Alden Richards

Early life and education

Richard Reyes Faulkerson Jr. was born on January 2, 1992, in Quezon City and raised in Sta. Rosa, Laguna to Richard Peralta Faulkerson Sr. and Rosario Reyes Faulkerson. He is the second child in the family with an older brother and two younger sisters. He is of American descent through his father who is half-Filipino and half-American and his American paternal grandfather. His grandfather died in California when he was only 3 years old.

He studied at Paco Catholic School, in Manila but transferred to another school when his family moved to Laguna. He graduated high school from Colegio de Santa Rosa de Lima. In college, he attended De La Salle University, Canlubang with a degree in Business Administration but his studies was put on hold when his mother died of pneumonia in 2008. To help his family financially, he pursued his mother's wish for him to become an actor and adopted the stage name Alden Richards.

In April 2025, Richards enrolled at Alpha Aviation Group, an aviation school to fulfill his own childhood dream of becoming a pilot.

Career

2011–2014: Breakthrough

After modeling and male pageant stints, Richards auditioned and secured the role of Jomari on the series Alakdana, directed by Mac C Alejandre with co-stars Louise delos Reyes and Paulo Avelino. For the role, he won a Golden Screen Television Award for Breakthrough Performance by an Actor and received nomination for New Male Television Personality at the 25th PMPC Star Awards for Television. He was cast on teen-drama series Tween Hearts, directed by Gina Alajar and its film adaptation Tween Academy: Class of 2012, directed by Mark A. Reyes. He was also part of GMA' Sunday variety shows Party Pilipinas, Sunday All Stars and the comedy-horror series Spooky Nights.

He appeared on fantasy-action movie Ang Panday 2, directed by Mac C. Alejandre, replacing Aljur Abrenica role as Hubli He was on the horror movie The Road, directed by Yam Laranas; playing the teenager Luis Medina. His performance was praised by critics. Some entertainment writers predicted that he would become the next big star of the network. He appeared in supporting roles on My Beloved and CBN Asia' UNOS (Calamity) in the 4th week special Tanikala. Richards continued working with Louise delos Reyes and director Andoy Ranay on romantic drama series One True Love, playing the role of Tisoy and Mundo Mo'y Akin, playing the role of Jerome. His portrayal on the shows earned him a nomination for an Outstanding Performance by an Actor at the Golden Screen Television Awards. On October 25, 2013, Richards signed an exclusive contract with GMA Network.

As a recording artist, Richards debuted on Party Pilipinas #SummerCrush episode. In April 2013, he launched his first single Haplos, a revival of Shamrock song which was released on iTunes and MyMusic Store. His self-titled album Alden Richards was released by Universal Records on May 26, 2013. Haplos was used as a soundtrack on television series Mundo mo'y Akin while his other songs Di na Mababawi at Sa Aking Tabi were used in the comedy-drama series With a Smile and the Korean series Seoyoung, My Daughter, which was dubbed in Filipino He was featured Myx Celebrity VJ for the month of June 2013. Richards received New Male Recording Artist of the Year nomination at the 27th Awit Awards and 6th Star Awards for Music.

In 2014, Richards starred with Marian Rivera on Carmela, a drama series, directed by Dominic Zapata. His version of the song Naalala Ka from his debut album was used as the end theme song for the series. That same year, he played national hero José Rizal on the biographical drama series Ilustrado, directed by King Mark Baco. For the role, he won Best Actor award at the 29th PMPC Star Awards for Television. He was the only nominee from his home network against a field of respected actors from the rival network. He co-hosted Bet ng Bayan, a reality competition show with Regine Velasquez. He acted opposite veteran actress Nora Aunor on Kinabukasan, a short film directed by Adolfo Alix Jr.

2015–2021: Rise to prominence

In 2015, Richards became part of the longest-running variety, noontime show Eat Bulaga! as co-host in That's my Bae segment. On July 16, 2015, he was paired with Maine Mendoza accidentally in the segment of Juan For All, All for Juan and they became a loveteam known as AlDub. Because of their popularity, a sketch comedy series called Kalyeserye was created for them; Richards played different roles including a fictionalized version of himself.

