Filipino actor John Regala, known for his versatile acting skills and memorable villain roles, has sadly passed away at the age of 55. The news of his demise was shared by entertainment journalist Aster Amoyo on Facebook, announcing that Regala passed away on June 3 at approximately 6:00 a.m. after battling various health ailments.
Confirmation of Cause of Death
Victoria Scherrer, Regala’s wife, confirmed his passing and provided details about the cause of death to ABS-CBN News. She stated, “He died at 6:28 a.m. of cardiac arrest due to liver and kidney complications at the New Era General Hospital.” Regala had been under critical care for three weeks before his unfortunate demise. The Manila Times reports that Regala had a history of hospital admissions due to his diabetes, gout, and liver cirrhosis.
The funeral arrangements are currently being organized by Regala’s family. His ashes have been transported to St. Peter Chapels in Quezon City, located along Commonwealth Avenue.
Twitter Reacts to John Regala’s Death
Following the news of John Regala’s passing on June 3, Twitterati took to the platform to pay tribute to the late actor. Many users shared his pictures and expressed their gratitude for his contributions to the entertainment industry. Numerous condolences were also sent to his close friends and family.
John Paul Guido Boucher Scherrer, aka John Regala, passed away this morning. He was a great actor.. one of my favorite kontrabida. RIP 🙏 pic.twitter.com/6kO2sz4Qmy
— Diego (@Botitsky) June 3, 2023
A Versatile Career and Notable Roles
John Regala, born on May 28, 1965, in Manila, Philippines, gained prominence as a cast member of the popular 1986 TV program “That’s Entertainment.” He quickly established himself as a prominent figure in the entertainment industry.
During the 1990s, Regala became renowned for his exceptional portrayal of villainous characters in action films and teleseries. Often referred to as the “Bad Boy” of Philippine action films, he shared this title with other notable action stars such as Robin Padilla and the late Ace Vergel.
In 1989, Regala made his debut as an action star in the film “Boy Kristiano.” The following year, he showcased his talent as a villain in the movie “Isa-Isahin ko Kayo,” alongside Ronnie Ricketts.
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In 1992, he collaborated with action star Jeric Raval in the true-to-life action-drama film “Primitivo Ebok Ala: Kalaban Mortal ni Baby Ama.” In this movie, Regala portrayed the lead character Marcial “Baby” Ama, who was, in fact, his late uncle. In the 1993 true-to-life crime drama film “The Vizconde Massacre: God Help Us,” he delivered a powerful performance as the r*pist-killer of Kris Aquino’s character.
Regala also made appearances in other genres, such as the horror comedy “Zombading: Patayin Sa Shokot Si Remington,” and was awarded the Best Supporting Actor title in the 2011 Metro Manila Film Festival for his role in “Manila Kingpin: The Asiong Salonga Story.”
Prior to the pandemic, Regala had been part of various tele-series and had secured a role in FPJ’s “Ang Probinsyano.”
A Personal Journey and Advocacy
On a personal level, John Regala struggled with drug abuse throughout his life. However, he later sought help and underwent drug rehabilitation, ultimately becoming a Christian minister. Regala also became an environmentalist and held the position of President and CEO of Project Green Evolution, Inc., which produces the Water Bonsai Organic Root Grower.
Regala’s first marriage was to Aurina Manansala from 1996 to 2004, but their marriage was subsequently annulled. He then married Victoria “Vicky/Gina” Alonzo in 2005, but the couple divorced in September 2020.
