Christopher de Leon
Christopher Strauss de León, also known as Boyet, is a Filipino actor, filmmaker and politician. Often referred to as the "King of Philippine Drama", he gained stardom for his leading man roles in numerous film and television productions including period, romantic drama and thriller. His work, covering more than five decades, has received various accolades, including eight FAMAS Awards, two Gawad Urian Awards, four Luna Awards, nine Star Awards, and eight Metro Manila Film Festival Awards.
De León began acting as a teenager, winning the FAMAS Award for Best Actor for his screen debut in Lino Brocka's Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang. He gained wider recognition for his portrayal of a naive peasant in Eddie Romero's Ganito Kami Noon... Paano Kayo Ngayon?, earning him his second FAMAS for Best Actor. He won his first Gawad Urian Award for Best Actor for his portrayal in Ishmael Bernal's Ikaw ay Akin. De León continued to gain recognition and critical acclaim for his film work in the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s, with leading roles in Haplos, Imortal, Biktima, My Other Woman, Ipagpatawad Mo, Gaano Kita Kamahal, Madrasta, Nasaan ang Puso, Bulaklak ng Maynila, Dekada '70, Mano Po III: My Love and Magkaibigan.
De León is cited by critics as one of the best Filipino actors of all time and was named one of the highest-paid Filipino actors in the 1980s. He is the recipient of many honorary accolades. He was awarded with the FAMAS Circle of Excellence Award in 2005, a star on the Eastwood City Walk of Fame in 2006, the Lino Brocka Lifetime Achievement Award by the Golden Screen Awards in 2008 and the Lifetime Achievement Award in Acting at the International Film Festival Manhattan in 2017. He achieved Grand Slam in 1991, the second actor to win Best Actor in all major award-giving bodies in the country. He is also one of the elite group of actors to be inducted into the Hall of Fame at the FAMAS Awards and the Metro Manila Film Festival, in the Best Actor category.
Early life and education
De León is the son of actors Gil de León and Lilia Dizon. He is of German Jewish descent from his maternal grandfather. On May 11, 1999, he was given United States citizenship, passed to him through his mother from her father. He studied fine arts at the University of the East in Manila.Acting career
1974–1979: Breakthrough and stardom
At age 17, De León made his acting debut in Lino Brocka's 1974 film Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang. The production was a success at the box office and earned De León his first acting award, as Best Actor at the 22nd FAMAS Awards. This helped open doors to more acting projects. The following year, he played the role of an Igorot in Gerardo de León's romance drama Banaue: Stairway to the Sky. In 1976, De León starred in two productions. He portrayed a naive Indio in Eddie Romero's period drama Ganito Kami Noon... Paano Kayo Ngayon?. His performance was well received by critics, and he again won Best Actor, at the 24th FAMAS Awards and second Metro Manila Film Festival. He subsequently played a Japanese-Filipino military officer in Mario O'Hara's period drama Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos.The following year, De León appeared in two productions. He starred in Elwood Perez' Masarap, Masakit ang Umibig, which earned him a Best Actor nomination at the 25th FAMAS Awards. He then appeared in Mike de León's coming-of-age piece Kung Mangarap Ka't Magising, which premiered at the third Metro Manila Film Festival. In 1978, he starred in two Ishmael Bernal films, one of which was the drama Lagi Na Lamang Ba Akong Babae?. This earned him his fifth Best Actor nomination, at the 27th FAMAS Awards. He next starred in the drama Ikaw Ay Akin. His performance received critical acclaim, winning him a Best Actor trophy at the Gawad Urian Awards. In 1979, he starred in one of the first Filipino films on peasant oppression, Ang Alamat ni Julian Makabayan.
1980s: Critical acclaim
After playing a series of dramatic roles, De León starred in Mike de León's musical comedy Kakabakaba Ka Ba?. Released in 1980, the film was praised for its satirical plot and good mix of music. The same year, he appeared in two more production: the drama Taga sa Panahon, which premiered at the sixth Metro Manila Film Festival, and Aguila. His portrayal earned him a Best Actor nomination at the 29th FAMAS Awards. In 1981, he starred in Elwood Pérez's Pakawalan Mo Ako. His performance earned him his ninth Best Actor nomination, at the 30th FAMAS Awards. De León had three releases in 1982: Ishmael Bernal's Relasyon, for which he won Best Actor at the Catholic Mass Media Awards as well as another nomination at the FAMAS Awards; the mystery drama Haplos, for which he received his second Best Actor win at the Metro Manila Film Festival; and finally, Lino Brocka's thriller drama Cain at Abel. The film was the first Filipino entry at the San Sebastián International Film Festival, and De León received his third Best Actor nomination at the Gawad Urian Awards.In 1983, De León appeared in Ishmael Bernal's drama film Broken Marriage, which earned him Best Actor nominations from both FAMAS and Gawad Urian. He appeared in three productions in 1985: the drama musical Bituing Walang Ningning, Mike de León's romantic drama Hindi Nahahati ang Langit, and Carlo J. Caparas' God... Save Me! For this performance, De León received a Best Actor nomination at the FAMAS. He began television work in 1986, with the sketch comedy Goin' Bananas. In 1987, he appeared in Lino Brocka's Maging Akin Ka Lamang, which earned him his fourteenth Best Actor nomination at the FAMAS Awards. The following year, he starred in the romantic drama Kapag Napagod ang Puso. Writing for Manila Standard, critic and director Lav Díaz praised De León's complex performance, stating that the film was "another big step for Christopher de Leon toward greatness in the art of acting". De León received his first Best Actor nomination at the Luna Awards, and won Best Actor at the FAMAS and Movie Magazine Awards.
