Gerardo de Leon

Known for: Directing
Born: September 12, 1913, Manila, Philippines
Died: July 25, 1981
Movies: 43

Gerardo de León (September 12, 1913 - July 25, 1981) was a Filipino actor turned film director, who made his acting debut in the 1934 movie Ang Dangal.

De León, who was born as Gerardo Ilagan, was a member of the Ilagan clan of Philippine motion pictures, which includes Robert Arevalo, Liberty Ilagan and Ronaldo Valdez, and musical scorer Tito Arévalo. De León was a medical doctor by profession, but his ultimate love for film has won him over. He made eight more films as an actor before he became a director. He made his directorial debut in 1939's Bahay-Kubo, starring Fely Vallejo (who he later married). One of his unfinished projects was in the late Fernando Poe, Jr.'s Juan de la Cruz in 1972.

Nicknamed "Manong", de León holds the sole distinction of being the most awarded film director in the history of the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences' FAMAS Awards, the Philippines' Oscars. From 1952 to 1971, he was awarded seven FAMAS Awards, three of them he received three years in a row.

Best-Known Movies

5.1

Women in Cages

1971

4.2

Mad Doctor of Blood Island

1969

4.5

Terror Is a Man

1959

4.8

Brides of Blood

1968

5.6

The Blood Drinkers

1964

4.6

Curse of the Vampires

1966

5.4

Cavalry Command

1958

5.0

The Walls of Hell

1964

6.4

Noli Me Tángere

1961

5.2

Sanda Wong

1955

Filmography

1939	Ama at Anak
1939	Ruisenor
1937	Ang Pagbabalik

Directing, Writing & Producing

1975	Banaue: Stairway to the Sky	Director, Screenplay
1974	Fe, Esperanza, Caridad	Director, Screenplay
1971	Women in Cages	Director
1971	Lilet	Director
1969	Mad Doctor of Blood Island	Director
1969	Brownout	Director
1968	Brides of Blood	Director
1966	Curse of the Vampires	Director
1966	Wanted: Johnny L	Director
1965	The World of the Oppressed	Director
1964	The Blood Drinkers	Director
1964	The Walls of Hell	Director
1964	Anak ni Dyesebel	Director
1962	El Filibusterismo	Director
1961	The Moises Padilla Story	Director
1961	Noli Me Tángere	Screenplay, Director
1960	Huwag Mo Akong Limutin	Writer, Director
1959	Terror Is a Man	Director
1959	Aawitan Kita	Director
1958	Hanggang sa Dulo ng Daigdig	Director
1958	Cavalry Command	Director
1957	Bicol Express	Director
1956	Saigon	Director
1955	Sanda Wong	Director
1954	Pedro Penduko	Director
1954	Ifugao	Producer, Director
1953	Dyesebel	Director
1953	Ang Bagong Maestra	Director
1952	Ang Sawa sa Lumang Simboryo	Director
1951	Sisa	Director
1951	Diego Silang	Director
1950	Kamay ni Satanas	Director
1950	48 Hours	Director
1949	Padre Burgos	Director
1947	Ikaw Ay Akin	Director
1944	The Dawn of Freedom	Director
1944	Tatlong Maria	Director
1941	Ang Maestra	Director
1939	Ama at Anak	Director
1939	Bahay Kubo	Director

Data from TMDB. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.