Jose Mari Avellana

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Jose Mari Avellana
Born(1941-05-06)May 6, 1941
DiedJune 26, 2011(2011-06-26) (aged 70)
NationalityFilipino
Other namesJoe Mari Avellana
Joe Avalon
Occupations
  • Actor
  • director
  • screenwriter
  • production designer
Parents
RelativesJose Hontiveros (grandfather)
Eduardo Hontiveros (uncle)
Nita Hontiveros-Lichauco (aunt)
Risa Hontiveros (cousin)
Pia Hontiveros (cousin)

Jose Mari Hontiveros Avellana (May 6, 1941 – June 26, 2011[1]) was a Filipino actor, screenwriter, director, and production designer.

Biography[edit]

Avellana was the son of National Artists director Lamberto V. Avellana and actress Daisy Avellana.[2]

While still in college, he started out as a Radio announcer for DZFM Radio before turning to the stage and to acting.[3][4] His first major movie role was that of evil drug lord Ming in Cirio H. Santiago's Blaxploitation epic TNT Jackson (1974).[5]

This marked the beginning of a decade-long professional relationship with influential producer-director Cirio H. Santiago, during which Avellana took on various responsibilities. In many productions, he worked simultaneously as an actor, production designer and assistant director. Some of the more notable productions in which he acted include successful action-adventure outings such as Wheels of Fire (1985), Death Force (1978) and Bloodfist II (1990). In these movies made for an international audience he was mostly playing antagonists.

Avellana also directed movies in Tagalog for the local market such as the family drama Kung Mawawala Ka Pa (1993) that won Best Picture at the 1993 Metro Manila Film Festival, Labanang Lalaki (1996) and the patriotic revolution tale Damong Ligaw (1997) that was awarded the FAMAS Centennial Award.[3]

But he never gave up his love for the theater. Until shortly before his death, he was seen on stage at the Repertory Philippines as Morrie Schwartz in a play based on Mitch Albom's book Tuesdays With Morrie,[6] and in Nick Joaquin's A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino.[7]

Stage names[edit]

Jose Mari Avellana also used the stage names Joe Mari Avellana and Joe Avalon.[citation needed]

Awards and nominations[edit]

Year Award Giving Body Category Nominated Work Result
1994 FAMAS Award Best Director Kung mawawala ka pa (1993) Nominated
1998 FAMAS Award Best Director Damong ligaw (1997) Nominated
1998 FAP Awards Best Story Adaptation Damong ligaw (1997) Won
1998 YCC Award Best Screenplay Damong ligaw (1997) Nominated
1998 Gawad Urian Award Best Direction Damong ligaw (1997) Nominated
1998 Gawad Urian Award Best Screenplay Damong ligaw (1997) Nominated
2003 Metro Manila Film Festival Best Supporting Actor Operation Balikatan (2003) Won[8]
2010 Gawad Urian Award Best Supporting Actor Colorum (2009) Nominated

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Actor-director Jose Mari Avellana dies". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  2. ^ "MyHeritage: Jose Mari Avellana". Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Repertory Philippines: Jose Mari Avellana". Repertory Philippines. Archived from the original on December 9, 2009. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  4. ^ San Diego Jr., Bayani (June 28, 2011). "Actor-director Jose Mari Avellana takes last bow". Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  5. ^ "THIS WEEK'S MY EXPLOITATION EDUCATION LESSON IS 'TNT JACKSON'". Daily Grindhouse. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  6. ^ Guingona, Bart (January 7, 2008). "My Journey with Morrie". The Manila Times. Retrieved July 31, 2022.
  7. ^ Cadiz, Gibbs. "José Mari Avellana, 70". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  8. ^ Cruz, Marinel (June 21, 2003). "Ara, Jay bag top acting plums Manila Filmfest". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved July 31, 2022.

External links[edit]