Dingdong Dantes

Jose Sixto "Dingdong" Gonzalez Dantes III is a Filipino actor, television presenter, director, and producer. He is widely recognized for his performance versatility across dramatic, fantasy, and action productions in both television and film. Throughout his career, he has earned numerous accolades, including Box Office Entertainment Awards, PMPC Star Awards for Television and Movies, FAMAS Awards, EDDYS Awards, Metro Manila Film Festival awards, an Asian Academy Creative Award, and a Seoul International Drama Award.

Born on August 2, 1980, in Quezon City, Philippines, Dantes is the eldest of five siblings born to Angeline Gonzales-Dantes and Jose Sixto Dantes Jr., a commander in the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary. He initially studied at San Beda University before completing high school at Ateneo de Manila University. While pursuing his showbiz career, he attended West Negros University, graduating in 2014 with a business administration degree in marketing. In addition to his entertainment pursuits, he enlisted in the Philippine Naval Reserve Command in 2006, eventually advancing to the rank of Lieutenant Commander in 2020 after completing Naval Combat Engineer Officer training.

Dantes began his career as a child commercial model before forming the Abztract Dancers alongside his cousin Arthur Solinap and friend Nathan Dados. The dance group became regular performers on shows like Eat Bulaga! and That's Entertainment. He made his feature film debut in a segment of Shake, Rattle & Roll V and secured a breakout television role at age 17 on the youth drama T.G.I.S. using the name Raphael Dantes. During the late 1990s, he formed a memorable onscreen pairing with Antoinette Taus, appearing together in several television series and films.

In the 2000s, Dantes established himself as a leading man through romantic drama series like Sana ay Ikaw na Nga and Twin Hearts opposite Tanya Garcia. He gained widespread prominence playing Sergio in the 2007 adaptation of Marimar alongside Marian Rivera, as well as King Ybrahim in the fantasy series Encantadia. His subsequent major television roles included Dyesebel, Stairway to Heaven, Endless Love, I Heart You, Pare!, and the Philippine adaptation of Descendants of the Sun. Alongside acting, he built a major hosting career with programs including StarStruck, Family Feud, Amazing Earth, and The Voice Generations.

Expanding into film production, Dantes founded AgostoDos Pictures in 2011, producing movies such as Segunda Mano, Tiktik: The Aswang Chronicles, Kubot: The Aswang Chronicles 2, and the box-office success Rewind, in which he also co-starred. His business interests include the delivery business Doorbell Apps and the restaurant chain MESA. Dantes has also engaged in public service and advocacy, founding the YesPinoy Foundation in 2009, serving as a commissioner-at-large for the National Youth Commission from 2014 to 2016, and joining Mowelfund's Board of Trustees in 2023.

In his personal life, Dantes married his frequent co-star Marian Rivera in December 2014, and the couple has two children. Outside of his media career, he is an active sports participant who has completed the Berlin Marathon and IronMan Triathlon events. He is also a dedicated motorcycle enthusiast who trained at the California Superbike School and belongs to the Euro Monkeys Philippines motorcycling group.