John Lloyd Cruz

John Lloyd Espidol Cruz (born June 24, 1983) is a Filipino actor, model and occasional TV host. Regarded as the "King of Contemporary Cinema" by the media,[1] Cruz has top-billed several box-office successes. He has more than ten films with box office grosses of ₱100 million in the Philippines.[2]

John Lloyd Cruz
Cruz in April 2010
Born
John Lloyd Espidol Cruz

(1983-06-24) June 24, 1983
Pasay, Philippines
Other namesLloydie, JLC, Idan
Occupation(s)Actor, model, TV host
Years active1997–present
Agent(s)Crown Artist Management (2021–present)
GMA Network (2021–present)
Height1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
PartnerEllen Adarna (2017–2018)
Children1

CNN describes Cruz as "the quintessential image of the contemporary leading man."[3] He began acting at the age of 15 and has over 30 productions to his credit.[4] A breakthrough role on the soap opera Kay Tagal Kang Hinintay, where he first started working with actress and frequent co-star Bea Alonzo, followed his starring role in the well-known Filipino TV drama Tabing Ilog, which he appeared in as a teenager.[5] With around 80 awards won throughout his career including 2 FAMAS Awards and 2 Gawad Urian Awards, Cruz is one of the most awarded Filipino actors in the business. He was the first Filipino and Southeast Asian actor to receive the Star Asia Award at the New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF).[6] He was the fifth highest-grossing Filipino actor in the 2010s decade, raking over a total of 2.3 billion in box office receipts.[7] A Second Chance is the sixth highest grossing Philippine film in history with ₱556 million.

He is currently managed by Maja Salvador's Crown Artist Management.[8] On November 9, 2021, he signed a contract with GMA Network as part of his TV comeback. His first comeback appearance was on GMA's Wowowin, and currently he leads the role of GMA's sitcom entitled Happy Together (pronounced as Happy To Get Her) which airs every Sunday night.

Background

Cruz was born John Lloyd Espidol Cruz, the youngest child of Luisito Llora and Aida Espidol Cruz. He was called by nicknames "Juward" and "Idan" among his family and some close friends. Cruz finished his grade school at Marikina Catholic School in 1996. He was later discovered by a talent scout in a mall while hanging out with friends to watch Magic Temple. Due to his father's failing marble business, Cruz decided to enter showbiz to help his family recover from financial problems. He first appeared in GMA Public Affairs' reenactment legal talk show Compañero y Compañera, followed by the crime and investigative series Calvento Files. This was followed by several guest appearances and shows. At age 14, Cruz became a member of ABS-CBN's Star Magic, where he became an alumnus of Batch 5. He was also a member of the then-teen trio called Koolits with Baron Geisler and Marc Solis.[9][10][11]

Television career

Since he started his showbiz career in 1996, he was a contract talent for ABS-CBN.

In 1999, Cruz played the role of Rovic in the teen drama Tabing Ilog, alongside Kaye Abad, which lasted for almost four years. His breakthrough role came in 2002 by portraying the character of Yuri in Kay Tagal Kang Hinintay, where he is paired with Bea Alonzo. He was later cast in It Might Be You and Ikaw ang Lahat sa Akin.

In 2006, Cruz was cast in the highly successful soap opera Maging Sino Ka Man along with Bea Alonzo, Anne Curtis and Sam Milby. In early 2007, he began endorsing Unilab's medication Paracetamol (Biogesic).[12] In 2009, he made another collaboration with Bea Alonzo and played the male protagonist Armando in I ♥ Betty La Fea, a Philippine adaptation of the Colombian telenovela Yo Soy Betty La Fea. In 2010, Cruz was paired with Angel Locsin in the critically acclaimed dark fantasy series Imortal, a sequel of the original series Lobo.

As a TV host, Cruz had recurring appearances in the longest-running Sunday noontime variety show, ASAP. He was also recruited as one of four members of the Kanto Boys alongside ASAP mainstays Vhong Navarro, Billy Crawford and Luis Manzano.

