Christopher de Leon

Christopher de Leon
Christopher de Leon wearing a black suit jacket and a print shirt, with tinted glasses, grinning and looking left of the camera
De Leon in 2023
Member of the Batangas Provincial Board from the 2nd district
In office
June 30, 2010 – June 30, 2013
Preceded byHermilando Mandanas
Succeeded byRaneo Abu
Personal details
Born
Christopher Strauss de León

(1956-10-31) October 31, 1956 (age 68)
Manila, Philippines
Political partyLiberal (2009–present)
Other political
affiliations
PMP (until 2009)
Spouses
(m. 1975; ann. 1996)
(m. 2001)
RelationsJanine Gutierrez (adoptive granddaughter
Children10 (incl. Lotlot, Matet and Gabriel)
Parent(s)Gil de León (father)
Lilia Dizon (mother)
Occupation
  • Actor
  • politician
Other namesBoyet,[1] Chris
Alma materUniversity of the East, (BFA)
Years active1974–present
WorksFull list
AwardsFull list

Christopher Strauss de León[2][3] (born October 31, 1956), also known as Boyet, is a Filipino actor, filmmaker and politician. Often referred to as the "King of Philippine Drama",[4] he gained stardom for his leading man roles in numerous film and television productions including period, romantic drama and thriller. His work has received various accolades throughout his career spanning five decades, including eight FAMAS Awards, two Gawad Urian Awards, four Luna Awards, nine Star Awards, and eight Metro Manila Film Festival Awards.

De Leon began his career as a teenager, winning the FAMAS Award for Best Actor for his screen debut in Lino Brocka's Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang (1974). He gained wider recognition for his portrayal of a naive peasant in Eddie Romero's Ganito Kami Noon... Paano Kayo Ngayon? (1976), 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 (1978). De Leon continued to gain recognition and critical acclaim for his film work in the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s, with leading roles in Haplos (1982), Imortal (1989), Biktima, My Other Woman (both in 1990), Ipagpatawad Mo (1991), Gaano Kita Kamahal (1993), Madrasta (1996), Nasaan ang Puso (1997), Bulaklak ng Maynila (1999), Dekada '70 (2002), Mano Po III: My Love (2004) and Magkaibigan (2008).

De Leon is cited by critics as one of the best Filipino actors of all time[5] 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 (1993) and the Metro Manila Film Festival (2019), in the Best Actor category.

  1. ^ De Leon, Ed (February 6, 2024). "Hurado ng MIFF, nalito sa best actor/best director para kay Boyet?!". The Philippine Star. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  2. ^ Juan, Stef (May 11, 2006). "Real Life, starring Christopher de Leon". The Philippine Star. Retrieved August 25, 2017.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference fam was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Requintina, Robert (December 14, 2023). "Vilma Santos, Christopher De Leon on the secret to successful love team: 'We practice respect and professionalism'". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  5. ^ Torre, Nestor (July 7, 2007). Saturday Special. If In Imij. In Best Actors List. Philippine Daily Inquirer. p. 54.