RIP, ANITA LINDA, 95/ SELECTED FILMOGRAPHY

The great Anita Linda in Gerardo de Leon's "Sisa" (1951)

MANILA, Philippines – Veteran actress Anita Linda passed away Wednesday morning. She was 95. 

The news came from director Adolf Alix Jr., who directed her films "Adela" and "Circa." In a Facebook message to Philstar.com, Alix said the actress died of breathing difficulty at home.In the director's Facebook account, Adolf said Anita was like a grandmother to him. 

"This is a very sad day for me. I am trembling as I am gathering my thoughts... She is like my Lola and part of my family," he said. 

"The great Anita Linda has passed away this morning at 6:15 AM at 95. Prayers for her soul."

He also sent his condolences to the family of the then "oldest active actress in the industry."

"My condolences to her family and her children, Francesca Legaspi and Fred Osburn," Adolf said. 

The sad news was confirmed by Anita's daughter Francesca Legaspi in a text message sent to The STAR.

"She passed away this morning at home. (She had) difficulty of breathing,” Francesca said.


Throughout her acting career, Anita won different awards locally and internationally, including Best Actress at the Asia Pacific Film Festival Award in Taiwan for the film "Lola." Anita, whose real name is Alice Lake, was born on November 23, 1924, a few years younger than the Philippine cinema, which recently celebrated its 100th year.  As such, in 2019, the Film Development Council of the Philippines recognized Anita at the “Sandaan: Dunong ng Isang Ina” event commemorating the 100 years of Philippine cinema.

Source: The Philippine Star

Autograph signing, during launching of the Commemorative Stamp celebrating the 100th birth anniversary of National Artist for Film, Gerardo de Leon,  September 12, 2013 at Leandro Locsin Auditorium, Intramuros, Manila.

"There is no doubt as to (Anita) Linda's artistry and generosity. She has gracefully aged with Philippine cinema, witnessing the film industry rise, fall, and rise again through the years, still eagerly inhabiting roles with an unwavering zest whenever called upon...

Adela (Linda's latest movie) works solely because of Linda's terrific performance. Linda is an actress who can tell stories with a mere movement of her lips, or a momentary flicker of her eyes...

Linda, with a subtle trembling of her eyebrows, the sudden flowing of helplessly restrained tears, and coupled with the vast experience of portraying a wide array of characters ranging from a mother gone insane with the loss of her kids (in de Leon's Sisa) to a forgotten movie actress (in O'Hara's Ang Babae sa Bubungang Lata), has done enough to turn mundane into magical. Adela might very well be Alix's best film to date. Alix has Anita Linda to thank for that..." (by Francis Cruz)
http://oggsmoggs.blogspot.com/2008/07/adela-2008.html

Anita Linda (born Alice Lake; November 23, 1924) is a two-time FAMAS award-winning and Gawad Urian award-winning actress. A romantic lead in her youth, she later gained critical acclaim for her portrayals in maternal or elderly roles. At the age of 74, she became the oldest actress to ever win a FAMAS award, when she was named Best Supporting Actress for Ang Babae sa Bubungang Lata.

Linda was born in Pasay City, the daughter of a mining engineer. She was cast in her first film by director Lamberto Avellana in Tia Juana. The film was completed shortly before the Japanese invasion of the Philippines, but released only in 1943. With the film studios being shut down for the duration of the war, Linda spent the war years performing on bodabil at Avenue Theater in Manila. After the war, Linda was cast again by Avellana, this time in Sekretang Hong Kong (1947). She was cast in her first leading role in Alyas Sakim (1947).

