ShareThisPhilippines’ top comedian Dolphy is 83 and he is still out there to cheer up his Filipino audience.
Dolphy, who was conferred the Grand Collar of the Order of the Golden Heart last year by President Benigno S. Aquino III, is being considered for a National Artist award for his contributions to the entertainment industry.
The comedy king, whose real name is Rodolfo Vera Quizon Sr., is to celebrate his birthday this Sunday with a bang – a two-hour special on TV 5 entitled “Talentadong Pidol.” His birthday actually is July 25.
The show will be hosted by “Talentadong Pinoy” main man Ryan Agoncillo and will feature a spectacular gathering of the biggest and brightest stars in the entertainment industry.
Opening the show are Tito, Vic and Joey and in a rare moment, Dolphy will team up with “Wil Time Bigtime” host Willie Revillame in a song medley about friendship, love and dedication in showbiz.
The Comedy King will also perform with real life love and Divine Diva Zsa Zsa Padilla.
He will also hear from friends like Boots Anson Roa, Gloria Romero, Eddie Garcia, German Moreno, Nova Villa, Niño Muhlach, Vice Ganda, Pokwang, Lucy Torres, Richard Gomez, his son Eric Quizon, Claudine Barretto, Ruffa Gutierrez and Alice Dixson.
Dolphy, a Manileno born in Tondo, was first exposed to stage and movies while he worked inside the theater like Avenue and Life Theaters selling peanuts, watermelon seeds and jicamasnacks, thereby he could watch limitless movies for free. He said “Gone with the Wind” was the firstcolor motion picture film he saw.
Dolphy eventually became a stage and radio talent. He was given the stage name of ‘Golay’ and later on discovered for his talent in singing and dancing and first appeared in Orient Theater.
His first movie was with Fernando Poe, Sr. in Dugo at Bayan (I Remember Bataan) where, at 19, he was billed as Rodolfo Quizon. Poe Sr. was the father of the late actor Fernando Poe, Jr., who first paved the way and gave him a break in films playing bit roles as a character actor.
The comedian then evolved into a versatile performer and portrayed numerous gay roles in movies such as “Jack en Jill,” “Pacifica Palayfay,” “Fefita Fofonggay,” among others. He also made a mark with his unique fashion sense, particularly the ‘puruntong shorts’ that became his trademark for some time.
Directed by Al Quinn, the birthday special honors the remarkable achievements and contributions of the Comedy King in the movie and television industry.
Dolphy was never married but had relationships and family with different women. His longest (20 years) and current partner is actress, model and singer Zsa Zsa Padilla with whom he has two daughters.