Cherie Gil

Early life Cherie Gil was born on June 21, 1963 as Evangeline Rose Gil Eigenmann to a family of actors. Her parents were Eddie Mesa and Rosemarie Gil. and a half-sister, Elaine Eigenmann.

Career Gil started in show business at an early age, being the daughter of celebrities and sibling of actors. She was cast either as a daughter or part of a circle of friends of the lead actor. However, she was given a lead star status in Bubot na Bayabas in 1978 opposite another newcomer, Ronald Bregendahl (Rita Gomez and Ric Rodrigo's son). The movie was a forgettable release.

In 1979, film matriarch Lily Monteverde relaunched her via Problem Child with the then-current teen sensation, Lloyd Samartino. The movie fared mildly, and Gil was continually cast by Regal Films in films such as City After Dark, Salawahan, Ito Ba Ang Ating Mga Anak and Sugar Daddy. She went freelance with assignments like Beach House, Ang Bouncer at ang Dancer, Dancing Master, and Girlfriend. In 1982, Gil portrayed a naïve girl affected by World War II in Bacolod in the now classic film Oro, Plata, Mata.

She tried singing and had another mild hit, "I Love You, Boy".

On TV, she was one of the co-hosts of German Moreno in Germspesyal from 1979 to 1981. Gil became a mainstay of Champoy with Subas Herrero and Noel Trinidad (PETA) Arbol de Fuego, an adaptation of Anton Chekov's The Cherry Orchard; and Full Gallop as Diana Vreeland, for which she won the Best Actress award for her one-woman portrayal in 2014.

In 2000–2001, Gil starred in her first soap, May Bukas Pa, which aired on IBC-13 and RPN-9 as part of Viva Entertainment TVs block timer. In 2002–2003 she appeared on ABS-CBN's Bituin, where she resumed her vocal talents. She also appeared in the 2004 TV series, Marina. In 2006, she took on the role as Menang Medel in the hit TV remake of Gulong ng Palad.

In 2007–2008, Gil played the role of Ayessa White / Frosta in Lastikman alongside Vhong Navarro. She played Amanda (originally played by Charito Solis in the 1983 film) as protagonist in Pieta alongside Ryan Agoncillo.

In 2010, she was chosen to star in the fantasy series Grazilda on GMA Network. In early 2011, she joined the cast of the comedy fantasy series Magic Palayok, co-starring Carla Abellana and Geoff Eigenmann. The series was not picked up for a second season after the season 1 finale. GMA Network cast her in another television show, Time of My Life. In the same year, she played the role of Maria Callas in Terrence McNally's award-winning play, Master Class, for which she received positive reviews.

Gil was one of 83 awardees of the Ani ng Dangal award from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), represented the cinema category on February 29, 2016. In May 2021, she announced that she had left her role in an unspecified television series, lamenting that her efforts were not "seen and met in the same light".

Personal life Gil was a previous relationship with actor Leo Martinez where they had a son born in 1987. Gil was later married in 1994 to Rony Rogoff, an Israeli violinist; the couple had a daughter and a son. Gil and Rogoff’s relationship ended in 2008 after 20 years of marriage.

Shortly after their separation, Gil's two children with Rogoff were under his custody in Israel, while Gil's eldest son remained with her in the Philippines. Gil reportedly reconciled with ex-husband Rogoff in 2021, deciding to be "companions" to each other. Her show business career ended in February 2022 when she moved to the United States to be with her children and prioritize her own "mental, emotional, [and] spiritual states". She also shaved her head to symbolize her "personal growth".

Gil died on August 5, 2022, at 4:48 a.m. EDT (4:48 p.m. PHT) from her cancer in New York City. Prior to her death, she had been receiving treatment at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York. Her brother, Michael, said that no final resting place was chosen, as Gil's remains were cremated in New York and some of her ashes were scattered in Bukidnon, her favorite place.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes Source 1970 Bruka: Queen of Evil (She Yao Jing: Manda vs. Kung Fu) Younger Manda / Bruka Credited as "Cherie Gil" 1973 Cofradia Child / Younger Raquel Montesa 1977 Beerhouse Corazon 1979 Dancing Master Candy 1980 Gabi ng Lagim Ngayon La Luna Manila by Night Kano Puga Leonor Dimalanta Beach House Bubot Na Bayabas Problem Child Rita Girlfriend Beerhouse Dancers Deadly Brothers Flora 1981 The Betamax Story 1982 Ito Ba ang Ating Mga Anak? Jenny Oro, Plata, Mata Trining Ojeda No Other Love Nurse Guest role Sana'y Wala Nang Wakas Monique Versoza Huwag Mong Itanong Kung Bakit Aning 1989 Jessa: Blusang Itim Part II Lara Loren Rosenda Ria 2012 My Kontrabida Girl Sosy Problems Martina Bertrand 2013 A Moment in Time Karen Linden Sonata Regina Cadena Also producer (as My Own Mann) Para sa Hopeless Romantic Miss Katigbak 2016 A Lullaby to the Sorrowful Mystery Babae / Tikbalang 2020 Sensitive and in Love Dr. Gina Dangerous Beauty Lucila Short film Magikland Yndraiel 2021 Elehiya Dr. Celine de Miranda Last film appearance

Television / digital series Year Title Role Notes Source 1980–1985 Champoy Herself Supporting cast 1984–1986 Ito Yun, ang Galing! Host 1984–1989 Superstar Co-host 1987 Regal Shocker Tessie Episode: "Halimaw ng Dilim"Credited as "Cherrie Gil" 1991-1992 Cebu Gemma dela Rosa 1992 Maalaala Mo Kaya Sonia Episode: "Walis Tambo"Credited as "Cherie Gil" 1994 Bisperas ng Kasaysayan Ma. Gabriela Luzuriaga 2000–2001 May Bukas Pa Divina Miguel 2000 Maalaala Mo Kaya Episode: "Postcard" 2001–2003 Sa Puso Ko Iingatan Ka Star / Nena 2012–2013 Temptation of Wife Stella Salcedo Single / Single Bianca Dear Uge Angelita Buensalida Episode: "Terror Boss" 2018–2019 Onanay Helena Sanchez-Montenegro 2020 Tadhana Cordella Episode: "Hindi pa huli ang Umibig" (Parts 1 & 2) Legal Wives Zaina Guimba-Makadatu Last TV appearance 2008Master ClassMaria CallasCarlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Makati City 2014 Full Gallop Diana Vreeland Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Makati City 2017 Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike Masha Repertory Philippines; Onstage Theater, Greenbelt 1, Makati City 2019 Angels in America: Millennium Approaches Hannah Pitt / Ethel Rosenberg / Rabbi Isidor Chemelwitz / Dr. Henry Atlantis Theatrical Entertainment Group; Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Makati City; Last Stage Appearance

Awards and nominations Year Work Award Category Result Source 1985 God... Save Me! 1985 Metro Manila Film Festival Rowspan="3"| Best Supporting Actress