Film and theater legend Bernardo Bernardo dies at 73

Heaven has earned one star again today in the form of actor Bernardo Bernardo as he passes away this morning, his niece Susan Vecina Santos posted on the actor’s Facebook page. Bernardo was 73 years old.

The cause of death isn’t clarified yet, but the actor had been getting treatments for a potentially life-threatening tumor in his pancreas since January.

Rest In Peace, Bernardo Bernardo. This has been heavy news to hear. Tito Bernie was my very first leading man in the very first show I ever did, The King and I (he played the King of Siam and I was one of his daughters). Kind, funny, ebullient, brilliant, big hearted. Sigh.

— Lea Salonga (@MsLeaSalonga) March 8, 2018

Bernardo was born and raised in Manila and finished his degree of Bachelor of Literature in Journalism at the University of Santo Tomas (he even became the editor-in-chief of the university’s publication, The Varsitarian). He then went on and got his theater training at the University of California and took his Master of the Arts Degree at London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts under a British Council scholarship grant.

*Cherie Gil, Bernardo Bernardo, and Angel Aquino in Lav Diaz’s “Hele sa Hiwagang Hapis” (Photo courtesy of Cinema Bravo)*

Some of his greatest performances include his role as Manay Sharon in Ishmael Bernal’s “Manila by Night” where he won his first Gawad Urian award for Best Supporting Actor. He won the same award again in 2016 for his performance in Lawrence Fajardo’s “Imbisibol.”

Perhaps his best role yet was being cast as Steve Carpio in the hit ’90s sitcom “Home Along Da Riles,” opposite Dolphy, another screen legend.

Bernardo was also cast in Lav Diaz’s “Hele sa Hiwagang Hapis” (“A Lullaby to the Sorrowful Mystery”). The filmmaker called Bernardo “a powerful performer,” who also became an inspiration during filming.

See Bernardo’s best performances and roles throughout the years: