John Arcilla

Romeo John Gonzales Arcilla (born June 24, 1966) is a Filipino film and television actor who has portrayed roles including Antonio Luna in Heneral Luna, Hagorn in Encantadia, Carlos Fiero in Dirty Linen, President Eleazar Sagrado in Pamilya Sagrado, and Renato Hipolito in FPJ's Ang Probinsyano.

In 2021, he was awarded the Volpi Cup for Best Actor at the Venice International Film Festival for his role in On the Job: The Missing 8, making him the first Filipino and Southeast Asian actor to receive the award.

Early life and education Romeo John Gonzales Arcilla was born on June 24, 1966 in Manila, Philippines, and is related to former President Manuel L. Quezon. Arcilla and his family moved to his mother's hometown of Baler, Aurora in 1972 after the martial law declaration in the Philippines.

Arcilla was a member of the community-based Philippine Educational Theater Association – Metropolitan Teen Theater League (PETA-MTTL). In 1986, he graduated from Saint Joseph's College of Quezon City (SJCQC). From 1989 to 1990, Arcilla worked as a casting director for Foote, Cone & Belding.

From 1991 to 1997, Arcilla was a resident actor and senior member of the Tanghalang Pilipino Actor Company, the resident theatre of the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Arcilla was also part of the main cast of Rama at Sita, a 1999 Filipino musical adapted from the Indian epic Ramayana. In 2000, he appeared with Repertory Philippines as Valentin in Kiss of the Spider Woman.

From 1992 on, he acted in a number of films, including Mulanay (1996). In 1997, he appeared in Ligaya ang Itawag Mo sa Akin.

1997–2009: career expansion and recognition

From 1998 to 2005, Arcilla played supporting roles in film and television, including Pangako sa 'Yo (2000), Basta't Kasama Kita (2003), and Sugo (2005). He starred in the film adaptation of Tony Perez's play Sa North Diversion Road with Irma Adlawan.

2010s

In 2010, Arcilla starred in Halaw, and afterwards returned to television in Magkaribal.

In 2012, Arcilla had a cameo in The Bourne Legacy as a head security guard. In 2013, Arcilla appeared in Metro Manila, which was selected as the British entry for Best Foreign Language Film at the 86th Academy Awards.

In 2015, he portrayed General Antonio Luna in Heneral Luna; for the role he studied Luna's temperament and vulnerabilities. The film was reported as the highest‑grossing Filipino historical film at the time. He later reprised and parodied the role in television commercials.

In 2016, Arcilla appeared in Mikhail Red’s Birdshot as police officer Mendoza.

From 2017 to 2022, Arcilla played Renato "Buwitre" Hipolito, a government official and antagonist in FPJ's Ang Probinsyano. In 2019, he appeared in the comedy film The Panti Sisters and in the Filipino adaptation of Miracle in Cell No. 7.

2020s

In 2020, Arcilla portrayed Fernando Suarez in Suarez: The Healing Priest, and in 2021 was in On the Job: The Missing 8. Arcilla won the Volpi Cup for Best Actor at the Venice international Film Festival for his performance in On the Job: The Missing 8 (2021).

He also appeared in Big Night! and A Hard Day, both selected for the 2021 Metro Manila Film Festival. In A Hard Day, he played the villain Lieutenant Ace "Alas" Franco. In 2023, Arcilla played Carlos Fiero in Dirty Linen and later appeared in Jun Lana’s film Ten Little Mistresses. In 2024, he appeared in Fuchsia Libre from Mavx Productions, playing the father of a gay wrestler.

Political career He ran for city councilor in the 1st district of Parañaque in 2010, but lost.

Filmography Film

Television / digital series

Awards and nominations Arcilla has received awards and nominations in the Philippines and internationally. In 2013, he was nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the British Independent Film Awards for Metro Manila. In 2016, he received a Best Actor nomination at the Asian Film Awards for Heneral Luna.

In 2017, Arcilla received a Best Supporting Actor Craft Award from the First Run Festival for the short film Supot. In 2021, he received the Volpi Cup for Best Actor at the Venice International Film Festival for On the Job: The Missing 8.