In 2014, Cruz played the role of Romeo in the Saturday sitcom series Home Sweetie Home with Toni Gonzaga, which lasted until he left the show in 2017. He went on indefinite leave from show business after a controversial relationship with model and actress Ellen Adarna, who was his fellow co-star in Home Sweetie Home.[13] Since 2019, Cruz makes occasional cameos in commercial ads.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Cruz was approached by Willie Revillame to make a television comeback by transferring to GMA Network. On May 16, 2021, he signed up with Crown Artist Management. On June 6, 2021, he made an appearance at GMA's broadcast of Shopee's "6.6. Mid-year Sale" TV event.[14] He would officially sign a contract with the network on November 9, 2021.[15]

Film career

John Lloyd Cruz at the ABS-CBN Talent Center, May 2010.

John Lloyd Cruz starred with Sarah Geronimo in A Very Special Love produced by Star Cinema and Viva Films, which was released on July 30, 2008. The film grossed PHP 179,569,117 at the box office.[16][17][18][19] In February 2009, Cruz's follow-up movie with Geronimo, You Changed My Life, a sequel to A Very Special Love also produced by Star Cinema and Viva Films, hit the box office.[20] The film's total theatrical earnings reached PHP 240.44 million and was ranked as the highest grossing Filipino film of all time in that same year.[21] In mid-2009, he shifted from his regular roles for a more controversial, challenging project with Vilma Santos, in which he portrayed Luis Manzano's lover in the movie In My Life. Cruz has been nailed as the "Box-Office King" for three-consecutive years: in 2007 for One More Chance, in 2008 with A Very Special Love, and in 2009 with You Changed My Life, which became the top-grossing film of his career during that time until approximately six years later.

Cruz's reunion movie with love team partner Bea Alonzo, Miss You Like Crazy, released in February 2010 as Star Cinema's post-office offering, was a box office hit earning more than PHP 140 million in its seven-week run and still the second top Filipino movie of 2010. He was later paired again with Toni Gonzaga in another box-office film titled My Amnesia Girl that earned 12.8 million on its first day (November 2010) and surpassing 100 million in its first-week run. It was directed by the box-office director Cathy Garcia Molina.[22][23] It earned PHP 165 million in its one-month run and was the top-grossing film of 2010. Plans for making a movie with the Kanto Boys of ASAP was proposed for 2011 but was never pushed through. In 2012, Cruz and Alonzo starred in the film The Mistress to celebrate their 10th anniversary as a love team. The Mistress was critically acclaimed, leaving a total box-office gross of P260,000,000 and being the third highest grossing Filipino film of all time. He then reunites again with Geronimo for It Takes a Man and a Woman, a third and final sequel of the films A Very Special Love and You Changed My Life, which was released in 2013.

In 2015, Cruz starred and produced a thriller movie Honor Thy Father, which was first screened in the Contemporary World Cinema section of the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival. He plays the part of a man who, after a period of estrangement from his family, returns home to seek their help when his wife gets them into trouble with violent investors whose money her dad had lost in a ponzi scheme. Also in that same year, Cruz and Alonzo starred again together in the movie A Second Chance, the sequel of highly successful 2007 film One More Chance. The film was released on November 25, 2015 and earned PHP 550 million, becoming the highest grossing Filipino film of 2015 and the highest grossing Filipino film of all time.[24]

Cruz has been also recognized as one of three honorees of the Star Asia award at the 15th New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF). He is the first Filipino and Southeast Asian actor to receive the honor. He joins Hong Kong's Miriam Yeung and South Korea's Lee Byung-hun – all box office stars in their own countries – as that year's recipients of the award.

