Joey de Leon

Joey de Leon

Joey de Leon (right) plays as a contestant in Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? hosted by Vic Sotto (left).
Born José María Ramos de León, Jr.
October 14, 1946
Hagonoy, Bulacan, Philippines
Occupation Comedian, actor, television presenter
Years active 1969–present
Height 5' 9"

José María Ramos de León, Jr., better known as Joey de Leon (born October 14, 1946) is a Filipino comedian, actor, and television presenter. He hosts the noontime variety show Eat Bulaga!. He is a member of the comedy trio Tito, Vic and Joey that has made several comedy movies and TV shows. As a songwriter, de Leon has penned songs including "Ipagpatawad Mo" (Forgive Me), "Awitin Mo, Isasayaw Ko" (Sing and I Will Dance), "Boyfriend kong Baduy" (My Geeky Boyfriend), "Iskul Bukol" (School Lump).

Personal life

De Leon was the second child of Jose Seoane de Leon (1918–2008), of Filipino-Spanish descent, and Emma Manahan Ramos. His paternal grandfather was the first mayor of Malolos, Bulacan.[1] His parents divorced at a young age. At the age of three, his father moved to Madrid, Spain.

Prior to being an entertainer, de Leon earned his architecture degree from the National University in Manila. He was also a disc jockey for 12 radio stations when he was starting out.

Joey de Leon has five children. With first wife actress Daria Ramirez, he has two children, Joseph Joachim (Keempee) and Jacinda Myrtle (Cheenee). He married actress Eileen Macapagal. Their union produced three children, Jocas Eightria, Jako and Jio. De Leon also has three grandchildren from eldest daughter Cheenee and one granddaughter from Keempee.

He also a first cousin Ariel Villasanta, also a comedianne and work as Human resource officer of PLDT to his aunt, Elvie Villasanta.

Early career

De Leon started out his showbiz career in the 1960s as a radio disc jockey and announcer. He worked for 12 radio stations, including all seven radio stations owned by ABS-CBN as well as other broadcasters like KBS. His first big break on TV was Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation's gag show OK Lang.

Tito, Vic and Joey

In 1975, de Leon became a co-host of GMA Network's early afternoon variety show Discorama hosted by Bobby Ledesma. He invited his former co-stars at OK Lang, brothers Tito, Vic and Val Sotto, to join him at Discorama. Only Tito and Vic accepted Joey's invitation. The newly formed trio started to do comedy newscast segments interspersed with Top 40 hit-song parodies. The trio was soon invited to become part of the show Student Canteen as they released 12 albums based on their Discorama Tough Hits segment.

Although Tito, Vic and Joey started their trio via Discorama and Student Canteen, it was the sitcom Iskul Bukol that gave them nationwide fame as comedians. Soon after, other TV and movie producers came knocking on the trio's door. In 1979, Tito, Vic and Joey started hosting for the noontime show Eat Bulaga! which was pitted against the more established Student Canteen hosted by their former colleague (and now competitor) Bobby Ledesma. Not long after, Eat Bulaga! toppled Student Canteen from the ratings.

Solo artist

Although de Leon continued to do movies alongside his showbiz team mates Tito and Vic, he started doing solo performances for other TV shows. He top billed Joey and Son in the '80s, a sitcom on RPN where he played father. He was also one of the gag performers on TODAS where his co-stars included Jimmy Santos and Val Sotto. Other TV shows included Apple Pie, Patis, Atbp., The Sharon Cuneta Show, and Let's Go Crazy. He was launched by Viva Films as a solo comedian in She-Man: Mistress of the Universe. He also tried his hand at directing movies like Romeo Loves Juliet and Small, Medium, Large.

de Leon's films include Starzan'.

de Leon did several TV shows for GMA Network and ABC. In 1995, he made a movie comeback via the comedy Bangers for Viva Films as well as Pipti-pipti, Ang Tipo kong Lalake and Takot ako sa Darling Ko. He hosts Eat Bulaga which is now the longest-running TV program in the Philippines, and appears in other shows like Mel and Joey, Startalk, Nuts Entertainment and started a new show for ABC, the now-defunct Teka Mona, which replaced Wow Mali, his long-running TV show on the same network. Another show is in the works for Joey this time on GMA's sister station Q Network. He started hosting Takeshi's Castle with Ryan Yllana. He is also the resident judge of the annual reality-based star search StarStruck and writes the entertainment column De Leon's Den once a week in the Philippine broadsheet Manila Bulletin.

