Alden Richards

Richard Reyes Faulkerson Jr. (born January 2, 1992), popularly known as Alden Richards, is a Filipino actor, host, ambassador, recording artist, endorser, producer and entrepreneur. He is dubbed the "Asia's Multimedia Star" after receiving the Asian Star Prize awards in the 14th Seoul International Drama Awards of 2019 for acting. Richards rose to fame when he was paired with Maine Mendoza, where he became the other half of their loveteam, AlDub. His notable works include Tween Hearts, One True Love, Carmela, The Road, Ilustrado, Imagine You and Me, Victor Magtanggol, Hello, Love, Goodbye, The Gift, The World Between Us Start-Up PH and Five Breakups and a Romance As a recording artist, he has released albums and singles under Universal Records and GMA Music. Early life Named after his father, Alden Richards was born as Richard Reyes Faulkerson, Jr. in Quezon City on January 2, 1992, and was raised in Santa Rosa City, Laguna. He is the second child of Richard Peralta Faulkerson, Sr. of Ermita, Manila and Rosario Reyes, a native of Pampanga. He has three siblings, an older brother and two younger sisters. Richards's paternal grandfather, whom he never met, was American. Growing up, Richards wanted to be a chef but his mother urged him to pursue acting instead. After his mother died, to support his family financially and to fulfill his mother's wish for him to be an actor, Richards decided to join various male beauty pageants in Laguna and worked as a part-time commercial model. He holds the titles Ginoong Sta Rosa 2009 and Ginoong Laguna 2010. He auditioned for the reality television shows StarStruck and Pinoy Big Brother: Teen Clash of 2010, but both auditions failed. He also appeared in various commercials, including a telecommunication company, clothing line, fast-food chain and multivitamins. He studied at Paco Catholic School in Paco, Manila and at Colegio de Santa Rosa de Lima High School, where he graduated. He began, but has not completed, a Business Management Degree at De La Salle Canlubang in Laguna.