Activities

Cruz endorsed brands such as Bear Brand Milk, PSBank, Banana Peel, Tropicana Fruit Burst, 555, Sun Cellular, Magic Flakes, Biogesic, Adidas, Greenwich, 555 Corned Tuna, Swatch, Direct TV, Purefoods Tender Juicy, Smart, Choco Lava, Urban bags, Head & Shoulders, Lucky Me, Cherry Mobile, Joel Cruz Signatures perfume products John Lloyd Cruz Like Him and Likes Her and Aficionado Inspired EDT, LaBreza Tower, Skinwhite, Belo, Faces and Curves, Charms and Crystals, GAOC and Jollibee.

He is considered one of the most-acclaimed actors in the country, and was recently inducted to the Philippine Walk of Fame by German "Kuya Germs" Moreno in Eastwood City, Libis, Quezon City. His film and television projects are usually big hits with audiences nationwide.

Filmography

Film

YearFilmRoleNotes and Awards
1997 Ikaw Pala ang Mahal Ko Robin Gatmaitan
1998 Nagbibinata G-Boy Velasco
1999 Oo Na, Mahal Na Kung Mahal Igi Boy
Gimik: The Reunion Junie De Dios
2002 Forevermore Boyet
2003 My First Romance Enzo "Two Hearts"
2004 Now That I Have You Michael Morelos Nominated—ENPRESS Golden Screen Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role (Musical or Comedy)
2005 Dubai Andrew "Kasmot" Alvarez GMMSF Box-Office Entertainment Award for Film Actor of the Year
FAMAS Award for Best Supporting Actor[25]

PMPC Star Award for Movies for Movie Supporting Actor of the Year
Nominated—FAP Luna Award for Best Supporting Actor
Nominated—Gawad PASADO Award for Best Supporting Actor
Nominated—Gawad TANGLAW Award for Best Supporting Actor
Nominated—Gawad URIAN Award for Best Supporting Actor
Nominated—U.P. Film Desk of the Young Critics Circle Award for Movies for Best Supporting Actor
2006 Close to You Manuel "Palits" Soriano Nominated—ENPRESS Golden Screen Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role (Musical or Comedy)
All About Love Eric "About Anna"
FAP Luna Award for Best Actor[25]
2007 One More Chance Rodolfo "Popoy" Gonzales Jr. GMMSF Box-Office Entertainment Award for Box-Office King
ASAP Pop Viewer's Choice Award for Pop Love Team (shared with Bea Alonzo)[26]
ASAP Pop Viewer's Choice Award for Pop Screen Kiss (shared with Bea Alonzo)[26]
ENPRESS Golden Screen Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role (Drama)[25]
Nominated—FAMAS Award for Best Actor[25]
Nominated—FAP Luna Award for Best Actor[25]
Nominated—PMPC Star Award for Movies for Movie Actor of the Year
Still Life Himself Cameo
Official Indie film entry for Cinemalaya 2007
2008 A Very Special Love Miguel "Miggy" Montenegro GMMSF Box-Office Entertainment Award for Box-Office King
Nominated—ENPRESS Golden Screen Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role (Musical or Comedy)
Nominated—FAP Luna Award for Best Actor[25]
Nominated—Gawad PASADO Award for Best Actor
Nominated—PMPC Star Award for Movies for Movie Actor of the Year
My Only U Miggy Cameo
2009 You Changed My Life Miguel "Miggy" Montenegro GMMSF Box-Office Entertainment Award for Box-Office King
Nominated—ENPRESS Golden Screen Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role (Musical or Comedy)
In My Life Noel Villanueva Gawad PASADO Award for Best Actor
Gawad TANGLAW Award for Best Actor
GMMSF Box-Office Entertainment Award for Film Actors of the Year(shared with Luis Manzano)
MTRCB Movie Awards for Best Supporting Actor
PMPC Star Award for Movies for Movie Actor of the Year
Nominated—ENPRESS Golden Screen Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role (Drama)
Nominated—FAMAS Award for Best Actor
Nominated—Gawad URIAN Award for Best Actor[25]
T2 Gary (Cameo) Cameo
2010 Miss You Like Crazy Allan Alvarez FAMAS Award for Best Actor
GMMSF Box-Office Entertainment Award for Film Actor of the Year[27]
Nominated—ENPRESS Golden Screen Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role (Drama)
Nominated—Gawad TANGLAW Award for Best Actor
Nominated—Gawad URIAN Award for Best Actor
Nominated—PMPC Star Award for Movies for Movie Actor of the Year
My Amnesia Girl Apollo SM Cinemas Award for Box Office King
Nominated—ENPRESS Golden Screen Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role (Musical or Comedy)
2012 ÜnOfficially Yours Mackie Galvez
The Mistress Frederico "JD" Torres GMMSF Box-Office Entertainment Award for Box-Office King
24/7 in Love Elvis Monzon
2013 It Takes A Man And A Woman Miguel "Miggy" Montenegro GMMSF Box-Office Entertainment Award for Box-Office King
Nominated-- FAMAS Award for Best Actor
Bromance: My Brother's Romance Cameo
2014 The Trial Ronald Jimenez Jr. Gawad PASADO Award for Best Actor
31st Star Awards for Movies for Movie Actor Of The Year
46th Guillermo Mendoza Box-Office Entertainment Awards for Film Actor Of The Year
2015 A Second Chance Rodolfo "Popoy" Gonzales Jr. Highest grossing Filipino film of all time
Honor Thy Father Edgar 2015 Metro Manila Film Festival entry
Gawad Urian for Best Actor
Nominated-Metro Manila Film Festival Award for Best Actor
Nominated—FAP Luna Award for Best Actor[25]
2016 A Lullaby to the Sorrowful Mystery Isagani
Just the 3 of Us Uno Abusado
The Woman Who Left Hollanda
2017 Finally Found Someone Rafael "Raffy" Sandoval
2019 Culion Special participation
2019 Metro Manila Film Festival entry
2021 No Goodbyes
Historya ni Ha Hernando / Ha