In December 2006, Joey returned to recording with a novelty single he wrote entitled "Itaktak Mo" (Shake it off). Unlike most of his previously recorded songs where the melodies were based on past and contemporary hits, Itaktak Mo had a unique melody that can pass off as either a pop dance hit or a ballroom song. Seen by critics as his answer to the other wildly popular hit, Boom Tarat Tarat (written by Lito Camo and sung by Joey's rival host Willie Revillame), Itaktak Mo was softly launched on Eat Bulaga! shortly before the Christmas season. On January 2007, the song was launched in Joey's album, Joey to the World 2 and gained airplay in most FM stations in a short span of time. Itaktak Mo has also become part of Eat Bulaga!'s segment "Taktak Mo o Tatakbo" that replaced "Laban o Bawi", and is also one of the official dances of the 4th batch of the reality talent search StarStruck.

After "Itaktak Mo" became one of the most requested dance tunes of 2007, Joey followed it up with "Kagat Labi Song", which was launched on "Eat Bulaga" on September 22, 2007. The "Kagat Labi" dance craze was already sweeping the whole country by storm before Joey wrote it. On February 24, 2008, Joey released a single entitled "Walang Daya" (No Cheating) with lyrics comparing his love to his rival host Willie Revillame's misfortunes (Wilyonaryo, Ferrari and Ultra stampede). He first sang it at his own program "Mel and Joey". "Walang Daya" will be included in the album version of "Kagat Labi" will be released under EMI Philippines.

In late 2009, he wrote another top hit Eat Bulaga song entitled "Ba Ba Boom". Then in early 2010, he wrote another single "Aalog-Alog" which is now rising to fame. He also wrote the themesong for Diz Iz It.

On July 31, 2008, de Leon tendered his irrevocable resignation as columnist (De Leon's Den) for Manila Bulletin, he is currently with The Philippine Star, and has a column, "Me, Starzan".

