# Michael de Mesa

Michael Edward Gil Eigenmann (Tagalog pronunciation:; born May 24, 1960), known professionally as Michael de Mesa (Tagalog pronunciation:), is a Filipino actor and director.

## Early life

Born as Michael Edward Gil Eigenmann to performer Eddie Mesa and actress Rosemarie Gil, he and his siblings, Mark and Cherie, grew up steeped in the arts. He is the uncle of Gabby Eigenmann, Tim ″Sid Lucero″ Eigenmann, Max Eigenmann, and Andi Eigenmann. De Mesa is of Swiss, Spanish, and Filipino descent.

## Career

De Mesa began acting at age 16 in 1975 in Araw-araw, Gabi-gabi, and he remains active in film and television.
His most notable roles include the titular role of Gardo Valiente in the afternoon drama Valiente and as Damian Valiente in its remake, Ravenum in Mulawin, and as Jaime in Kasalanan Bang Ibigin Ka?, where he co-starred with his son Geoff Eigenmann.
From 2016 to 2022, he appeared as Pat. Ramil "Manager" D. Taduran in the ABS-CBN primetime series, Ang Probinsyano while serving as one of the series' directors.

## Personal life

De Mesa wed actress Gina Alajar in 1978. Their marriage lasted 23 years before they separated in 2001. Their marriage was annulled in 2006, but bore three children, all of whom are in show business: Ryan, Geoff, and AJ Eigenmann. He married Julie Reyes in September 2011. She is a dancer/choreographer from Hotlegs, Manila's premier jazz group. He was diagnosed with hepatitis C in 1999, but was cured of the disease in 2018.

## Filmography
### Film
#### As actor

| Year | Title | Role | Distributor |
| 1982 | Brother Ben | Ben | GP Films |
| 1983 | Dugong Buhay | Rafael de Lara | Viva Films |
| 1985 | Grease Gun Brothers | Buddy Corsican | Bathala Film Production |
| 1986 | Unfaithful Wife | Crispin | |
| 1986 | Halimaw | Argonox | Segment "Komiks" |
| 1987 | Anak ng Lupa | Ariosto | Viva Films |
| 1988 | Tumayo Ka't... Lumaban | Jake | Serres Films |
| 1989 | Babayaran Mo ng Dugo | Nelson | Seiko Films |
| 1990 | Barumbado | Cpl. Gonzales | Double M Productions |
| 1991 | Leon ng Maynila: P/Col. Romeo B. Maganto, WPD-MPFF | Rico | Moviestars Production |
| 1991 | Takas sa Impierno | Julius | FLT Films |
| 1991 | Hihintayin Kita sa Langit | Milo Salvador | Reyna Films |
| 1991 | Uubusin Ko ang Lahi Mo | Frank Canonico | Moviestars Production |
| 1991 | Una Kang Naging Akin | Ely | Viva Films |
| 1991 | Markang Bungo: The Bobby Ortega Story | | Bonanza Films |
| 1992 | Grease Gun Gang | Victor Lim | Viva Films |
| 1992 | Kahit Buhay Ko | Lt. Torres | Reflection Films |
| 1992 | Jerry Marasigan, WPD | | Seiko Films |
| 1992 | Mahirap Maging Pogi | Gabby | Viva Films |
| 1992 | Alyas Pogi 2 | Banjo | Moviestars Production |
| 1992 | Boy Recto | Alexander Aguila | Moviestars Production |
| 1993 | Lt. Madarang: Iginuhit sa Dugo | Rodel | Harvest International Films |
| 1994 | Tony Bagyo | Bogart | Seiko Films |
| 1994 | Three Who Dared | | Christian Broadcasting Network |
| 1994 | Nagkataon, Nagkatagpo | | Megavision Films |
| 1994 | The Maggie dela Riva Story: God... Why Me? | Rogelio Canal | Viva Films, Golden Lion Films |
| 1995 | Batang-X | Dr. Kwago | Regal Films |
| 1995 | Bangers | Richard | Viva Films |
| 1995 | Muling Umawit ang Puso | Diosdado Rivera | Viva Films |
| 1996 | Neber 2-Geder | Ricky | Viva Films |
| 1996 | Abot-kamay ang Pangarap | Vic | Reyna Films |
| 1997 | Hawak Ko Buhay Mo | Bakli Leeg | Neo Films |
| 1998 | Gangland | Director | Tikbalang Productions Neo Films |
| 2004 | Avatar | Davinder Sandhu | Cinemancer Force Entertainment |
| 2005 | Dubai | Basi | Star Cinema |
| 2005 | Mulawin: The Movie | Ravenum | GMA Films |
| 2006 | Nasaan si Francis? | Policeman | Crazy Angle Unico Entertainment |
| 2006 | First Day High | Coach Zantua | Star Cinema |
| 2007 | Enteng Kabisote 4: Okay Ka Fairy Ko...The Beginning of the Legend | Prinsipe Inok | OctoArts Films, M-Zet Productions |
| 2008 | Baler | Fr. Candido Gómez Carreno | Viva Films |
| 2009 | Litsonero | Pinoy | APT Entertainment |
| 2012 | D' Kilabots Pogi Brothers Weh?! | Mr. Lucio | APT Entertainment, M-Zet Productions |
| 2013 | On the Job | Congressman Manrique | Reality Entertainment, Star Cinema |
| 2013 | 10,000 Hours | Dante Cristobal | Viva Films |
| 2016 | Everything About Her | Leo | Star Cinema |
| 2016 | This Time | Gino | Viva Films |
| 2016 | The Woman Who Left | Rodrigo Trinidad | Cinema One Originals Sine Olivia Pilipinas |
| 2016 | Bakit Lahat ng Gwapo may Boyfriend? | Nap/Lexi | Viva Films The IdeaFirst Company |
| 2017 | Bliss | Talk show host | Artikulo Uno Productions TBA |
| 2017 | Carlo J. Caparas' Ang Panday | Eduardo Montemayor | Star Cinema |
| 2019 | Marineros: Men in the Middle of the Sea | | Golden Tiger Films, Premier Dreams Production |
| 2020 | Nightshift | Dr. Alex | Viva Films |
| 2020 | Isa Pang Bahaghari | Reynado "Rhey/Reynalda" Torrecampo | Heaven's Best Entertainment |
| 2022 | Labyu with an Accent | Walter | Star Cinema |
| 2024 | Green Bones | Superintendent Juanito Velasquez | GMA Pictures |

