Alberto Pineda Martinez (born April 19, 1961), is a Filipino actor, producer, and director. Dubbed as the " King of Philippine Teleseryes", he has since established himself as one of the most omnipresent figures in Philippine television and cinema. He is best known for his performances in acclaimed films such as Rosario (2010), Rizal in Dapitan (1997), Dead Sure (1996) and Sidhi (1999), as well as in multiple hit television series like Ang Probinsyano (2015), Kadenang Ginto (2018), Juan dela Cruz (2013) and The General's Daughter (2019).
With a career spanning four decades in the showbusiness, Martinez made his screen debut in 1980 and has since starred in over 60 television series and movies. He has won 2 for 'Best Actor' & 'Best Director', 2 Gawad Urian Awards and several nominations from the Bogota Film Festival and at the Shanghai International Film Festival.
Martinez cites actor John Travolta's acting style as his basis on his own film roles. He describes Travolta as having a tongue-in-cheek style in acting as characterized in his roles in Face/Off, Broken Arrow and Battlefield Earth. Martinez praised Travolta for making his roles "shine" on the aforementioned films despite not portraying "natural characters". He also cited Christopher de Leon as his idol since he started his career in film acting.
In 1992, after taking a break from acting to raise his two children with Liezl Martinez in the United States, Martinez starred in the romantic drama film Yakapin Mo Akong Muli, which was a box office bomb. He followed that up with Kahit May Mahal Ka ng Iba a year later, which was not well-received. As a result, he was only not able to complete the three-picture deal he signed with Regal Films, and went back to being a film extra.
Martinez got back into significant roles thanks to performances in GMA teleseryes and the 1994 film Pangako ng Kahapon, which earned him a FAMAS Award for Best Supporting Actor. After that he got to work with Nora Aunor in two films: Muling Umawit ang Puso and Sidhi. He also won several Best Supporting Actor awards from the Gawad Urian and the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS) for his role in the film Dead Sure. His role in Dead Sure was the first time he played a villain role.
In the television series Ikaw Lang ang Mamahalin, he portrayed Ferdinand Fuentebuella who marries a woman from a rich family to save the wealth of his own family. On the eve of Martinez's character's wedding, Fuentebuella had a one-night stand with a prostitute (portrayed by Gina Alajar and gets her pregnant. Fuentebuella is reunited with his daughter, Catherine (portrayed by Angelika dela Cruz) five years later but again gets separated from each other. Throughout the series Fuentebuella is determined to reunite again with his daughter as his loveless marriage deteriorates. This role of a sympathetic character was deemed a deviation from Martinez's usual portrayal of hateful characters in films. Commenting on his role after being asked how does he chooses his role, Martinez says that the audience views the characters as role models which they would like to emulate. He says that he tries to incorporate positive values in his role yet he makes sure that the character he portrays remains flawed adding that he is "always looking for a dark twist".
Martinez starred as a downtrodden husband in the 2003 film Magnífico. He then starred in the television series, Sa Piling Mo, together with Judy Ann Santos and Piolo Pascual which was shown on ABS-CBN. He also worked on the fantaserye and the teleserye Maria Flordeluna in 2007 as the role of Gen. Leo Alicante. From 2009–2010, he worked on the teleserye May Bukas Pa, in the role of the antagonist turned protagonist Mayor Enrique Rodrigo. He played the role of Frank Crisanto on the teleserye Kung Tayo'y Magkakalayo, alongside Kris Aquino, Kim Chiu, Gina Pareño, Coco Martin, and Gerald Anderson.
Martinez then directed his first film film Rosario which was shown at the 2010 Metro Manila Film Festival. Although many praised his direction, he did not receive a directing nomination.
Martinez was part of cast for the 2012 film, Born to Love You. His next major appearance in a feature film would be in the 2021 adult drama film The Housemaid, although he also figured in a special role in Revirginized which starred Sharon Cuneta.
In 2021, he returns to GMA-7 as part of Las Hermanas. He also played the role of Dr. Richard Smith in .
Martinez returned again to ABS-CBN in a villain role in The Iron Heart as Engr. Priam dela Torre, the leader of the Tatsulok syndicate and the biological father of the protagonist, Apollo, played by Richard Gutierrez. After The Iron Heart, he appeared as one of the main casts of Lavender Fields in 2024. As of 2025, he portrays Mayor Roberto Guerrero in FPJ's Batang Quiapo.
