DAVAO CITY, 15 October — The Philippine entertainment industry has yet to overcome the loss of Ricky Belmonte but is now again wearing black as two more actors died almost at the same time.
Drama king and director Eddie Rodriguez, Luis Enriquez in real life died Friday midnight at a Manila hospital due to a lingering illness, said her daughter Angela Ledesma Enriquez yesterday in the TV show Startalk.
Rodriguez who turned 69 last August started the love triangle movies that made more popular such drama greats Lolita Rodriguez and Marlene Dauden. He was formerly married to Liza Moreno.
They formed Virgo Film Productions. Rodriguez paired with practically all the queens of Philippine movies from Gloria Romero, Nida Blanca, Rita Gomez, Charito Solis, Amalia Fuentes, Nora Aunor and Vilma Santos. He directed Sharon Cuneta’s megablockbuster Maging Sino Ka Man with Robin Padilla.
The cool and suave actor was rumored to have a mysterious illness before and reportedly became an alcoholic.
The Famas best actor awardee started as an action star before aturning to drama where he became more popular.
He was remembered for his films Sapagkat Kami’y Tao Lamang, Kapag Puso’y Sinugatan, Malupit Na Pag-ibig and Nakakahiya parts 1 and 2.
Meanwhile, another actor Rey Ventura also died of an illness.
The character actor is well remembered in Mumbaki, Muro Ami and the controversial Maalala Mo Kaya episode where he played an old gay.
The deaths of the two actors sadden the entertainment industry.
