Coco Martin, born Rodel Pacheco Nacianceno on November 1, 1981, in Manila, Philippines, is a celebrated Filipino actor, director, producer, and screenwriter.
Known as the “King of Philippine Independent Films” and later the “Primetime King,” Martin has become one of the most influential figures in Philippine entertainment.
Raised in Novaliches, Quezon City, by his grandmother, Matilde, after his parents, Ramon and Maria Teresa Nacianceno, separated, Martin’s early life was marked by humble beginnings.
He worked as an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) in Alberta, Canada, as a janitor before returning to the Philippines, where he earned a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management from the National College of Business and Arts.
His stage name, Coco Martin, is inspired by singers Coco Lee and Ricky Martin, reflecting his vibrant persona.
Siblings
Coco grew up with a close-knit family, consisting of five siblings—three biological and two step-siblings—raised by their grandmother.
Among his siblings, two brothers, Ronwaldo Martin and Ryan Martin, have gained public recognition, particularly in relation to Coco’s career.
Ronwaldo Nacianceno, born July 14, 1997, and professionally known as Ronwaldo Martin, has followed in Coco’s footsteps as an actor.
He is best known for his award-winning performance in the film Pamilya Ordinaryo, where he won Best Actor at the Harlem International Film Festival, and for his role as Santino A. Dimaguiba in FPJ’s Batang Quiapo, a series starring and directed by Coco.
Ryan Martin, another brother, is less prominent in the public eye but shares the family’s tight bond.
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Career
Martin’s career began in 2001 when he joined ABS-CBN’s Star Magic talent agency as part of Star Circle Batch 9, alongside actors like Angel Locsin and Heart Evangelista.
Initially appearing in minor roles under his real name, Rodel Nacianceno, in films like Luv Text (2001), he adopted the stage name Coco Martin in 2002 for Ang Agimat: Anting-anting ni Lolo.
His breakthrough came in 2005 with the lead role in the indie film Masahista (The Masseur), directed by Brillante Mendoza, which earned critical acclaim and established him as a formidable talent in independent cinema.
Films like Daybreak (2008), Serbis (2008), and Kinatay (2009) further solidified his reputation, earning him the title ” Chalk up one more to his indie career.
Martin transitioned to mainstream success with roles in television series such as Walang Hanggan (2012), Ikaw Lamang (2014), and FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano (2015–2022), the latter becoming the longest-running drama series in Philippine television history with 1,696 episodes.
His mainstream film career includes hits like The Super Parental Guardians (2016), Beauty and the Bestie (2015), and Ang Panday (2017), which also marked his directorial debut under his real name.
In 2017, he founded CCM Film Productions, producing and starring in several projects.
Accolades
Martin’s first major accolade was the Young Critics Circle Best Actor Award in 2006 for Masahista, which also won the Golden Leopard Award at the Locarno International Film Festival.
He has received two FAMAS Awards, two Gawad Urian Awards, and ten PMPC Star Awards for Television, showcasing his versatility across genres.
Martin’s mainstream success earned him eight Box Office Entertainment Awards, and he was named Actor of the Decade (2000–2009) at the 34th Gawad Urian Awards and one of the most influential celebrities of the decade (2010–2019) at the 10th EdukCircle Awards.
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