Dennis Trillo

Abelardo Dennis Florencio Ho(born May 12, 1981), known professionally asDennis Trillo(Tagalog pronunciation:[ˈtɾiljo]), is a Filipino actor. His accolades includes 18 total wins of 2x MMFF Best Actor Award,1x MMFF Best Supporting Actor Award,1x Asian TV Awards Best Actor Award,1x FAMAS Best Actor Award,1x LUNA Best Actor Award,2x PMPC Movies Best Actor Award,1x FAMAS Best Supporting Actor Award,2x Golden Screen Movies Best Supporting Actor Award,2x Golden  Screen TV Best Actor Awardand aSeoul International Drama Award.He is known for his role as Eric del Mundo in the first ever gay-themed series on Philippine TV,My Husband's Lover,Juan Crisóstomo Ibarra y Magsalin / Simoun in Netflix'sMaria Clara at Ibarra,and Colonel Yuta Saitoh inPulang Arawaired on GMA Network and onNetflix.
Trillo received his first acting award in 2004 for his role as a cross-dressing spy in the 2004 war filmAishite Imasu 1941: Mahal Kita.In May 2016, he appeared in another primetime television series,Juan Happy Love Story, opposite hisDwarfinaleading ladyHeart Evangelista.Trillo has worked with GMA Network for over 20 years, being dubbed as the network's "Drama King".
Dennis Trillo, born as Abelardo Dennis Florencio Ho on May 12, 1981, inQuezon City, is the son of Abelardo Leslie Ho, aChinese FilipinofromDumaguete,Negros Oriental, and Florita Florencio, a Filipino. He completed his high school education at Jose Abad Santos Memorial School in Quezon City and attended grades 1–7 at theAteneo De Manila University. For his college education, he enrolled atMiriam College, earning a B.A. in International Studies.
He has a son with his ex-girlfriend,Carlene Aguilar, born in 2007.Cristine Reyesand Trillo began dating in 2007 and later broke up in May 2009.
On November 15, 2021, Dennis Trillo married his longtime girlfriend,Jennylyn Mercado. Together, they have a daughter named Dylan Jade, born on April 25, 2022.
In December 2024, Trillo and Mercadorelaunchedand re-branded their lounge,beauty salonandnail spa, with the new nameDYLN Style Loungeat BarangayU.P. Campus, Quezon City.
Prior to starting his career in show business, Trillo was once a member of the band Moyg. For a short period, he played the drums for the DIY band inBaguio.His career in entertainment started onABS-CBNin 2001 when he was introduced as part of ABS-CBN's Star Circle (now known asStar Magic) batch 10 along withBea Alonzo,Alfred VargasandTJ Trinidad.He had minor roles in ABS-CBN's hit television soap operasPangako Sa 'YoandSa Dulo ng Walang Hanggan.
After transferring toGMA Networkand becoming a contract star, he landed his first role for the network in the youth-oriented dramaKahit Kailanwhere he played a supporting character named David. He was also cast in several outings likeTwin HeartsandLove to Love.
In 2004, was cast in his first main character role in the fantasy showMulawinas Gabriel, a half-human and half-Ravena.In film, Trillo landed his breakthrough performance when he starred in theMetro Manila Film Festivalofficial entryAishite Imasu 1941: Mahal Kitaas atransgender womanduringWorld War II. In this film he received his first acting award as Best Supporting Actor in the30th Metro Manila Film Festival.
Following this recognition, he received five more Best Actor trophies from the Film Academy of the Philippines, theFilipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences, the PMPC Star Awards for Movies, Golden Screen Awards and the Young Critics Circle. He was also included in the third installment ofMano Po.
The following year, 2005, Trillo was paired withAngel Locsinin the 2005 television adaptation ofDarna. He also starred in the afternoon family dramaNow and Forever: Agoswhere he received a Best Drama Actor nomination from PMPC Star Awards for TV. That same year, he reprised his role forMulawin: The Movie, and appeared in the filmBlue Moon.
