Ramon Artiaga Zamora (June 27, 1935 – August 26, 2007) was a Filipino
film actor
An actor (masculine/gender-neutral), or actress (feminine), is a person who portrays a character in a production. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. ...
best known for his leading roles in local
martial arts
Martial arts are codified systems and traditions of combat practiced for a number of reasons such as self-defence; military and law enforcement applications; combat sport, competition; physical, mental, and spiritual development; entertainment; ...
films and action movies of the 1970s. He was popularly dubbed as the "
Bruce Lee
Bruce Lee (born Lee Jun-fan; November 27, 1940 – July 20, 1973) was an American-born Hong Kong martial artist, actor, filmmaker, and philosopher. He was the founder of Jeet Kune Do, a hybrid martial arts philosophy which was formed from ...
of the Philippines".
Early career
Zamora was born in
San Juan, Rizal.
He began his entertainment career in 1953 as a stuntman and dancer for
LVN Pictures.
[ He persevered in the bodabil circuit, performing regularly at the Clover Theater and the Manila Grand Opera House.] He also was a member of the Festival Dancers, a dance troupe which performed international tours regularly.[
From his stage performances, he was contracted in 1969 to star as a mainstay of the ]ABS-CBN
ABS-CBN is a leading Philippine media and content company. It serves as the flagship media brand of ABS-CBN Corporation, a subsidiary of Lopez Holdings Corporation. Once the country's largest free-to-air television network, ABS-CBN has since ...
gag show '' Super Laff-In''. Zamora's most popular stock character in the show was a military-clad figure that bore an unmistakable physical resemblance to Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler (20 April 1889 – 30 April 1945) was an Austrian-born German politician who was the dictator of Nazi Germany from 1933 until Death of Adolf Hitler, his suicide in 1945. Adolf Hitler's rise to power, He rose to power as the lea ...
, who spoke in bastardized German and spouted catchphrases such as "Isprakenheit".[ The role won him the "Best Actor Citizen's Award for Television".][
]
Film star
When Super Laff-In's network ABS-CBN was closed upon the declaration of martial law in 1972, Zamora shifted gears and focused on a film career. He starred as the durable komiks character Pedro Penduko in the 1973 Celso Ad Castillo fantasy film ''Ang Mahiwagang Daigdig ni Pedro Penduko''. The resulting success of the film boosted Zamora's popularity, and he soon became one of the top box-office draws in Philippine cinema in the 1970s.
Zamora was especially popular for a string of locally produced martial arts films that emerged following the international success of Bruce Lee.[ Patterning his film persona around a Bruce Lee-type with a comedic twist,][ Zamora starred in such films as ''Shadow of the Dragon'' (1973), ''Cobra at Lawin'' (1973), ''Game of Death'' (1974), ''Return of the Dragon (AKA Revenge of the Dragon)'' (1977), and ''Bruce Liit'' (1978).
In 1978, Zamora shared the top billing with actor Weng Weng in ''Chopsuey Meets Big Time Papa''.
Then he played his villain role as Edu Manzano's right-hand man to ]Lito Lapid
Manuel "Lito" Mercado Lapid (; born October 25, 1955) is a Filipino actor, director and politician serving as a Senate of the Philippines, Senator since 2019, and previously from 2004 to 2016. He started his political career in Pampanga, serv ...
in an action packed film ''Hindi Palulupig'' (1989).
Later years
By the 1980s, Zamora's career as a leading man petered out, and he returned to guest-starring in television programs, often in his "Hitler" guise. He also portrayed character roles in films, including one in the 1994 update of the Pedro Penduko saga now starring Janno Gibbs, ''Ang Pagbabalik ni Pedro Penduko''. At the time of his death from a heart attack
A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when Ischemia, blood flow decreases or stops in one of the coronary arteries of the heart, causing infarction (tissue death) to the heart muscle. The most common symptom ...
in his Antipolo
Antipolo, officially the City of Antipolo (), is a Cities of the Philippines#Legal classification, component city and capital of the Provinces of the Philippines, province of Rizal (province), Rizal, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, ...
home, Zamora had completed one last film that had yet to be released, ''Ataul for Rent''. His remains is at Loyola Memorial Park in Marikina.
