Cherie Gil, veteran actress, passes away at 59

Veteran actress Cherie Gil, known as local show biz’s “La Primera Contravida” passed away yesterday, Aug. 5. She was 59 years old.

The actress’ friend, talent manager Annabelle Rama, revealed Gil’s passing on her Twitter page yesterday. She opted not to disclose the cause of Gil’s death, only asking for the public’s prayers.

“Cherie Gil just passed away at 5 p.m. today. Please pray for her,” Rama said.

Gil’s nephew Sid Lucero later confirmed the news, as seen in the episode of the GMA program “Saksi” yesterday, Aug. 5. The actor said Gil had been ill for some time, without elaborating.

Lucero then paid tribute to Gil, along with their fellow actors Sharon Cuneta and Vilma Santos, as well as director Jose Javier Reyes, among others.

“I love you;) big hug:),” Lucero said while showing a throwback photo of his aunt on his Instagram page yesterday.

Cuneta recounted her recent visit to Gil in New York, via her Instagram post today, Aug. 6. The Megastar admitted feeling heartbroken over losing her “true screen partner.”

“I am eternally grateful to Him for giving us the few hours we spent together. The love [and] words yet again exchanged in person, the knowledge that the friendship forged when we were very young was stronger [and] would only keep getting so,” she said.

Cuneta and Gil worked together in the film “Bituing Walang Ningning,” where Gil delivered the iconic line, “You’re nothing but a second-rate, trying hard copycat!”

For her part, Santos expressed love for Gil while showing a throwback photo of them together on her Instagram page yesterday.

“Rest In Peace, my Friend. We Love you, Ms.Cherie,” she told the departed actress.

Meanwhile, Reyes addressed Gil by her real name, Evangeline Rose, and described her as “irreplaceable” in his Facebook post yesterday.

“You were launched in the very first movie I ever wrote. You starred in the movie that I will always be remembered. You are irreplaceable in the minds and hearts of so many of us,” he said.

Cherie came from a showbiz family that included her parents Eddie Mesa and Rosemarie Gil, as well as her brothers Mark Gil and Michael de Mesa.

She starred in such films as Ishmael Bernal’s “Manila by Night” in 1980, “Oro, Plata, Mata” in 1982″ and “Bituing Walang Ningning” in 1985. She was last seen in the GMA TV series “Legal Wives.”

Cherie went on to become a mentor to experienced and aspiring actors through her online acting class in 2020. She then revealed last February that she moved to New York to be with her kids and “start a new chapter.” /ra