Dingdong Dantes

Jose Sixto "Dingdong" Gonzales Dantes III (born August 2, 1980) is a Filipino actor, filmmaker, and television personality.

He is known for his acting versatility, and has played dramatic and action roles in films and television series in the Philippines.

His accolades include multiple Box Office Entertainment Awards and PMPC Star Awards.

Jose Sixto Gonzales Dantes III was born on August 2, 1980 to Angeline (née Gonzales) and Jose Sixto "Jig" Dantes Jr. He began his career as a child model.

Several other commercials ensued before he joined an all-male dance group called Abztract Dancers, with his friend, actor Nathan Dados, and his cousin, actor Arthur Solinap.

Their group became regulars on Eat Bulaga! and That's Entertainment.

As an actor, his first movie appearance was in the Shake, Rattle & Roll V episode "Anino".

After three years, he debuted on GMA Network's youth-oriented T.G.I.S. when he was 17, under the name Raphael Dantes playing the role of Iñaki.

He was first paired with Antoinette Taus.

Dantes and Taus became one of the most memorable loveteams in Philippine entertainment industry, especially in the 90's. He appeared in films like Honey My Love So Sweet, Kiss Mo 'Ko and I'm Sorry My Love, and television programmes including Anna Karenina, and did a few guesting stints on ABS-CBN such as a F.L.A.M.E.S. episode, a youth-oriented romantic-drama anthology with different love teams and stories that aired from 1996 to 2000.

Dantes' breakthrough came in the early 2000s, where he co-starred with Tanya Garcia in the drama series Sana ay Ikaw na Nga and Twin Hearts.

He received further recognition in the late 2000s, where he co-starred with Marian Rivera in Marimar.

In 2000, Dantes appeared in the sitcom Super Klenk.

In 2001, he was paired with actress Tanya García as they top-billed GMA-7's primetime soap opera series Sana ay Ikaw na Nga.

His further appearances include Stairway to Heaven, Endless Love, I Heart You, Pare! He is also as a television presenter, serving as the presenter of the shows StarStruck (2003–2019), Family Feud (2009–2010, 2022–present), and The Voice Generations (2023).

Dantes is married to Rivera, with whom he has two children.

The two headlined in another primetime romance-drama billing in 2003 titled Twin Hearts.

He took on several hosting jobs including beauty pageants such as Binibining Pilipinas and GMA Network's reality artist search, StarStruck, and the game show Family Feud before its transfer to Edu Manzano.

Aside from his television stints, he also appeared in films including Magkapatid and Pangarap Ko Ang Ibigin Ka.

He hosts the suspense-thriller Wag Kukurap, occasionally directing.

He played King Ybrahim/Ybarro in the Encantadia fantasy-themed television saga and the 2006 film Moments of Love.

In 2007, Dantes portrayed the lead role Sergio to Marian Rivera's character, Marimar in Marimar.

During the same year, he was named No. 1 Bachelor of 2007 by Cosmopolitan magazine (Philippines).

He won the USTV Students’ Choice Award for "Most Popular Actor in a Drama/Mini-series."

In 2008, he was cast by his home studio to play the role of Fredo, a love interest of Dyesebel in Dyesebel.

In March 2008, he debuted as the Bench image model.

Also in 2008, Dantes starred in One True Love.

The Cinema Evaluation Board of the Philippines rated the film a B.

In early 2009, Dantes appeared on Ang Babaeng Hinugot sa Aking Tadyang.

He was chosen as Myx guest VJ in August 2009 to promote his album The Dingdong Dantes Experience.

The album turned gold one week after it was released on the variety show SOP.

Dantes was chosen to portray the role of "Cholo" in the 2009 Philippine adaptation of the Korean drama Stairway to Heaven.

He also replaced Richard Gomez as the new host for Family Feud.

In 2010, Dantes was scheduled to release You to Me Are Everything.

He was part of Regine Velasquez and Ogie Alcasid's U.S. tour mid May–June.

He appeared in the television show Endless Love from June 25 to October 15, 2010.

Dantes became a cohost of Party Pilipinas on channel 7.

He won the "Best Drama Actor Award" for Stairway To Heaven in the 2010 PMPC Star Awards for TV and was nominated for the same category at the 2010 Asian Television Awards.

In 2011, Dantes did a comedy primetime TV series titled, I Heart You, Pare! with his leading lady Regine Velasquez.

He plays an obnoxious macho guy who falls with a heterosexual woman played by Velásquez who, after a chance encounter, met again as she plays a drag who tries to run away from the law.