Dingdong Dantes

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Dingdong Dantes
Dantes at his wedding to Marian Rivera, December 2014
Commissioner-at-large of the National Youth Commission
In office
May 2014 – April 2016
PresidentBenigno Aquino III
ChairmanGregorio Ramon Tingson
Personal details
BornJose Sixto Gonzalez Dantes III
(1980-08-02) August 2, 1980 (age 45)
Quezon City, Philippines
Spouse
​
(m. 2014)​
Children2
Relatives
Alma mater
Occupation
  • Actor
  • filmmaker
  • television personality
Military service
Allegiance Philippines
Branch/service Philippine Navy
Naval Reserve Command
Years of service2006–present
RankLieutenant Commander[1]

Jose Sixto "Dingdong" Gonzalez Dantes III (born August 2, 1980) is a Filipino actor, filmmaker, and television personality. He is known for his acting versatility and played dramatic and fantasy-action roles in movies and television. His accolades include 10 times Box Office Entertainment Awards, 5 times PMPC Star Awards for Television, 3 times EdukCircle Awards, 2 times FAMAS Award, 2 times EDDYS Awards, 2 times Metro Manila Film Festival for Best Actor, 1 time Manila International Film Festival for Best Actor, a Seoul International Drama Awards Asian Star Prize, an Asian Academy Creative Awards for Best Entertainment Host, a Nickeledon Kids Choice Awards, a Gawad Pasado Award and a Gawad Tanglaw Award and a PMPC Star Awards for Movie including nominations from Gawad Urian Award, Golden Screen Awards for Movie, Luna Award and an Asian Television Awards nomination.

He gained prominence in the early 2000s when he co-starred with Tanya Garcia in the drama series Sana ay Ikaw na Nga (2001) and Twin Hearts (2004). He achieved greater recognition in the late 2000s for his role opposite Marian Rivera in the television adaptation of Marimar (2007). His other notable television appearances include Stairway to Heaven (2009), Endless Love (2010), and I Heart You, Pare! (2011). In addition to acting, Dantes has established himself as a television presenter, hosting several programs such as StarStruck (2003–2019), Family Feud (2009–present), Amazing Earth (2018–present), and The Voice Generations (2023). Dantes has produced his own films under his production company, AgostoDos Pictures, including Segunda Mano (2011), Tiktik: The Aswang Chronicles (2012), Kubot: The Aswang Chronicles 2 (2014), and Rewind (2023), the latter of which became the highest-grossing film in the Philippines. He is married to Marian Rivera, and the couple has two children.

Early life and education

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Jose Sixto Gonzales Dantes III was born on August 2, 1980, in Quezon City, Philippines to Angeline Gonzales-Dantes and Jose Sixto "Jig" Dantes Jr, a commander of Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary.[2][3] He is the eldest son of five siblings with three younger sisters and a younger brother.[4][5]

Dantes studied at San Beda University but moved to Ateneo de Manila University to finish high school.[6] He pursued higher education while juggling his showbiz career. Dantes enrolled college at West Negros University with a degree in Business Administration majoring in marketing. He graduated from college in 2014.[7][8]

He was enlisted as member of Philippine Naval Reserve Command in 2006 and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Commander in 2020.[9][10] He graduated as part of Naval Combat Engineer Officer Class in 2023 and had his field training as military reservist.[11][12]

Career

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Dantes began his career as a child model.[13] Several other commercials ensued before he joined an all-male dance group called Abztract Dancers, with his friend, actor Nathan Dados, and his cousin, actor Arthur Solinap. Their group became regulars on Eat Bulaga! and That's Entertainment.

As an actor, his first movie appearance was in the Shake, Rattle & Roll V episode "Anino". After three years, he debuted on GMA Network's youth-oriented T.G.I.S. when he was 17, under the name Raphael Dantes playing the role of Iñaki. He was first paired with Antoinette Taus. Dantes and Taus became one of the most memorable loveteams in Philippine entertainment industry, especially in the '90s. He appeared in films like Honey My Love So Sweet, Kiss Mo 'Ko and I'm Sorry My Love, and television show Anna Karenina.