#### As director

| Year | Title | Notes |
| 1997 | Calvento Files: The Movie | Segment "Inay, May Momo!" |

### Television / digital series

| Year | Title | Role | Network |
| 1987 | Squad 13 | | IBC |
| 1991 | Cebu | | New Vision 9 |
| 1992 | Valiente | Gardo Valiente | ABS-CBN GMA Network |
| 1994 | Bisperas ng Kasaysayan | Dr. Juanito Morga | New Vision 9 |
| 1999 | Rio Del Mar | Anton | GMA Network |
| 2001 | Biglang Sibol, Bayang Impasibol | Tonito | GMA Network |
| 2001 | Ikaw Lang ang Mamahalin | Elmo | GMA Network |
| 2002 | Bituin | Salvador "Ador / Badong" Sandoval | ABS-CBN |
| 2004–2005 | Mulawin | Ravenum | GMA Network |
| 2007 | Sana Maulit Muli | Mang Andres / Mr.Destiny | ABS-CBN |
| 2007 | Lupin | Minggoy Buang / Miguel Apacer | GMA Network |
| 2009 | The Wedding | Frank De Menes | ABS-CBN |
| 2012 | Valiente | Damian Valiente | TV5 |
| 2012 | Kasalanan Bang Ibigin Ka? | Jaime Montelibano | GMA Network |
| 2013 | Indio | Juancho Sanreal | GMA Network |
| 2013 | Kahit Nasaan Ka Man | Ernest Gomez | GMA Network |
| 2014 | Innamorata | Lloyd Manansala | GMA Network |
| 2015 | Once Upon a Kiss | Enrique "King" Pelaez | GMA Network |
| 2015–2016 | Destiny Rose | Rosauro Armani Vitto | GMA Network |
| 2016 | Eat Bulaga! Lenten Special: God Gave Me You | Theo | GMA Network |
| 2016 | Sinungaling Mong Puso | Moises Aguirre | GMA Network |
| 2016–2022 | FPJ's Ang Probinsyano | Pat. Ramil "Manager" D. Taduran | ABS-CBN |
| 2017–2018 | Ikaw Lang ang Iibigin | Roman Dela Vega | ABS-CBN |
| 2018 | Since I Found You | Gary Corpuz | ABS-CBN |
| 2023 | Almost Paradise | Warden Zamora | Amazon Freevee |
| 2024 | Walang Matigas na Pulis sa Matinik na Misis | Luther Abueva | GMA Network |
| 2024 | Magpakailanman: Taylor Made Success: The John Mac Lane Coronel Story | Rolly | GMA Network |
| 2024–2025 | Forever Young | Eduardo Malaque Sr. | GMA Network |
| 2025 | FPJ's Batang Quiapo | Rafael "Paeng" Benito | Kapamilya Channel |

### As director

| Year | Title | Distributor | Notes |
| 1994–1996 | Maalaala Mo Kaya | ABS-CBN | |
| 1997 | Calvento Files: The Movie | Star Cinema | (segment "Inay, May Momo!") |
| 2000 | Ika-13 Kapitulo | Viva Films | |
| 2013–2016 | Magpakailanman | GMA | |
| 2016–2022 | FPJ's Ang Probinsyano | ABS-CBN | |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Work | Award | Category | Result |
| 1987 | Unfaithful Wife | 11th Gawad Urian | Best Actor | Won |
| 2013 | 10,000 Hours | 39th Metro Manila Film Festival | Best Supporting Actor | Nominated |
| 2020 | Isa Pang Bahaghari | 46th Metro Manila Film Festival | Best Supporting Actor | Won |