Got his first break in Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang (1974) after late director Lino Brocka spotted him at a gas station and won his first Best Actor award at the FAMAS Awards for it
Met his wife Sandy Andolong for the first time when late director Ishmael Bernal introduced them during a movie premiere in 1978
In 1999, was granted US citizenship by virtue of his maternal grandfather
Hosted the first Philippine version of the quiz show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? in 2000
Sworn-in as a senior board member of the 2nd district of Batangas City in 2010