New games! PlayTrivia andBirthle.

The Most Famous

ACTORS from Philippines

Icon of occuation in country

This page contains a list of the greatest Filipino Actors. The pantheon dataset contains 9,996 Actors, 14 of which were born in Philippines. This makes Philippines the birth place of the 47th most number of Actors behind Algeria and Thailand.

Top 10

The following people are considered by Pantheon to be the top 10 most legendary Filipino Actors of all time. This list of famous Filipino Actors is sorted by HPI (Historical Popularity Index), a metric that aggregates information on a biography’s online popularity. Visit the rankings page to view the entire list of Filipino Actors.

Photo of Lou Diamond Phillips

1. Lou Diamond Phillips (1962 - )

With an HPI of 45.32, Lou Diamond Phillips is the most famous Filipino Actor.  His biography has been translated into 32 different languages on wikipedia.

Louis Diamond Phillips (born Upchurch; February 17, 1962) is a Filipino-American actor and film director. His breakthrough came when he starred as Ritchie Valens in the biographical drama film La Bamba (1987). For Stand and Deliver (1988), Phillips was nominated for a Golden Globe Award and won an Independent Spirit Award. Phillips made his Broadway debut with the 1996 revival of The King and I, earning a Tony Award nomination for his portrayal of King Mongkut of Siam. Phillips' other notable films include Young Guns (1988), Young Guns II (1990), Courage Under Fire (1996), The Big Hit (1998), Brokedown Palace (1999), Che (2008), and The 33 (2015). In the television series Longmire, he played a main character named Henry Standing Bear. He played New York City Police Lieutenant Gil Arroyo on Prodigal Son on FOX from 2019 to 2021.

Photo of Reggie Lee

2. Reggie Lee (1975 - )

With an HPI of 42.76, Reggie Lee is the 2nd most famous Filipino Actor.  His biography has been translated into 28 different languages.

Reggie Telmo Valdez (born October 4, 1975), known professionally as Reggie Lee, is a Filipino-American film and television actor. On television, he has played William "Bill" Kim on Prison Break and Sergeant Drew Wu on Grimm. In film, he has played Tai Huang in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, GCPD Officer Ross in The Dark Knight Rises and Lance Nguyen in The Fast and the Furious.

Photo of Lea Salonga

3. Lea Salonga (1971 - )

With an HPI of 40.47, Lea Salonga is the 3rd most famous Filipino Actor.  Her biography has been translated into 36 different languages.

Maria Lea Carmen Imutan Salonga, ( LAY-ə sa-LONG-ə; born February 22, 1971) is a Filipina singer and actress. Primarily known for her work in theatre, she has starred in musicals on West End and Broadway. Her accolades include a Tony Award and a Laurence Olivier Award, in addition to nominations for two Grammy Awards. She was conferred with the Presidential Medal of Merit in 1990 and the Order of Lakandula in 2007, and was honored as a Disney Legend in 2011. Salonga began her career as a child in Philippine musical theatre productions and rose to international recognition in 1989 for playing the lead role of Kim in the original West End and Broadway productions of Miss Saigon. For her performance, she gained five awards—the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical, the Drama Desk Award, the Outer Critics Circle Award, the Theatre World Award, and the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical. Her further roles include Éponine in the Broadway and West End productions of Les Misérables, Wu Mei-Li in the 2002 Broadway revival of Flower Drum Song, Fantine in the 2006 Broadway revival of Les Misérables, Kei Kimura in the original Broadway production of Allegiance, Erzulie in the 2017 Broadway revival of Once on This Island, and Aurora Aquino in the original Broadway production of Here Lies Love. In 2023 and 2024, she starred in the West End production of the musical revue Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends. As a recording artist, Salonga began her music career at age ten and released her first album, Small Voice, in 1981. In 1993, she signed a recording contract with Atlantic Records and released her self-titled album that year. Her subsequent releases include I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing (1997), Lea... In Love (1998) and By Heart (1999). On screen, she provided the singing voices for Jasmine in Aladdin (1992) and the titular character in Mulan (1998). She also appeared in the television series Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin. Salonga also expanded her career to reality television as a coach on The Voice of the Philippines and its spin-off series, The Voice Kids and The Voice Teens.

Photo of Fernando Poe Jr.

4. Fernando Poe Jr. (1939 - 2004)

With an HPI of 36.92, Fernando Poe Jr. is the 4th most famous Filipino Actor.  His biography has been translated into 19 different languages.

