JE C.C.
Long before the likes of Daniel Padilla, Alden Richards, James Reid, and Enrique Gil made current TV and movie fans go head-over-heels, those who came before them first went crazy to male drama and action stars of the ‘90s.
As action movies became one of the most in-demand releases in the ‘90s, many of the popular male movie stars who emerged from that decade were also action stars. Some of them remain active in show business today.
Can you believe how they looked when they were still young? Get ready to be amazed, and well…fall in love, maybe?
Aga Mulach
Mulach is widely regarded as one of the universal leading men of the ‘90s, having starred alongside different leading ladies in his movies. A former child wonder, he was able to keep his popularity for more than four decades. Among his memorable movies and TV shows include, Bagets (1980), Miguelito: Batang Rebelde (1985), May Minamahal (1993), Oki Doki Doc (1993), Sana Maulit Muli (1995), All My Life (2004), Dubai (2005), A Love Story (2007), and Miracle in Cell No.7 (2019).
Cesar Montano
Montano is considered as one of the bad boys of Philippine cinema. In the ‘90s, he starred in many actions and massacre movies, including Markadong Hudas (1993), The Cecilia Masagca Story: Antipolo Massacre (1994), and Utol (1996). He also played the titular character in the highly-acclaimed film, Jose Rizal (1997).
Eric Fructuoso
Arguably the most popular among Gwapings boys, Fructuoso recently went viral when photos of his young self trended on the internet. That was not surprising, as he was considered among the prettiest faces during the peak of his career. Fructuoso remains in the business and continues to appear on television shows and in movies today.
Gabby Concepcion
Concepcion first came to the spotlight in the ‘80s via the Close-up toothpaste commercial. He was then launched as a movie star in 1980 via the film, Katorse, which starred Dina Bonnevie in the main role. On television, he achieved popularity through the roles he played on various ABS-CBN dramas. He continued his movie career in the 2010s and scored a number of box-office films, including I Love You Goodbye (2009) and When the Love is Gone 2013. He recently starred on the Kapuso primetime series First Yaya (2021).
Ian Veneracion
Veneracion is among the ‘90s heartthrobs who can keep their good looks and fame today. He is, in fact, one of the most sought-after leading men today, partly because of his mestizo looks. He starred in a number of action movies in the ‘90s. His most recent shows include Kapamilya dramas, Pangako Sa’Yo (2015), A Love to Last (2017)
Mark Anthony Fernandez
Fernandez earned massive fame through his starred action movies and the classic ABS-CBN sitcom Palibhasa Lalake (1991). He was able to hurdle the arrival of newer stars as he retained his leading man status in the early and late 2000s. In addition, he starred in a number of GMA Network dramas, including Ako Si KimSamsoon (2008), Impostora (2007), and All About Eve (2009).
Jomari Yllana
Yllana’s massive popularity in the ‘90s is partly due to his very successful group, Gwapings, including fellow heartthrobs Eric Fructuoso and Mark Anthony Fernandez. Like Fernandez, he also started on television via Palibhasa Lalake (1991).
Raymart Santiago
Santiago’s movie career was launched in 1989 via the teen-oriented film Estudyante Blues. He became a Viva contract star and has since then appeared in a number of action films. In the late ‘90s, he signed up with GMA Network and began appearing on sitcoms and soap operas. His latest television drama is the 2019 ABS-CBN series, Starla.
Richard Gomez
Gomez first came to public attention in the mid-‘80s through films Naked Paradise (1985), Inday Bote (1985), and Blusang Itim (1986). He, later on, cemented his status as a prime leading man in movies, as he appeared in major romantic dramas. He remained active in showbiz until the mid-2010s, when he entered politics.
Romnick Sarmenta
Sarmenta rose to popularity as a child star in the late ‘70s and became a lead movie star in the ‘80s. Among his prominent works include Pardina at ang mga Duwende (1989), Mundo Man Ay Magunaw (1990) and Tirad Pass (1996). On TV, he was recently seen on Halik (2018) and FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano (2019)
William Martinez
Martinez belonged to the first batch of Regal babies who started their careers in the early ‘80s. He was a very sought-after leading man and made a dozen or more romance drama films. His onscreen team-up with Maricel Soriano is widely regarded to have helped him achieve massive success.
Zoren Legaspi
Legaspi entered the show business as a teen star in the late ‘80s. He became a popular action star in the ‘90s, appearing as both a villain and a protagonist in many films. He is now the husband of Filipina actress Carmina Villaroel-Legaspi. His most recent project is the 2020 TV series, Bilangin Ang Bituin sa Langit.
Did you think we missed someone on the list? Comment below and share who they are!