Filmography
Film
*''The Pig Boss'' (1972)
*''Dobol Trobol'' (1973)
*''Ang Mahiwagang Daigdig ni Pedro Penduko'' (1973) - Pedro Penduko
*''Landas ng Hari'' (aka Way of the Dragon, 1973)
*''Shadow of the Dragon'' (1973)
*''The Game of Death!'' (1974)
*''Return of the Dragon'' (1974/I)
*''They Call Him Chop-suey'' (1975) - Chop-suey
*''Karunungang Itim'' (1976)
*''Peter Pandesal'' (1977) - Pete
*''The Interceptors'' (1977)
*''Dragon, Lizard, Boxer'' (1977)
*''Ang Hari at ang Alas'' (1978)
*''Bruce Liit'' (1978)
*''Ahas sa Pugad Lawin'' (1979)
*'' Kodigo Penal: The Valderrama Case'' (1980)
*''Snake Dragon Connection'' (1980)
*''Ang Tapang para sa Lahat!'' (1982) - Joaquin
*''Dalmacio Armas'' (1983)
*''Porontoy'' (1983)
*''Death Raiders'' (1984)
*''Ninja Komisyon'' (1986)
*'' Kontra Bandido'' (1986)
*'' Amang Hustler'' (1987)
*''The Rookies and the Mighty Kids'' (1987)
*''Vengeance Squad'' (1987) - Special participation
*''Damong Makamandag'' (1988)
*'' Lorenzo Ruiz: The Saint... A Filipino'' (1988)
*'' Pepeng Kuryente: Man with a Thousand Volts'' (1988)
*''Me and Ninja Liit'' (1988) - Papang Sang
*''My Darling Domestic (Greyt Eskeyp)'' (1989)
*''Hindi Palulupig'' (1989) - Ramon
*''Dudurugin Kita ng Bala Ko'' (1991)
*'' Juan Tamad at Mister Shooli: Mongolian Barbecue'' (1991) - Gen. Volkswagen
*''Eh, Kasi Bata
''Eh, Kasi Bata'' (; marketed as ''Eh, Kasi Bata!'') is a 1992 Filipino science fiction comedy film directed by Efren Jarlego. The film stars Gretchen Barretto, Romnick Sarmenta, Jennifer Sevilla, Billy Joe Crawford, Atong Redillas, and C ...
'' (1992) - Frank Chavit
*''Aguinaldo'' (1993)
*''Duterte: Ang Berdugong Alkalde ng Davao'' (1997) - Ka Diony
*''Pedro Penduko, Episode II: The Return of the Comeback'' (2000) - Maguayen
*''Basta Tricycle Driver... Sweet Lover'' (2000)
*''Isang Lahi, Isang Dugo sa Lupang Pangako'' (2000) - Arula
*''Sgt. Isaias Marcos... Bawat Hakbang Panganib'' (2000)
*''Eksperto: Ako ang Sasagupa!'' (2000) - Mr. Lee Chang Loo
*''Eva, Lason kay Adan'' (2002)
*''Pistolero'' (2002)
*''Pelukang Itim: Agimat Ko Ito for Victory Again'' (2005)
*''Lisensyadong Kamao'' (2005) - Pedring
*''M.O.N.A.Y (Misteyks Obda Neyson Adres Yata) ni Mr. Shooli'' (2007)
*''Ataul: For Rent'' (2007) - Chairman Tando
Television
Notes
References
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External links
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Zamora, Ramon
1935 births
2007 deaths
20th-century Filipino comedians
Filipino male comedians
Filipino television personalities
Male actors from Metro Manila
Actors from San Juan, Metro Manila