2000s

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In 2000, Dantes appeared in the sitcom Super Klenk. In 2001, he was paired with actress Tanya García as they top-billed GMA-7's primetime soap opera series Sana ay Ikaw na Nga. The two headlined in another primetime romance-drama billing in 2003 titled Twin Hearts. He took on several hosting jobs including beauty pageants such as Binibining Pilipinas and GMA Network's reality artist search, StarStruck, and the game show Family Feud before its transfer to Edu Manzano. Aside from his television stints, he also appeared in films including Magkapatid and Pangarap Ko Ang Ibigin Ka. He hosts the suspense-thriller Wag Kukurap, occasionally directing. He played King Ybrahim/Ybarro in the Encantadia fantasy-themed television saga and the 2006 film Moments of Love[broken anchor].

In 2007, Dantes portrayed the lead role Sergio to Marian Rivera's character, Marimar in Marimar. During the same year, he was named No. 1 Bachelor of 2007 by Cosmopolitan magazine (Philippines).[14] He won the USTV Students’ Choice Award for "Most Popular Actor in a Drama/Mini-series."[14]

Dantes at the National Youth Commission event in Dingalan, Aurora, September 15, 2014.

In 2008, he was cast by his home studio to play the role of Fredo, a love interest of Dyesebel in Dyesebel. In March 2008, he debuted as the Bench image model.[15] Also in 2008, Dantes starred in One True Love. The Cinema Evaluation Board of the Philippines rated the film a B.

In early 2009, Dantes appeared on Ang Babaeng Hinugot sa Aking Tadyang. He was chosen as Myx guest VJ in August 2009 to promote his album The Dingdong Dantes Experience.[16] The album turned gold one week after it was released on the variety show SOP.[citation needed] Dantes was chosen to portray the role of "Cholo" in the 2009 Philippine adaptation of the Korean drama Stairway to Heaven. He also replaced Richard Gomez as the new host for Family Feud.[17]

Dantes founded YesPinoy Foundation on August 21, 2009.[18] It helped bridged the resources gap in education, and assisted out-of-school youth and children of fallen soldiers.[19]

2010s

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In 2010, Dantes was scheduled to release You to Me Are Everything. He was part of Regine Velasquez and Ogie Alcasid's U.S. tour mid May–June. He appeared in the television show Endless Love from June 25 to October 15, 2010. Dantes became a cohost of Party Pilipinas on channel 7. He won the "Best Drama Actor Award" for Stairway To Heaven in the 2010 PMPC Star Awards for TV and was nominated for the same category at the 2010 Asian Television Awards.

Dantes as NYC Commissioner in October 2014.

In 2011, Dantes did a comedy primetime TV series titled, I Heart You, Pare! with his leading lady Regine Velasquez. He plays an obnoxious macho guy who falls with a heterosexual woman played by Velásquez who, after a chance encounter, met again as she plays a drag who tries to run away from the law. Unfortunately Regine Velasquez left seven weeks before the series came to a close due to her pregnancy with husband Ogie Alcasid. Iza Calzado replaced Velasquez in the series.

He was part of the Star Cinema suspense film Segunda Mano with Kris Aquino and Angelica Panganiban as he played the main antagonist role, Ivan. This marked Dantes' first project with the rival station and film archive Star Cinema, a division of ABS-CBN. It was also his first time to work with Kapamilya stars. He stated that he signed a one-film contract with Star Cinema to do the film and work with Kris Aquino.[20][21]

He did a primetime TV series, My Beloved which aired on February 13, 2012. In June 2012, he was chosen to star in another MMFF Entry for 2012 in the film One More Try starring Kapamilya actors Angelica Panganiban, Angel Locsin and Zanjoe Marudo. It was Dante's second film with rival Star Cinema of ABS-CBN and was a comeback for Ruel S. Bayani after his critically acclaimed successful blockbuster film No Other Woman hit the box-office last year. In November 2012, Dantes was set in a primetime TV series Pahiram ng Sandali with Lorna Tolentino, Christopher de Leon and Max Collins.