In August 2015, Richards signed a four-year film contract with APT Entertainment and a recording contract with GMA Records. His second album Wish I May was launched on October 17, 2015, in SM North Edsa. The album contained two original songs and the rest were renditions. The first single Wish I May was an original composition by Agat Obar-Morallo and was released a month earlier for online downloading and streaming. His song landed the top spot on iTunes(PH) Songs chart. The second album was certified gold record from Philippine Association of the Record Industry (PARI) prior to its official released.

In October 2015, his debut album Alden Richards earned gold record from PARI and ranked number 10 at the Billboard World Albums chart. In the same month, Universal Records released a special edition of his debut album including AlDub theme song God Gave Me You by Bryan White, thus helping his album turned into platinum record in November. His second album Wish I May received 2× platinum record in December 2015; it turned 7× platinum record by July and earned a Diamond Record award from PARI in October 2016.

In December 2015, Richards and Maine Mendoza starred on romantic comedy film, My Bebe Love: KiligPaMore alongside Vic Sotto and AiAi delas Alas, directed by Jose Javier Reyes, which was an official entry to 41st Metro Manila Film Festival. Richards was inducted to Philippines Walk of Fame with his co-stars from Kalyeserye in Eastwood City, Quezon City. He returned to big screen with Maine Mendoza on Imagine You and Me, directed by Michael Tuveira. The film was released on July 13, 2016. The following year, they starred their first primetime television series Destined to be Yours, directed by Irene Villamore and headlined Love is... a television film directed by Adolfo Alix Jr and produced by Eat Bulaga!.

He released his book entitled Alden Richards: In My Own Words in July 2016. Aside from being a regular host on Eat Bulaga! and Sunday PinaSaya, he appeared as guest star in Lip Sync Battle Philippines, That's My Amboy and the reboot fantasy series Encantadia. Richards renewed his contract with GMA Network in September 2016. He co-hosted the 21st Asian Television Awards in Singapore.

2022–present

In March 2023, he returned to Eat Bulaga! after a year-long hiatus from the show, focusing on other projects including the TV series Start-Up PH, working with Bea Alonzo in 2022. The series was directed by Jerry Lopez Sineneng and Dominic Zapata.

Richards and Julia Montes starred on Five Breakups and a Romance; directed by Irene Emma Villamor. The movie was the first collaboration of GMA Pictures, Cornerstone Studios, and Myriad Entertainment. In an interview, Sharon Cuneta revealed that she and Richards would be featured in a film, Family of Two directed by Nuel Naval and produced by CineKo Productions. It was shown at the 2023 Metro Manila Film Festival.

He played the lead role in Magpakailanman: Sa Puso't Isipan, directed by Gina Alajar with co-stars Chris Villanueva, Jackie Lou Blanco and Therese Malvar. The episode won for Best Single Drama Anthology National Winner at the 2024 Asian Academy Creative Awards. The episode first premiered in August 2023. It was re-aired in January 2025.

He co-hosted the 2023 Miss Universe Philippines with Xian Lim. Richards returned to host the 2024 Miss Universe Philippines with Gabbi Garcia, Tim Yap and former Ms. Universe R'Bonney Gabriel, held at Mall of Asia.

He joined the war action, drama series Pulang Araw, directed by Dominic Zapata with an ensemble cast of Dennis Trillo, Barbie Forteza, David Licauco and Sanya Lopez. He played the role of Eduardo Dela Cruz, one of the guerillas. The series aired on Netflix from July to December 2024. In November 2024, Richards was reunited with Bernardo in Hello, Love, Again, directed by Cathy Garcia-Sampana. The movie became the highest-grossing Filipino films of all time. This was the first movie studio collaboration between Star Cinema and GMA Pictures. The film debut on Netflix in February 2025.

