Alden Richards

Richard Reyes Faulkerson, Jr., also known by the stage name Alden Richards, is a Filipino television actor, host, model and recording artist currently signed with GMA Network. He is best known for his roles in Alakdana, Tween Hearts, One True Love, Carmela, The Road, and the live KalyeSerye segment of Eat Bulaga!. In May 2013, he released his debut album, Alden Richards (EP), under Universal Records.

Early life
Alden Richards was born on January 2, 1992 in Sta.Rosa, Laguna, Philippines. He is the second child of Richard Faulkerson Sr., a native of Laguna, and Rosario Reyes, a native of Pampanga. He was a Business Administration student of De La Salle Canlubang in Biñan City, Laguna before he became an actor. Growing up, he wanted to be a pilot but his mother dreamt of him becoming an actor and urged him to pursue acting although he was hesitant to do it initially. After his mother died, to support his family financially and fulfill his mother's wish for him to be an actor, he decided to try his luck in show business by joining various male pageants in Laguna and worked as a part-time commercial model. He holds the titles Ginoong Sta Rosa 2009 and Ginoong Laguna 2010. He also auditioned for StarStruck and Pinoy Big Brother: Teen Clash of 2010 under his real name, but failed to be a part of both reality shows. He also appeared on a television commercial for a multivitamins product.

2010-2011: Breakthrough, The Road and awards
After passing the auditions, he changed his stage name to Alden Richards and was launched as an actor in GMA Network for the afternoon soap, Alakdana playing the role of Joma, a disabled man. He was paired with also then, up and coming actress Louise delos Reyes. He also signed a 5-year contract with the network. In 2011, he became a part of the successful teenage series, Tween Hearts and also starred in its film adaptation Tween Hearts: Class of 2012. He also performed on GMA Network's Sunday variety shows Party Pilipinas and Sunday All Stars. He graced two episodes of Spooky Nights in Singil and in the Christmas episode of Spooky Nights as Elmer. Richards was praised by critics with his performance as a psychopath in the movie The Road. By the end of 2011, he played Gobi in the box office hit movie Ang Panday 2 which is an entry at the 2011 Metro Manila Film Festival. Richards was also praised by some entertainment writers for his friendliness and his remarkable performances, predicting that he will be the next big star of GMA Network.

Richards was awarded as the 1st Filipino Amazing Male Newcomer in the first Yahoo! OMG! Philippines Awards in 2011. He also won as Best New Actor in the Golden Screen Awards. The newcomer actor garnered two awards in one year which signifies a smooth soar for his career. He is never hesitant to share his love life with the media, the fact that he invited the FHM Sexiest of 2011, Sam Pinto for a date on national TV. The latter did accept the invite and later on held a cruise date in the Manila Bay, but the sexy actress revealed that it was just a friendly date. On Valentines Day of 2012, a GMA Network promo A Date with Alden Richards surfaces in television and the micro-blogging site Twitter where it trended.

2012-2014: One True Love, other shows and music career
In early 2012, GMA Network's morning show Unang Hirit reported that Richards took on new challenges and made bolder steps with his career by posing topless for his first ever sexy pictorial for the summer collection of the clothing brand, Folded & Hung along with co-actors JM De Guzman and Enrique Gil. Richards played a supporting role of a thief named Rico on the primetime series, My Beloved headlined by Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes. He also acted on the episode UNOS (Calamity) of the fourth season of a Holy Week special, Tanikala that is presented by Christian Broadcasting Network. Richards starred in his first lead role on a primetime TV series with One True Love which premiered on June 11, 2012. It is about the enduring power of love between two people from two different walks of life. In this series, he was once again paired with his love team Louise delos Reyes. The success of the series resulted in five weeks extension, approved by the network on August 20, 2012. According to GMA Network on their press release, it has been extended due to its phenomenal ratings success over its rival program since it premiered. Richards who played "Tisoy" is a poor guy who is in love with a rich girl. Viewers and critics praised Richards with his performance in the TV drama. According to him, the series has been his biggest break in the industry. Richard's earned his first Best Actor nomination for One True Love in the 2013 Golden Screen TV Awards. While One True Love proved Richards' acting skills, it took a while before he had a new TV or movie project until he was cast as young Simeon (the character played by Sen. Bong Revilla) in the historical drama Indio, one of the biggest projects of GMA Network for 2013. According to Richards, "I am proud to have played the role of the young Bong Revilla. It didn't sink in that i did not have show for a long time, but when I counted the days, I realized I have not acted in six months in a regular show...".

The story of Richards' life was featured on drama anthology, Magpakailanman aired in March 2013 wherein he portrayed himself. In the same year, Richards and Delos Reyes joined together once again in the GMA Network melodrama series entitled Mundo Mo'y Akin with actresses, Sunshine Dizon and Angelika dela Cruz. It is a family drama that follows a compelling storyline that explores the insatiable quest for beauty, and wealth. The characters find themselves ensnared in a game of deceit, and betrayal and will stop at nothing to gain power and prestige. Richards' portrayal on the show earned him another nomination at the 5th Golden Screen TV Awards.

Richards debut as a singer through the #SummerCrush episode of Sunday noon time show, Party Pilipinas. He launched his first single, "Haplos", a revival of Shamrock's hit song which surfaced in My Music Store and iTunes on April 5, 2013. The self-titled debut album, Alden Richards, under Universal Records and was released on May 26, 2013. The track "Haplos" was used on as soundtracks on his primetime show Mundo Mo'y Akin. While "Di Na Mababawi" and "Sa Aking Tabi" were used as theme songs for the dubbed version koreanovela My Daughter, Seoyoung and morning drama With a Smile respectively. He was featured as Myx Celebrity VJ for the month of June, 2013. Richards was nominated in the Best Performance by a New Recording Artist in the 27th Awit Awards. On the 6th Star Awards for Music, Richards was nominated for New Male Recording Artist for the Year while his self-titled album was nominated for Album Cover Design and Concept of the Year.