Ronald Allan Kelley Poe (August 20, 1939 – December 14, 2004), known professionally as Fernando Poe Jr., and often referred to by his initials FPJ, was a Filipino actor, film director, producer, screenwriter, and politician. His long and successful career as an action star earned him the nickname "Da King" (i.e. the "King of Philippine movies"). He also wrote, directed, and produced several of the films he starred in—under the pseudonyms Ronwaldo Reyes and D'Lanor.Poe appeared in around 300 films spanning from 1955 to 2003. The teenage Poe joined the film industry as a stuntman after the untimely death of his father, actor Fernando Poe Sr. His film debut was Anak ni Palaris (1955), a sequel to a film that starred his father. His breakout came in the 1956 film Lo Waist Gang and went on to star in action films that portrayed him as the "champion and defender of the poor and oppressed". His notable films include: Only the Brave Know Hell (1965), Lino Brocka's Santiago! (1970), Celso Ad. Castillo's Asedillo (1971), Bato sa Buhangin (1976), Durugin si Totoy Bato (1979), Eddie Romero's Aguila (1980); his self-directed Ang Panday (1980) and its sequels; Roman Rapido and Isang Bala Ka Lang! (both 1983), the 1986 films Iyo ang Tondo, Kanya ang Cavite, Muslim .357, and Batang Quiapo; Kahit Konting Pagtingin (1990), Ang Probinsyano (1996), Isusumbong Kita sa Tatay Ko... (1999), and Ang Dalubhasa (2000).Poe's accolades include five FAMAS Awards for Best Actor—a joint record that inducted him into the FAMAS Hall of Fame in 1988. He also won Best Director for his films Ang Padrino (1984) and Kahit Butas ng Karayom, Papasukin Ko (1995). In 2004, FAMAS posthumously granted him the Natatanging Alagad ng Sining Award. Poe was also posthumously declared a National Artist of the Philippines in 2006 (accepted by his family in 2012).Poe ran for president of the Philippines in the 2004 election. He lost to re-electionist Gloria Macapagal Arroyo by just over one million votes (3.48%)—the closest margin between the winner and runner-up in the history of Philippine presidential elections. Seven months after the elections, Poe died of a stroke; hundreds of thousands attended his wake and funeral.Poe was married to actress Susan Roces, who played his onscreen love interest in 17 films. Senator Grace Poe and actress Lovi Poe are his daughters.

Photo of Nora Aunor

5. Nora Aunor (1953 - )

With an HPI of 33.55, Nora Aunor is the 5th most famous Filipino Actor.  Her biography has been translated into 20 different languages.

Nora Cabaltera Villamayor (born May 21, 1953), known professionally as Nora Aunor (Tagalog pronunciation: [ʊˈnɔɾ]), is a Filipino actress, recording artist, and film producer. Aunor has also appeared in several stage plays, television shows and concerts. She is known as Philippine cinema's "Superstar" and was conferred as a National Artist of the Philippines for Film and Broadcast Arts in 2022. The Hollywood Reporter called her "The Grand Dame of Philippine Cinema" for her performances in the movies Taklub (Trap) and Hustisya (Justice), and for her contributions to the Philippine film industry.Aunor started her career as a singer, after winning a local talent search. She rose to fame in the following years as both a singer and actress. After her film debut All Over the World (1967), she transitioned into heavy drama with highly acclaimed performances in films such as Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos (Three Years Without God) (1976), Minsa'y Isang Gamu-gamo (Once a Moth) (1976), Ina Ka ng Anak Mo (You Are the Mother of Your Daughter) (1979), Himala (Miracle) (1982), Bulaklak sa City Jail (Flowers of the City Jail) (1984), and Bona (1980). In the following decades, her performances in The Flor Contemplacion Story (1995), Bakit May Kahapon Pa? (1996), Thy Womb (2012), and Dementia (2014) gave her further international recognition and numerous international awards and nominations.For her work, Aunor received 17 FAMAS Award nominations and is a "Hall of Fame" inductee, winning five Best Actress Awards. She is the most nominated actress in the history of the Gawad Urian Awards with 21 nominations, winning seven, and the only performer to be chosen as one of The Best Actors and Actresses of the Decade in three different decades (1980s, 1990s, and 2010s) by the same awards body. She has won eight trophies from PMPC Star Awards for her work in film and television, as well as eight Metro Manila Film Festival Awards, four Luna Awards, five Young Critics Circle Awards, a Cairo International Film Festival award, an Asia Pacific Screen Award, an Asian Film Award, among others.

Photo of Sayaka Akimoto

6. Sayaka Akimoto (1988 - )

With an HPI of 33.48, Sayaka Akimoto is the 6th most famous Filipino Actor.  Her biography has been translated into 20 different languages.

