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Richard Frank Icasiano Gomez (; born April 7, 1966) is a Filipino actor, TV host, politician, and épée Fencing. He has been serving as the Representative of Leyte's 4th district since 2022, and was mayor of Ormoc from 2016 to 2022.
Gomez was a leading actor in the early 1990s, earning several awards and nominations. He played the title character in Super Islaw (1986) and appeared in the romantic drama films Nagbabagang Luha and Babaing Hampaslupa (both 1988), and starred in Hihintayin Kita sa Langit (1991) opposite Dawn Zulueta. From 1987 to 1998, he co-starred in the ABS-CBN sitcom Palibhasa Lalake alongside John Estrada and Joey Marquez. In 1998, he married actress Lucy Torres, who later also became a politician. The couple starred in the ABS-CBN sitcom Richard Loves Lucy from 1998 to 2001. He was then part of the main casts of Mano Po (2002) and The Trial (2014), and appeared in the GMA Network sitcom Lagot Ka, Isusumbong Kita (2003–2007), and Captain Barbell (2006–2007), Marimar (2007–2008), and (2008). He was paired again with Zulueta in Walang Hanggan (2012), The Love Affair (2015), and You're My Home (2015–2016). He also co-hosted the talk show S-Files (2002–2007), and presented the Philippine version of Family Feud (2008–2009).
In politics, Gomez had an unsuccessful start. His party was disqualified in the 2001 House of Representatives elections, and he then lost in the 2007 Senate election. He moved to his wife's hometown of Ormoc to run for the local House seat in 2010 but was disqualified for failing to establish residency. In 2013, he lost the mayoral election but won in 2016 and was re-elected in 2019.
Gomez was working at McDonald's when he was discovered by talent manager Douglas Quijano. He then became one of the faces of Bench, a Philippine clothing brand. His acting debut came in the 1984 film Hindi Mo Ako Kayang Tapakan.
In April 1998, he married Lucy Torres at the Saints Peter and Paul Parish Church in Ormoc, Leyte. They currently reside in Ormoc, and have one daughter, Juliana Marie Beatriz (b. 2000), who graduated Latin honors from the UP National College of Public Administration and Governance. In 2002, he transferred to GMA network with his first melodrama show, Ang Iibigin Ay Ikaw and its sequel Ang Iibigin Ay Ikaw Pa Rin as well as presenting S-Files. His first GMA sitcom was Lagot Ka, Isusumbong Kita which aired from 2003 to 2007.
Gomez hosted the Philippine edition of Family Feud on GMA Network. He is a former GMA Network contract artist under GMA Artist Center (now Sparkle GMA Artist Center). Inquirer, Richard Gomez faces tax evasion charges
After his movie Filipinas in 2003, Gomez made a comeback in the indie film Bente which starred Senator Jinggoy Estrada and Iza Calzado. He briefly returned to GMA Network in the weekly drama anthology, Claudine, and returned to the Kapatid Network The 5 Network after 17 years by hosting the weekend variety show, P.O.5.. He appeared in the drama show, My Driver Sweet Lover, and Mga Nagbabagang Bulaklak. Gomez was part of the teleseries Walang Hanggan from January 16, 2012. He co-hosted The Biggest Game Show In The World (Asia) with Joey de Leon, and appeared in the comedy-drama, Madam Chairman. In 2015, he starred in the mystery drama You're My Home with Dawn Zulueta and an ensemble cast.
Aside from his native tongue Tagalog language, Gomez is also fluent in English and Cebuano language.
In 2010, he ran for a seat in the Congress for the 4th district of Leyte but was disqualified by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for failing to establish residency in Ormoc. His wife, Lucy Torres, took his place and won. He served as his wife's chief of staff during her term as congresswoman.
In 2013, he ran for mayor of Ormoc but lost. He was finally elected as Mayor in 2016 and was reelected in 2019.
He ran for a seat in the Congress for the 4th district of Leyte in 2022, switching places with his wife and eventually won.
Gomez first major appearance as a competing fencer was at the 1995 Finlandia Fencing Championships at the Shangri-La Plaza where he outbested national team members to claim the men's épee title.
Gomez represented the Philippines internationally at the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games as a fencer starting in the 1995 edition in Chiang Mai. He won a silver medal at the 1997 edition in Jakarta and another in the 2001 edition in Kuala Lumpur. He later won a gold medal each in the 2003 and 2005 editions He quit fencing in the SEA Games after.
He later won a gold medal for the Philippines at the Asian Master Fencing Championship in 2015.
Gomez served as president of the Philippine Fencing Association from 2016 to 2023.
Gomez also competes in clay pigeon shooting. In 2022, he participated in the 4th FITASC Asian Sporting Championships, where he won the senior category silver medal at the Compak Sporting event and fourth place at the sporting clays event. Gomez is the organizer of the Sporting Clays Association of the Philippines. Gomez returns to the SEA Games in the 2025 edition in Thailand as a clay pigeon shooter.
