- published: 16 Jan 2016
- views: 81322
Jose Sixto Gonzales Dantes III, better known by the screen name Dingdong Dantes, is a Filipino actor, television presenter, commercial model and film producer. Dantes is currently working as an exclusive talent of GMA Network, is Chairman of the YesPinoy Foundation, is Commissioner of the National Youth Commission, and manages his own film studio named AgostoDos Pictures.
Dingdong was born at 10:50 AM at Constabulary Station Hospital (now known as PNP General Hospital) in Quezon City, Philippines on August 2, 1980 to Jose Sixto Zafra Dantes Jr. and Maria Angelita "Angeline" Enriquez Gonzales. He began his career as a child model at the age of two, appearing in a television advertisement for a dairy product. Several other commercials ensued before he joined an all-male dance group called Abztract Dancers, with his friend, actor Nathan Dados, and his cousin, actor Arthur Solinap. Their group became regulars on Eat Bulaga! and That's Entertainment.
As an actor, his first movie appearance was in the Shake, Rattle and Roll V episode "Anino". After three years, he debuted on GMA Network's youth-oriented T.G.I.S. when he was 17, under the name Raphael Dantes playing the role of Iñaki. He was first paired with Antoinette Taus. Dantes and Taus became one of the most memorable loveteams in Philippine entertainment industry, especially in the 90's. He appeared in films like Honey My Love So Sweet, Kiss Mo 'Ko and I'm Sorry My Love, and television programmes including Anna Karenina, and did a few guesting stints on ABS-CBN such as a F.L.A.M.E.S. episode, a youth-oriented romantic-drama anthology with different love teams and stories that aired from 1996 to 2000.