In 2013, Dantes and Marian Rivera joined PETA in their campaign to free the elephant Mali from the Manila Zoo, where she has been kept for the majority of her life alone in a tiny enclosure and in need of proper care.[22]

Dantes (2023 Metro Manila Film Festival)

On May 5, 2014, Dantes was appointed and sworn in by President Benigno Aquino III as commissioner-at-large of the National Youth Commission.[23] Two years later, he decided to resign as the NYC commissioner to give way for his endorsement for Grace Poe as president and Leni Robredo as vice president in the 2016 national elections.[24]

In April 2017, he visited Calapan, Oriental Mindoro to inaugurate the Mindoro State College of Agriculture and Technology (MinSCAT) Grandstand. A day later, he became the guest speaker during the 43rd Commencement Exercises of Mindoro State College of Agriculture and Technology-Calapan Campus.

2020s

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In 2020, Dantes appeared in a Philippine adaptation of Descendants of the Sun from South Korean TV series of his role Capt. Lucas Manalo, together with Jennylyn Mercado.

In 2022, Dantes hosted the game show as the second time on GMA Network, Family Feud. During the season break, he appeared in his drama Royal Blood and hosted The Voice Generations.

On October 30, 2023, Dantes joined Mowelfund Board of Trustees.[25]

His next films were part of the 2023 Metro Manila Film Festival: Rewind,directed by Mae-Cruz Alaviar where he co-starred with Marian Rivera in a lead role, and Firefly, directed by Zig Dulay, where he played an adult version of a character played by Euwenn Mikaell.

Rewind became one of the highest grossing Filipino movies of all time and the highest grossing movie in Metro Manila Film Festival history. The movie was an official movie entry of ABSCBN studio and Star Cinema to the 2023 Metro Manila Film Festival.

Personal life

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Dantes with Rivera in LA, December 2008.

Dantes proposed for the second time to his perennial leading lady and longtime girlfriend, Marian Rivera, on the Marian dance show on August 9, 2014. They met on the set of Marimar in 2007. His first proposal was in Macau in August 2012.

On December 30, 2014 (Rizal Day), Dantes married Rivera in the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Cubao, Quezon City. Both Dantes and Rivera are exclusive artists of GMA Network. After years of hard work and proven successes of their television projects, both individually or together, GMA gave them the honor of the title as their network's primetime king and queen. Thus, their wedding was given the title "The Royal Wedding".[26][27] They announced an expected first child in April 2015; Rivera gave birth to Maria Letizia on November 23, 2015,[a] and later gave birth to their second child Jose Sixto IV (Sixto) on April 16, 2019, Holy Tuesday of the Holy Week.[32]

He is the cousin of fellow actors Carlo Gonzalez, Arthur Solinap, and also the cousin of former sports anchor and current TV host Bianca Gonzalez-Intal.

Filmography

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Main article: Dingdong Dantes filmography

Selected filmography

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Discography

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Albums

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Year Title Record label Certifications
2009 The Dingdong Dantes Experience Universal Records Platinum Award

Awards and recognitions

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Main article: List of awards and nominations received by Dingdong Dantes

Dantes dubbed as the Kapuso Primetime King has received several awards and nominations throughout his career in the entertainment industry. He is known for his acting versatility and played dramatic and fantasy-action roles in movies and television. His accolades include 11 times Box Office Entertainment Awards, 5 times PMPC Star Awards for Television, 3 times EdukCircle Awards, 2 times FAMAS Award, 2 times EDDYS Awards, 2 times Metro Manila Film Festival for Best Actor, 1 time Manila International Film Festival for Best Actor, a Seoul International Drama Awards Asian Star Prize, an Asian Academy Creative Awards for Best Entertainment Host, a Nickeledon Kids Choice Awards, a Gawad Pasado Award and a Gawad Tanglaw Award and a PMPC Star Awards for Movie including nominations from Gawad Urian Award, Golden Screen Awards for Movie, Luna Award and an Asian Television Awards nomination.