In 2024, Gomez wrote a Facebook post where he complained about being stuck in traffic on EDSA for two hours. In the post, he suggested that the EDSA Carousel should opened to regular traffic, arguing that "only a few buses use it". This statement drew backlash online, causing Gomez to delete the post but issue a follow-up statement the next day, defending his comments as his own personal opinion. He reiterated his stance, comparing his proposal to the practice of opening Contraflow lane on the Metro Manila Skyway during rush hour. He later made a post on Threads criticizing media outlets for allegedly misreporting that he had deleted the posts, clarifying that he had only hidden them.
In August 2025, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) criticized Gomez for a Facebook post accusing reporters of engaging in “media spin” after they sought his comment on the collapse of a flood control project in Matag-ob, Leyte. NUJP said his post, which included screenshots showing journalists’ names and phone numbers, posed risks to reporters’ safety and could constitute a violation of data privacy laws. The group added that media requests for comment provided Gomez the opportunity to address allegations made by Matag-ob Mayor Bernie Tacoy regarding his supposed lack of support during the flooding. Gomez apologized and deleted the post in September.
Sports shooting
After taking part as a fencer at the 2001 SEA Games, Gomez took up sports shooting. Gomez competed in both fencing and shooting in the 2005 edition. In the shooting event, Gomez participated in the trap and skeet.
Rowing
Gomez managed the Philippine rowing team at the 1991 SEA Games in Manila.
Other sports
Gomez was a member of the Philippine national rowing Team (1989–1991), national volleyball team (2014–2005). Gomez is also the president of the Philippine Modern Pentathlon Association.
Controversies
In 2019, Gomez's painting titled "Oooohh", which depicted a male Sex organ, went viral and gained controversy. Displayed at the ManilART fair at SM Aura in Taguig, the piece was sold for , garnering significant attention on social media. Critics argued that Gomez used his celebrity status to gain entry to the fair, questioning the artistic merit of his work and highlighting the disconnect between fame and genuine artistry. Gomez described the painting as "self-explanatory" and stated that "with deeper thought, it represents lust, self-pleasure, and power." He has been painting since the 1990s and collecting art since the 1980s.
Alleged connection to Albuera shooting incident
Gomez and his wife, incumbent Ormoc mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez, were alleged by Albuera, Leyte mayoral candidate Kerwin Espinosa to possibly be connected to an assassination attempt on the latter's life on April 10, 2025. In his claim, Espinosa stated that Ormoc police chief Reydante Ariza, a suspect in the incident, would have only answered to the Gomez couple, though he refrained from accusing them outright of instructing Ariza to target him. Gomez has denounced Espinosa's statement, and claimed that the assassination attempt on Espinosa was "scripted".
Filmography
Films
Television
Goma/Ricky/Ricardo Charlie Host Richard/Goma Waldo Sandoval Ang Iibigin Ay Ikaw Pa Rin Host Ric Raphael Cruzado Guest Raquim Viel Villan / The General Renato Santibañez Guest Ibsen Abesamis/Agent Zeus Guest Host Frederico Gonzales Host Delfin Apollo Ortega Tagabantay (an ice cream vendor) Yong Shu Syneryn Host Marco Montenegro Guest Ricky Guest Host Ex-Boyfriend Host Cameo Featured Footage Gabriel Fontanilla Raphael Guest Guest
Awards and nominations
Film
Television
Others
External links
Categories: 1966 Births, Living People, 20th-century Filipino Male Actors, 20th-century Filipino Sportsmen, 21st-century Filipino Male Actors, Abs-cbn People, Male Actors From Bulacan, Asian Games Competitors For The Philippines, Comedians From Manila, Fencers At The 1995 Sea Games, Fencers At The 1997 Sea Games, Fencers At The 2001 Sea Games, Fencers At The 2003 Sea Games, Fencers At The 2005 Sea Games, Medalists At The 1997 Sea Games, Medalists At The 2001 Sea Games, Medalists At The 2003 Sea Games, Medalists At The 2005 Sea Games, Sea Games Silver Medalists For The Philippines, Fencers At The 1998 Asian Games, Fencers At The 2002 Asian Games, Filipino Actor-politicians, Filipino Sportsperson-politicians, Filipino Male Comedians, Filipino Male épée Fencers, Filipino Male Film Actors, Filipino Male Models, Filipino Male Television Actors, Filipino Television Directors, Gma Network People, Independent Politicians In The Philippines, Liberal Party Politicians, Male Actors From Cebu, Male Actors From Manila, Partido Federal Ng Pilipinas Politicians, People From Ormoc, Politicians From Bulacan, Politicians From Cebu, Sea Games Gold Medalists For The Philippines, Sea Games Medalists In Fencing, Tagalog People, Tv5 Network People, University Of Perpetual Help System Dalta Alumni, University Of The Philippines Open University Alumni, Filipino Male Sport Shooters
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