 1995.

Personal life and death

He married popular fashion stylist and socialite Irene Salud on March 14, 1987, at the St. Pancratius Chapel, Paco Park, Manila. Actor

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 ...

and

Lily Monteverde Lily Yu Monteverde, nicknamed Mother Lily (born August 19, 1938), is a Filipina film producer and businesswoman. She is the first and many Filipina Movie producers who produced the boom of blockbuster films in different genres in the 70s and 80 ...

of Regal Films were among their principal sponsors. On February 14, 1997, Rodriguez was found dead by a household help at his home in BF Homes, Parañaque. He died from

pancreatitis Pancreatitis is a condition characterized by inflammation of the pancreas. The pancreas is a large organ behind the stomach that produces digestive enzymes and a number of hormones. There are two main types: acute pancreatitis, and chronic p ...

at the age of 34.

Filmography

Television

Film

Awards and nominations

Notes

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Rodriguez, Miguel 1961 births 1997 deaths 20th-century Filipino male actors ABS-CBN personalities Burials at the Manila Memorial Park – Sucat Deaths from pancreatitis Filipino male film actors Filipino people of Spanish descent People from Las Piñas