Joey de Leon

Joey de Leon
Joey de Leon (right) plays as a contestant in Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? hosted by Vic Sotto (left).
Born	José María Ramos de León October 14, 1946 (1946-10-14) Manila, Philippines
Years active	1969-present
Height	5' 9"

José María Ramos de León, better known as Joey de Leon (born October 14, 1946) is a Filipino comedian, actor, and television presenter. He hosts the noontime variety show Eat Bulaga!. He is a member of the comedy trio Tito, Vic and Joey that has made several comedy movies and TV shows. As a songwriter, de Leon has penned songs including "Ipagpatawad Mo" (Forgive Me), "Awitin Mo, Isasayaw Ko" (Sing and I Will Dance), "Boyfriend kong Baduy" (My Geeky Boyfriend), "Iskul Bukol" (School Lump).

Personal life

De Leon was the second child of Jose Seoane de Leon (1918–2008), of Filipino-Spanish descent, and Emma Manahan Ramos. His paternal grandfather was the first mayor of Malolos, Bulacan. His parents divorced at a young age. At the age of three, his father moved to Madrid, Spain.

Prior to being an entertainer, de Leon earned his architecture degree from the National University in Manila. He was also a disc jockey for 12 radio stations when he was starting out.

Joey de Leon has five children. With first wife actress Daria Ramirez, he has two children, Joseph Joachim (Keempee) and Jacinda Myrtle. He married actress Eileen Macapagal. Their union produced three children, Jocas Eightria, Jako and Jio. De Leon also has three grandchildren from eldest daughter Cheenee and one granddaughter from Keempee.

Early career

He started out his showbiz career in the 1960s as a radio disc jockey. His first big break on TV was Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation's gag show OK Lang.

Tito, Vic and Joey

In 1975, de Leon became a co-host of GMA Network's early afternoon variety show Discorama hosted by Bobby Ledesma. He invited his former co-stars at OK Lang, brothers Tito, Vic and Val Sotto, to join him at Discorama. Only Tito and Vic accepted Joey's invitation. The newly-formed trio started to do comedy newscast segments interspersed with Top 40 hit-song parodies. The trio was soon invited to become part of the show Student Canteen as they released 12 albums based on their Discorama Tough Hits segment.

Although Tito, Vic and Joey started their trio via Discorama and Student Canteen, it was the sitcom Iskul Bukol that gave them nationwide fame as comedians. Soon after, other TV and movie producers came knocking on the trio's door. In 1979, Tito, Vic and Joey started hosting for the noontime show Eat Bulaga! which was pitted against the more established Student Canteen hosted by their former colleague (and now competitor) Bobby Ledesma. Not long after, Eat Bulaga! toppled Student Canteen from the ratings.

Solo artist

Although de Leon continued to do movies alongside his showbiz team mates Tito and Vic, he started doing solo performances for other TV shows. He top billed Joey and Son in the '80s, a sitcom on RPN where he played father. He was also one of the gag performers on TODAS where his co-stars included Jimmy Santos and Val Sotto. Other TV shows included Apple Pie, Patis, Atbp., The Sharon Cuneta Show, and Let's Go Crazy. He was launched by Viva Films as a solo comedian in She-Man: Mistress of the Universe. He also tried his hand at directing movies like Romeo Loves Juliet and Small, Medium, Large.

de Leon's films include Starzan'.

de Leon did several TV shows for GMA Network and ABC. In 1995, he made a movie comeback via the comedy Bangers for Viva Films as well as Pipti-pipti, Ang Tipo kong Lalake and Takot ako sa Darling Ko. He hosts Eat Bulaga which is now the longest-running TV program in the Philippines, and appears in other shows like Mel and Joey, Startalk, Nuts Entertainment and started a new show for ABC, the now-defunct Teka Mona, which replaced Wow Mali, his long-running TV show on the same network. Another show is in the works for Joey this time on GMA's sister station Q Network. He started hosting Takeshi's Castle with Ryan Yllana. He is also the resident judge of the annual reality-based star search StarStruck and writes the entertainment column De Leon's Den once a week in the Philippine broadsheet Manila Bulletin.

In December 2006, Joey returned to recording with a novelty single he wrote entitled "Itaktak Mo" (Shake it off). Unlike most of his previously recorded songs where the melodies were based on past and contemporary hits, Itaktak Mo had a unique melody that can pass off as either a pop dance hit or a ballroom song. Seen by critics as his answer to the other wildly popular hit, Boom Tarat Tarat (written by Lito Camo and sung by Joey's rival host Willie Revillame), Itaktak Mo was softly launched on Eat Bulaga! shortly before the Christmas season. On January 2007, the song was launched in Joey's album, Joey to the World 2 and gained airplay in most FM stations in a short span of time. Itaktak Mo has also become part of Eat Bulaga!'s segment "Taktak Mo o Tatakbo" that replaced "Laban o Bawi", and is also one of the official dances of the 4th batch of the reality talent search StarStruck.

