Rodolfo Valentino Padilla Fernandez^[4] (March 3, 1952 – June 7, 2008),^[1] better known as Rudy Fernandez or Daboy, was a Filipino actor and producer. He came to prominence as an action star in Philippine cinema during the 1980s up to the early 1990s.

Early life and career

Fernandez was born at 8:36 PM on March 3, 1952, at Mary Johnston Hospital in Tondo, Manila. He is the eldest son of the late film director Gregorio Fernandez and actress Pilar Padilla (daughter of José Padilla Sr.).^[1][5] Both his parents were from Lubao, Pampanga, which he considered his hometown.^[6] He made his film debut at the age of three, appearing in Luksang Tagumpay (1956), which was directed by his father. He also appeared in another film of his father's, Emily (1960).

Fernandez started his active film career while a student at the University of Santo Tomas, when he was signed to a contract by Sampaguita Pictures in 1970.^[5] He was first featured by Sampaguita Pictures in For Your Mama (1970), then paired with Connie Angeles in Sweet Matutina (1970). Fernandez spent the next few years in teenage parts until he made his breakthrough as an action star with Bitayin si... Baby Ama? (1976).^[5] His viability as an action star was further enhanced with the box-office success of Ang Leon, ang Tigre at ang Alamid (1979).^[5]

Beginning with Baby Ama, a biopic of a well-known Filipino criminal, Fernandez specialized in portraying true-to-life characters. One of his notable action films is Markang Bungo (Skull Mark), a film based on a true story, where he portrayed the well-known Baguio police officer Bobby Ortega, was released in 1992. From this film came a signature line of Fernandez's, "Walang personalan, trabaho lang" ("Strictly business, nothing personal"), which has since been cited as among the most memorable quotes in Philippine cinema by QTV's Ang Pinaka television program.^[7] Iligpit si Bobby Ortega: Markang Bungo 2 (Execute Bobby Ortega, Skull Mark 2) is a sequel that was released in 1995.

Aside for portraying a real police officer, he was cast in the lead roles for the biopics of Filipino politicians Alfredo Lim, Vincent Crisologo, and Ping Lacson. In the film Lagalag: The Eddie Fernandez Story, he starred as Eddie Fernandez, a Filipino actor during the 1970s and the father of Pops Fernandez.

With the decline of production of Filipino action films during the 2000s, Fernandez turned to television roles. In the short-lived GMA Network sitcom Da Boy, en Da Girl, he starred opposite Rosanna Roces. He also played as a supporting role in other TV series in GMA like Twin Hearts and Atlantika. He was also the host of the docu-drama Kasangga.

Personal life

Fernandez hometown is Lubao, Pampanga.^[6] He came from famous Padilla showbiz clan in his maternal side. Robin, BB Gandanghari, and Rommel Padilla are his cousins and Zsa Zsa Padilla is a niece. He has one son, Mark Anthony Fernandez, with former partner Alma Moreno and two sons, Raphael Fernandez and Renz Fernandez with Lorna Tolentino, his wife. His grandson Grae (son of Mark Anthony Fernandez) also joined the showbiz industry.

He was survived by his wife, sons, and cousins; consequently, as he is the Padilla brothers' cousin, his grandson, Grae Fernandez, is the nephew of teen king Daniel Padilla.^[10]

Filmography

References

External links

• Rudy Fernandez at IMDb
• "Special Feature: Rudy Fernandez (1952-2008)". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on June 10, 2008.