Veteran actor Johnny Delgado passed away today, November 19, after a long battle with lymphoma, or cancer of the immune system.
According to a Twitter post by director Laurenti Dyogi, actor Ping Medina, and several of his friends in the industry, Delgado breathed his last at 1:20 p.m.
"Tatang johnny delgado passed away at 1:20pm, let's pray for hs eternal repose.I worked wd him in kay tagal kang hinintay. Wonderful person," said Dyogi in his Twitter account.
Ping Medina's Twitter post read: "Mr. Johnny Delgado has passed away :( Mabuhay ka sir. Have your rest. Your legacy will live on."
Delgado was born on February 29, 1948 to film director Ben Feleo and educator Victorina Marasigan. His real name is Juan Marasigan Feleo.
The veteran actor is survived by his wife, filmmaker and actress Laurice Guillen, and their daughters, opera singer and theater actress Ana Feleo and TV and film actress Ina Feleo.
MULTI-AWARDED. Johnny Delgado is a multi-awarded film actor, appearing in more than 50 films starting the late 1960s. He starred in the films of renowned directors Lino Brocka, Mike de Leon, Ishmael Bernal, and others.
Delgado won his first acting award in 1981, when he was given a Gawad Urian for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Mike de Leon's Kakabakaba ka ba? (1980).
In 2001, Delgado won the FAMAS best actor award for his performance in Star Cinema's Tanging Yaman (2000).
Delgado also received FAMAS nominations for Best Supporting Actor for the films Banaue (1975), Mrs. Teresa Abad Ako Po si Bing (1976), Ang Alamat ni Julian Makabayan (1979), Balweg (1986), Joe Pring: Homicide Manila Police (1989), Lumayo Ka Man Sa Akin (1992), and La Visa Loca (2005).
Towards the end of his long career in movies, Delgado acted in several independent films, among them Ang Huling Araw ng Linggo (2006), Kaleldo (2006), Santa Santita (2004), and La Visa Loca.
Delgado also received writing credits for Santa Santita, which was directed by his real-life spouse Laurice Guillen.
Delgado's last film project was the short film Labing-Labing (2009), written and directed by his daughter Ina Feleo. The actor teamed up with Laurice, where they also played as a married couple.
His last TV appearance, on the other hand, was on the ABS-CBN primetime series May Bukas Pa.
PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) extends condolences and prayers to the family of Mr. Johnny Delgado.
CLICK HERE to watch music video of "Ikaw at Ako" by Johnny Delgado.