Eric de la Cruz

Eric dela Cruz (born November 20, 1981) is a Filipino theater actor. He was born Eric Villanueva dela Cruz in Manila, Philippines, to engineer Enrique dela Cruz, Sr. and singer Isidora dela Cruz. He has three siblings. Dela Cruz graduated from the University of Santo Tomas in Manila in 2003 with a degree in Physical therapy but decided to forego a career in medicine to pursue acting. He received his first training in acting from the New Voice Company Summer Acting Workshop, from which he got his first taste of the stage. He played the Sexton in Neil Simon's The Good Doctor as part of their culminating activity. He also participated in Tanghalang Pilipino's Intermediate Acting Workshop. He played the role of Fernan Gomez de Guzman in their staging of Lope de Vega's 'Fuente Ovejuna' as their recital. He is currently receiving his training as an apprentice of PETA.

His first major stage role was to play Oedipus opposite Gigette Reyes in the 2004 Sophocle's play Oedipus Rex. He appeared in several TV shows since including GMA ch. 7's Hanggang Kailan and ABSCBN ch. 2's Hiram and Maalaala Mo Kaya.He recently appeared in GMA ch.7's La Vendetta and Marimar where he played the role of Sergio's Lawyer.

His film debut was in a digital film titled "La funeraria Toti" produced by the GMA Artist Center as part of their workshop's culminating activity. He played the role of an OFW deported to the Philippines after he was found to be positive with HIV. The film was directed by Rahyan Carlos and co-starred Soxie Topacio, Isay Alvarez, Allan Paule and Hero Bautista. It was tied up with the AIDS Society of the Philippines for the benefit of people living with AIDS and was endorsed by the Mowelfund to the Philippine Pink Festival.

He has been included in a mobile production produced by the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) for an interactive children's musical play titled 'Mga Kwento Ni Lola Basyang' which is ran for two straight years. He also appeared in Tanghalang Pilipino's 'Ang mga Huwad' adapted for stage by Rody Vera from the novel 'The Pretenders' by Philippine National Artist for Literature, F. Sionil Jose. He portrayed the role of Johnny Lee and Estaquio Salvador. He played the role of Robert Montgomery in Tanghalang Pilipino's restaging of 'Pilipinas Circa 1907.' He acted in the restaging of the PETA production of 'Romulus d' Grayt,' portraying the role of Apolonius and Teodorico. He was in the 2008 PETA Musical Comedy 'Skin Deep' as Ador/ Chorus and most recently in 'Noli at Fili Dekada 2000 (Dos Mil),' Nick Tiongson's contemporary adaptation of the two novels by Dr. Jose Rizal. He is currently invovled in DUP's Isang Panaginip na Fili, a musical adaptation of Rizal's El Filibusterismo written and directed by Floy Quintos.

Aside from acting, Eric has a weekly column on men's fashion in the i section of the Manila Bulletin titled "Back to Basics." He was a creative consultant in the first issue and a contributor in the second issue of the magazine IMAGINE under Sesame Seed Publications.

Eric dela Cruz the actor is not the same person as Eric de la Cruz the director.

[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0498498/ Internet Movie Database] [http://www.petatheater.com PETA Theater Website]