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Alden Richards
Filipino actor (born 1992) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Richard Reyes Faulkerson Jr. (born January 2, 1992), known professionally as Alden Richards, is a Filipino actor, television presenter, entrepreneur and film director. Known for his leading roles in romantic and historical dramas, his accolades include a Seoul International Drama Award, a FAMAS Award, five Star Awards for Movies, five Box Office Entertainment Awards, a Golden Screen Award, and an Ani ng Dangal, in addition to nominations for a Gawad Urian and two Metro Manila Film Festival Awards.
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Richards acting career began when he bagged the role in the fantasy drama Alakdana (2011), which marked his first screen appearance. His breakthrough was in the romantic drama One True Love (2012) opposite Louise delos Reyes and rose to stardom in the romantic comedy sketch EB' Kalyeserye opposite Maine Mendoza, known popularly as AlDub. His most commercially successful films include My Bebe Love: KiligPaMore (2015), Imagine You and Me (2016) and Five Breakups and a Romance (2023), including Hello, Love, Goodbye (2019) and Hello, Love, Again (2024), which are among the highest-grossing Filipino films of all time.
He also ventured into production, co-producing films, concert shows and events. In music, Richards has received several awards and nominations for his albums. His extended play Wish I May (2015) has been certified Diamond record by PARI, making it one of the best-selling albums in the Philippines.
Beyond his work in the entertainment industry, he devoted his time supporting various charitable causes, particularly in the area of literacy and education. He is the founder of AR Foundation Inc., a scholarship program that helps underprivileged students finish college. He serves as member of Mowelfund Inc. Board of Trustees since 2023.
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Early life and education
Richard Reyes Faulkerson Jr. was born on January 2, 1992, in Quezon City and raised in Sta. Rosa, Laguna to Richard Peralta Faulkerson Sr. and Rosario Reyes Faulkerson.[1][2] He is the second child in the family with an older brother and two younger sisters.[3] He is of American descent through his father who is half-Filipino and half-American[4] and his American paternal grandfather who died in California when he was three years old.[5]
Richards went to study his secondary school in Paco Catholic School in Manila but had to change school when his family moved to Laguna. He studied and graduated from high school in Colegio de Santa Rosa de Lima.[6] He attended college in De La Salle University-Canlubang with a degree in Business Administration but his studies was put on hold when his mother died from pneumonia in 2008.[7][8] To help his family financially, he pursued his mother's ambition for him to become an actor and adopted the stage name Alden Richards.[9]
He has enrolled in aviation school to become a pilot.[10] His father influenced him to be a pilot.[11]
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Career
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2011–2014: Breakthrough
After modeling and male pageant stints,[12] Richards auditioned and secured the role of Joma in the afternoon series Alakdana, his first acting debut and was paired with Louise delos Reyes. For the role, he won a Golden Screen Television Award for Breakthrough Performance by an Actor and received nomination for New Male Television Personality at the 25th PMPC Star Awards for Television.[13] He was cast in a teen-drama series Tween Hearts and its film adaptation Tween Academy: Class of 2012.[14] He was also part of GMA' Sunday variety shows Party Pilipinas, Sunday All Stars and the comedy-horror series Spooky Nights.[15]
Richards appeared in films Ang Panday 2 replacing Aljur Abrenica role as Hubli[16] and The Road playing the teenager Luis Medina, his performance was praised by critics.[17] Some entertainment writers predicted that he would become the next big star of the network.[18] He appeared in supporting roles in My Beloved[19] and CBN Asia' UNOS (Calamity) in the 4th week special Tanikala.[20] Richards was offered the lead role of Tisoy in One True Love and Jerome in Mundo Mo'y Akin with Louis delos Reyes [21] His portrayal on the shows earned him a nomination for an Outstanding Performance by an Actor at the Golden Screen Television Awards.[22] On October 25, 2013, he signed an exclusive contract with GMA Network.[23]
As a recording artist, Richards debuted in Party Pilipinas #SummerCrush episode. In April 2013, he launched his first single Haplos, a revival of Shamrock hit song which was released on iTunes and MyMusic Store.[24] His self-titled album Alden Richards was released under Universal Records on May 26, 2013. Haplos was used as a soundtrack in the television series Mundo mo'y Akin while his other songs Di na Mababawi at Sa Aking Tabi were used in the comedy-drama series With a Smile and in Korean series Seoyoung, My Daughter, which was dubbed in Filipino[25] He was featured as Myx Celebrity VJ for the month of June 2013.[26] Richards received New Male Recording Artist of the Year nomination at the 27th Awit Awards and 6th Star Awards for Music.[27]
