Victor Laurel

Victor "Cocoy" Diaz Laurel (March 2, 1953 – June 14, 2025) was a Filipino singer and actor.

Early life and education

Victor Laurel was born in the Philippines on March 2, 1953, to lawyer Salvador Laurel (who later became Vice President) and theater actress Celia Diaz. He was the eldest son among eight children, with older sisters and younger siblings. He studied at the La Salle Green Hills for his elementary and high school studies. Laurel was reportedly shy and was bullied by older youth.

At 19 years old, he moved to Madrid to study portrait painting at Academia Real de Bellas Artes. Laurel in between acting also studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and music at Juilliard School in 1972; both in New York.

Career

Early years and appearance in film

Laurel was first scouted via a 1967 ''Romeo and Juliet of the Philippines'' talent search contest in the Philippines organized by Paramount Pictures. He was selected as the Romeo for the talent search associated with Franco Zeffirelli's 1968 film ''Romeo and Juliet''. He also sang the theme song of the film at ''Two For The Road'' of Elvira Manahan.

Laurel joined the Repertory Philippines, debuting in ''Plaza Suite'' (1968) which also starred his mother. He then acted in ''Doña Rosita La Soltera'', ''Fiddler On the Roof'' and ''The Best of Broadway''.

Laurel was known for being part of a love team with Nora Aunor. They debuted together in the film ''Lollipops and Roses'' (1971) before appearing in ''Impossible Dream'' (1973), and ''Lollipops and Roses at Buroong Talangka'' (1975). He also appeared in films such as ''Ophelia and Paris'', ''Disco Fever'', and ''Pinoy American Style''. His last film was in 1982.

Theatre career

From the 1980s to 1990s, Laurel acted in musicals featuring in local adaptations of Broadway acts. This includes the ''West Side Story'', ''The King and I'' and ''Les Misérables''. He played as Jean Valjean in Repertory Philippines's ''Les Misérables''.

In 1989, Laurel joined the ''Miss Saigon'' cast featuring Lea Salonga in London acting for two years. He played the role as the assistant commissar. After convincing by producer, Cameron Mackintosh he moved to Australia to fulfill the role of the Engineer of the same musical. He did at least 450 shows.

In December 1996, Laurel returned to the Philippines. He played the role of Jose Rizal for a reenactment of the historical figure's execution in Bagumbayan.

Music

The ''Lollipops and Roses'' film was followed by a concert entitled ''Cocoy Live'' at the Meralco Theater with Ryan Cayabyab as musical director. Laurel won a FAMAS Award for the musical score of the film ''Uliran'' in 1972.

He released at least four albums. This includes the Spanish-language album "Te Quiero" published in January 2000 was written by Laurel. Laurel featured in live concert at the Music Museum with Ryan Cayabyab as the music director. He preferred to play the piano due to the instrument giving a semblance of an orchestra. He was still performing concerts as of 2011.

Illness and death

He sustained a spinal injury at the 2005 musical The Miraculous Virgin of Caysasay, which was later attributed by his brother David to be the start of the decline of his health until his death. He also had a major ulcer operation in 2007. He spent his later years singing for the choir of the Santuario de San Antonio in Makati.

Laurel's last public appearance was at the wake of Aunor in April 2025. He died on June 14, 2025 due to cardiac arrest arising from multiple organ failure.

Filmography

Accolades

Notes

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Laurel, Cocoy
1953 births
2025 deaths
20th-century Filipino male actors
20th-century Filipino male singers
21st-century Filipino male singers
Deaths from multiple organ failure
Filipino male film actors
Filipino male musical theatre actors
Filipino male pop singers
Filipino male singers
Filipino male songwriters