He used to hitch rides with trucks with his handler just to be able to get home after trying out for a role in a drama or after participating in a Go-See. It was really his mother's dream to see him on TV and when she died, he did his best to fulfil his mom's dream. He originally wanted to be a pilot, but had to let go of that dream for his mom's. Yup, that's him, Alden Richards.
When he was just starting out, he tried to apply to be a housemate in the Big Brother House but he was rejected because his dead mother's wish for him to be an actor or to see him on TV is not a good-enough reason. He tried to join different star searches, but never really made it to the finals. But it seemed that he had his mom as his lucky charm after all the hardship, and he is now one of the Best Actors in the Philippines.
Alden Richards, that's his stage name.
The Basics:
Real Name: Richard Reyes Faulkerson Jr.
Birthday and Age: January 2, 1992 (age 26)
Birth Place: Santa Rosa, Laguna, Philippines
Nationality: Filipino
Also Knows As: Alden, RJ, Chard, Tisoy,
Education: Paco Catholic School and De La Salle Canlubang
Occupation: Actor, TV host, Model, Recording artist, Singer, Dancer Musician
Height: 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
He holds the titles Ginoong Sta Rosa 2009 (Mr. Santa Rosa 2009) and Ginoong Laguna 2010 (Mr. Laguna 2010).
Instagram Account: aldenrichards02
Twitter Account: aldenrichards02
Acting Career:
He started doing modelling stints and got his lucky break when he got the role of Joma in the afternoon series Alakdana (The Lady Scorpion). From then on he joined a different afternoon and prime time TV series.
Here are some of his most notable performances:
TV Series:
Year | Title | Role |
2011 | Alakdana | Joma Perez |
2011 | Reel Love Presents: Tween Hearts | Dennis |
2012 | My Beloved | Rico Castor |
2012 | One True Love | Tisoy Bulaong |
2013 | Indio | Young Simeon |
2013 | Mundo Mo'y Akin | Jerome Alvarez |
2014 | Carmela | Santiago "Yago" Torres Flores |
2014 | Ilustrado | José Rizal |
2017 | Destined to be Yours | Benjamin "Benjie" Rosales |
In Destined to be Yours he played along side Maine Mendoza, his on-screen love team at that time. They are collectively called AlDub, a love team formed unexpectedly. Head on over to Mendoza's Stalker Guide to see how their tandem was formed.
TV Specials:
In 2015 he started as a co-host in Eat Bulaga. In 2016, he played James Esteban with Mendoza in a TV Special entitled God Gave Me You. In 2017, he starred as Franco in a TV Special entitled Kapatid. Also, in 2017 he played a rather controversial role as Bonifacio "Boni" Ilagan in Alaala: A Martial Law Special. He continued starring in Eat Bulaga and also appeared as Marco in Love Is, a drama tackling depression.
Movies:
He has been a part of a handful of movies, but mostly as a supporting cast. One of the roles, he was recognized for, was when he played the role of young Luis in The Road in 2011, a Filipino psychological horror crime drama film. Then, by 2017, he landed his first lead role with Mendoza in Imagine You and Me.
Other Careers
Aside from being an actor, Richards is also a print ad model and a product endorser. Alongside Mendoza, he got lots of endorsements under his belt in the past few years.
He is also a singer and/or recording artist. He has released 3 albums as of 2017. His album Wish I May has been awarded a Diamond Record. His most recent album entitled Say It Again, even received a Gold Record Award.
He is also an entrepreneur. He currently owns three restaurants and a farm.
He's also written an autobiography, entitled: In My Own Words which contains photos and a few private things about his life that he wanted to share.
Photo Gallery:
Here are some photos of him. You can just google his name or check his IG and you will find more of them.
He has some goofiness as well, just like his (previously) on-screen partner Mendoza.
He's a very nice guy!
Have you ever seen any of his works before?
It has been said that he has some Korean actors look-a-likes, do you think so?
Source: Wikipedia, Personal Knowledge being his fan.
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