Enrique Gayoso Magalona Jr. (January 22, 1922 – April 7, 1998), popularly known as Pancho Magalona, was a Filipino actor from the 1940s to the 1970s.

Early life

Born Enrique Gayoso Magalona Jr. in Bacolod, Negros Occidental, he was the son of Enrique B. Magalona Sr., who was then a municipal president of Saravia (now renamed in his honor) and a future Senator.

Personal life

Magalona and his wife Tita Duran, appeared in numerous Sampaguita Pictures movies. The couple was the most popular movie love team during the late 1940s and 1950s. He was the father of Francis Magalona (1964–2009), Ma. Susan Magalona-Contreras, Vicky, Victor (married to Ma. Angeles), Henry, Popeye "Pye", Malot, Maricar Magalona-Martinez, and Martin. He also co-starred on some Hollywood movies that were shot in the Philippines, such as The Hook (with Kirk Douglas) and Merrill's Marauders (with Jeff Chandler).

Awards

He won the FAMAS Award for Best Actor in 1958 for Hanggang sa Dulo ng Daigdig and is best remembered for playing the character Simon in the movie version of Jose Rizal's novel El Filibusterismo.

Death

A heavy smoker, he suffered from emphysema and died at the Lung Center of the Philippines on April 7, 1998. He was buried in Loyola Memorial Park, Sucat, Parañaque beside his wife Tita Duran.

Filmography