Rodel Pacheco Nacianceno (born November 1, 1981), known professionally as Coco Martin, is a Filipino actor, director, producer, screenwriter and filmmaker. Known for his performances in action and romantic drama, he is one of the most awarded Filipino actors of the 21st century. His accolades include an ASEAN International Film Festival and Award, two FAMAS Awards, two Gawad Urian Awards, ten PMPC Star Awards for Television and eight Box Office Entertainment Awards. Martin's films have grossed ₱2.3 billion worldwide, making him one of the highest-grossing box office stars of all time. Tatler Asia named him one of the most influential Filipino personalities in Asia.
Martin began acting in the early 2000s and initially played minor and guest roles in several films. He made his breakthrough with leading roles in widely acclaimed indie films Daybreak (2008), Serbis (2008), Kinatay (2009) and Jay (2008). For his portrayal of Edward Navarro for the latter, he won three Best Supporting Actor awards at the Gawad Urian, Golden Screen and Gawad Genio Awards, respectively. Breaking into the mainstream, he gained further recognition for his roles in television shows such as Tayong Dalawa (2009), Kung Tayo'y Magkakalayo (2010), Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin (2011), Walang Hanggan (2012), Juan dela Cruz (2013), and Ikaw Lamang (2014), before reaching superstardom status by starring in FPJ's Ang Probinsyano (2015) – the second longest-running drama series on Philippine television – and FPJ's Batang Quiapo (2023).
Often described as the "Ultimate Superstar", he was named Actor of the Decade (2000–2009) at the 34th Gawad Urian Awards. He was also recognized as one of the most influential celebrities of the decade (2010–2019) at the 10th EdukCircle Awards. Among his most successful films at the box-office include The Super Parental Guardians (2016), Beauty and the Bestie (2015), Jack Em Popoy: The Puliscredibles (2018), Ang Panday (2017), Feng Shui 2 (2014), You're My Boss (2015) and Maybe This Time (2014). In 2017, Martin established his own production company CCM Film Productions. His other notable films include Noy (2010) which was selected as the Philippine entry at the 83rd Academy Awards, Sa 'Yo Lamang (2010), Sta. Niña (2012) and Padre de Familia (2016) with Nora Aunor.
Early life Rodel Pacheco Nacianceno, later known professionally as Coco Martin, was born on November 1, 1981. in Santa Cruz, Manila, to Maria Teresa (née Pacheco) and Ramon Nacianceno. Martin was young when his parents separated causing his grandmother, Matilde, to care for him. He was raised in Novaliches, Quezon City, and later said he spent most of his time on the streets to make ends meet. During these years, he often went to the Quiapo Church in Manila with his grandmother to seek guidance from the Black Nazarene.
Despite poor living conditions, Martin attended elementary and high school at Capitol Institute in Novaliches. Martin earned a degree in hotel and restaurant management from the National College of Business and Arts in Fairview, Quezon City. To sustain his studies, Martin worked as a waiter at Max's Restaurant Fairview branch in 2001, and he also worked as a flier distributor, barista, merchandiser, and driver.
After finishing college, Martin flew to Alberta, Canada, where he worked as a janitor at a bingo parlor. A widowed Filipino-Canadian woman promised to help him secure legal employment if he worked as her housekeeper, but the arrangement was unsuccessful. Martin eventually went back to janitorial work, and after nine months, returned to the Philippines.
Career 2001–2004: Early work and career beginnings Martin started his career in one of the ABS-CBN's talent agencies, Star Magic, as part of the Star Circle Batch 9 in 2001 alongside Angel Locsin, Rafael Rosell, Janus Del Prado, Heart Evangelista, Princess Schuck, and Alwyn Uytingco. He made his acting debut under his real name, Rodel Nacianceno, with a cameo appearance in the 2001 film Luv Text starring Judy Ann Santos. Later that year, he got a minor role in the 2001 film Lakas at Pag-ibig under the name Rodel Salvador. After minor roles in films, Martin began appearing in TV advertisements and print ads. He got his big break in 2004, when the TV personality German Moreno included him as a star on his reality show Walang Tulugan with the Master Showman. He was later scouted for a role in an independent film.
2005–2008: Indie films and career breakthrough At the behest of the manager Ed Instrella, Nacianceno adopted the stage name Coco Martin, combining the names of singers Coco Lee and Ricky Martin. Martin's breakthrough came with the lead role in the 2005 indie film, Masahista (The Masseur), directed by Brillante Mendoza in his directorial debut under Gee Films Productions International and Centerstage Productions. The film, which explored the life of a young man providing massages to gay men, received critical acclaim. It won Best Movie and earned Martin his first Best Actor Award at the 2006 Young Critics Circle. Additionally, 'Masahista was honored with the prestigious Golden Leopard Award at the 58th Locarno International Film Festival in Switzerland.
In 2006, Martin starred in another Brillante Mendoza-directed indie film, Summer Heat (released locally as Kaleldo). The film garnered multiple nominations at the FAMAS Awards and Gawad Urian Awards, winning the critic's prize for the Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema (NETPAC) at the 2007 Jeonju International Film Festival in South Korea.
