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), Segurista (1996) and Sidhi (1999), as well as in multiple hit television series like Ang Probinsyano (2015), Kadenang Ginto (2018), Juan dela Cruz (2013), The General's Daughter (2019), and Batang Quiapo (2025).
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 FAMAS Awards for 'Best Actor' & 'Best Director', 2 Gawad Urian Awards and several nominations from the Bogota Film Festival and at the Shanghai International Film Festival.
Early life Alberto Pineda Martinez was born in Manila on April 19, 1961, to Bert Martinez, and Margarita Pineda.
Career Martinez began his acting career in 1979 when a talent agency hired him for a television ad. At the time, he was just a personal assistant for his younger brother William, who was an actor. Soon after, he became a film extra in the 1981 film Totoo Ba Ang Chismis? followed by a bigger role in the film Blue Jeans. He took his first teleserye role as Glenn in the 1980 series Anna Liza on GMA Network. Martinez's character, Glenn was the suitor of the titular protagonist, Anna Liza which was portrayed by Julie Vega. The show lasted until Vega's death in 1985. He then made his ABS-CBN debut in the 1993 sitcom Oki Doki Doc.
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 Anna Lissa "Liezl" Sumilang 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 Komiks Presents: Da Adventures of Pedro Penduko and the teleserye Maria Flordeluna in 2007 as the role of Gen. Leo Alicante. From 2009 to 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 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 Voltes V: Legacy.
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.
Personal life His father, Bert Martínez, was a character actor during the 1960s.
Albert was married to Liezl Sumilang 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.
Filmography Film Year Title Role 1981 Blue Jeans Totoo Ba ang Tsismis Bata Pa si Sabel Candido Bakit Ba Ganyan? Albert 1982 First Kiss, First Love Ito Ba ang Ating Mga Anak? Mother Dear Anjo No Other Love Diary of Cristina Gaston Alberto Story of Three Loves Bernie Santa Claus Is Coming to Town 1983 Exploitation Ang Boyfriend Kong Kano Mortal Sin Summer Holiday Daddy Knows Best 1984 Where Love Has Gone Aldo Asuncion Daddy's Little Darlings Teenage Marriage 1985 Lilac, Bulaklak sa Magdamag Pahiram ng Ligaya 1992 Yakapin Mo Akong Muli Abel Lalugan 1993 Kahit May Mahal Ka Ng Iba Ramon 1994 Pangako ng Kahapon Governor Nicanor Romero Talahib at Rosas Mayor Jake Jalandoni 1995 Minsan Pa: Kahit Konting Pagtingin 2 Benny De Guzman The Grepor Butch Belgica Story Ruben Umali Muling Umawit ang Puso Miguel 1996 Dyesebel Gildo Maruja Nanding Segurista Jake Mumbaki Carlos Bakayawan Gloria, Gloria Labandera 1997 Nang Iniwan Mo Ako Anton Marasigan Rizal sa Dapitan José Rizal Bridesmaids Buhay Mo'y Buhay Ko Rin Anton Marasigan Roberta Domingo Robles 1998 Pusong Mamon Ron Bata, Bata... Pa'no Ka Ginawa? Ding Tatsulok Dave 1999 Sidhi Miguel Peque Gallaga's Scorpio Nights 2 Andrew Sales Ekis Gene 2000 Ika-13 Kapitulo Caesar Nero Gusto Ko Nang Lumigaya Orlando 2001 Abakada... Ina Daniel Yamashita: The Tiger's Treasure Edmond/Emong 2002 Laman Omar 2003 Magnifico Gerry Captain Barbell Lagablab 2004 Astigmatism Doc Anak Ka ng Tatay Mo 2005 Birhen ng Manaoag Sandalang Bahay Cesar 2006 Numbalikdiwa Carlos 2007 I've Fallen for You Jonathan 2010 Rosario Ship's captain 2012 Born to Love You Charles Ronquillo 2016 Oro 2017 Carlo J. Caparas' Ang Panday Hari 2021 Revirginized Bart The Housemaid William 2023 Voltes V: Legacy – The Cinematic Experience Richard Hamaguchi Smith Penduko Gat Blanco
As director Rosario (2010) – MMFF Entry "59th Famas Best Director (winner)"
Television / Digital Series Year Title Role Ref 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 Larawan 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 Sineserye Presents: The Susan Roces Cinema Collection: Patayin Sa Sindak Si Barbara Fritz Martinez Palos Salvatore I Am KC: Yes Sir! 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 2022–2023The Iron Heart Engr. Priam Dela Torre 2023 Voltes V: Legacy Dr. Richard Hamaguchi Smith 2024 Wonderful Pinas himself/host 2024–2025 Lavender Fields Zandro Fernandez 2025—2026 FPJ's Batang Quiapo Mayor/Vice Mayor Roberto Guerrero
Footnotes
Awards and nominations Year Award-giving body Category Work Result 1994 FAMAS Awards Best Supporting Actor Pangako ng Kahapon 1995 Metro Manila Film Festival Best Supporting Actor Muling Umawit ang Puso 1996 FAMAS Awards Best Supporting Actor Segurista Gawad Urian Awards Best Supporting Actor 1997 Manila Film Festival Best Actor Rizal sa Dapitan 2003 Gawad Urian Awards Best Supporting Actor Magnifico 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 Maalaala Mo Kaya: Bisikleta 2011 27th PMPC Star Awards for Movies Movie Director of the Year Rosario 59th FAMAS Awards Best Director 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
References
External links
GMA Network profile