Joseph Estrada Paras (February 7, 1978 – October 29, 2023), also known as Joey Paras, was a Filipino actor, filmmaker, singer, screenwriter, playwright, and television host.
He was the playwright behind "Bawal Tumawid, Nakakamatay", one of the plays selected to be produced on stage in the seventh edition of Virgin Labfest (VLF). His rise to fame started in the movie scene when he played the lead role in the film Last Supper Number 3 which received the MTRCB Awards Best Comedy Film for 2010 and Cinemalaya 2009 Best Film. In 2013, he starred in his launching film and title role Bekikang: Ang Nanay Kong Beki opposite Tom Rodriguez.
Early life
Paras finished a Bachelor of Arts degree in mass communication at the University of Santo Tomas in 1998.
Before becoming an actor, he used to be an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) as a HOTEL LOUNGE SINGER in a lounge group named CICADA where they used to perform in Grand Hyatt Seoul, South Korea and Grand Hyatt Beijing, China. He worked abroad for several years until they disbanded.
Career
Theatrical career
Prior to entering the entertainment industry, Paras began his career as a stage actor from Tanghalang Pilipino, the theater guild of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, where he was noted with his performance in the 2006 musical version of a comic character entitled Zsazsa Zaturnnah Ze Muzikal.
In the Aliw Awards of 2008, he was named Best Stage Actor in a Straight Play for Ang Bayot, Ang Meranao at ang Habal-Habal sa isang Nakakabagot na Paghihintay sa Kanto ng Lanao del Norte, a Virgin Labfest play. He wrote another play, Bawal Tumawid, Nakakamatay.
Film career
He rose to fame in the indie films after being discovered in the said musical by an independent filmmaker who later cast him in the 2009 drama comedy Last Supper No. 3, which won best film at that year's Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival and best comedy film at the 1st MTRCB Awards the following year, with the role earning him a Best Actor award at the Gawad Urian and New Movie Actor of the Year at the Star Awards for Movies in 2010. He also played roles in other several films, among them the supporting role in the 2013 film Babagwa (Spider's Web), where he won the Best Supporting Actor in the New Breed category of the Cinemalaya, and the lead role in Bekikang: Ang Nanay Kong Beki.
Also a screenwriter and a playwright, he wrote and directed films, including an indie horror Hantu in 2012, Wala na Bang Ibang Title? in 2014, and a short film Igib in 2020.
Television career
His first television appearance was the series Maging Sino Ka Man (ABS-CBN); and later featured in another, Ikaw Sana (GMA Network). He appeared in later TV series as well in both networks. He was the co-host of GMA weekly show Sunday PinaSaya.
As an advocate
An advocate for local theater and film actors, Paras founded the Teatro Expedicion de Filipinas, an organization supporting new young actors from underprivileged areas, and staging original theater works; as well as the Powerhouse Ensemble which offers free production training.
Later life and death
In 2016, Joey revealed in an interview having a heart condition, which he said in another interview in 2020 his main reason to temporarily leave the entertainment industry. He underwent his first angioplasty operation by then.
He then underwent heart surgery in 2018. In 2020, he was confined in St. Luke's Medical Center in Quezon City after being diagnosed with COVID-19; he had another angioplasty operation later.
Paras died on October 29, 2023 at the age of 45.
Filmography
Television
Mulawin vs Ravena (2017) as Dakdak
Princess in the Palace (2015) Vampire Ang Daddy Ko (2015) Sunday PinaSaya (2015–2019) as himself/mainstay FlordeLiza (2015) as Rona Sabado Badoo (2015) as himself cameo footage featured Jim Fernandez's Galema, Anak ni Zuma (2013-2014) as Teacher Karlo Wansapanataym Petrang Paminta (2013) as Lana Kahit Puso'y Masugatan (2012) as Bryan Hindi Ka Na Mag-iisa (2012) as Mimi Daldalita(2011) as Chichi Sinner or Saint (2011) as Gerdo "Gigi" Manalo I Heart You, Pare! (2011) as Serbeza Maalaala Mo Kaya Internet Shop (2011) as Bading Bola (2009) as Budi The Last Prince (2010) as Salim Dahil May Isang Ikaw (2009) as Manolo Meloto Ikaw Sana (2009) as Afi SRO Cinemaserye: Rowena Joy (2009) Maging Sino Ka Man (2006) as Sionny