Ricky Davao

Filipino actor and director (1961–2025)

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Frederick Charles Abiera Davao (May 30, 1961 – May 1, 2025) was a Filipino actor and television director.

Career

Davao began his career in the entertainment industry in 1978 as a dancer for the Vicor Crowd group. Later in the year, he had his first stint in acting as a cast member in the film Patayin si Mediavillo starring Fernando Poe Jr. and directed by Armando Herrera. He entered theater in 1982 by appearing in Convent Bread, produced by Nora Aunor and directed by Maryo J. de los Reyes. He was also known for portraying a fictionalized version of Bongbong Marcos in the play Bongbong at Kris in the 1980s. In 1996, he made his first directorial piece, an episode of the drama anthology Maalaala Mo Kaya titled "Sagwan".

He served as a juror in the first ASEAN International Film Festival Awards in 2013, and he performed in the Pinoy Playlist Music Festival 2019.

Politics

Davao ran for councilor in the 4th district of Quezon City in the 2010 elections under the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC). He later withdrew due to conflict of interest, as a COMELEC rule prohibits actor-candidates from appearing in movies and TV shows during the campaign period. At the time, Davao was part of the cast of Working Girls, a movie which was set to open on April 21, 2010, which was within the campaign period.

Personal life and death

Davao was the son of actor Charlie Davao. He had two brothers, who also worked as actors.

Davao began a relationship with actress Jackie Lou Blanco after Blanco stood in for Snooky Serna in the variety program GMA Supershow. Davao was supposed to sing to Snooky but because the latter failed to appear, Blanco was pulled in to replace her. They married in 1989 and had three children before separating in 2011. In 2021, they reunited on-screen via drama anthology, I Can See You: AlterNate, where they acted as husband and wife. Starting in 2022, Davao entered into a relationship with Malca Darocca.

Davao died from cancer on May 1, 2025, at the age of 63. His family announced his death the next day.