Jess Lapid, Sr.

Jesus Songco Lapid (October 5, 1933 – July 13, 1968) was a Filipino actor and father of actor, diving instructor, and fight director Jess Lapid Jr. He was given the movie screen name Jess Lapid. His older brother is Jose Lapid, father of Lito Lapid.

He was fatally shot inside a nightclub in Quezon City on July 13, 1968.

Early life Jesus Songco Lapid was born on October 5, 1933, in Guagua, Pampanga. His older brother, Jose, is the father and grandfather of movie stars-turned politicians Lito Lapid (now a Senator), and his son is Mark Lapid (former governor of Pampanga and now TIEZA Head). Jess started as a grip for Premiere Productions. He then became an extra for Premiere Productions, and shifted to being a stuntman after finding out that they were paid more.

Career Jesus Songco Lapid was a stuntman of Premiere, often doubling for more established stars. His stunts included riding horses, falling from cliffs, and getting shot at by villains. He doubled for action movie star Fernando Poe Jr., which eventually led to a close friendship.

In May 1960, during a visit to Cebu City, Lapid managed to shield fellow actor Zaldy Zshornack from knife-wielding assailants, receiving three stab wounds in his right arm while Zshornack fired two warning shots to scare away the assailants.

When Poe ventured into film productions, he made Jess one of the regulars in his films, giving him roles that required real acting, rather than choreographed stunt actions. Jess rose to the occasion and proved to be a convincing character actor. Poe tried him out in Pasong Diablo, in 1961. It was then in the FPJ Productions, Sierra Madre (1963) that Poe decided to give Jess the full star treatment from a more prominent billing to major publicity exposures.

It was Tagalog Ilang-Ilang Productions picked him up and eventually made him into a superstar in the movie “Kardong Kidlat” (1964) which became such a smashing success at the box office tills. He co-starred with Vic Vargas in “7 Kilabot ng Barilan”. In 1966, he got to team up with Gloria Romero in the film Batang Muntinglupa, which would be the only movie they did together. The film also starred a young Jay Ilagan. Jess was brought to the National Orthopedic Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival. He was 34 years old. Persistent reports linked the incident to another Kapampangan actress, Nancy Roman, also his leading lady. A suspect, Mario Henson, gave himself up to the police, and at least one gunman from Angeles City was implicated in the crime.

A public viewing of his body was held at the Santo Cristo Chapel, then his body was brought to his hometown on July 13, 1968. His was buried at Guagua Cemetery in Pampanga.

Simaron Brothers was shown posthumously at the Globe Theater, and the blurb capitalized on his sensational death by touting his last movie as a “picture that will project the living image of Jess Lapid in the hearts of millions..”.

As a belated tribute, his nephew Lito Lapid appeared as Jess Lapid in the biopic The Jess Lapid Story, released in 1978. He also immortalized the iconic role of Leon Guerrero, first originated by Jess in the 1968 film, “Leon Guerrero: Laban sa 7 Kilabot”.

Lapid Sr. is regarded as one of the stunt performers who transitioned to leading roles in action films, alongside actors such as Lito Lapid, Fernando Poe Jr., Dante Varona and Baldo Marro. He is associated with the action film genre during his era.

In popular culture He was portrayed by his nephew, Lito Lapid, in the 1978 biopic film The Jess Lapid Story He was portrayed by his son, Jess Lapid Jr., in the 1994 film Epimaco Velasco: NBI.