Ariel Aquino Muhlach (born August 12, 1969), commonly known as Aga Muhlach, is a two-time Gawad Urian and FAMAS award-winning Filipino actor and product endorser. A popular matinee idol since his teens, he was acclaimed, beginning in the 1990s, as one of the country's top dramatic actors.
He is part of TV5 contract actors.
Born in Manila to an acting family, Muhlach's cousin, Niño Muhlach, was a leading child actor of the 1970s, and his aunt, Amalia Fuentes, was a leading dramatic actress. His father has Spanish-German ancestry and his mother is part Chinese.
Muhlach began his career as a child actor, appearing in the 1978 film, May Lalaki sa Ilalim ng Kama. His popularity soared in teeny-bopper roles such as Bagets (1983) and Super-Wan-Tu-Tri (1986), one of the films he co-starred with Janice de Belen, with whom he would have a son (Luigi Muhlach; married to Patty Petil).
In 1984, he first attracted critical attention as the titular character in Miguelito, Ang Batang Rebelde, where he portrayed a rebellious teen in conflict with his mother. The role would gain him nominations for Best Supporting Actor from the FAMAS and Best Actor from the Gawad Urian. In 1987, Muhlach would win his first Gawad Urian award, as Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Napakasakit, Kuya Eddie.
Aga would later on appear in most Regal movies, either as support or lead as the 1980s transitioned to the 1990s. With more younger stars coming out, he would later take it as a challenge to increase his stock as one of showbiz's top matinee idol. Hiring publicist Ethel Ramos as his manager, Aga would later on capture more leading man roles and endorsements.
Emerging as one of the top dramatic actors of the 1990s, he won Best Actor awards from the FAMAS for Sinungaling Mong Puso (1992) and the Gawad Urian for Sana Maulit Muli (1996). He also made the headlines for his romantic relationship with the Puerto Rican former Miss Universe Dayanara Torres, who would later marry the singer Marc Anthony. Muhlach married Charlene Gonzalez, the beauty queen who represented The Philippines in the 1994 Miss Universe pageant. They have two children, Andres and Atasha.
To date, Muhlach has appeared in 61 movies, as well as several television sit-coms such as ABS-CBN's Oki Doki Doc. He also is a longtime commercial endorser for the Jollibee fast food chain. He is also the founder of MaAga Ang Pasko, a Christmas gift giving event such as used toys and all other stuffs was launched in 1994 by Jollibee.