Sayaka Akimoto (秋元 才加, Akimoto Sayaka, born July 26, 1988) is a Japanese actress and singer. She was a member of Japanese idol girl group AKB48 and its spin-off unit Diva. As an actress, Akimoto has appeared in both Japanese and American productions, and made her Hollywood debut in Sniper: Assassin's End (2020). She also provides the Japanese dub for Mantis in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Photo of Regine Velasquez

7. Regine Velasquez (1970 - )

With an HPI of 28.04, Regine Velasquez is the 7th most famous Filipino Actor.  Her biography has been translated into 25 different languages.

Regina Encarnacion Ansong Velasquez ( rij-EEN vel-ASK-ez; born April 22, 1970) is a Filipino singer and actress. She is considered one of the most influential figures in Philippine popular culture and is known for her vocal range and belting technique. She had unorthodox voice training during her childhood, where she was immersed neck-deep in the sea. Velasquez rose to prominence after winning the television talent show Ang Bagong Kampeon in 1984 and the Asia Pacific Singing Contest in 1989. Under the name Chona, she signed a recording contract with OctoArts International in 1986 and released the single "Love Me Again", which was commercially unsuccessful. The following year, she adopted the stage name Regine Velasquez for her debut studio album, Regine (1987), under the guidance of Viva Records executive Vic del Rosario and producer Ronnie Henares. She explored Manila sound and kundiman genres on her second and third studio albums, Nineteen 90 (1990) and Tagala Talaga (1991). After signing an international record deal with PolyGram Records, Velasquez achieved commercial success in some Asian territories with her fifth album Listen Without Prejudice (1994), which sold more than 700,000 copies and became her highest-selling album to date, aided by its lead single "In Love with You". She experimented further with jazz and adult contemporary genres on My Love Emotion (1995), while she recorded covers on Retro (1996). After she left PolyGram to sign with Mark J. Feist's MJF Company in 1998, she released the R&B-influenced album Drawn. Velasquez's follow-up record, R2K (1999), was supported by remakes of "On the Wings of Love", "I'll Never Love This Way Again", and "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing", and was subsequently certified twelve-times platinum by the Philippine Association of the Record Industry (PARI). Velasquez played leading roles in the romantic comedies Kailangan Ko'y Ikaw (2000) and Pangako Ikaw Lang (2001), and received the Box Office Entertainment Award for Box Office Queen for the latter. Her performance as an intellectually disabled woman in an episode of the anthology series Maalaala Mo Kaya (2001) earned her a Star Award for Best Actress. She later starred in the prime time television series Forever in My Heart (2004), Ako si Kim Samsoon (2008), Totoy Bato (2009), Diva (2010), I Heart You, Pare! (2011), and Poor Señorita (2016). Velasquez also won the Golden Screen Award for Best Actress for playing a document forger in the comedy film Of All the Things (2012). She expanded her career into reality television talent shows as a presenter on Star for a Night (2002), Pinoy Pop Superstar (2004), and The Clash (2018), and as a judge on StarStruck (2015) and Idol Philippines (2019). Having sold more than seven million records domestically and 1.5 million in Asia, Velasquez is the best-selling Filipino music artist of all time. Her accolades include two Asian Television Awards, two MTV Asia Awards, 22 Awit Awards, 16 Aliw Awards (including 3 Entertainer of the Year wins), 22 Box Office Entertainment Awards, and 14 Star Awards for Music. Referred to as "Asia's Songbird", she has consistently been credited with inspiring a generation of Filipino singers.

Photo of Sarah Geronimo

8. Sarah Geronimo (1988 - )

With an HPI of 21.72, Sarah Geronimo is the 8th most famous Filipino Actor.  Her biography has been translated into 23 different languages.

Sarah Asher Tua Geronimo ( herr-ON-ih-moh; born July 25, 1988) is a Filipino singer and actress. Known for her musical versatility and performances, she is a recipient of numerous accolades, including a Billboard Women in Music Award, an Mnet Asian Music Award, an MTV Europe Music Award, a Classic Rock Roll of Honour Award, and a World Music Award. Geronimo first gained recognition after winning the television talent show Star for a Night. She signed a recording contract with Viva Records and released her debut album Popstar: A Dream Come True in 2003; her next releases include Sweet Sixteen (2004) and Becoming (2006). She recorded covers on Music and Me (2009) and One Heart (2011). Geronimo produced her tenth studio album Expressions, which contained the lead single "Ikot-Ikot". Her twelfth studio album, The Great Unknown, was supported by the lead single "Tala", which sparked a trend between 2019 and 2020. Geronimo played leading roles in the film A Very Special Love (2008) and its sequels You Changed My Life (2009) and It Takes a Man and a Woman (2013), and received the Box Office Entertainment Awards for Box Office Queen for the films. Her performance as an elderly woman who regained her youth in the film Miss Granny (2018) garnered her a Star Award for Best Actress. She also starred in the television series Sarah the Teen Princess (2004), Bituing Walang Ningning (2006), and Pangarap na Bituin (2007). Geronimo expanded her career into reality television talent shows as a presenter of the talent competition show Little Big Star (2005–2007) and as a coach on The Voice of the Philippines (2013–2015) and its spin-offs The Voice Kids (2014–2015, 2019) and The Voice Teens (2017, 2020).

