Actress Cherie Gil dies at 59; Tributes pour in from family, friends, and colleagues

Veteran actress Cherie Gil passed away on Friday, August 5, in New York City, her nephew, actor Sid Lucero has confirmed. She was 59.

News about Ms. Gil’s death was first disclosed by her manager Annabelle Rama on her Instagram and Twitter accounts.

Anointed by fans as “La Primera Contravida” (The First-Rate Antagonist), Cherie Gil was known for playing the formidable foil to heart-of-goal protagonists in movies and television. Ms. Gil was considered an icon of Philippine entertainment, not only for playing memorable villains but also for her unforgettable supporting and lead roles like Trining Ojeda in “Oro, Plata, Mata,” Natasha Quintana in “Imortal,” Regina Cadena in “Sonata,” at Patti Medina in “Citizen Jake.”

It was Ms. Gil’s iconic turn in “Bituing Walang Ningning” as supercilious singing superstar Lavinia Arguelles opposite Sharon Cuneta, who played Dorina Pineda, an up-and-coming singer who Lavinia sees as a threat, which remains her most remembered role. The scene where Lavinia showered scorn (and a glass of water) on Dorina, who idolizes Lavinia but is mocked by her as a talentless upstart, produced one of moviedom’s unforgettable lines: “You’re nothing but a second-rate, trying hard copycat!”

Tributes poured in from Ms. Gil’s family, friends, and colleagues, after news of her passing was announced.

Her nephew, actor Sid Lucero posted on Instagram a photo of Ms. Gil at work on a movie set with the caption: “I love you;) big hug:),”

Meanwhile, Megastar Sharon Cuneta shared a touching story of the heartbreaking moment when she flew to New York City to be at her close friend’s bedside before she breathed her last.

As an artist, Cherie Gil was one-of-a-kind, a sentiment echoed by director Jose Javier Reyes who hailed Ms. Gil as “irreplaceable” in his Facebook post.

Indeed, Cherie Gil was first-rate, honest, and a true original.