Later in 1988, De León appeared in Laurice Guillen's Magkano ang Iyong Dangal?. His portrayal was once again praised by critics, with Lav Díaz stating that his acting "almost reaches the point that whenever people watch a film is featured in, he is now the one being watched instead of the film". For the final year of the decade, De León starred in two productions, including the third instalment of the anthology film, 3 Mukha ng Pag-ibig and Eddie García's Imortal. He won his third Best Actor award at the Metro Manila Film Festival and received nominations from FAMAS and Gawad Urian in the same category.
1990s: Established leading man
De León starred in two Lino Brocka films in 1990, including Biktima, for which he won Best Actor at the Luna Awards and Star Awards for Movies. He had a supporting role in the political thriller Gumapang Ka sa Lusak, which scored him a Supporting Actor of the Year win at the Star Awards and a nomination at the Gawad Urian in the same category. He also appeared in the romantic drama My Other Woman, for which he won Best Actor at the FAMAS, Gawad Urian, and Catholic Mass Media Awards. This distinction made him the second Filipino actor to win Best Actor from all major award-giving bodies in the country for two films. The following year, he worked again with Laurice Guillen in her drama Ipagpatawad Mo. His critically acclaimed portrayal won him Best Actor again at FAMAS, Luna, and Star Awards. In 1992, De León starred in Joel Lamangan's Hiram na Mukha, followed by the biopic Gaano Kita Kamahal a year later. He tied with Phillip Salvador as Movie Actor of the Year at the Star Awards and received Best Actor nominations at the Gawad Urian and Luna Awards. In 1993, De León started making appearances in the weekly anthology Star Drama Presents.In 1995, De León starred in Chito Roño's action thriller Eskapo. The following year, he appeared in Rory Quintos' Sa Aking mga Kamay. After making a cameo in the biblical drama Kristo, De León starred in the family drama Madrasta. His performance received praise, winning him top honors at the Young Critics Circle and Star Awards. At the 27th Box Office Entertainment Awards, he was hailed as the "Box Office King". The same year, he starred in the drama Nasaan ang Puso, for which he won Best Actor at the 23rd Metro Manila Film Festival. In 1998, he played a priest in the action drama Ama Namin. The following year, he starred in the fantasy film Wansapanataym: The Movie. De León closed the decade with an acclaimed performance in Joel Lamangan's Bulaklak ng Maynila. His portrayal earned him Best Actor wins at Luna and the Metro Manila Film Festival, as well as nominations from Gawad Urian and the Young Critics Circle.
2000–2019: Further critical and commercial success
Between 2000 and 2010, De León only appeared in ten films and ventured further into television. In 2000, he hosted the Filipino edition of the game show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? Veronique del Rosario-Corpus, Viva Television president, revealed that he underwent training and workshops to prepare for his first hosting stint. He later received a nomination for Best Game Show Host at the PMPC Star Awards for Television. The following year, De León starred with an ensemble cast in Laurice Guillen's American Adobo, which premiered at the San Diego Asian Film Festival. In 2002, he starred in the romantic drama series Ang Iibigin ay Ikaw as well as its sequel, Ang Iibigin ay Ikaw Pa Rin. The same year, he appeared with Vilma Santos in the film adaptation of Lualhati Bautista's novel Dekada '70, under the direction of Chito Roño. The film premiered at the 28th Metro Manila Film Festival. His performance earned him Best Actor nominations from Gawad Urian and Luna. In 2003, De León was among the council in the second season of StarStruck. He next appeared in the second instalment of Mano Po 2: My Home and reprised his role in Mano Po III: My Love, in 2004. He also appeared in the drama series Hanggang Kailan. In 2005, he had a role in the third installment of Now and Forever, Agos. The same year, he was an antagonist in the fantasy drama Darna.In 2006, De León played the role of a banking magnate in the romantic family drama Maging Sino Ka Man and later reprised his role in the sequel, Maging Sino Ka Man: Ang Pagbabalik, which aired in 2007. He next starred with an ensemble cast in Joel Lamangan's Blue Moon. De León then appeared in the pilot episode of the drama series Pangarap na Bituin, followed by a supporting role in Kahit Isang Saglit. De León also starred opposite Angel Aquino in Eddie Romero's final directorial effort, Faces of Love. In 2009, he had supporting roles in the drama series Lovers in Paris and Sana Ngayong Pasko. Later that year, De León appeared in the film Mano Po 6: A Mother's Love, which premiered at the 35th Metro Manila Film Festival.