In 2014, Richards was paired with Marian Rivera in Carmela.[28] His song Naalala Ka from his debut album was used as the end theme song for the series. That same year, he starred in a lead role as José Rizal in historical drama series Ilustrado, for which he won Best Actor award at the 29th PMPC Star Awards for Television.[29] He was the only nominee from his home network against a field of respected actors from the rival network.[30] He began hosting in Bet ng Bayan with Regine Velasquez. Richards acted opposite veteran actress Nora Aunor in a short-film Kinabukasan.[31]
2015–2021: Rise to prominence
In 2015, Richards became part of the longest-running variety noontime show Eat Bulaga! and appeared as co-host in That's my Bae segment.[32] On July 16, 2015, he was paired with Maine Mendoza accidentally in the segment of Juan For All, All for Juan and they became a loveteam known as AlDub.[33] Because of their popularity, a sketch comedy series called Kalyeserye was created for them; Richards played different roles including a fictionalized version of himself.[34]
In August 2015, Richards signed a four-year film contract with APT Entertainment[35] and a recording contract with GMA Records.[36] His second album Wish I May was launched on October 17, 2015, in SM North Edsa.[37] The album contained two original songs and the rest were renditions. The first single Wish I May was an original composition by Agat Obar-Morallo and was released a month earlier for online downloading and streaming.[38] His song landed the top spot on iTunes (PH) Songs chart.[39] The sophomore album was certified gold record from Philippine Association of the Record Industry (PARI) prior to its official released.[40]
In October 2015, his debut album Alden Richards earned gold record from PARI and ranked number 10 at the Billboard World's Album chart.[41] In the same month, Universal Records released a special edition of his debut album including AlDub theme song God Gave Me You by Bryan White, thus helping his album turned into platinum record in November.[42] His sophomore album Wish I May received 2× platinum record in December 2015;[43] it turned 7× platinum record by July[44] and earned a Diamond Record award from PARI in October 2016.[45]
In December 2015, Richards and Maine Mendoza co-starred in My Bebe Love: KiligPaMore alongside Vic Sotto and AiAi delas Alas, directed by Jose Javier Reyes, which was an official entry to 41st Metro Manila Film Festival.[46] Richards was inducted into the Philippines Walk of Fame with Maine Mendoza, Jose Manalo, Wally Bayola and Paolo Ballesteros, his co-stars from Kalyeserye in Eastwood City, Quezon City.[47] He returned to big screen with Maine Mendoza in Imagine You and Me, directed by Michael Tuveira and the film was released on July 13, 2016.[48] The following year, they starred their first primetime television series Destined to be Yours, directed by Irene Villamore[49] and headlined Love is... a television film directed by Adolfo Alix Jr and produced by Eat Bulaga!.[50]
He released his book entitled Alden Richards: In My Own Words under Summit Media in July 2016.[51] Aside from being a regular host in Eat Bulaga! and Sunday PinaSaya, he appeared as guest star in Lip Sync Battle Philippines, That's my Amboy and the reboot fantasy series Encantadia.[52] He renewed his contract with GMA Network in September 2016.[53] In December that same year, he served as co-host at the 21st Asian Television Awards in Singapore.[54][55]
Richards played the lead role as real-life activist Bonifacio Ilagan in the docudrama Alaala: A Martial Law Special.[56] The show premiered in September 2017, co-starred Bianca Umali, Rocco Nacino, and Gina Alajar and directed by Adolfo Alix Jr. and written by Bonifacio Ilagan.[56] The special won silver medal at the New York Festival TV and Film Awards.[57] Richards and program manager Joy Madrigal received the award.[58] In 2018, he played the titular role of Victor Magtanggol, an action-drama fantasy series.[59]
After being on movie hiatus for almost 3 years, Richards was paired with Kathryn Bernardo in Star Cinema's Hello, Love, Goodbye, directed by Cathy Garcia-Molina in 2019. The film became the highest grossing Filipino movie of all time.[60]
In 2020, Richards was honored with Ani ng Dangal by National Commission for Culture and the Arts for his work in Alaala: A Martial Law Special and recipient of Asian Star Prize in Seoul International Drama Awards.[61] He returned to All-Out Sundays, a musical variety show.[62]
2022–present
In March 2023, he returned to Eat Bulaga! after a year-long hiatus from the show, focusing on other projects including the TV series Start-Up PH in 2022.[63]
Richards and Julia Montes starred in Five Breakups and a Romance; directed by Irene Emma Villamor. The movie was the first collaboration of GMA Pictures, Cornerstone Studios, and Myriad Entertainment.[64] In an interview, Sharon Cuneta revealed that she and Richards would be featured in a film, Family of Two directed by Nuel Naval and produced by CineKo Productions. It was shown at the 2023 Metro Manila Film Festival.[65]