After "Itaktak Mo" became one of the most requested dance tunes of 2007, Joey followed it up with "Kagat Labi Song", which was launched on "Eat Bulaga" on September 22, 2007. The "Kagat Labi" dance craze was already sweeping the whole country by storm before Joey wrote it. On February 24, 2008, Joey released a single entitled "Walang Daya" (No Cheating) with lyrics comparing his love to his rival host Willie Revillame's misfortunes (Wilyonaryo, Ferrari and Ultra stampede). He first sang it at his own program "Mel and Joey". "Walang Daya" will be included in the album version of "Kagat Labi" will be released under EMI Philippines.

In late 2009, he wrote another top hit Eat Bulaga song entitled "Ba Ba Boom". Then in early 2010, he wrote another single "Aalog-Alog" which is now rising to fame. He also wrote the themesong for Diz Iz It.

On July 31, 2008, de Leon tendered his irrevocable resignation as columnist (De Leon's Den) for Manila Bulletin.

Filmography

Title	Year	Role
Won't Last A Day Without You	2011	Pablo Apostol
Pak! Pak! My Dr. Kwak!	2011	Doctor
Ang Darling Kong Aswang	2009	Mang Kepweng
Iskul Bukol: 20 Years After	2008	Joey Escalera
Enteng Kabisote 4: The Beginning of the Legend	2007	Karimarimar
Enteng Kabisote 3: The Legend Goes on and on and on	2006	Shintaro Gokoyami
Enteng Kabisote 2: The Legend Continues	2005	Panggay
Enteng Kabisote: Okay ka fairy ko, the legend	2004	Mulawit
Fantastic Man	2003	Doc
Pakners	2003	Pickpocketer
Lastikman	2002	Elmer
Super Idol	2001	Pandoy
Wow! Multo	1997	Kuya Joe
Takot ako sa darling ko	1997	Marky
Pipti-pipti: One for you, two for me	1997	Jack
Ang Misis kong hoodlum	1996	Andy
Ang Tipo kong lalake (Maginoo pero medyo bastos)	1996	Boy
Detective: Michael & Jackson	1996	Ricky Lashley
Run Barbi Run	1995	Bartolome
Bangers	1995	Hip
Pandoy, ang alalay ng panday	1993	Pandoy
Alyas Batman en Robin	1993	Batman/Bruce
Sam And Miguel	1992	Miguel
The Wild Cowboys	1992	Juan Gomez
The Return of the Long Ranger & Tonton: How the West Was Wrong	1992	Davie Bowie aka Long Ranger
Goosebuster	1991	Patrick Sisi
Onyong Majikero	1991	Ervin
Barbi 2: For President	1991	Bartolome/Barbi
Ali in Wonderland	1991	Fernando/Ali
My Funny Valentine	1990	Mang Pandoy
Tiny Terrestrial: The Three Professors	1990	Prof. Edwin Presto
Little Boy Blue: Tiny Terrestrial	1990	Prof. Edwin Presto
Starzan 3: The Jungle Triangle	1990	Starzan
Tangga and Chos: Beauty Secret Agents	1990	Ray Tangga
I Have 3 Eggs	1990	Ariong
Little & Big Weapon	1990	Mel Bigson
Kabayo kids	1990	Pando/Yellow Banana
Ganda babae, gandang lalake	1990	Joseph
Elvis and James 2	1990	Elvis Presto
My Funny Valentine	1990	Mang Pandoy
Small, Medium en Large	1990	Prince/Director
Hotdog	1990	Pedro
Romeo Loves Juliet... But Their Families Hate Each Other!	1989	Romeo Sr.
Elvis and James, the Living Legends!	1989	Elvis Presto
Starzan 2: The Adventure Continues	1989	Stazan
Long Ranger & Tonton: Shooting Stars of the West	1989	Davie Bowie aka Long Ranger
Starzan: Shouting Star of the Jungle	1989	Starzan
Si Malakas at si Maganda	1989	Police Officer
Barbi: Maid in the Philippines	1989	Bartolome/Barbi
SuperMouse and the Robo-Rats	1989	Mickey
Wake Up Little Susie	1988	Alexander
Smith & Wesson	1988	James Smith
Sheman: Mistress of the Universe	1988	Pando/She-Man
Good Morning, Titser	1988	Priest
Ready aim Fire	1987	Hagler
Shoot That Ball	1987	Tinggoy
Forward March	1987	Dodong
The Best of Iskul Bukol: The Movie	1987	Joey Escalera
Horsey, Horsey Tigidig Tigidig	1986	Gringo
Send in The Clowns	1986	Jojo
Super wan, tu, tri	1986	Baltazar
Fly Me To The Moon	1986	Jacko
Working Boys	1985	Ernie
Ma'am May We Go Out	1985	Jeff Soriano
Mama Said, Papa Said, I Love You	1985	Boy
Doctor, Doctor We Are Sick	1985	Robin
Ride on Baby	1985	John
I Have Three Hands	1985	Caloy
Naku ha!	1984	Billy Jean
Pepe en Pilar	1984	Pepper
Give Me Five	1984	Jackson
Goodah!	1984	Owen
My Darling Princess	1983	Joakim
M.I.B.: Men In Brief	1983	Eugene Williams
Ang Tapang Para sa Lahat!	1982	Raphael
Tatlo Silang Tatay Ko	1982	Bronzon
Si Ako at... tres muskiteros!	1982	Ariong Muskitero
Mr. One-Two-Three Part 2	1981	Ricky
Magtoning muna tayo	1981	Rene Soriano
Tartan	1981	Danny
D'Gradweyts	1981	Jomari
Bilibid Gays	1981	Daria
Palpak Connections	1981	Katch
Age Doesn't Matter	1981	Johnny
Mr. One-Two-Three	1980	Ricky
Iskul Bukol (Freshmen)	1980	Joey Escalera
Rock, Baby! Rock!	1979	himself
Swing It... Baby!	1979	Joey
Mang Kepweng	1979	Tres Dwendes

