Alden Richards

Alden Richards
Alden Richards in 2011.
Born	Richard Reyes Faulkerson Jr. (1992-01-02) January 2, 1992 Santa Rosa City, Laguna, Philippines
Other names	Alden, Richard, JR
Occupation	TV Host, Model, Actor
Years active	2011–present
Height	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)

Richard Reyes Faulkerson, Jr. (born January 2, 1992 in Sta. Rosa, Laguna) also known by his stage name Alden Richards, is a Filipino television actor and model who is currently signed to GMA Network.^[1] He is best known for his TV roles in Alakdana, Tween Hearts, and One True Love and his breakthrough movie, The Road.^[2] In May 2013, he released his debut album under Universal Records.

Life and career

Early years

Alden was born on January 2, 1992 in Santa Rosa, Laguna, Philippines as the second child of Richard Faulkerson Sr., a native of Laguna, and Rosario Reyes Faulkerson, a native of Pampanga. Alden is a Business Administration student of De La Salle Canlubang in Canlubang, Biñan, Laguna. Before he became an actor, he joined various male pageants in Laguna and worked as a part-time commercial model.^[3] He holds the titles Ginoong Sta Rosa 2009 and Ginoong Laguna 2010.^[3] He also tried his luck in show business by auditioning in Pinoy Big Brother: Teen Clash 2010, but he failed to make it to the official list of housemates.^[1][3] In 2009, he joined StarStruck, but he also failed to be a part of the reality show.^[1] He also appeared on a television commercial for a multivitamins product.^[4]

2010-2011: Breakthrough, The Road and awards

Richards was launched as an actor in GMA Network for the afternoon soap, Alakdana with leading lady Louise delos Reyes after signing up a 5-year contract with the network.^[5] He played a disabled man, Joma in his first ever TV show.^[2][6] In an interview, he admits that acting became more of a prioty for him rather than schooling even though he has an intention of getting a degree.^[5] He also said that when he becomes successful in show business, he plans to use his earnings to finance the studies of his younger siblings.^[5] In 2011, he became part of the successful teenage series, Tween Hearts and acted also for the film, Tween Hearts: Class of 2012.^[7] He is currently active as a weekly performer of Party Pilipinas. He also graced two episodes of Spooky Nights in Singil and in the Christmas episode of Spooky Nights as Elmer.^[8] Alden was praised by critics as a new breed of actor in the movie The Road where he played as a young man that was traumatized in his young age; with the killing of his mother by his father then the father takes suicide after thus leads him to become violent himself as he grows up, killing two young females stranded on the road.^[9] He also starred on a highly anticipated movie entry for 2011 Metro Manila Film Festival for Ang Panday 2, where he played as Gobi.^[10] Richards was also praised by some writers that he will be the next big star of GMA Network because of his reported friendliness with the press, referring to him as the John Lloyd Cruz of GMA Network.^[11][12]

Richards was awarded as the 1st Filipino Amazing Male Newcomer in the first Yahoo! OMG! Philippines Awards (2011).^[13] He also won as Best New Actor in the Golden Screen Awards.^[14] The newcomer actor garnered two awards in one year which signifies a smooth soar for his career.^[14] Alden is never hesitant to share his love life with the media, the fact that he invited the FHM Sexiest of 2011, Sam Pinto for a date on national TV.^[15] The latter did accept the invite and later on held a cruise date in the Manila Bay, but the sexy actress revealed that it was just a friendly date.^[15] On Valentines Day of 2012, a GMA Network promo A Date with Alden Richards surfaces in television and the micro-blogging site Twitter where it trended.^[16]

2012-present: One True Love, other shows and music career

In early 2012,morning program Unang Hirit reported that Richards takes on new challenges and making bolder steps with his career by posing topless for his first ever sexy pictorial for the summer collection of a clothing brand, Folded & Hung along with co-actors JM De Guzman and Enrique Gil.^[17][18] Richards also starred as a thief named Rico on a primetime series, My Beloved together with Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes.^[17][19] He also acted on the episode UNOS (Calamity) of the fourth season of a Holy Week special, Tanikala that is presented by Christian Broadcasting Network.^[20][21] Richards acted on his first lead role in a primetime series through a drama series entitled One True Love which premiered on June 11, 2012.^[22][23] Richards once again united with his love team, Louise delos Reyes in this TV series, acting about the enduring power of love between two people from two different walks of life.^[24][25] The success of the series resulted in five weeks extension, approved by the network on August 20, 2012.^[26][27] According to GMA Network on their press release, it has been extended due to its phenomenal ratings success over its rival program since it premiered last June 11.^[28] Richards who plays as "Tisoy" is a poor guy who is in love with a rich girl. According to him, the series has been his biggest break in the industry.^[29][30] While "One True Love" proved Richards acting skills, it took quite a while before a new acting assignment came along for him until being cast as young Simeon (the character played by Sen. Bong Revilla) in the historical drama Indio, one of the biggest projects of GMA for 2013.^[31] According to Richards, "I am proud to have played the role of the young Bong Revilla. It didn't sink in that i did not have show for a long time, but when I counted the days, I realized I have not acted in six months in a regular show...".^[31]

The story of Richard's life was featured on drama anthology, Magpakailanman aired in March 2013 wherein he portrayed his own life.^[32][33] In the same year, Richards and Delos Reyes joined together once again in a melodrama broadcast by GMA Network entitled as Mundo Mo'y Akin with veteran actresses, Sunshine Dizon and Angelika dela Cruz.^[34] It is a family drama that follows a compelling storyline that explores the insatiable quest for beauty, and wealth.^[35] The characters find themselves ensnared in a game of deceit, and betrayal and will stop at nothing to gain power and prestige.^[35][36][37]

Richards debut as a singer through the #SummerCrush episode of Sunday noon time show, Party Pilipinas.^[38] He launched his first single, "Haplos", a revival of Shamrock's hit song which surfaced in My Music Store^[39] and iTunes on April 5, 2013.^[38][40] The album is under Universal Records, for release on May 26, 2013 in which exclusively distributed at TriNoma.^[41] He is currently featured as Myx Celebrity VJ for the month of June, 2013.^[42]

Other Ventures

Aside from being an actor, Richards also act as a part-time model. On 2011, he was 4th in the list of "Celebrity Cuties" of Candy Magazine and had a first time performance in Candy Fair held in Pasig City.^[43][44] According to him, he is already a regular cutie on the list even before he became an actor.^[43] Alden Richards posed topless for the first time, wearing a pair of board shorts with star prints for the promotion of the 2012 Summer campaign of a clothing brand, Folded and Hung (F&H).^[45] The photo trended in Twitter as the photo is confirmed to be already up as a billboard on EDSA-Guadalupe.^[45] On the past interviews, he told the media that he is already prepared for posing sexy on magazines.^[43] Richards is also one of the newest endorsers of a cellphone product, My|Phone along with co-teen stars from ABS-CBN and TV 5.^[46][47] On July 2012, Richards along with Bela Padilla, Kris Bernal, and Sarah Lahbati graces the cover of MEGA Magazine dubbed as, "GMA’s new breed of rising talents".^[48] He also featured to cover various local magazines such as Men's Health, Garage, and Cosmopolitan.

Discography

Filmography

Television

Alden Richards during play of Yago in Carmela

Films

Awards

References

External links

• Alden Richards at the Internet Movie Database