RJ Rosales

Roseo José Dagdag Rosales Jr. (24 March 1974 – 4 December 2011) also known as RJ Rosales, was a Filipino Australian singer, actor, musical theatre performer, and TV presenter.

Biography

Early life

Born in Manila, his family migrated to Sydney when he was thirteen. His parents are Roseo Macalintal Rosales and Erlinda Dagdag. He spent his early adult years in Sydney, where his family still resides, while he constantly moved to Singapore and Manila for work. Rosales finished a BS Mathematics degree from the University of Western Sydney and worked as a banker before entering show business. His childhood idols included James Ingram, Mariah Carey, Anthony Warlow and Martin Nievera.

Career

Rosales started his professional career by joining the cast of the original Australian production of ''Miss Saigon'' in 1996 as part of the ensemble. A major turning point for a banker with a BS Mathematics degree. However, the production only lasted three months, but later on in the late-1998 Rosales moved to Singapore and began a successful career both in theatre and television. His theatre credits that include leading roles in '' Chang & Eng'', ''The Student Prince'', ''Man of Letters'', ''Cabaret'', and ''Forbidden City''. He also made numerous Singapore television appearances that included ''Spin'' and ''Style Doctors''.

In addition, his work has extended to the Philippines where Rosales is also praised as a successful singer, actor, host and recording artist, performing with several popular artists, the most notable being the hit movie theme song ''Together Forever'' with Carol Banawa. It was his regular stint in ASAP, the number 1 musical variety show in the Philippines that made him a household name in the country.

He has held live concerts in the United States, Australia, Singapore, Japan and Thailand.

In the movie scene he was seen in the MMFF Best Movie for 2005, ''Blue Moon'', where he was nominated for Best Supporting Actor.

Later work

From 2007 to 2008 Rosales was in Australia, performing in the revived production of Sir Cameron Mackintosh's musical ''Miss Saigon'', in which he portrays ''Thuy'', alongside Laurie Cadevida. For this role, he was nominated for the 2007 Helpmann Awards Best Supporting Actor in a Musical. During the latter part of the tour, Rosales also understudied and played the role of the Engineer, again earning him rave reviews. After completing the 14-month Miss Saigon tour that wowed audiences in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth, RJ went back to Singapore to stage his comeback solo concert at the Esplanade Theatres on the Bay dubbed as ''A Musical Journey with RJ Rosales'' on 29 August 2008.

Death

Rosales unexpectedly died in Sydney on 4 December 2011. The funeral mass was held at the Blessed John XXIII Parish Church in Stanhope Gardens. Rosales was laid to rest at the Pine Grove Memorial Park in Kingston St., Minchinbury.

Filmography

TV show

* ''Style Doctors'' (2004)
* '' ASAP'' (1995–2004)
* ''Showbiz Lingo'' (1996–1999)''
* '' Attagirl'' (2001–2002)
* ''Da Pilya en Da Pilot'' (2001–2002)
* ''Sa Puso Ko Iingatan Ka'' (2002)
* ''Miss Earth'' (2002)
* ''Your Honor'' (2001–2002)
* ''Spin'' (2000–2001)
* ''ABCs of Health'' (2000–2001)
* ''The Making of Miss Saigon'' (2001)

Film

* ''Blue Moon'' (2006)

Stage

* ''Into the Woods'' (2011), as Cinderella's Prince, Esplanade Theatre, Singapore
* ''I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change'' (2011), Singapore Drama Centre, National Library of Singapore
* ''Crazy Christmas'' (2010), Singapore Drama Centre, National Library of Singapore
* ''Her Son, Jose Rizal'' (2010) as Jose Rizal, Tom Mann Theatre, Surry Hills, Sydney, Australia
* ''Beauty & The Beast'' (2009) – as The Beast, Singapore Drama Centre, National Library of Singapore
* ''A Musical Journey with RJ Rosales'' (2008), Esplanade Recital Hall
* ''Miss Saigon'' (1996, 2007–2008) – 1996:Ensemble 2007–2008: as Thuy; Understudy as The Engineer
* ''Forbidden City'' (2006) – as Prince Tuan, Esplanade Theatre, Singapore
* ''Cabaret'' (2006) – Esplanade Theatre, Singapore
* ''Man of Letters'' (2006) – NUS University Cultural Centre, Singapore
*''All About Men 2'' (2005), Music Museum, Manila, Philippines
* ''Beautiful Sunday: Songs from the Heart by RJ Rosales'' (2004) – Esplanade Concert Hall, Singapore Songs from the Heart by RJ Rosales
* ''Something Stupid Called Love'' (2003)
* ''East Meets West'' (2003)
* '' Chang & Eng – the Musical'' (1999, 2001, 2002) – as Chang
* ''Sayang'' (2001) – as DJ Mike, Jubilee Hall, Raffles Hotel
* ''The Student Prince'' (2000)
* ''In Celebration of Musical Theatre'' (2000)
* ''Underground – the Musical'' (1999)
* ''Locker Room'' (1999)
* ''35@2000'' (1999)
* ''Filipinas Circa 1880 – the Musical'' (1998)

Music videos

*
* ''Together Forever''
* ''You’re All That I Live For''

References

External links

*

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rosales, Rj
1974 births
2011 deaths
Star Magic
Filipino male musical theatre actors
Australian male musical theatre actors
20th-century Filipino male singers
People from Manila
Male actors from Sydney
Filipino emigrants to Australia
Filipino television personalities
Filipino male television actors
Male actors from Manila
Western Sydney University alumni
Musicians from Sydney
Musicians from Manila