Photo of Daniel Padilla

9. Daniel Padilla (1995 - )

With an HPI of 20.56, Daniel Padilla is the 9th most famous Filipino Actor.  His biography has been translated into 15 different languages.

Daniel John Elago Ford (born April 26, 1995), known professionally as Daniel Padilla, is a Filipino actor and singer. Padilla is recognized as one of the most prominent young actors in the Philippines. He is a recipient of multiple accolades across television, film, and music, including the FAMAS Award for Best Actor and PMPC Star Award for Movie Actor of the Year, as well as three World Music Awards nominations.Padilla made his television debut with a supporting role in the soap opera Gimik 2010 (2010), before landing the lead role in Growing Up (2011). He has since starred in the Filipino hit television series Princess and I (2012–2013), Got to Believe (2013–2014), Pangako Sa 'Yo (2015–2016), La Luna Sangre (2017–2018), and 2 Good 2 Be True (2022). In films, he made his debut as a supporting actor in 24/7 in Love and Sisterakas (both 2012), and later starred in the box office hit films Must Be... Love, Pagpag: Siyam na Buhay (both 2013), She's Dating the Gangster (2014), Crazy Beautiful You (2015), Barcelona: A Love Untold (2016), Can't Help Falling in Love (2017), and The Hows of Us (2018). Padilla's films have earned a total of ₱3.14 billion in the box office, with the lattermost becoming the highest-grossing Filipino film at the time. As a recording artist, Padilla has released three double platinum albums in the Philippines including Daniel Padilla (2012), DJP (2013), I Heart You (2014), I Feel Good (2015), and the compilation album DJ' Greatest Hits (2016). He has also held solo concerts including Daniel Live! (2013), DOS (2014), Most Wanted (2015), and DJ Classics: Back at the Araneta (2017).

Photo of Kathryn Bernardo

10. Kathryn Bernardo (1996 - )

With an HPI of 20.34, Kathryn Bernardo is the 10th most famous Filipino Actor.  Her biography has been translated into 19 different languages.

Kathryn Chandria Manuel Bernardo (born March 26, 1996) is a Filipino actress and singer. She began her acting career as a child actress, portraying young versions of lead characters in series such as It Might Be You (2003), Endless Love (2010) and Magkaribal (2010). She rose to superstardom after top-billing the remake of the classic Mara Clara (2010) with Julia Montes and has since established herself as one of the most popular and successful actors of the 21st century in the Philippines.Bernardo is the highest grossing Filipino movie actress of the 2010s, earning over ₱3.5 billion at the box office. People Asia hailed her as the "Box Office Queen of her generation" for being the only Filipino actress with two films earning more than ₱800 million each. Forbes Asia listed her as one of Asia-Pacific's most influential celebrities on social media while Metro Society included her on their list of the most influential Filipino personalities on social media. EdukCircle also listed her as one of the "Most Influential Celebrities of the Decade". She notably ranked second on NetCredit's list of the country's Top 10 highest earning Filipino celebrities on Instagram, earning ₱208 million a year.Bernardo is best known for her roles in the following hit television series Mara Clara (2010–2011), Princess and I (2012–2013), Got to Believe (2013–2014), Pangako Sa 'Yo (2015–2016), La Luna Sangre (2017–2018), and 2 Good 2 Be True (2022). She is also known for roles in the films She's Dating the Gangster (2014), Crazy Beautiful You (2015), Barcelona: A Love Untold (2016), Can't Help Falling in Love (2017), The Hows of Us (2018), and Hello, Love, Goodbye (2019), the latter two of which is the second and third highest grossing Filipino films of all time.

Pantheon has 14 people classified as actors born between 1939 and 1996. Of these 14, 13 (92.86%) of them are still alive today. The most famous living actors include Lou Diamond Phillips, Reggie Lee, and Lea Salonga. The most famous deceased actors include Fernando Poe Jr..

Living Actors

Go to all Rankings

Deceased Actors

Go to all Rankings