Background and career
Jose Sixto "Dingdong" Gonzalez Dantes III (born August 2, 1980) is a Filipino actor, director, and television personality. He is known for his acting versatility and his dramatic and fantasy-action roles in film and television. Dantes's accolades include 10 Box Office Entertainment Awards, five PMPC Star Awards for Television, two FAMAS Awards, two EDDYS Awards, two Metro Manila Film Festival awards, a Seoul International Drama Award, an Asian Academy Creative Award, and a PMPC Star Award for Movies, as well as nominations for a Gawad Urian Award, a Luna Award, and an Asian Television Award. Dantes gained prominence in the early 2000s when he co-starred with Tanya Garcia in the drama series Sana ay Ikaw na Nga (2001) and Twin Hearts (2004). He achieved greater recognition in the late 2000s for his role opposite Marian Rivera in the television adaptation of Marimar (2007). His other notable television appearances include Stairway to Heaven (2009), Endless Love (2010), and I Heart You, Pare! (2011). In addition to acting, Dantes has established himself as a television presenter, hosting several programs such as StarStruck (2003–2019), Family Feud (2009–present), Amazing Earth (2018–present), and The Voice Generations (2023). Dantes has produced his own films under his production company, AgostoDos Pictures, including Segunda Mano (2011), Tiktik: The Aswang Chronicles (2012), Kubot: The Aswang Chronicles 2 (2014), and Rewind (2023), the last of which became the highest-grossing film in the Philippines. He married Rivera in 2014, with whom he has two children.
Jose Sixto Gonzales Dantes III was born on August 2, 1980, in Quezon City, Philippines to Angeline Gonzales-Dantes and Jose Sixto "Jig" Dantes Jr, a commander of Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary. He is the eldest son of five siblings with three younger sisters and a younger brother. Dantes studied at San Beda University but moved to Ateneo de Manila University to finish high school. He pursued higher education while juggling his showbiz career. Dantes enrolled college at West Negros University with a degree in Business Administration majoring in marketing. He graduated from college in 2014. He was enlisted as member of Philippine Naval Reserve Command in 2006 and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Commander in 2020. He graduated as part of Naval Combat Engineer Officer Class in 2023 and had his field training as military reservist.
Dantes began his career as a child model. Several other commercials ensued before he joined an all-male dance group called Abztract Dancers, with his friend, actor Nathan Dados, and his cousin, actor Arthur Solinap. Their group became regulars on Eat Bulaga! and That's Entertainment. As an actor, his first movie appearance was in the Shake, Rattle & Roll V episode "Anino". After three years, he debuted on GMA Network's youth-oriented T.G.I.S. when he was 17, under the name Raphael Dantes playing the role of Iñaki. He was first paired with Antoinette Taus. Dantes and Taus became one of the most memorable loveteams in Philippine entertainment industry, especially in the '90s. He appeared in films like Honey My Love So Sweet, Kiss Mo 'Ko and I'm Sorry My Love, and television show Anna Karenina.
In 2000, Dantes appeared in the sitcom Super Klenk. In 2001, he was paired with actress Tanya García as they top-billed GMA-7's primetime soap opera series Sana ay Ikaw na Nga. The two headlined in another primetime romance-drama billing in 2003 titled Twin Hearts. He took on several hosting jobs including beauty pageants such as Binibining Pilipinas and GMA Network's reality artist search, StarStruck, and the game show Family Feud before its transfer to Edu Manzano. Aside from his television stints, he also appeared in films including Magkapatid and Pangarap Ko Ang Ibigin Ka. He hosts the suspense-thriller Wag Kukurap, occasionally directing. He played King Ybrahim/Ybarro in the Encantadia fantasy-themed television saga and the 2006 film Moments of Love. In 2007, Dantes portrayed the lead role Sergio to Marian Rivera's character, Marimar in Marimar. During the same year, he was named No. 1 Bachelor of 2007 by Cosmopolitan magazine (Philippines). He won the USTV Students’ Choice Award for "Most Popular Actor in a Drama/Mini-series."
In 2008, he was cast by his home studio to play the role of Fredo, a love interest of Dyesebel in Dyesebel. In March 2008, he debuted as the Bench image model. Also in 2008, Dantes starred in One True Love. The Cinema Evaluation Board of the Philippines rated the film a B. In early 2009, Dantes appeared on Ang Babaeng Hinugot sa Aking Tadyang. He was chosen as Myx guest VJ in August 2009 to promote his album The Dingdong Dantes Experience. The album turned gold one week after it was released on the variety show SOP. Dantes was chosen to portray the role of "Cholo" in the 2009 Philippine adaptation of the Korean drama Stairway to Heaven. He also replaced Richard Gomez as the new host for Family Feud. Dantes founded YesPinoy Foundation on August 21, 2009. It helped bridged the resources gap in education, and assisted out-of-school youth and children of fallen soldiers.
In 2010, Dantes was scheduled to release You to Me Are Everything. He was part of Regine Velasquez and Ogie Alcasid's U.S. tour mid May–June. He appeared in the television show Endless Love from June 25 to October 15, 2010. Dantes became a cohost of Party Pilipinas on channel 7. He won the "Best Drama Actor Award" for Stairway To Heaven in the 2010 PMPC Star Awards for TV and was nominated for the same category at the 2010 Asian Television Awards.