TV shows

• The Biggest Game Show in the World - Asia (2012) (TV5) Host
• Celebrity Samurai (2011–present) (TV5) Host
• Protégé: The Battle For The Big Break (2011) (GMA Network) Judge
• Suwerteng-Suwerte sa Siyete: Win mo, Kapuso! (2011) (GMA Network) Host
• Big Shot Jackpot (2011–present) (TV5)
• Mind Master (2011) (GMA Network) Host
• Pinoy Samurai (2011–present) (TV5)
• Suwerteng-Suwerte sa Siyete: Press it! Win It! (2010) (GMA Network) Host
• House or Not (2010–2011) (TV5) as Don Joey (host)
• Suwerteng-Suwerte sa Siyete: Spin it! Win It! (GMA Network) Host
• Joey's Quirky World (GMA Network, March 7, 2009)
• Jungle TV (2008) GMA Network
• Slingo (2007) ABC
• Takeshi's Castle Q Network (2006)/GMA Network (2006–2009)
• Teka Mona (2006–2007) ABC
• Wow Maling Mali (2006) ABC
• Wow Mali (1996–2006, 2009–2010, 2011–present) ABC
• Wow! Meganon?! (2010–2011) TV5
• Startalk (2005–Present) GMA Network
• Mel and Joey (2004–2011) GMA Network
• StarStruck (2003–2006) GMA Network
• Nuts Entertainment (2003–2008) GMA Network
• Sana ay Ikaw na Nga (2002–2003) GMA Network
• Kiss Muna (2002) GMA Network
• Korek na korek ka Diyan (2001) GMA Network (with Pareng Vic)
• Back To Iskul Bukol (2001–2002) IBC
• Beh! Bote Nga! (1999) GMA Network
• Mixed Nuts: Numero Unong Terrific Show (1993–1995) GMA Network
• Rock n' Roll 2000 (1992) ABC - Teodoro Enriquez
• TVJ on 5 (1992) ABC
• TVJ (* Si Malakas at si Maganda (1990) IBC - Special Participation
• Eat Bulaga Holy Week Drama Specials
• Eat Bulaga! (1979–present)
• T.O.D.A.S. (IBC 13) (1978–1989)
• Iskul Bukol (1977) IBC - Joey Escalera
• Student Canteen (1976) GMA Network

Albums/singles

• Kagat Labi (2008)- PolyEast Records (formerly OctoArts International, Inc. & EMI Philippines)
• Joey to the World 2 (2007)- Sony BMG Music (featuring "Itaktak Mo")
• Joey to the World (2004)- Sony BMG Music
• Halukay Ube (2004)- Duet with Sexbomb Girls from the album: Bomb Thr3at (Sony BMG)
• Ispageti (2003)- Duet with Sexbomb Girls from the album: Round 2 (Sony BMG)
• Mga Pakyuuuut ni Joey de Leon (1999)- PolyEast Records (formerly OctoArts International, Inc. & EMI Philippines)
• JoeyRassic (1993)- MCA Music, Inc.
• TVJ Tough Hits series (12 albums)- Vicor Music Corp.

See also

• Maria Teresa Carlson

External links

• Joey de Leon at the Internet Movie Database