ACTOR PAQUITO DIAZ PASSED AWAY, 73

Four days after falsely reported dead , veteran actor Paquito Diaz (May 28, 1937), Francisco "Kit" Bustillo Diaz in real life, succumbed to pneumonia complications Thursday night (March 3) at his house in Daraga, Albay. He was 73. Diaz is one of the most famous villains in Philippine Movies, many of his roles were as a nemesis for the late action king Fernando Poe, Jr.

Stills from the movie, "Santo Domingo" (1972)

Diaz was a popular basketball star during his pre-acting years playing for the FEU in his high school days and Ateneo during his collegiate years. He was discovered by director Cirio H. Santiago, a friend and teammate, into the movies and was offered a bit role in the movie, Mr. Basketball (1958). The veteran actor has that x-factor that sets him apart from other character actors during his time. His mean, daunting and intimidating looks are some of the traits he had to last him five decades in the industry.

A favorite punching bag of FPJ

He received the Famas Best Supporting Actor award in 1965 for the movie,"Ang Mananandata," starring Fernando Poe, Jr.

Diaz is survived by his wife, Nena (sister of actor Bob Soler), children, among them actors Cheska and Joko; and 14 grandchildren.

FPJ and Paquito Diaz on the set of "Ang Mananandata"

see: Paquito Diaz: The Bad Guy as the Lead Actor
see: Paquito Diaz was once an Ateneo Blue Eagle