In June 2025, he hosted Stars on the Floor, a reality dance competition with Marian Rivera, Pokwang and SB19 choreographer Jay Joseph Roncesvalles served as the dance judges. That same month, Richards announced his first directed film, titled Out of Order co-starring Heaven Peralejo and Nonie Buencamino Out of Order was an official entry to 3rd Da Nang Asian Film Festival (DNAFF) in Vietnam and Jagran Film Festival in India In December 2025, Richards was inducted to Anak TV Seal Awards, Hall of Fame.

Other ventures

Modeling and endorsements

Aside from being an actor, Alden Richards has also done modeling stints. In 2010, he ranked 4th on the list of Candy Magazine's "Celebrity Cuties". In July 2012, Richards was on the cover of MEGA Magazine with Kapuso co-actors dubbed as "GMA's new breed of rising talents". From this time onwards, he has continued to appear in a number of magazines, while being featured in several endorsements.

Philanthropy

After the devastation of Typhoon Haiyan in 2013, Richards helped with the relief efforts initiated by GMA Kapuso Foundation. For more than 10 years, he has supported Holy Trinity Home for Children, an orphanage in Quezon City. Since 2013, he would visit the orphanage by bringing foods, gifts and playing games with the abandoned kids. He was part of Department of Health (DOH) Pilipinas Go4Health campaign which aimed in promoting healthy lifestyle. Richards became Habitat for Humanity ambassador for Philippines in 2014. For three years, he spent his time by building homes alongside other volunteers and families in Payatas, Quezon City. He spent his post-birthday celebration with Aeta people in Tarlac for his outreach program in February 2016, he returned to build a school for them in 2019.

In 2015, Richards was in #NowPH Climate change campaign by the National Youth Commission (NYC) and the Climate Change Commission (CCC). He became Boardwalk's ambassador for Young Emerging Sociopreneurs campaign which encouraged students to earn money while still in school After joining Philippine Red Cross in 2015 Nation's Blood Drive project, he returned to donate blood for Kapuso Foundation Blood letting project with Red Cross for two consecutive years.

He participated in Make-A-Wish Foundation program for seriously ill-children in 2017. The next year, he joined Dr. Vicki Belo outreach program for cancer patients at Philippine Children's Medical Center on Valentine's Day. He helped build a school for cultural minorities known as Mangyan in Mindoro in 2019. In November 2019, Richards became Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) ambassador and raised awareness by joining fund-raising events for learn to read program.

In early 2020, he converted his restaurant to a temporary donation center to raise donations for the affected residents of Taal Volcano eruption. He was chosen by Department of Health (DOH) Bida Solusyon campaign for COVID-19 prevention in July and Resbakuna campaign to promote vaccination against the virus in August 2020. He donated a thousand food packs to indigent families and health workers affected by pandemic. Richards was chosen by United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for Philippines End Tuberculosis campaign. In November 2020, he run a donation drive with AR game live-streaming for victims of Typhoon Vamco.

He established the AR Foundation, Inc. (2021), a college scholarship program which supports low-income students. By August 2023, AR Foundation has 27 scholars; some of them have already graduated from college. He became Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) ambassador in 2022. He participated in Century Tuna's Save our Seas campaign (SOS) for beach and coral reef clean-up drive in Batangas.

Business

In 2016, Alden ventured in his first food business with co-owner Gemma Sembrano, a chief and opened Concha's Garden, a restaurant with Filipino heirloom recipes located in Tagaytay. From a single branch, the restaurant has now several branches located in Silang, Cavite, Talisay Batangas and Tagaytay. He is a franchise owner of McDonald's with branches in Biñan and Santa Rosa, both in Laguna. He is a co-owner of Stardust, a restobar located in Makati. He is also a franchise owner of Hungry Pita, a Filipino styled shawarma. Richards and his father Richard as business partner own a construction firm and real estate business.

In 2022, he established his own multimedia company, Myriad Entertainment Corporation, a company that organized the reunion concert of rock band Eraserheads entitled Huling El Bimbo, where Richards served as the co-producer.

