TJ Trinidad
Raul "TJ" Fenstad Trinidad Jr. is a Filipino actor and businessman.
Early life
Trinidad graduated high school from Colegio de San Agustin and studied marketing at De La Salle University. As a student, Trinidad joined two rock bands as a vocalist and also participated in school plays. Trinidad was also a member of a parish youth theater group in Alabang, mostly doing fundraising plays for the holiday seasons.As a child, Trinidad appeared in more than a dozen TV commercials for brands such as San Miguel Beer and Swatch.
After graduation, Trinidad worked nine-to-five jobs in several marketing firms until a friend encouraged him to join an audition for a soap drama at ABS-CBN.
Career
Trinidad's acting career began when he was accepted for a supporting role in the 2003 primetime TV series Basta't Kasama Kita, which starred Judy Ann Santos. In 2004, Trinidad also played supporting roles in the film Aishite Imasu 1941: Mahal Kita and in the sci-fi fantasy series Krystala, both of which also starred Santos. In later interviews, Trinidad credited Santos for helping him further hone his acting skills.In 2006, Trinidad landed a breakout role when he was cast in the lead role of Cardin" Medel opposite Kristine Hermosa in the 2006 drama series Gulong ng Palad. In 2008, Trinidad moved to GMA Network at the suggestion of Eddie Gutierrez who was a good friend of Trinidad's father. Gutierrez's wife Annabelle Rama also became Trinidad's manager. At GMA, he was cast as the antagonist Ramon Pelaez in the 2009 adaptation of Zorro, as Tristan Aragon in the Philippine adaptation of Stairway to Heaven, as Gregor Javier or "Metal Man" in Captain Barbell: Ang Pagbabalik, as Gabriel Tanchingco The Rich Man's Daughter, and as the sidekick Greco in Mulawin vs Ravena.
Trinidad made his directorial debut in 2010 when his indie film Mga Kinahinatnan ng Aking Kabalbalan was featured in the 2010 Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival.
Trinidad starred as Robert Naval in Jerrold Tarog's 2013 Cinemalaya film Sana Dati, for which he won his first acting award as Best Supporting Actor. Trinidad and Tarog would continue to collaborate in the 2017 psychological thriller film Bliss and in the 2019 historical epic Goyo: The Boy General where he portrayed the older version of President Manuel L. Quezon in the epilogue. He has also starred in other indie productions such as the 2015 film Sleepless and the 2016 hybrid animated film Saving Sally. Trinidad played the role of Bruce Niles, a closeted gay man, in the Philippine staging of the off-Broadway play The Normal Heart in its 2015 run. In 2019, Trinidad made his last television appearance in The Gift as a guest star. Since then, he was worked as an executive in the aviation sector.
Personal life
Trinidad married businesswoman Margarita Valdes in a private ceremony in Tagaytay in 2011. They have two children.In 2013, Trinidad ran for the position of 1st district councilor during the 2013 Pasay local elections but was not elected.