Comedian Joey de Leon celebrated his 74th birthday at home yesterday, October 14.
The Eat Bulaga host shared series of photos on Instagram showing his simple birthday celebration including a tray of crabs sent over by his former co-host turned Senator Vicente Sotto III and his wife, Helen.
Friends and other EB family members also greeted Joey de Leon on his birthday thru social media.
Joey is a Filipino comedian, actor, television host, and songwriter. He hosts the noontime variety show Eat Bulaga!. He is a member of the comedy trio “Tito, Vic and Joey” that has made several comedy movies and TV shows.
Before being an entertainer, de León earned his architecture degree from the National University in Manila. He was also a disc jockey for 12 radio stations when he was starting.
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Joey de Leon celebrates 74th birthday
De León started his showbiz career in the 1960s as a radio disc jockey and announcer. He worked for 12 radio stations, including all seven radio stations owned by ABS-CBN Corporation and other broadcasters like KBS. His first big break on TV was IBC 13’s gag show, OK Lang.
The sitcom Iskul Bukol that gave the trio nationwide fame as comedians. Soon after, other TV and movie offers came knocking on the trio’s door.
In 1979, Tito, Vic, and Joey began hosting the noontime show Eat Bulaga! which was pitted against the more established Student Canteen. Not long after, Eat Bulaga! Toppled Student Canteen from the ratings. The trio is still active on both Holy Week Dramas every Lenten Season and a comedy variety show on Eat Bulaga.
On October 5, 2017, Joey de Leon elicited controversy from Filipino netizens and high-profile figures advocating for mental health awareness following a remark he made about depression during the Eat Bulaga! segment “Juan for All, All for Juan,” saying in part that the mental disorder is “just something made up by people” and that “they do it to themselves.” He apologized the following day.