Filmography

Year Title Role Production Film
2013 My Little Bossings SPO2 Bryant OctoArts Films, APT Entertainment & Kris Aquino Productions
2011 Won't Last A Day Without You Pablo Apostol Star Cinema
2011 Pak! Pak! My Dr. Kwak! Doctor Star Cinema
2009 Ang Darling Kong Aswang Mang Kepweng OctoArts Films
2008 Iskul Bukol: 20 Years After Joey Escalera OctoArts Films
2007 Enteng Kabisote 4: The Beginning of the Legend Karimarimar M-Zet Productions
2006 Enteng Kabisote 3: The Legend Goes on and on and on Shintaro Gokoyami M-Zet Productions
2005 Enteng Kabisote 2: The Legend Continues Panggay M-Zet Productions
2004 Enteng Kabisote: Okay ka fairy ko, the legend Mulawit M-Zet Productions
2003 Fantastic Man Doc OctoArts Films
2003 Pakners Pickpocketer Regal Entertainment
2002 Lastikman Elmer OctoArts Films
2001 Super Idol Pandoy Neo Films
1997 Wow! Multo Kuya Joe MAQ Productions
1997 Takot ako sa darling ko Marky Neo Films
1997 Pipti-pipti: One for you, two for me Jack Neo Films
1996 Ang Misis kong hoodlum Andy Neo Films
1996 Ang Tipo kong lalake (Maginoo pero medyo bastos) Boy Neo Films
1996 Detective: Michael & Jackson Ricky Lashley Movie Arts Productions
1995 Run Barbi Run Bartolome GMA Films
1995 Bangers Hip Viva Films
1993 Pandoy, ang alalay ng panday Pandoy Movie Arts Productions
1993 Alyas Batman en Robin Batman/Bruce Regal Entertainment
1992 Sam And Miguel Miguel Regal Entertainment
1992 The Wild Cowboys Juan Gomez Movie Arts Productions
1992 The Return of the Long Ranger & Tonton: How the West Was Wrong Davie Bowie aka Long Ranger Regal Entertainment
1991 Goosebuster Patrick Sisi Regal Entertainment
1991 Onyong Majikero Ervin OctoArts Films
1991 Barbi 2: For President Bartolome/Barbi Movie Arts Productions
1991 Ali in Wonderland Fernando/Ali OctoArts Films
1990 My Funny Valentine Mang Pandoy Regal Entertainment
1990 Tiny Terrestrial: The Three Professors Prof. Edwin Presto Regal Entertainment
1990 Little Boy Blue: Tiny Terrestrial Prof. Edwin Presto Regal Entertainment
1990 Starzan 3: The Jungle Triangle Starzan Regal Entertainment
1990 Tangga and Chos: Beauty Secret Agents Ray Tangga Movie Arts Productions
1990 I Have 3 Eggs Ariong Regal Entertainment
1990 Little & Big Weapon Mel Bigson Regal Entertainment
1990 Kabayo kids Pando/Yellow Banana Regal Entertainment
1990 Ganda babae, gandang lalake Joseph Regal Entertainment
1990 Elvis and James 2 Elvis Presto Viva Films
1990 My Funny Valentine Mang Pandoy Regal Entertainment
1990 Small, Medium en Large Prince/Director Starzan Films
1990 Hotdog Pedro Seiko Films
1989 Romeo Loves Juliet... But Their Families Hate Each Other! Romeo Sr. Starzan Films
1989 Elvis and James, the Living Legends! Elvis Presto Viva Films
1989 Starzan 2: The Adventure Continues Stazan Regal Entertainment
1989 Long Ranger & Tonton: Shooting Stars of the West Davie Bowie aka Long Ranger Regal Entertainment
1989 Starzan: Shouting Star of the Jungle Starzan Regal Entertainment
1989 Si Malakas at si Maganda Police Officer Regal Entertainment
1989 Barbi: Maid in the Philippines Bartolome/Barbi Movie Arts Productions
1989 SuperMouse and the Robo-Rats Regal Entertainment Mickey
1988 Wake Up Little Susie Regal Entertainment Alexander
1988 Smith & Wesson James Smith Viva Films
1988 Sheman: Mistress of the Universe Pando/She-Man Viva Films
1988 Good Morning, Titser Priest Seiko Films
1987 Ready aim Fire Hagler Regal Entertainment
1987 Shoot That Ball Tinggoy Regal Entertainment
1987 Forward March Dodong Regal Entertainment
1987 The Best of Iskul Bukol: The Movie Joey Escalera Regal Entertainment
1986 Horsey, Horsey Tigidig Tigidig Gringo Regal Entertainment
1986 Send in The Clowns Jojo Regal Entertainment
1986 Super wan, tu, tri Baltazar Regal Entertainment
1986 Fly Me To The Moon Jacko Regal Entertainment
1985 Working Boys Ernie Viva Films
1985 Ma'am May We Go Out Jeff Soriano Viva Films
1985 Mama Said, Papa Said, I Love You Boy Regal Entertainment
1985 Doctor, Doctor We Are Sick Robin Viva Films
1985 Ride on Baby John Seiko Films
1985 I Have Three Hands Caloy Regal Entertainment
1984 Naku ha! Billy Jean Seiko Films
1984 Pepe en Pilar Pepper Regal Entertainment
1984 Give Me Five Jackson Regal Entertainment
1984 Goodah! Owen Seiko Films
1983 My Darling Princess Joakim Regal Entertainment
1983 M.I.B.: Men In Brief Eugene Williams Lea Productions
1982 Ang Tapang Para sa Lahat! Raphael Lea Productions
1982 Tatlo Silang Tatay Ko Bronzon 'D Wonder Films
1982 Si Ako at... tres muskiteros! Ariong Muskitero GP Films
1981 Mr. One-Two-Three Part 2 Ricky GP Films
1981 Magtoning muna tayo Rene Soriano GP Films
1981 Tartan Danny GP Films
1981 D'Gradweyts Jomari GP Films
1981 Bilibid Gays Daria Regal Entertainment
1981 Palpak Connections Katch Regal Entertainment
1981 Age Doesn't Matter Johnny Regal Entertainment
1980 Mr. One-Two-Three Ricky Regal Entertainment
1980 Iskul Bukol (Freshmen) Joey Escalera GP Films
1979 Rock, Baby! Rock! himself Lea Productions
1979 Swing It... Baby! Joey Lea Productions
1979 Mang Kepweng Tres Dwendes GP Films