He played the lead role in Magpakailanman: Sa Puso't Isipan with co-starred Chris Villanueva, Jackie Lou Blanco, Dave Bornea, Therese Malvar and was directed by Gina Alajar. The episode won for Best Single Drama Anthology National Winner at the 2024 Asian Academy Creative Awards.[66] The episode first premiered in August 2023. It was re-aired in January 2025.[67]
He joined the ensemble cast in the war-drama series Pulang Araw where he played the role of Eduardo Dela Cruz, directed by Dominic Zapata which aired on Netflix in July 2024.[68]
In November 2024, Richards reunited with Bernardo in Hello, Love, Again, directed by Cathy Garcia-Sampana. The movie also marked the first film collaboration between ABS-CBN's Star Cinema and GMA Pictures.[69] The movie was released on Netflix in February 2025.[70]
He returns to hosting in the up-coming dance reality competition Stars on the Floor in June 2025.[71][72] That same month, it was announced that Richards would be directing his first film, titled Out of Order.[73]
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Other ventures
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Modeling and endorsements
Aside from being an actor, Alden Richards has also done modeling stints. In 2010, he ranked 4th on the list of Candy Magazine's "Celebrity Cuties".[74] In July 2012, Richards was on the cover of MEGA Magazine with Kapuso co-actors dubbed as "GMA's new breed of rising talents".[75] From this time on, he has continued to appear in a number of magazines,[76] while being featured in several endorsements.[77]
Philanthropy
Over the years, he has performed benefit concerts in support of GMA Kapuso Foundation, Anawim Foundation Home for the Elderly, Christian Family Movement, Fields of Dreams Children Charity Foundation, Philippine Disaster Recovery Foundation, Klassikal Music Foundation and AR Scholarship Foundation.
After the devastation of Typhoon Yolanda in 2013, Richards helped with the relief efforts initiated by GMA Kapuso Foundation.[78] For more than 10 years, he has supported Holy Trinity Home for Children, an orphanage in Quezon City. Since 2013, he would visit the orphanage by bringing foods, gifts and playing games with the abandoned kids.[79][80] He was part of Department of Health (DOH) Pilipinas Go4Health campaign which aimed to promote healthy lifestyle.[81]
He became Habitat for Humanity ambassador for Philippines in 2014.[82] For three years, he spent his time by building homes alongside other volunteers and families in Payatas, Quezon City.[83] He spent his post-birthday celebration with Aeta community in Tarlac for his outreach program in 2016[84] and he returned to build a school for them in 2019.[85]
Richards was in #NowPH Climage change campaign by the National Youth Commission (NYC) and the Climate Change Commission (CCC).[86] He became Boardwalk's ambassador for Young Emerging Sociopreneurs campaign which encouraged students to earn money while still in school[87] After joining Philippine Red Cross for 2015 Nation's Blood Drive project,[88] he returned to donate blood for Kapuso Foundation Blood letting project with Red Cross for two consecutive years.[89][90]
He participated in Make-A-Wish Foundation program for seriously ill-children in 2017.[91] The next year, he joined Dr. Vicky Belo outreach program for cancer patients at Philippine Children's Medical Center on Valentine's Day.[92] He helped build a school for cultural minorities known as Mangyan in Mindoro in 2019.[93] Richards became Ronald McDonald House of Charities (RMHC) ambassador in November 2019[94] and raised awareness by joining RMHC fund-raising events for learn to read program.[95]
In early 2020, he turned his restaurant into a temporary donation house center and raised donations to affected residents of Taal Volcano eruption.[96] He was chosen by Department of Health (DOH) for Bida Solusyon campaign about COVID-19 prevention in July[97] and Resbakuna campaign to promote vaccination against the virus in August 2020.[98] In the same month, Richards became ambassador for Philippines End Tuberculosis campaign by United States Agency for International Development (USAID).[99] In November 2020, he run a donation drive with AR game live-streaming for victims of Typhoon Ulysses.[100][101]
He established the AR Foundation, Inc. (2021), a college scholarship program that supports low-income students. By August 2023, AR Foundation has 27 scholars and some of them have already graduated from college.[102][103] He became the newest Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) ambassador in 2022.[104] The following year, he participated in Century Tuna's Save our Seas campaign (SOS) for beach and coral reef clean-up drive in Batangas.[105]
Richards became the youngest member of Movie Workers Welfare Foundation (Mowelfund) in September 2023.[106] He joined Dingdong Dantes in celebrating Mowelfund 50th Anniversary and were introduced as members of Board of Trustees in March 2024.[107] At the event, his company helped set-up free medical mission with cash raffle prizes to 4,000 Mowelfund members. Boots Anson-Roa said that Richards partnered his up-coming projects with Mowelfund.[108] He donated a thousand McDonald's burgers with portable water alongside hot meals from Kapuso Soup Kitchen to victims of Typhoon Carina in Navotas in July 2024.[109]
