Alden Richards

Richard Reyes Faulkerson Jr. (born January 2, 1992), known professionally as Alden Richards, is a Filipino actor and television presenter.

Alden Richards was born as Richard Reyes Faulkerson, Jr. on January 2, 1992, in Santa Rosa, Laguna.

He is the second child of Richard Peralta Faulkerson, Sr. of Ermita, Manila and Rosario Reyes, a native of Pampanga.

He has three siblings, an older brother and two younger sisters.

Richards's paternal grandfather, whom he never met, was American.

Growing up, Richards wanted to be a chef but his mother urged him to pursue acting instead.

After his mother died, to support his family financially and to fulfill his mother's wish for him to be an actor, Richards decided to join various male beauty pageants in Laguna and worked as a part-time commercial model.

He holds the titles Ginoong Sta Rosa 2009 and Ginoong Laguna 2010.

He auditioned for the reality television shows StarStruck and Pinoy Big Brother: Teen Clash of 2010, but both auditions failed.

He also appeared in various commercials, including a telecommunication company, clothing line, fast-food chain and multivitamins.

He studied at Paco Catholic School in Paco, Manila and at Colegio de Santa Rosa de Lima High School, where he graduated.

He began, but has not completed, a Business Management degree at De La Salle Canlubang in Laguna.

After doing modeling stints, Alden auditioned for an acting role on the GMA Network's afternoon soap, Alakdana.

He passed the audition and played the role of Joma.

In Alakdana, he was paired with the lead actress Louise delos Reyes.

When he became an actor, he used the stage name Alden Richards.

In 2011, he was included in the teenage series, Tween Hearts and also starred in its film adaptation Tween Hearts: Class of 2012.

He also performed on GMA Network's Sunday variety shows Party Pilipinas and Sunday All Stars.

He also appeared in the comedy-horror show Spooky Nights.

Richards was praised with his performance as a psychopath in the film The Road.

By the end of 2011, he replaced Aljur Abrenica's role as Gobi in Ang Panday 2, which is an entry at the 2011 Metro Manila Film Festival.

Abrenica was pulled out of the film due to conflict of schedules and Richards re-shoots scenes made by Abrenica.

Richards was also praised by some entertainment writers for his performances, predicting that he would be the next big star of GMA Network.

Richards was awarded as the 1st Filipino Amazing Male Newcomer in the first Yahoo! OMG!

Philippines Awards in 2011.

He also won as Best New Actor in the Golden Screen Awards in the same year.

He invited FHM Sexiest of 2011 Sam Pinto for a date on national TV.

The latter did accept the invitation and went on a cruise date with Richards in Manila Bay, but the actress revealed that it was just a friendly date.

On Valentine's Day of 2012, A Date with Alden Richards, a GMA Network promo, was held on national television and the micro-blogging site Twitter where it trended.

In 2012, Richards played the supporting role of a thief named Rico on the primetime series, My Beloved headlined by Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes.

He also acted on the episode "UNOS" (Calamity) of the fourth season of a Holy Week special, Tanikala, presented by Christian Broadcasting Network.

Richards starred in his first lead role on a prime time TV series with One True Love, which premiered on June 11, 2012, and was paired again with Louise delos Reyes.

In the series, Richards who played "Tisoy" is a poor guy who is in love with a rich girl.

According to him, the series was his biggest break in the show business industry.

Richards' earned his first Best Actor nomination for One True Love in the 2013 Golden Screen TV Awards.

It took a while before he had a new television or film project until he was cast as young Simeon (the character played by Bong Revilla) in the historical drama Indio in 2013.

He is dubbed the "Asia's Multimedia Star" after receiving the Asian Star Prize awards in the 14th Seoul International Drama Awards of 2019 for acting.

Richards rose to fame when he was paired with Maine Mendoza, where he became the other half of their loveteam, AlDub.

His notable works include Tween Hearts, One True Love, Carmela, The Road, Ilustrado, Imagine You and Me, Victor Magtanggol, Hello, Love, Goodbye, The Gift, The World Between Us, Start-Up PH, Five Breakups and a Romance and Family of Two.

As a recording artist, he has released albums and singles under Universal Records and GMA Music.