Jose Mari Gonzales
José Mari González, or José Mari (July 26, 1938 – April 16, 2019), was a Filipino actor, executive, matinee idol and politician.
Jose Mari Gonzales | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 26, 1938 |
| Died | April 16, 2019 (aged 80) |
| Occupation | Actor, businessman, politician |
| Years active | 1958–68 |
| Children | 5 (including Cristina Gonzáles) |
Career
Gonzáles entered the movies at the age of 17 in the late 1950s. He appeared in Ulilang Anghel (1958), Tawag Ng Tanghalan (1958), Mga Anghel Sa Lansangan (1959), Handsome (1959) and Baby Face (1959). He became a matinee idol in Sampaguita Pictures in movies such as Beatnik (1960) with Susan Roces, Joey, Eddie, Lito (1961) with Eddie Gutiérrez and Lito Legaspi, Operatang Sampay Bakod (1961) with Amalia Fuentes and Dolphy, Tindahan Ni Aling Epang (1961) with Liberty Ilagan, Kaming Mga Talyada (1962) where he played gay roles together with Juancho Gutiérrez, Dindo Fernando and Barbara Pérez among others.
In the 1960s, he was paired with Liberty Ilagan as a "loveteam" in Sampaguita Pictures movies. Larry Santiago Productions continued their team-up in the 1966 picture Dearest One.
In 1971, Gonzáles was elected the first president of the Philippine Association of the Record Industry (PARI).
Gonzáles produced the first single "Enveloped Ideas" of The Dawn in 1987.
In 2005, Gonzáles was inducted in the Eastwood City Walk of Fame in Eastwood City, Quezon City.
Personal life
Gonzáles was born in Manila[2]. He studied in De La Salle College in Manila. His major was Electronics and Communication Engineering.
He was married to Charito Malarky, a former model of Spanish and British ancestry. Their paths first crossed when she was twelve and he, seventeen. He was the father of actresses Cristina Gonzáles (wife of Mayor Alfred Romualdez) and Ana Margarita Gonzáles.
During the term of President Cory Aquino, Gonzáles was made the director of the Bureau of Broadcast Services. In 1994, he was appointed as RPN 9's top honcho. As a TV executive, he reinvented the telenovela's Marimar and La Traidora, dubbed to Tagalog.
In 1998, he ran for Congress as an independent candidate and won in San Juan, Metro Manila. On November 13, 2000, Gonzáles was involved in a slapping incident of retired general Bayani Fabic, Sergeant-at-Arms of the House of Representatives, shortly after the House impeached Joseph Estrada. For the misdeed and after a lengthy court trial, the Quezon City Metropolitan Trial Court found Gonzáles guilty on criminal charges of grave slander by deed.
Selected filmography
- 1968 Operation: Discotheque
- 1966 Viva Ranchera
- 1965 Ana Roberta
- 1965 Maria Cecilia
- 1964 Show Business
- 1964 Let's Go
- 1964 The Nite Owl
- 1963 Ako'y Ibigin Mo, Dalagang Matapang
- 1963 King and Queen for a Day
- 1963 Amaliang Mali-Mali vs. Susanang Daldal
- 1963 Dance O-Rama
- 1962 Barilan Sa Baboy Kural
- 1962 The Big Broadcast
- 1962 Kaming mga Talyada
- 1962 Pitong Kalbaryo ni Inang
- 1961 Joey, Eddie, Lito
- 1960 7 Amores
- 1960 Amy, Susie, & Tessie
- 1960 Laura
- 1959 Baby Face
- 1959 Handsome
- 1958 Tawag ng Tanghalan
- 1958 Ulilang Angel