Alden Richards

Biography

Richard Reyes Faulkerson Jr. (born January 2, 1992), known professionally as Alden Richards, is a Filipino actor, model, television host, singer, and businessman. Known for his leading roles in romantic and historical action films and television. His accolades include five PMPC Star Awards for Movies, six PMPC Star Awards for Television, eight Box Office Entertainment Awards, two FAMAS Awards, a Seoul International Drama Award, a Jinseo Arigato International Film Festival Award, a Golden Screen Award, and an Ani ng Dangal, in addition to nominations for a Gawad Urian and two Metro Manila Film Festival. Richards is referred to in the entertainment industry as "Asia's Multimedia Star". Richards's acting career began in the fantasy series Alakdana (2011), which marked his first screen appearance. His breakthrough was in the romantic drama One True Love (2012). He rose to stardom in the romantic comedy sketch Kalyeserye opposite Maine Mendoza, known popularly as AlDub. He later starred in various television series including Mundo Mo'y Akin (2013), Carmela (2014), Illustrado (2014), Destined to be Yours (2017), Victor Magtanggol (2018), The Gift (2019–2020), The World Between Us (2021–2022), Start-Up PH (2022), Pulang Araw (2024), Love, Siargao (2026) and Code Grey (2026). In films, Richards started in supporting roles and transitioned into leading ones. His commercially successful movies include Ang Panday 2 (2011), Si Agimat, si Enteng Kabisote at si Ako (2012), My Bebe Love: KiligPaMore (2015), Imagine You and Me (2016), Five Breakups and a Romance (2023), including Hello, Love, Goodbye (2019) and Hello, Love, Again (2024), which are among the highest-grossing Filipino films of all time. Richards made his directorial debut in the legal thriller film Out of Order (2025). Richards has received several awards and nominations for his music albums. His sophomore EP Wish I May is certified diamond record by PARI, making it one of the best-selling albums in the Philippines. He has ventured into production, directing and co-producing films, concerts and E-sports events. Beyond his work in the entertainment industry, he has devoted his time supporting various charitable causes, particularly in the area of literacy and education. He is the founder of AR Foundation Inc., a scholarship program that helps underprivileged students finish college. Richards serves as a member of Mowelfund Inc. Board of Trustees since 2023. He is the global ambassador for the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.

== Early life and education == Richard Reyes Faulkerson Jr. was born on January 2, 1992, in Quezon City and raised in Sta. Rosa, Laguna to Richard Peralta Faulkerson Sr. and Rosario Reyes Faulkerson. He is the second child in the family with an older brother and two younger sisters. He is of American descent through his father who is half-Filipino and half-American and his American paternal grandfather. His grandfather died in California when he was only 3 years old. He studied at Paco Catholic School, in Manila but transferred to another school when his family moved to Laguna. He graduated high school from Colegio de Santa Rosa de Lima. In college, he attended De La Salle University, Canlubang with a degree in Business Administration but his studies was put on hold when his mother died of pneumonia in 2008. To help his family financially, he pursued his mother's wish for him to become an actor and adopted the stage name Alden Richards. In April 2025, Richards enrolled at Alpha Aviation Group, an aviation school to fulfill his own childhood dream of becoming a pilot.