In partnership with Mowelfund and Green Media Events Company, he announced Lights, Camera, Run (Takbo para sa Pelikulang Pilipino), a fun-run raising event scheduled on May 11, 2025, for the benefits of Mowelfund members.[110] He spent his early morning with book reading to Palatiw Elementary School students in Pasig City.[111] In April 2025, Richards participated in the annual Run to Share 2025 with other celebrities for the benefit of I Want To Share Foundation in support of children with cancer in UP-Philippine General Hospital.[112]
Business
In 2016, Alden ventured in his first business and opened a restaurant in Tagaytay, Concha's Garden.[113] From a single branch, the restaurant now has a total of four branches located in Silang, Cavite and Tagaytay.[114] He also opened his very own franchise of McDonald's in Biñan, Laguna.[115]
In 2022, he established his own multimedia company, Myriad Entertainment Corporation, a company that organized the reunion concert of rock band Eraserheads entitled Huling El Bimbo, where Richards served as the co-producer.[116]
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Personal life
Richards credited his maternal grandmother, Linda Reyes, with rearing him in the Catholic faith. According to Richards, he would visit seven churches, read the epic poem Pasyon, and watch Christian-themed films such as The Passion of the Christ, The Ten Commandments, Jesus of Nazareth, and The Gospel of John during Lent.[117] He admitted that his faith kept him grounded.[118] On December 5, 2023, he shared his personal struggles with depression for three months and considered leaving showbiz.[119] He also expressed of wanting to deepen his relationship with God whom he neglected during his down time.[120]
He is a mountaineer, an avid runner, a recreational cyclist and a gamer enthusiast.[121][122]
His hometown is Santa Rosa, Laguna, although he is currently living in Quezon City.[123]
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Filmography
Richards has appeared in 15 movies and 17 television series over the course of his career. He was in critically acclaimed movies The Road (2012), The Day After (2014) and Alaala: A Martial Law Special (2017). His most commercially successful films include My Bebe Love: KiligPaMore (2015), Imagine You and Me (2016), Five Breakups and a Romance (2023) including Hello, Love, Goodbye (2019) and Hello, Love, Again (2024) which are among the highest-grossing Filipino films of all time.
On television, he was in drama series Alakdana (2011), One True Love (2012), Mundo Mo'y Akin (2013), Carmela (2014), Illustrado (2014), Destined to be Yours (2017), Victor Magtanggol (2018), The Gift (2019–2020), The World Between Us (2021–2022), Start-Up PH (2022) and Pulang Araw (2024).
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Discography
Richards has released four studio albums, two soundtrack albums, two compilation albums and eight singles including two promotional non-singles and a movie soundtrack. His studio albums include his self-titled EPAlden Richards (2013), Say it Again (2016), Until I see you again (2018) and Wish I May (2015) which is considered one of the best-selling albums in the Philippines.
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Tours
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Accolades
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Richards has received various accolades throughout his career including five PMPC Star Awards for Movies, five GMMSF Box-Office Entertainment Awards, five PMPC Star Awards for Television, three Gawad Tanglaw Awards, two Gawad Pasado Awards with three nominations, a Seoul International Drama Award,[124] Jinseo Arigato International Film Festival Award (JAIFF),[125] a FAMAS Award, the EDDY's Award, a Golden Screen Television Award and Film Actor of the Year at the EdukCircle Awards in addition to nominations from Gawad Urian,Golden Screen Movie Award, Manila International Film Festival and Metro Manila Film Festival.
Aside from acting, he also ventured into music and won several awards for his albums including eight PMPC Star Awards for Music, three Awit Awards, three GMMSF Box Office Entertainment Awards for music, a Myx Music Award, an Aliw Award, a Wish 107.5 Music Award nomination and a Diamond Record Award from Philippine Association of the Record Industry (PARI).[126]
He was honored with Ani ng Dangal Award by National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA),[127] the Asia' Influential Leadership Award,[128] FDCP' Luminary Leading Man ng Sentenaryo in Sine Sandaan. EdukCircle Awards named him as one of the most influential celebrities of the decade. He was also inducted into Philippines Walk of Fame.[129]
Solo awards
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Book
- Richards, Alden (2016). Alden Richards: In My Own Words (First hardcover ed.). Mandaluyong City, Philippines: Summit Publishing Co. ISBN 9786214041244. OCLC 1183439037.
References
External links
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