Personal life

Richards credited his maternal grandmother, Linda Reyes, with rearing him in the Catholic faith. According to Richards, he would visit seven churches, read the epic poem Pasyon, and watch Christian-themed films such as The Passion of the Christ, The Ten Commandments, Jesus of Nazareth, and The Gospel of John during Lent. He admitted that his faith kept him grounded. On December 5, 2023, he shared his personal struggles with depression for three months and considered leaving showbiz. He also expressed of wanting to deepen his relationship with God whom he neglected during his down time.

He is a mountaineer, jogger/runner, a cyclist and a gamer enthusiast.

His hometown is Santa Rosa, Laguna, although he is currently living in Quezon City.

Filmography

Richards appeared in 21 movies and 17 television series in the course of his career. He was in critically acclaimed movies The Road (2012), The Day After (2014) and Alaala: A Martial Law Special (2017). His most commercially successful films include Ang Panday 2 (2011), Si Agimat, si Enteng Kabisote at si Ako (2012), My Bebe Love: KiligPaMore (2015), Imagine You and Me (2016), Five Breakups and a Romance (2023) including Hello, Love, Goodbye (2019) and Hello, Love, Again (2024) which are among the highest-grossing Filipino films of all time.

On television, he starred in various series Alakdana (2011), One True Love (2012), Mundo Mo'y Akin (2013), Carmela (2014), Illustrado (2014), Kalyeserye (2015–2016), Destined to be Yours (2017), Victor Magtanggol (2018), The Gift (2019–2020), Pamilya Nunal (2020–2022), The World Between Us (2021–2022), Start-Up PH (2022), Pulang Araw (2024) and Love, Siargao (2026), Code Grey (2026).

Discography

Richards has released four studio albums, two soundtrack albums, three compilation albums and eight singles including two promotional non-singles and a movie soundtrack. His studio albums include his self-titled EP Alden Richards (2013), Say it Again (2016), Until I see you again (2018) and Wish I May (2015) which is considered one of the best-selling albums in the Philippines.

Accolades

Richards has received several accolades throughout his career including five PMPC Star Awards for Movies, eight GMMSF Box-Office Entertainment Awards, six PMPC Star Awards for Television, three Gawad Tanglaw Awards, two FAMAS Award, two EDDY's Award, two Gawad Pasado Awards, a Seoul International Drama Award, Jinseo Arigato International Film Festival Award (JAIFF), a Golden Screen Television Award and Film Actor of the Year at the EdukCircle Awards, in addition to receiving nominations from Gawad Urian, Golden Screen Movie Award, Manila International Film Festival and Metro Manila Film Festival.

Aside from acting, he also ventured into music and won several awards for his albums including eight PMPC Star Awards for Music, three Awit Awards, three GMMSF Box Office Entertainment Awards for music, a Myx Music Awards, an Aliw Award and a Diamond Record Award from Philippine Association of the Record Industry (PARI).

He was honored with Ani ng Dangal Award by National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), the Asia' Influential Leadership Award, Film Development Council of the Philippines' Luminary Leading Man ng Sentenaryo in Sine Sandaan. EdukCircle Awards one of the most influential celebrities of the decade. He was also inducted to Anak TV Seal Awards Hall of Fame, Philippines Walk of Fame and Natatangi Filipino Awards Lifetime Achievement Award. Tatler Asia named him as one of the Gen. T Leaders of Tomorrow.

Book

Richards, Alden (2016). Alden Richards: In My Own Words (First hardcover ed.). Mandaluyong City, Philippines: Summit Publishing Co. ISBN 9786214041244. OCLC 1183439037.

Gozon-Tarriela, Flor; Jimenez, Butch (2015). Beyond All Barriers: Coincidence or Miracle. Anthology contributor by Richard Faulkerson Jr. (5th ed.). Philippines: Conquest for Christ Foundation. ISBN 9718698124.