John Regala

John Paul Guido Regala Scherrer (September 12, 1967 – June 3, 2023), better known by his screen name John Regala, was a Filipino actor and environmentalist. He gained notoriety in the entertainment industry as a member of the 1986 television show That's Entertainment, and went on to play well-known antagonist roles in action movies and teleseries in the 1990s. He was sometimes unofficially tagged as the "Bad Boy" of Philippine action films along with fellow action stars like Robin Padilla and the late Ace Vergel.

Regala was one of the most gifted Filipino actors and most controversial actors in local showbusiness. In 1994, he was nominated for 'Best Supporting Actor' at the Gawad Urian Awards for his performance in The Fatima Buen Story. In 2011, he won 'Best Supporting Actor' at the 37th Metro Manila Film Festival for the film Kingpin: The Asiong Salonga Story.

Regala is best known for his portrayals in Alyas Baby Face, Primitivo Ebok Ala: Kalaban Mortal ni Baby Ama, The Vizconde Massacre: God, Help Us! and Batas Ko ay Bala.

Career
Although he forayed in supporting or lead roles in Action or Crime flicks he was notably cast in Crime flicks in the 90s such as Kunin mo ang Ulo Ni Ismael (1989) of Seiko Films and The Fatima Buen Story (1994) as an Anti Hero.

Mainstream success and hiatus
Regala entered showbusiness in the mid-1980s, becoming a member of That's Entertainment.

Regala became an action star in his first action film Boy Kristiano (1989). He then portrayed a villain role in the film Isa-Isahin ko Kayo (1990) alongside Ronnie Ricketts. He has also collaborated with action star Jeric Raval when he played the lead role as Marcial "Baby" Ama (Regala's late uncle) in the true to life action-drama film Primitivo Ebok Ala: Kalaban Mortal ni Baby Ama (1992). He played his role as Kris Aquino's rapist-killer in the true-to-life crime drama film The Vizconde Massacre: God Help Us (1993).

Return to acting
Regala returned to showbusiness and worked with Mart Escudero in the horror-comedy-thriller film Remington and the Curse of the Zombadings (2011). One of his most notable works was with his best friend Gov. ER Ejercito for the award-winning 2011 Metro Manila Film Festival Filipino action film Manila Kingpin: The Asiong Salonga Story (2011) while Regala himself won the best supporting actor award. He has also worked with JC de Vera and Oyo Sotto for the TV drama series Valiente of TV5 (2012). He was once again made famous on ABS-CBN when he worked with Kim Chiu and Maja Salvador in Ina, Kapatid, Anak (2013), and with Coco Martin in the action-fantasy drama TV series Juan dela Cruz (2013) and FPJ's Ang Probinsyano (2016).

Personal life
Regala was the son of the late former character actor Mel Francisco and the late former actress Ruby Regala. His showbiz career stalled due to heavy drug abuse. Later, he went to drug rehabilitation center and became a born again Christian and eventually became a Christian minister. After some years of his life, he decided to become a member of the Iglesia ni Cristo. He later converted to Members Church of God International but went back to Iglesia ni Cristo in 2015. Regala became an environmentalist and worked as the President and CEO of Project Green Evolution, Inc., which produces the Water Bonsai Organic Root Grower.

Illness and death
In August 2020, Regala was hospitalized for cirrhosis of the liver. He died on June 3, 2023, from cardiac arrest brought on by liver and kidney complications.