Television

YearTitleRoleNetwork
1997–2017
2019–2021
ASAP Himself/Performer ABS-CBN
1997 Palibhasa Lalake Himself
1998–1999 Sa Sandaling Kailangan Mo Ako Jojo
1997–1999 Gimik Junie de Dios
1999–2003 Tabing Ilog Ronaldo Victor "Rovic" Mercado
2000 Maalaala Mo Kaya: Peanut Butter Itoy
Maalaala Mo Kaya: Burger Joint Ryan
Kakabakaba Ka Ba GMA Network
2001–2003 Sa Puso Ko Iingatan Ka Adrian Montecillo ABS-CBN
2002–2003 Kay Tagal Kang Hinintay Yuri Orbida
2003 Star Studio Presents: Suyuan sa Lalawigan Leon
2003–2004 It Might Be You Earl Lawrence Trinidad
2004 Maalaala Mo Kaya: Lapis Justin
2005 Maalaala Mo Kaya: Upuan Lino Cayetano
Ikaw ang Lahat sa Akin Oliver Ynares
Maalaala Mo Kaya: Skating Rink Jonel
2006 Maalaala Mo Kaya: Greeting Card Raymund Narag
Maalaala Mo Kaya: Kwintas Jason
Komiks: Bampy Himself
2006–2007 Maging Sino Ka Man Gabriel "Eli" Davide
2006 Star Magic Presents: My Angel Martin
2007–2008 Maging Sino Ka Man: Ang Pagbabalik Gabriel "Eli" Hidalgo Roxas
2008 Banana Split Himself/Guest
2008–2009 I Love Betty La Fea Armando Solis
2008 Maalaala Mo Kaya: Pedicab Chris
2010–2011 Imortal Mateo Rodriguez
2011 100 Days to Heaven Jack de Guzman
2012–2013 A Beautiful Affair Napoleon "Leon" Riego
2014–2017 Home Sweetie Home Romeo Valentino
2015 Maalaala Mo Kaya: Tarik
2015 Nathaniel Atty. Francisco Lucas
2017 La Luna Sangre Mateo Rodriguez
2021–2023 Happy Together Julian Rodriguez GMA Network