Notes

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  1. ^ Attributed to multiple references:[28][29][30] [31]

References

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  1. ^ "LOOK: Dingdong Dantes now a lieutenant commander in PH Navy reserve force". Rappler. January 27, 2020. Retrieved May 16, 2025.
  2. ^ "TRIVIA: Things you need to know about Dingdong Dantes". GMA Network. August 1, 2020. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
  3. ^ "Meet Dingdong Dantes Parents". City Celeb. August 29, 2024. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
  4. ^ "Ang 'Tunay Na Buhay' ni Dingdong Dantes". GMA Network. November 9, 2013. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
  5. ^ "Dingdong Dantes is working with two of his sisters in his new start-up 'Dingdong PH". GMA Network. August 20, 2021. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
  6. ^ "Things you need to know about Dingdong Dantes". GMA Network. August 1, 2021. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
  7. ^ Villano, Alexa (August 1, 2015). "Dingdong Dantes to fresh grads: Enjoy life, but have direction". Rappler. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
  8. ^ "Dingdong Dantes graduates from college". Yahoo News. March 25, 2014. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
  9. ^ "AFP welcomes celebrity reservists Dingdong Dantes and Kristine Soguilon-Lim". Manila Bulletin. April 1, 2024. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
  10. ^ "Dingdong Dantes continues to fulfill duty as a Philippine Navy Reservist". GMA Network. June 2, 2024. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
  11. ^ "Dingdong Dantes now a Naval Combat Engineering Officer of PH Navy". Inquirer. March 26, 2024. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
  12. ^ "Dingdong Dantes shares glimpses of his field training exercises as a military reservist". GMA Network. March 6, 2024. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
  13. ^ "Dingdong Dantes: Moving Up". Philippine Entertainment Portal. December 21, 2009. Archived from the original on May 8, 2019. Retrieved May 9, 2019.
  14. ^ a b "Dingdong makes it to E! News '25 Sexiest Men' list". Philippine Daily Inquirer. August 23, 2008. Archived from the original on August 6, 2009. Retrieved March 28, 2010.
  15. ^ Courtesy of Cosmopolitan. "Dingdong Dantes bares for Bench". Philippine Entertainment Portal. Retrieved March 28, 2010.
  16. ^ Rose García. "Dingdong Dantes makes a visit to ABS-CBN for MYX taping". Philippine Entertainment Portal. Retrieved March 28, 2010.
  17. ^ "It's confirmed: Dingdong Dantes will replace Richard Gomez on Family Feud". Philippine Entertainment Portal. November 8, 2009.
  18. ^ "YesPinoy Foundation, Inc". ivolunteer. Retrieved April 15, 2025.
  19. ^ "Dingdong Dantes's YesPinoy Foundation Inc. celebrates its seventh year". GMA Network. April 2, 2020. Retrieved April 15, 2025.
  20. ^ "Segunda Mano director Joyce Bernal describes Kris Aquino as 'laging handa' on the set". Philippine Entertainment Portal. September 27, 2011.
  21. ^ SEGUNDA MANO Teaser. October 26, 2011. Archived from the original on December 22, 2021 – via YouTube.
  22. ^ Marian Rivera And Dingdong Dantes Join PETA In Calling For The Transfer of ‘Mali’ The Elephant From Manila Zoo, theglobaldispatch.com, July 17, 2013
  23. ^ "Dingdong Dantes takes oath as youth commissioner". Rappler.
  24. ^ Cupin, Bea (April 5, 2016). "NYC chair quits to focus on Roxas-Robredo campaign". Rappler. Retrieved April 8, 2016.
  25. ^ "Dingdong Dantes now part of Mowelfund Board of Trustees". GMA Network. October 30, 2023. Retrieved April 14, 2025.
  26. ^ "IN PHOTOS: Minutes to Marian-Dingdong wedding". The Philippine Star.
  27. ^ Cruz, Allan Policarpio, Marinel R. "Star-studded 'royal wedding' with a cast of a thousand". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved July 16, 2018.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  28. ^ "Congrats! Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes are having a baby! – Coconuts Manila". manila.coconuts.co. April 13, 2015. Retrieved July 16, 2018.
  29. ^ "Marian Rivera, Dingdong Dantes expecting a baby girl". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on July 2, 2015. Retrieved June 29, 2015.
  30. ^ "Marian reveals baby girl's name". Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on October 1, 2015.
  31. ^ "Marian Rivera, Dingdong Dantes welcome baby girl Maria Letizia". Rappler.
  32. ^ "Marian Rivera gives birth to baby boy". Rappler. Retrieved August 30, 2019.
[edit]
  • Media related to Dingdong Dantes at Wikimedia Commons
  • Dingdong Dantes at GMANetwork.com
  • Dingdong Dantes at IMDb