Jess Lapid Sr.

Jesus Songco Lapid (October 5, 1933 – July 13, 1968) was a Filipino actor and father of actor, diving instructor, fight director Jess Lapid Jr. He was given a movie screen name Jess Lapid. His older brother is Jose Lapid, father of Lito Lapid.

He was shot dead inside a nightclub in Quezon City on July 13, 1968.

Early life
He was born Jesus Lapid on October 5, 1933, in Guagua, Pampanga; an older brother, Jose, is the father and grandfather of movie stars-turned politicians Lito Lapid (now a Senator), and son Mark Lapid (former governor of Pampanga and now TIEZA Head) respectively. Jess started as a grip for Premiere Productions. He then became an extra in his first film from Premiere Productions, “Larawan ng Pag-Ibig” in 1961. He then shifted to being a stuntman, after finding out that they earned more than extras.

Career
He rose to become the top stuntman of Premiere, often doubling for more established stars—riding horses, falling from cliffs, getting shot at by villains. He had the good fortune for doubling for action movie star Fernando Poe Jr., and soon, the two would become fast friends.

When Poe ventured into film productions, he made Jess one of the regulars in his films, giving him roles that required real acting, rather than choreographed stunt actions. Jess rose to the occasion and proved to be a convincing character actor. He tried him out in “Pasong Diablo”, in 1961.

It was in the FPJ Productions, “Sierra Madre” (1963) that Poe decided to give Jess the full star treatment—from a more prominent billing to major publicity exposures. But it was Jess himself who pulled it off, by turning in a sensational performance that erased all doubts about his just being a “mere stuntman”.

It was Tagalog Ilang-Ilang Productions picked him up and eventually made him into a superstar in the movie “Kardong Kidlat” (1964) which became such a smashing success at the box office tills. At the Globe Theater where the movie was launched, a long queue of movie fans lined up around the building just to get in and watch the talk-of-the-town film.

1964 proved to be a bright and busy year for Jess, appearing in movies like “Bilis at Tapang” with Romeo Vasquez and “Vendetta Brothers” with Joseph Estrada and Eddie Garcia. He co-starred with Vic Vargas in “7 Kilabot ng Barilan”. In 1966, he got to team up with Gloria Romero in the film Batang Muntinglupa, which would be the only movie they did together. The film also starred a young Jay Ilagan. In 1968, Jess appeared alongside Poe Jr. and Estrada in “3 Hari”, an FPJ productions offering.

As he was raking it in, he invested in his own film outfit, Jela Productions, and began producing his own movies.

Personal life
Of his 3 children, one went on to follow in his footsteps. His namesake, Jess Lapid Jr. also became a movie actor, and a film and fight director, and also now currently a scuba diving instructor. He appeared in a 1980 spin-off film that made his father famous, “Ang Bagong Kardong Kidlat”. Jess Jr. capped his career with a Best Supporting Actor award for the movie “Lumayo Ka Man Sa Akin” in 1993.

Death and legacy
After wrapping up the movie “Simaron Brothers” with Jun Aristorenas, on the night of 13 July 1968, Lapid Sr. was shot to death at the Lanai Nightclub after an altercation between two groups of movie personalities. Jess was brought to the National Orthopedic Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival. He was 34 years old. Persistent reports linked the incident to another Kapampangan actress, Nancy Roman, also his leading lady. A suspect, Mario Henson, gave himself up to the police, and at least one gunman from Angeles was implicated in the crime.

A public viewing of his body was held at the Santo Cristo Chapel, then his body was brought to his hometown on July 13, 1968. His remains is at Guagua Cemetery in Pampanga.

“Simaron Brothers” was shown posthumously at the Globe Theater, and the blurb capitalized on his sensational death by touting his last movie as a “picture that will project the living image of Jess Lapid in the hearts of millions..”.

As a belated tribute, his nephew Lito Lapid appeared as Jess Lapid in the biopic “The Jess Lapid Story”, released in 1978. He also immortalized the iconic role of Leon Guerrero, first originated by Jess in the 1968 film, “Leon Guerrero: Laban sa 7 Kilabot”.

Lapid Sr. is now remembered as one of the first stuntmen who successfully transitioned from being a stuntman to a star actor alongside Lito Lapid, Poe Jr., Dante Varona and Baldo Marro. He is also remembered as one of the best action stars of his era.

In Popular Culture

 * He was portrayed by his real life son, Jess Lapid Jr. was played the role his late father from the hit FPJ Movie, Epimaco Velasco Story: NBI, was released by VIVA Films, FLT Films & FPJ Productions in 1994.