Arcilla received the Best Supporting Actor award from the Gawad Urian in 1997 for Ligaya Ang Itawag Mo Sa Akin. Director Jerrold Tarog cast Arcilla in the leading role of Heneral Luna after seeing his performances in Anino and Metro Manila.

Arcilla was awarded the (Aurora's Honor) by his home province in 2005 for his work in theatre, film, and television. In 2009, he received an Outstanding Citizen Award from the municipality of San Luis, Aurora for achievements in the performing arts.

For performance in film and television Year Award-giving Body Category Work Result 1996 Manila Film Festival Best Actor Mulanay 1997 Gawad Urian Awards Best Supporting Actor Ligaya Ang Itawag Mo Sa Akin 2006 Golden Screen Award Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role (Drama) On The North Diversion Road 2007 Golden Screen Award Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role (Drama)Compound Star Awards for Movies Movie Actor of the Year 2009 Gawad Urian Awards Best Supporting Actor Manila Skies 2010 Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival Best Actor (New Breed) Halaw 2011 25th PMPC Star Awards for Television Best Single Performance by an Actor Maalaala Mo Kaya – "Cross" episode 2013 16th British Independent Film Awards Best Supporting Actor Metro Manila 2016 2016 Platinum Stallion Media Awards Best Film Actor Heneral Luna 14th Gawad Tanglaw Awards Gantimpalang Dr. Jaime G. AngPresidential Jury Award for Film Highest Merit on Film Performance 10th Asian Film Awards Best Actor 34th Film Academy of the Philippines AwardsBest Actor MEDIA WORKS Commexcel Student Choice Awards of San Juan De LetranActor of the Year Pangasinan Government URDUJA Film Festival Best ActorHeneral Luna 2017Craft Award from the 2017 First Run Festival held in New YorkBest Supporting ActorSupot 2020 2020 Metro Manila Film Festival Best Actor in a Leading Role Suarez: The Healing Priest 2021 78th Venice Film Festival Volpi Cup for Best Actor On the Job: The Missing 8 Lion HearTVRoyal Lion AwardsOn the Job: The Missing 8 GEMS (Guild of Educators, Mentors, and Students)6th GEMS Awards Natatanging Hiyas ng Sining sa Pelikula (Outstanding Medal in the Field of Film)On the Job: The Missing 8 Esquire PhilippinesActor of the YearOn the Job: The Missing 8 Metro Manila Film Festival Best Supporting Actor Big Night! A Hard Day 2022 Manila Bulletin MB Uplift Awards for Entertainment On the Job: The Missing 8 Film Development Council of the Philippines2022 Camera Obscura Artistic Excellence Award for FilmOn the Job: The Missing 8 Society of Filipino Film Reviewers2022 Best Lead Performance, 2nd Rebyu AwardsOn the Job: The Missing 8 National Commission for Culture and the Arts2022 Ani ng Dangal para sa Cinema On the Job: The Missing 8 2022 Golden Laurel Media AwardsBest Drama ActorFPJ's Ang Probinsyano FAMAS Awards Best Supporting ActorBig Night! Best Supporting ActorA Hard Day ContentAsia Awards Best Male Lead in a TV ProgrammeOn the Job: The Missing 8 Asian Academy Creative Awards Best Actor in a Leading Role – National Winner (Philippines)On the Job: The Missing Eight Gawad Urian Awards Best ActorOn the Job: the Missing Eight Best Supporting ActorBig Night! Best Supporting ActorA Hard Day Jeepney TV Fave Best Supporting ActorFPJ's Ang Probinsyano 24th Gawad Pasado (Pampelikulang Samahan ng mga Dalubguro Best Supporting ActorA Hard Day 5th EDDYS from the Society of Philippine Entertainment Editors (SPEEd) Best ActorOn the Job: The Missing Eight Best Supporting ActorBig Night! 202335th PMPC Star Awards for Television Best Drama Supporting ActorFPJ's Ang Probinsyano 37th PMPC Star Awards for Movies Movie Actor of the Year

Other awards and recognition