Awards and nominations

References

  1. Paglicawan, Mc Richard (June 8, 2012). "King of Contemporary Cinema John Lloyd Cruz is Cinema One's 'Numero Uno' this June". LionhearTV. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  2. "Here are John Lloyd Cruz's 10 highest-grossing movies in the box office". PEP.ph. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  3. "John Lloyd Cruz's disappearing act". cnn. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  4. Asia, Tatler. "John Lloyd Cruz". Tatler Asia. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  5. Clemente, Dennis (July 5, 2016). "With Pivot to Indie Films, Filipino Actor John Lloyd Cruz Shows Wide Range On Screen". www.nbcnews.com. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  6. Clemente, Dennis (July 5, 2016). "With Pivot to Indie Films, Filipino Actor John Lloyd Cruz Shows Wide Range On Screen". www.nbcnews.com. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  7. CC, JE (July 5, 2021). "Box Office Royalties Ranked: The Biggest-Grossing Filipino Movie Stars since 2010". LionhearTV. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  8. "An emotional John Lloyd Cruz says he's excited to be back in showbiz. November 9, 2021 he signed a contract with GMA Network Inc as part of his TV Comeback". GMA Network. June 6, 2021.
  9. bio Archived November 17, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  10. bio2. Celebritiesph.com (August 21, 2007). Retrieved on March 28, 2012.
  11. bio3
  12. Carvajal, Dolly Anne (February 1, 2007). "Med boy". Philippine Daily Inquirer. The Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inc. p. D5. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
  13. "John Lloyd Cruz takes indefinite leave of absence". ABS-CBN News. October 6, 2017. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
  14. "John Lloyd Cruz confirms to star in primetime GMA-7 show, refers to Maja as Ms. M". Philippine Star. June 6, 2021.
  15. "John Lloyd Cruz inks partnership with GMA Network". GMA News. November 9, 2021.
  16. "A Very Special Love movie gross". IMDb.
  17. "A Very Special Love movie success". asianjournal.com. October 10, 2008.
  18. "Sarah Geronimo and Jason Baluyot movie: A Very Special Love".
  19. "Box Office Hit: A Very Special Love".
  20. "Sarah Geronimo and Jason Baluyot movie: You Changed My Life". pep.ph. March 2, 2009. Archived from the original on March 6, 2009. Retrieved January 28, 2010.
  21. "Big Dome triumph 4". inquirer.net. November 11, 2009. Archived from the original on July 23, 2011. Retrieved November 11, 2009.
  22. John Lloyd Cruz and Toni Gonzaga to be recognized as SM Cinema Box-Office King and Queen for 2010 Archived October 28, 2011, at the Wayback Machine retrieved on August 2, 2011 via www.pep.ph
  23. John Lloyd Cruz on perhaps getting his fourth Box-Office King title: "Mahirap panindigan." retrieved on November 17, 2010 on www.pep.ph
  24. Red, Isah V. (December 20, 2015). "John Lloyd Cruz takes a chance on something new". The Standard. Archived from the original on February 24, 2018. Retrieved December 24, 2015.
  25. "List of awards received by John Lloyd Cruz", Internet Movie Database, Retrieved 2010-10-02
  26. Quintos, Napoleon (November 16, 2008). "'ASAP '08' announces the Pop Viewer's Choice Awards winners". ABS-CBN.com. Archived from the original on October 1, 2007. Retrieved November 3, 2010.
  27. "42nd Box-Office Entertainment Awards for 2011 winners announced!". WhyNotCoconut.com/. April 11, 2011. Retrieved April 17, 2011.
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