Albert was married to Liezl Martinez from 1985, until her death in 2015.
In the late 1980s, the couple owned up to 46 massage therapy clinics throughout California in the United States. They had three children: actor Alfonso Martinez, Alyanna Martinez, Alissa Martinez. He now has three grandchildren.
Martinez owns a large car collection, which includes a 1968 Mercury Cougar he restored for his late wife, Liezl. Sometimes he would go off-roading with his cars in a property he owns in Tanay, Rizal.
Personal life
Filmography
Film
Candido Albert Anjo Alberto Bernie Aldo Asuncion Abel Lalugan Benny De Guzman Ruben Umali Miguel Gildo Nanding Jake Carlos Bakayawan Anton Marasigan José Rizal Anton Marasigan Ron Ding Dave Michael Andrew Sales Gene Caesar Orlando Daniel Edmond/Emong Omar Gerry Lagablab Doc Cesar Carlos Jonathan Ship's captain Charles Ronquillo Hari Bart William
As director
Television
1980–1985 Anna Liza Glenn Laxamana 1995 Oki Doki Doc Guest 1994 GMA Telesine Specials: Aishite Masu 1995 Oki Doki Doc Albert 1998 Nagmamahal Pa Rin Sa'Yo Ryan 2000–2001 May Bukas Pa Ramon Suarez 2001 2001–2002 Ikaw Lang ang Mamahalin Ferdinand Fuentebella 2002–2003 Habang Kapiling Ka Alejandro Javellana 2003–2004 Twin Hearts Ben Katigbac 2005 Maynila 2006 Sa Piling Mo Benicio Chuatoco 2006–2007 Komiks Presents: Da Adventures of Pedro Penduko Juan Penduko 2007 Maria Flordeluna General Leo Alicante Princess Sarah Captain Christopher Cewe 2008 : Patayin Sa Sindak Si Barbara Fritz Martinez Palos Salvatore Angelo Martinez Kahit Isang Saglit Ronaldo Dimaandal 2009–2010 May Bukas Pa Enrique D. Rodrigo / Gonzalvo Policarpio 2009 Maalaala Mo Kaya Mr. Santelices 2010 Kung Tayo'y Magkakalayo Francisco "Frank" Crisanto Maalaala Mo Kaya Sonny Gonzales 2011 Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin young Jaime Sebastiano Green Rose Darren Lee 100 Days to Heaven Tagabantay 2011–2012 Nasaan Ka, Elisa? Mariano Altamira 2012–2013 Princess and I Anand Wangchuck 2013 Juan dela Cruz Samuel Alejandro My Little Juan 2014 Mars Ravelo's Dyesebel Prinsipe Tino Sana Bukas pa ang Kahapon Leo Romero 2015–2016 All of Me Manuel Figueras FPJ's Ang Probinsyano Tomas "Papa Tom" G. Tuazon 2017 La Luna Sangre Theodore "Prof T" Montemayor The Good Son Victor Buenavidez 2018 Bagani Agos 2018–2019 Kadenang Ginto Robert Mondragon 2019 The General's Daughter BGen. Marcial De Leon 2021–2022 Las Hermanas Lorenzo Illustre 2022–2023 The Iron Heart Engr. Priam Dela Torre 2023 Dr. Richard Hamaguchi Smith 2024 Wonderful Pinas himself/host 2024–2025 Lavender Fields Zandro Fernandez 2025–present FPJ's Batang Quiapo Mayor Roberto Guerrero
Footnotes
Awards and nominations
1994 FAMAS Award Best Supporting Actor Pangako ng Kahapon W 1995 Metro Manila Film Festival Best Supporting Actor Muling Umawit ang Puso 1996 FAMAS Award Best Supporting Actor Dead Sure W Gawad Urian Awards Best Supporting Actor W 1997 Manila Film Festival Best Actor Rizal sa Dapitan 2003 Gawad Urian Awards Best Supporting Actor Magnifico W 2006 20th PMPC Star Awards for TV Best Drama Actor Sa Piling Mo 2009 23rd PMPC Star Awards for TV Best Drama Actor May Bukas Pa Best Single Performance by an Actor 2011 27th PMPC Star Awards for Movies Movie Director of the Year Rosario W 59th FAMAS Awards Best Director W 2013 31st Luna Awards Best Supporting Actor Born to Love You 2014 Golden Screen TV Awards Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Juan dela Cruz
External links
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