In 2005, Trillo was cast as lead character inEtheria, where he portrayed the Sapirian prince,Raquim. Midway through the series, GMA announced that Trillo would be pulled from the show to once again star in another fantasy-themed television seriesMajika. In the end Trillo was allowed to completeEtheria. He also starred in the horror-suspense filmPamahiinand was included in the network's noontime showSOPas a co-host where he also played drums as part of the show's "Starband".
Trillo released his self-titled debut album in 2007 underIndiMusic.That same year, he made his fourth Lenten drama special forGMA NetworkunderAPT EntertainmententitledUnico Hijo. On August 21, 2007, he started taping for the fantasy seriesZaido: Pulis PangkalawakanwithAljur AbrenicaandMarky Cielo.
On April 27, 2008, five thousand spectators witnessed theBattle of Mactanplay, with Trillo playingFerdinand Magellanat theMactan,CebuShrine.The same year, Trillo joined the cast ofMagdusa Ka, an afternoon soap opera which later earned anInternational Emmynomination. Trillo also starred in the comic-based superhero seriesGagambino.AfterGagambino, he starred in two more primetime dramas:Adik Sa'Yoand the 2009 remake ofDarna.
Trillo's hosting roles continued when he replacedDingdong Dantesas a co-host in Season 5 ofStarStruckin 2009.In 2010, he also began co-hosting the variety show,Party Pilipinas. He appeared inSine Novela Presents:Gumapang Ka Sa LusakoppositeJennylyn Mercadoand portrayed Andrew Tantoco in the Philippine adaptation of the hit Korean seriesEndless Love.
In 2011, Trillo appeared in the romantic-fantasy seriesDwarfinawithHeart Evangelista. After playing the lead role in the Philippine adaptation ofTemptation of Wife, Trillo was cast in his most controversial role to date as Eric del Mundo in the gay drama seriesMy Husband's Lover. Trillo received one acting award from two nominations and a commendation from the Asian TV Awards.
After the success of the series, the cast ofMy Husband's Loverheld a concert at theAraneta Coliseumnamed"One More Try: My Husband's Lover The Concert".The same year, Trillo and his screen partnerTom Rodriguezreleased their album titledTomDen,which is now a certified Platinum record according to thePARIwith over 15,000 copies sold.
In 2014, he top-billed the primetime drama seriesHiram na Alaalawith Kapuso actressKris Bernal. He also co-starred in the weekly medical dramaSa Puso ni Dokunder GMA News & Public Affairs. Trillo visitedABS-CBNvia his guesting inKris TVto promote his 2015 movieYou're Still The OnealongsideMaja Salvador,Ellen AdarnaandRichard YapunderRegal Entertainment Inc.andStar Cinema. The same year, Trillo launched his firstVIVA Filmsmovie,Felix Manalo, where he received a Movie Actor of the Year award from thePMPC Star Awards for Movies.
After doing several heavy drama soap operas, Trillo starred in 2016 in the light drama seriesJuan Happy Love Story.
In 2021, Trillo starred in the cultural drama seriesLegal Wiveswhere he played the role of aMaranaoMuslim withAlice Dixson,Andrea Torres, andBianca Umalias his wives.
Trillo starred inErik Matti's crime thriller film,On the Job: The Missing 8in 2021. He played the role of Roman, a prisoner temporarily released from prison to perform assassinations.For this film, Dennis wore aprostheticover his nose, making it appear disfigured to immerse himself in his character.
In 2022, Trillo starred as Crisostomo Ibarra, the main character in Jose Rizal's novels,Noli Me TangereandEl Filibusterismoin the TV dramaMaria Clara at Ibarra.
In 2023, Trillo renewed his exclusive contract withGMA Networkon 20th anniversary with the network. He stars in the family dramaPulang Arawand reunion movie project with his wife Jennylyn Mercado for 2024.
In 2024, Trillodonatedhis P100,000MMFF Best Actoraward (sponsoredby Playtime PH) topersons deprived of libertyas requested byJennylyn Mercado. Trillo's road manager Jan Enriquez handed the amount toGreen Bones'content creatorJoseph Conrad Rubio for theGeneral TriasPDL's "Wish tree" facility.The GenTri jail's realTree of Hopeinspired Rubio to conceive the theme of theMetro Manila Film Festival Award for Best Picture,in memory of his late father Zaldy.