Pokwang and Lee O’Brian met, fell in love, and became a couple in the course of doing a movie together in 2014.
Four years later, their daughter Malia Francine was born.
Four more years after, they split up.
Pokwang confirmed their separation in an Instagram post on Sunday, July 10, 2022.
She wrote, “Yes, [it has] been seven months since tapusin namin ni papang [O’Brian] ang lahat.
"Pero maayos at mapayapa, at bilang magkaibigan na lamang, mas nagagampanan namin ang mga tungkulin bilang magulang ni Malia.
“Natapos man ito sa di inaasahang panahon, hindi dito hihinto ang pagiging nanay ko sa mga anak ko. At mas lalo kong minahal ang mga biyayang sa kin ay binigay ng Panginoon.”
Their separation was met with surprise and sadness by showbiz fans and celebrities, especially those close to the Kapuso comedienne.
However, not much is known about Lee though he's an actor himself.
With that said, here are some bits of trivia about Lee O’Brian.
PROUD CALIFORNIAN
William Lee O’Brian is a California guy.
He was born on September 29, 1975, in Walnut Creek, a suburban city nestled in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area.
He studied college at the University of Washington in Seattle, and was a varsity football player.
Browsing through his Instagram feed, he has a constant communication with her Dad Bill, Mom Marilyn, and sister Marie.
JOURNEYMAN
An adventurous soul, Lee traveled to Central America, Latin America, and Europe in his youth.
He resided in one country to another, including Panama, Costa Rica, and Ecuador where he learned how to speak in Spanish and Portuguese.
ACTING BUG
Lee gravitated to acting during his travels in Latin America, a love that he carried back with him when he returned to his hometown.
He appeared in the U.S. TV shows Smosh, 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover, I Solved a Murder, The Elixir, Little Daddy, Murder in the First, and I (Almost) Got Away with It, among others.
Pinoy viewers got to see more of Lee in several local TV series such as Kano Luvs Pinay (TV5, 2015), On the Wings of Love (ABS-CBN, 2015), Till I Met You (ABS-CBN, 2016), A Love To Last (ABS-CBN, 2017), Ang Probinsyano (ABS-CBN, still airing), and the movies Ang Babaeng Allergic sa Wifi (2018), Culion (2019, to name a few.
His most recent TV project was the "Fiancee o Financier: The Rose Vega Story" episode of Magpakailanman, which was headlined by Herlene Budol, and aired on April 9, 2022.
MEETING POKWANG
In November 2014, Lee was included in the cast of the film, Edsa Woolworth.
The movie follows the story of a Filipino and American family and the joys and challenges of a blended household.
Playing the lead role in the movie was comedienne Pokwang.
Lee fell in love with Pokwang at first sight while making the film.
Pokwang, meanwhile, was more than happy to reciprocate Lee’s feelings.
Their relationship became official on January, 20, 2015.
Fast forward to August 2021, Pokwang vividly told broadcast journalist Pia Arcangel of GMA-7’s, Tunay Na Buhay, “Gumawa ako ng paraan para alam mo na magkaroon ng bunga.
“At saka ano iyan kumbaga wag na tayong mag-aksaya ng panahon dahil hindi naman na ako bagets nung nakilala ko iyan, no.
“Forty-three nung nakilala ko siya, so aarte pa ba? Wag na. Ipaalam na natin ang katotohanan ganoon.”
EMBRACING PINOY CULTURE
Pokwang gave props to Lee's efforts to adapt to the Filipino way of life.
She said in the interview, “Niyakap niya yung culture natin, di ba, and hindi siya mahirap pakisamahan at saka ano siya sa pamilya ko, nakasuporta siya sa akin bilang ako.”
Describing her partner, Pokwang added, “May pagka-komedyante rin iyan.”
In jest, she revealed during her exclusive interview with PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) on August 2, 2021, that the language barrier sometimes worked to their advantage.
The Kapuso star then said that when she's having a hard time expressing herself, she backs down.
"...kapag English, hirap na ako sabihin, bati na tayo.
"Ang nangyayari, lumalayo na lang ako. Kapag hirap na hirap na ako sabihin sa English, sasabihin ko, 'Halika May, mag-grocery na lang tayo. Hahaha!"
FATHER TO MALIA
Lee announced the birth of Malia in an Instagram post on January 18, 2018.
“This morning at 8:28 am Manila time, the most beautiful little angel came into our world, our Baby Malia!” wrote the American actor. “We love you, Malia!”
Lee said about Pokwang in a chat with the late entertainment journalist Ricky Lo in 2018, “She’s a strong lady. She’s one heck of a mother.”
Pokwang, for her part, described Lee as a supportive husband and dad.
"Nagpapasalamat ako sa dedikasyon niya. Kung ano passion ko sa buhay, suporta niya. And of course, sa pagmamahal niya at respeto sa mga anak ko."