Sekretang Hongkong (1947)- Stars Pugo and Togo, Anita Linda , Domingo Principe, Rolando Liwanag, Engracio Ibarra, Tony Camonte/ Directed by Atty. Ricardo S. Balatbat

Alias Sakim (1947)- Stars Leopoldo Salcedo, Anita Linda, Lilia Dizon, Quiel Segovia, Fernando Royo, Lopito/ Directed by Atty. Ricardo S. Balatbat

Hiram na Pangalan (1948)- Stars Jose Padilla, Jr., Anita Linda, Fernando Royo, Efren Reyes, Virginia Montes/ Directed by Ramon A. Estella

Wala na Akong Luha (1948)- Stars Carlos Padilla, Anita Linda, Fernando Royo, Mary Walter, Amparo Aquino, Efren Reyes, Virginia Montes/ Directed by Eduardo De Castro

Suwail (1949)- Stars Anita Linda, Reynaldo Dante, Nora Madrid, Lopito, Rino Bermudez, Amelita Sol/ Introducing Ramon D' Salva/ Directed by Eduardo De Castro

Punglo at Pag-ibig (1950)- Stars Jose Padilla, Jr., Anita Linda, Lopito, Fred Santos, Patria Plata/ Directed by Ramon A. Estella

In 1951, Linda portrayed the titular character in Gerardo de Leon’s Sisa, a film based on the tragic character in Jose Rizal’s novel Noli Me Tangere. The role garnered her Best Actress Maria Clara award (a pre-cursor of the FAMAS). De Leon then cast Linda in Sawa sa Lumang Simboryo (1952), a role for which Linda would be nominated for a FAMAS Best Actress Award.

3 Balaraw (1950)- Stars Jose Padilla, Jr., Anita Linda, Fred Santos, Luz Kahanding, Ramon D'Salva/ Directed by Cesar Gallardo

Sisa (1951)- Stars Anita Linda, Reynaldo Dante, Eddie del Mar, Eddie Infante, Nati Rubi, Pancho Pelagio, Ruben Rustia/ Directed by Gerardo De Leon

Kapitan Bagwis (1951)- Stars Anita Linda, Efren Reyes, Lopito, Oscar Keese, Patria Plata/ Directed by Cesar Gallardo

Ang Sawa sa Lumang Simboryo (1952)- Stars Jose Padilla, Jr., Anita Linda/ Directed by Gerardo De Leon

Tatlong Kabanata sa Buhay Ko (1952)- Stars Anita Linda, Danilo Montes, Patria Plata, Amparo Karagdag/ Directed by Eddie Infante

Buhay Alamang (1952)- Stars Fred Montilla, Anita Linda, Mona Lisa, Tito Arevalo

Looban (1953)- Stars Leopoldo Salcedo, Anita Linda, Elvira Reyes, Ramon D'Salva, Joe Ramos/ Directed by Ben Calasanz

Guwapo (1954)- Stars Anita Linda, Reynaldo Dante, Lopito, Carol Varga, Ramon D'Salva, Vicente Liwanag/ Directed by Teodorico C. Santos

In the 1970s, Linda gained renewed critical acclaim in maternal roles she essayed for director Lino Brocka in Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang (1974), Tatlo Dalawa Isa (1974) and Jaguar (1979). She would win the FAMAS Best Supporting Actress Award for Tatlo Dalawa Isa Linda would also be nominated for the Gawad Urian Best Supporting Actress Award for Jaguar, which was nominated for the Palme d’Or at the 1980 Cannes Film Festival.

Tatlo, Dalawa, Isa (1974)- Stars Jay Ilagan, Perla Bautista, Hilda Koronel, Anita Linda, Lolita Rodriguez, Mario O'Hara, Mary Walter/ Directed by Lino Brocka

Takaw Tukso (1987)- Stars Anna-Marie Gutierrez, Gino Antonio, Julio Diaz and Jaclyn Jose/ with Anita Linda

Linda would appear in several leading films of the 1980s and 1990s, including Mike de Leon’s Sister Stella L (1984),Chito Rono’s Itanong Mo sa Buwan, Brocka's Gumapang ka sa Lusak (1990), and Mario O’Hara's Ang Babae sa Bubungnang Lata (1998). For her portrayal of an aging film actress in the latter film, Linda would receive her second FAMAS Best Supporting Actress Award. In 1987, Linda also won a Gawad Urian Best Supporting Actress award for Takaw Tukso.

In her eighties, Linda has remained active in the film industry, appearing in such films as Aishite Imasu 1941: Mahal Kita (2004) , Ouija (2007) and more recently Adela (2008).
Source: Wikipedia