In 2014, Richards proved to be one of the most sought-after leading man when he was paired with GMA Network's primetime queen Marian Rivera in the TV series Carmela. His song "Naaalala Ka" from his self-titled album, serves as the ending theme for Carmela. He also starred in a short film entitled Kinabukasan with the Philippines' superstar Nora Aunor. Close to the end of 2014, he had another TV series produced by GMA News and Public Affairs entitled Ilustrado. He played the coveted role of Filipino national hero, Jose Rizal.

2015-present: Eat Bulaga! and AlDub
In 2015, Richards became a part of the Philippines' longest running noontime variety show, Eat Bulaga!. He is currently appearing as a co-host in the segment That's My Bae. His popularity has further skyrocketed not only because of the everyday TV exposure as a mainstay co-host, but also because of the formation of an accidental love team between him and his Eat Bulaga! co-host Maine "Yaya Dub" Mendoza.

The love team, labeled by fans as AlDub, has been a consistent Twitter trending topic in the Philippines and worldwide. Because of their huge popularity, Eat Bulaga! created a mini-series for AlDub labeled by Joey de Leon as kalyeserye within the segment Juan For All, All for Juan. Fan-made trailers requesting for a movie or TV show have gone viral online, one is a pitched remake of the koreanovela My Love from the Star which has been acknowledged by GMA Network. On August 6, 2015, Richards inked a four-year movie contract with APT Entertainment, the film outfit of Eat Bulaga! producer TAPE Inc. This rose the fans' speculations that an AlDub movie is being planned. Richards and Mendoza are set to appear in the 41st Metro Manila Film Festival entry My Bebe Love. The Movie is headlined by Vic Sotto and Ai-Ai delas Alas and to be directed byJose Javier Reyes.

Richards got reunited with former leading lady Louise delos Reyes in the "Talent" episode of Karelasyon in July 2015. Richards also became one of the hosts of GMA Network's Sunday noontime show Sunday PinaSaya.

On August 13, 2015, Richards signed a recording contract with GMA Records. The upcoming album will contain at least two original songs and renditions. The first single, "Wish I May", from the upcoming album is an original composition by Agat Obar-Morallo and was released for online downloading and streaming on September 2015.

Modeling and endorsements
Aside from being an actor, Richards also act as a part-time model. On 2011, he was 4th in the list of "Celebrity Cuties" of Candy Magazine and had a first time performance in Candy Fair held in Pasig City. According to him, he is already a regular cutie on the list even before he became an actor.

Alden Richards posed topless for the first time, wearing a pair of board shorts with star prints for the promotion of the 2012 Summer campaign of a clothing brand, Folded and Hung (F&H). The photo trended in Twitter as the photo is confirmed to be already up as a billboard on EDSA-Guadalupe. On the past interviews, he told the media that he is already prepared for posing sexy on magazines. Richards is also one of the newest endorsers of a cellphone product, My|Phone along with co-teen stars from ABS-CBN and TV 5. On July 2012, Richards along with Bela Padilla, Kris Bernal, and Sarah Lahbati graces the cover of MEGA Magazine dubbed as, "GMA’s new breed of rising talents". On August 2012, he graced the cover of Total Fitness with Rhian Ramos.

Richards was a part of Summit Media's Cosmopolitan Philippines and CosmoMen centerfold and bachelor for 2012 and 2013. On both years, he appeared on the magazine's bachelor bash. Richards appeared on the cover of Garage magazine on February 2013 alongside Derrick Monasterio and Benjamin Alves and on February 2014 with Enrique Gil and Elmo Magalona.

On 2014, Richards became an endorser of Belo Medical Group.

Richards was the cover on the February 2014 issue of Men's Health Philippines magazine. Richards appeared on the cover of Chalk Magazine's May 2014 issue. Also on 2014, Richards was part of YES! magazine's The Sexy Dozen list alongside actors from GMA Network and other channels. Richards has also appeared in several print ads of local clothing brands including Boardwalk.

Philanthropy
On 2014, Richards became an ambassador for Habitat for Humanity Philippines. Richards sees this as an opportunity to become a voice of change and wants to help fellow Filipinos who cannot afford a decent home. On January 12, 2015, Richards hosted a "birthday build" at Bistekville 1 site in Payatas, Quezon City to spend the morning building homes with other volunteers, and hold a party alongside Habitat home partner families.

Richards has been part of several GMA Network's telethons which aims to raise funds for typhoon relief. Richards was also part GMA Network's 2014 Christmas campaign, #ShareTheLove,  where he chose children with cancer as his beneficiary.

Extended play albums

 * Alden Richards (2013, Universal Records)

Singles

 * "Haplos" (2013)


 * "Wish I May" (2015)

Compilation albums

 * Tween Academy: Class of 2012 (Soundtrack) (2011, GMA Records)


 * Track 8: "Kaba" (with Louise delos Reyes)


 * Track 9: "The Lazy Song" (with Jake Vargas, Joshua Dionisio, Derrick Monasterio and Kristofer Martin)


 * One More Try: Favorite Teleserye Love Songs & Other OPM Hits (2014,, Universal Records)


 * Track 4: "Haplos"


 * Track 11: "Di Na Mababawi"


 * Track 12: "Sa Aking Tabi"