== Career ==

=== 2011–2014: Breakthrough ===

After modeling and male pageant stints, Richards auditioned and secured the role of Jomari on the series Alakdana, directed by Mac C Alejandre with co-stars Louise delos Reyes and Paulo Avelino. For the role, he won a Golden Screen Television Award for Breakthrough Performance by an Actor and received nomination for New Male Television Personality at the 25th PMPC Star Awards for Television. He was cast on teen-drama series Tween Hearts, directed by Gina Alajar and its film adaptation Tween Academy: Class of 2012, directed by Mark A. Reyes. He was also part of GMA' Sunday variety shows Party Pilipinas, Sunday All Stars and the comedy-horror series Spooky Nights. He appeared on fantasy-action movie Ang Panday 2, directed by Mac C. Alejandre, replacing Aljur Abrenica role as Hubli He was on the horror movie The Road, directed by Yam Laranas; playing the teenager Luis Medina. His performance was praised by critics. Some entertainment writers predicted that he would become the next big star of the network. He appeared in supporting roles on My Beloved and CBN Asia' UNOS (Calamity) in the 4th week special Tanikala. Richards continued working with Louise delos Reyes and director Andoy Ranay on romantic drama series One True Love, playing the role of Tisoy and Mundo Mo'y Akin, playing the role of Jerome. His portrayal on the shows earned him a nomination for an Outstanding Performance by an Actor at the Golden Screen Television Awards. On October 25, 2013, Richards signed an exclusive contract with GMA Network. As a recording artist, Richards debuted on Party Pilipinas #SummerCrush episode. In April 2013, he launched his first single Haplos, a revival of Shamrock song which was released on iTunes and MyMusic Store. His self-titled album Alden Richards was released by Universal Records on May 26, 2013. Haplos was used as a soundtrack on television series Mundo mo'y Akin while his other songs Di na Mababawi at Sa Aking Tabi were used in the comedy-drama series With a Smile and the Korean series Seoyoung, My Daughter, which was dubbed in Filipino He was featured Myx Celebrity VJ for the month of June 2013. Richards received New Male Recording Artist of the Year nomination at the 27th Awit Awards and 6th Star Awards for Music. In 2014, Richards starred with Marian Rivera on Carmela, a drama series, directed by Dominic Zapata. His version of the song Naalala Ka from his debut album was used as the end theme song for the series. That same year, he played national hero José Rizal on the biographical drama series Ilustrado, directed by King Mark Baco. For the role, he won Best Actor award at the 29th PMPC Star Awards for Television. He was the only nominee from his home network against a field of respected actors from the rival network. He co-hosted Bet ng Bayan, a reality competition show with Regine Velasquez. He acted opposite veteran actress Nora Aunor on Kinabukasan, a short film directed by Adolfo Alix Jr.

=== 2015–2021: Rise to prominence === In 2015, Richards became part of the longest-running variety, noontime show Eat Bulaga! as co-host in That's my Bae segment. On July 16, 2015, he was paired with Maine Mendoza accidentally in the segment of Juan For All, All for Juan and they became a loveteam known as AlDub. Because of their popularity, a sketch comedy series called Kalyeserye was created for them; Richards played different roles including a fictionalized version of himself.

In August 2015, Richards signed a four-year film contract with APT Entertainment and a recording contract with GMA Records. His second album Wish I May was launched on October 17, 2015, in SM North Edsa. The album contained two original songs and the rest were renditions. The first single Wish I May was an original composition by Agat Obar-Morallo and was released a month earlier for online downloading and streaming. His song landed the top spot on iTunes(PH) Songs chart. The second album was certified gold record from Philippine Association of the Record Industry (PARI) prior to its official released. In October 2015, his debut album Alden Richards earned gold record from PARI and ranked number 10 at the Billboard World Albums chart. In the same month, Universal Records released a special edition of his debut album including AlDub theme song God Gave Me You by Bryan White, thus helping his album turned into platinum record in November. His second album Wish I May received 2× platinum record in December 2015; it turned 7× platinum record by July and earned a Diamond Record award from PARI in October 2016. In December 2015, Richards and Maine Mendoza starred on romantic comedy film, My Bebe Love: KiligPaMore alongside Vic Sotto and AiAi delas Alas, directed by Jose Javier Reyes, which was an official entry to 41st Metro Manila Film Festival. Richards was inducted to Philippines Walk of Fame with his co-stars from Kalyeserye in Eastwood City, Quezon City. He returned to big screen with Maine Mendoza on Imagine You and Me, directed by Michael Tuveira. The film was released on July 13, 2016. The following year, they starred their first primetime television series Destined to be Yours, directed by Irene Villamore and headlined Love is... a television film directed by Adolfo Alix Jr and produced by Eat Bulaga!. He released his book entitled Alden Richards: In My Own Words in July 2016. Aside from being a regular host on Eat Bulaga! and Sunday PinaSaya, he appeared as guest star in Lip Sync Battle Philippines, That's My Amboy and the reboot fantasy series Encantadia. Richards renewed his contract with GMA Network in September 2016. He co-hosted the 21st Asian Television Awards in Singapore. Richards played real-life activist Bonifacio Ilagan on Alaala: A Martial Law Special, a docudrama directed by Adolfo Alix Jr. and written by Boni Ilagan with co-stars Bianca Umali and Rocco Nacino. The show premiered in September 2017. The special won silver medal at the New York Festival TV and Film Awards. Richards and program manager Joy Madrigal received the award. In 2018, he played the titular role of Victor Magtanggol, an action-drama fantasy series directed by Dominic Zapata. After being on movie hiatus for almost 3 years, Richards starred with Kathryn Bernardo on Star Cinema's Hello, Love, Goodbye, directed by Cathy Garcia-Molina in 2019. The film became one of the highest grossing Filipino movie of all time. In September 2019, he starred on drama series The Gift, directed by Lord Alvin Madridejos with co-stars Jean Garcia, Joe Berry and Ysabel Ortega. In 2020, Richards was honored with Ani ng Dangal by National Commission for Culture and the Arts and a recipient of Asian Star Prize in Seoul International Drama Awards in South Korea. He returned to All-Out Sundays, a musical variety show. In July 2021, he starred with Jasmine Curtis-Smith on The World Between Us directed by Dominic Zapata with co-stars Jaclyn Jose and Dina Bonnieve.