Television

Television
Year Show Role Network
2015 Pinagpalang Ama: Eat Bulaga Lenten Drama Special 2015 Papsy GMA Network
2015-present Wow Mali: Lakas Ng Tama Host TV5
2014 One of the Boys DJ TV5
2014 Hakbang Ng Pangarap: Eat Bulaga Lenten Drama Special 2014 ????? GMA Network
2013–present Wow Mali Pa Rin! Host TV5
2013–present Sunday All Stars Judge GMA Network
2013 Hayop sa Galing Host TV5
2012 Protégé: The Battle For The Big Break Judge GMA Network
2012-2013 Game 'N Go Host TV5
2012 The Biggest Game Show in the World - Asia Host
2011-2012 Celebrity Samurai Host
2011 Protégé: The Battle For The Big Break Judge GMA Network
2011 Suwerteng-Suwerte sa Siyete: Win mo, Kapuso! Host
2011 Big Shot Jackpot Host TV5
2011 Mind Master Host GMA Network
2010 Suwerteng-Suwerte sa Siyete: Press it! Win It! Host
2010-2011 House or Not Host (as Don Joey) TV5
2010-2011 Wow! Meganon?! Host
2009 Suwerteng-Suwerte sa Siyete: Spin it! Win It! Host GMA Network
2009 Joey's Quirky World Host
2008 Jungle TV Host
2007 Slingo Host ABC
2006;
2006-2009
 Takeshi's Castle Host Q;
GMA Network
2006-2007 Teka Mona Host ABC
2006 Wow Maling Mali! Host TV5
2005–present Startalk Host GMA Network
2004-2011 Mel and Joey Host
2003-2006 StarStruck Judge
2003-2008 Nuts Entertainment Host
2002-2003 Sana Ay Ikaw Na Nga Dr. Ricardo Peron
2002 Kiss Muna Host
2001 Korek na Korek ka Diyan Host
2001-2002 Back To Iskul Bukol Josemari "Joey" Escalera IBC
1999 Beh Bote Nga Tio Pot GMA Network
1996-2006;
2009-2010 		Wow Mali Host ABC;
TV5
1994-1997 Mixed Nuts: Numero Unong Terrific Show Host GMA Network
1992 Rock n' Roll 2000 Teodoro Enriquez ABC
1992 TVJ on 5 Various ABC
1990 TVJ Various IBC
1979–1989;
1989–1995;
1995–present 		Eat Bulaga! Host RPN
ABS-CBN
GMA Network
1988-1997 The Sharon Cuneta Show Himself Co-host ABS-CBN
1978-1989 T.O.D.A.S. Host IBC
1977 Iskul Bukol Joey Escalera IBC
1976 Student Canteen Co-Host GMA Network

Albums/singles

Awards

Year Award-Giving Body Category Work Result
2008 GMMSF Box-Office Entertainment Awards Most Popular Novelty Singer[2] Won

See also

External links

References

  1. ↑ http://www.pep.ph/articles/14544/Our-Pal-Joey-de-Leon!
  2. ↑ "The 38th Box-Office Entertainment Awards (Part 2)". Pep.ph. Retrieved 2014-05-24.