Celebrities of Filipino Heritage

Here are a few actors, actresses and singers active in Hollywood, Broadway and/or the international entertainment industry who are part-Filipino or of Filipino heritage.

(Wink, wink: considering the history of the Philippines, any Filipino can claim Chinese, Hispanic and/or Spanish ancestry as well and technically not be lying.)

Honolulu-born Jasmine Trias may have placed a mere third in the third season of American Idol, but she's risen to the top of popularity charts in Hawaii and among Filipinos. When she returned to the Philippines, she got to meet the president and was signed to endorse McDonalds and Hapee toothpaste, among others.

includes the song Kung Paano

Tony-winner Lea Salonga is a Filipina singer and actress who honed her skills in Manila before starring in London and Broadway musicals and providing her voice to Disney animated features. More...

Lea Salonga self-titled album CD released in 1993

Flower Drum Song 2002 Broadway Revival leading role of Mei-Li

Latino singer Enrique Iglesias is of dual heritage -- his father is the Spanish singing legend Julio Iglesias and his mother the Manila-born Filipina journalist/socialite Isabel Preysler. More...

Quizas DVD (2002)

Vivir CD (2002)

No Filipino blood in J-Lo, but her second husband Cris Judd is half (mom's Filipina). The talented dancer/choreographer donated his winnings of $250,000 on I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here! to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. He reportedly received $15 M from his divorce settlement with wife Jennifer.

Jennifer Lopez Unauthorized Documentary

Jennifer Lopez Feelin' So Good

Dante Basco is a Filipino American actor who was born in California. He has guested on quite a lot of TV shows including Nash Bridges, Providence and The Prince of Bel-Air. He has also appeared in numerous Hollywood films, but most recently in the groundbreaking Filipino-American movie The Debut.

The Debut (2001)

Hook (1991)

Both of Hollywood actress Nia Peebles's maternal grandparents are Filipino immigrants. Her mother Elizabeth was born in the United States and never really learned to speak Tagalog. Nia's father is of mainly European stock. More...

North Shore (1987)

Blues Brothers 2000 (1998)