=== 2022–present === In March 2023, he returned to Eat Bulaga! after a year-long hiatus from the show, focusing on other projects including the TV series Start-Up PH, working with Bea Alonzo in 2022. The series was directed by Jerry Lopez Sineneng and Dominic Zapata. Richards and Julia Montes starred on Five Breakups and a Romance; directed by Irene Emma Villamor. The movie was the first collaboration of GMA Pictures, Cornerstone Studios, and Myriad Entertainment. In an interview, Sharon Cuneta revealed that she and Richards would be featured in a film, Family of Two directed by Nuel Naval and produced by CineKo Productions. It was shown at the 2023 Metro Manila Film Festival. He played the lead role in Magpakailanman: Sa Puso't Isipan, directed by Gina Alajar with co-stars Chris Villanueva, Jackie Lou Blanco and Therese Malvar. The episode won for Best Single Drama Anthology National Winner at the 2024 Asian Academy Creative Awards. The episode first premiered in August 2023. It was re-aired in January 2025. He co-hosted the 2023 Miss Universe Philippines with Xian Lim. Richards returned to host the 2024 Miss Universe Philippines with Gabbi Garcia, Tim Yap and former Ms. Universe R'Bonney Gabriel, held at the SM Mall Of Asia Arena , where he famously shouted the place "Baguio!" along during the announcement of the Top 20 candidates, becoming a meme. In 2026, during the pilot episode of the reboot of Gandang Gabi Vice, Richards clarified that it was due to technical difficulties citing an audio mismatch between the venue and the livestream became the cause of the incident. He joined the war action, drama series Pulang Araw, directed by Dominic Zapata with an ensemble cast of Dennis Trillo, Barbie Forteza, David Licauco and Sanya Lopez. He played the role of Eduardo Dela Cruz, one of the guerillas. The series aired on Netflix from July to December 2024. In November 2024, Richards was reunited with Bernardo in Hello, Love, Again, directed by Cathy Garcia-Sampana. The movie became the highest-grossing Filipino films of all time. This was the first movie studio collaboration between Star Cinema and GMA Pictures. The film debut on Netflix in February 2025. In June 2025, he hosted Stars on the Floor, a reality dance competition with Marian Rivera, Pokwang and SB19 choreographer Jay Joseph Roncesvalles served as the dance judges. That same month, Richards announced his first directed film, titled Out of Order co-starring Heaven Peralejo and Nonie Buencamino Out of Order was an official entry to 3rd Da Nang Asian Film Festival (DNAFF) in Vietnam and Jagran Film Festival in India In December 2025, Richards was inducted to Anak TV Seal Awards, Hall of Fame. In February 2026, he returns to host for the season 2 of Stars on the Floor. He stars with Nadine Lustre in Love, Siargao, a romcom series which will be released on June 26, 2026 on Viu.