Throughout 2007, Martin continued his involvement in indie films, starring in Siquijor: Mystic Island, a film directed by Mark Philip Espina. He also had a cameo role in Seiko Films' indie production, Foster Child. Notably, Martin top-billed Tirador,' another indie film directed by Brillante Mendoza, which delved into the political undertones of Filipino life in poverty.
In the same year, Martin appeared in various indie films such as Pi7ong Tagpo and Nars under Carl & Carl Productions and CCM Creatives. He also acted in his first Cinema One Originals entry, Tambolista, directed by Adolfo Alix, Jr. The film received critical acclaim and premiered at the Rotterdam Film Festival in 2008, with additional screenings at international festivals in Germany and Spain.
In 2007, Martin took on a supporting role in the mainstream film Batanes: Sa Dulo ng Walang Hanggan under GMA Films alongside Iza Calzado and Taiwanese actor Ken Chu of F4, marking his first appearance in a mainstream film. He also ventured into TV series with Daisy Siete: Isla Chikita under GMA Network, his inaugural television project.
Returning to indie films in 2008, Martin starred in Condo under Breaking The Box Productions, portraying an idealistic security guard named Benjamin Castro Jr. The film offered viewers a unique perspective on the life of a security guard and his interactions on the job.
In 2008, Martin starred again in another critically acclaimed indie film Daybreak, a Philippine gay film written by Charliebebs Gohetia and directed by Adolfo Alix Jr. Martin portrayed the role of a boatman who becomes sexually and romantically involved with another man played by Paolo Rivero. In the same year, Martin once again top-billed alongside Jaclyn Jose and Gina Pareno in an award-winning film, Serbis directed by Mendoza. The film competed for the Palme d'Or in the main competition at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival and became the first Filipino film to compete in Cannes since Lino Brocka's Bayan Ko: Kapit sa Patalim in 1984. The film won numerous awards at the 2008 Gawad Urian Awards and at the 3rd Asian Film Awards. Martin returned to the Cinemalaya film festival in 2008 with the film Jay alongside Baron Geisler. The film was directed by Francis Pasion and tackles how media is able to create its own version of the truth. It challenges the audience to be critical and discerning of whatever they see on television or film. This film gave Martin his three Best Supporting Actor Awards at the 2009 Gawad Urian Awards, 2009 ENPRESS Golden Screen Awards, and 2009 Gawad Genio Awards. His contributions to the Philippines independent filmmakers led the media to dub him the "Prince of Philippine Independent Films."
2009–2014: Television projects and rise to fame Martin having typecast for "bold" or erotic roles in indie films like Masahista was an initial obstacle for him to land a role in ABS-CBN's television series. ABS-CBN offered him roles such as a character in a love triangle with Shaina Magdayao and Rayver Cruz roles as well as a gay friend to Judy Ann Santos's character. In both instances the offer for the roles were withdrawn after the production staff learned Martin's history as a "sexy star".
With Jaclyn Jose's encouragement and an endorsement with director Andoy Ranay, Martin managed to land the role in ABS-CBN's Ligaw na Bulaklak. Martin played the role of the main antagonist in the series which premiered in late 2008. Despite Ranay's sudden withdrawal from the production staff, Martin received praised from one of the series' directors who he credits for his television break.
In 2009, he starred in the drama series Tayong Dalawa with Kim Chiu, Gerald Anderson, and Jake Cuenca where he won Best Drama Actor at the 2009 Star Awards for Television. After Tayong Dalawa, he starred in a remake of a 1990 film titled Nagsimula sa Puso, alongside Maja Salvador, Jason Abalos and Nikki Gil. Because of these projects, Martin was offered contract with Star Magic, ABS-CBN's biggest talent agency.
In 2010, he became part of the cast of ABS-CBN's primetime drama Kung Tayo'y Magkakalayo, and had his first leading role in the action series Tonyong Bayawak. The action series is the third installment of ABS-CBN weekly mini-series Agimat: Ang Mga Alamat ni Ramon Revilla (Amulet: The Legendary Chronicles of Ramon Revilla). He also starred in his first mainstream film under Star Cinema, Sa 'yo Lamang, and in the primetime series 1DOL with Sarah Geronimo and Sam Milby.
Despite his success in television, Martin starred in another award-winning, critically acclaimed indie film, Kinatay directed by Brillante Mendoza in 2009. The film premiered at the 62nd Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Best Director Award, the first Filipino film to do so. The film gave Martin his Best Actor Award at the 7th Golden Screen Award and Presidential Jury Award for Excellence in Acting at the 2009 Gawad Tanglaw Awards. He was also nominated for Best Actor at the 2009 FAMAS Award. The following year, Martin got his first top billing in an indie film,
Noy, produced by Star Cinema and directed by Dondon Santos. The film was selected as the Filipino entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 83rd Academy Awards, but did not make the shortlist. It was a story about a journalist commissioned to come up with a documentary following the campaign of the character's namesake, Benigno Aquino III, who later became 15th president of the Philippines. In 2011, he led the acclaimed television series Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin, wherein he received the Dekada Award in the Gawad Urian ceremony. He was nominated for multiple awards for his portrayal as Alexander and Javier del Tierro in the series, and won Best Actor in the 20th KBP Golden Dove Awards and Best Drama Actor at the 25th Star Awards for TV.