Vice Ganda is a Filipino comedian, television host, actor, singer, and businessman best known for hosting the long-running ABS-CBN noontime variety show It’s Showtime and for starring in some of the highest-grossing films in Philippine cinema history.
His real name is Jose Marie Borja Viceral, and he built his career from small Manila comedy clubs into a multimedia career that made him the highest-grossing Filipino movie actor of all time.
Who is Vice Ganda?
Vice Ganda, born Jose Marie Borja Viceral, is one of the Philippines’ most celebrated entertainers. His comedy style blends observational humor, sarcasm, and situational irony, often drawing on Filipino culture, everyday life, and human sexuality.
That approach has given him a distinctly Filipino voice that connects deeply with mass audiences.
He is a regular host on ABS-CBN’s It’s Showtime and has starred in a string of blockbuster films, eight of which rank among the highest-grossing in Philippine cinema.
The media dubbed him the “Phenomenal Superstar,” and his total movie gross reached 4.6 billion.
Beyond film and television, Vice Ganda is also a recording artist, a businessman, and one of the most followed Filipino personalities across all leading social media platforms.
Forbes Asia lists him among the most influential celebrities in Asia-Pacific, and Reader’s Digest named him one of the most trusted personalities in the Philippines in 2023.
Early Life of Vice Ganda
Vice Ganda was born on March 31, 1976, in Tondo, Manila, Philippines. He grew up in a neighborhood along José Abád Santos Street in Manuguit, Tondo, and is the youngest of five children.
His father, Reynaldo Viceral, served as a barangay captain in Tondo and was a native of Tayasan. His mother, Rosario, was an Ilocano from San Juan, La Union.
She raised playing with five siblings named Dr Christina ‘Tina’, Marivic, Babot or Babut, and Emma Viceral.
Tragedy struck early in Vice Ganda’s childhood when his father was murdered, prompting his mother to leave the Philippines to work abroad as a caregiver.
Growing up without both parents under the same roof shaped Vice Ganda’s perspective and later informed much of his comedy.
Before coming out to family and loved ones, he went by the nickname Tutoy as a young boy.
Vice Ganda Age / Birthday
Vice Ganda, whose real name is Jose Marie Borja Viceral, is 50 years old as of 2026, born on March 31, 1976. His zodiac sign is Aries, a sign often linked with boldness, drive, and an instinct for leadership.
At 50, he continues to be one of the most active entertainers in the Philippines, with new films and television projects each year.
Vice Ganda Ethnicity and Nationality
Vice Ganda holds Filipino nationality, born and raised in the Philippines. His ethnic background is Filipino, with Ilocano roots on his mother’s side, connecting him to the northern Luzon heritage of San Juan, La Union.
That dual Manila-Ilocano family background reflects the regional mix common across the Philippine archipelago.
Vice Ganda Height and Weight
Vice Ganda stands at 5 feet 11 inches, which is equivalent to 180 centimeters. His weight is 69 kg, or approximately 152 lbs.
He has a lean build and a stage presence that commands attention, with his fashion choices often featuring bold, expressive styling that reflects his personal brand.
Vice Ganda Education
Vice Ganda studied political science at Far Eastern University in Manila. He did not complete his degree, choosing instead to pursue his career in entertainment.
That decision proved to be the turning point in his professional life.
By leaving university early, Vice Ganda committed fully to stand-up comedy and eventually built a career that spanned films, television, and music across three decades.
Vice Ganda Career
Vice Ganda began performing professionally in 1997, starting as a singer before shifting to stand-up comedy.
His comedy career took shape at two well-known Manila clubs: Punchline and The Library. It was at The Library that owner Andrew de Real gave him the stage name “Vice Ganda,” which roughly translates to “beautiful Vice.”
He spent several years developing his material at those clubs, gaining experience and refining the sharp, audience-aware style that would later make him a national figure.
Early Career and Television Breakthrough (1997-2009)
Vice Ganda built his reputation steadily through television guest roles and tabloid coverage in his early years.
He appeared in sitcoms and drama series, including a supporting role in Dyosa under director Wenn V. Deramas and a role in the drama series Maging Sino Ka Man: Ang Pagbabalik.
His career shifted significantly in 2009 when he joined It’s Showtime, ABS-CBN’s noontime variety show.
What began as a guest spot evolved into a permanent hosting role. His quick wit and crowd energy made him the show’s most recognizable face.
He became a regular judge on Pilipinas Got Talent in 2016, and later served as a judge on Idol Philippines in 2019.
Those roles expanded his visibility beyond comedy into the wider world of Philippine talent television.
Box Office Films and Stardom (2010-2019)
Vice Ganda’s first lead film role came in 2010 with the remake Petrang Kabayo. That same year, he staged his first major concert, May Nag-Text.. ‘Yung Totoo! Vice Ganda sa Araneta, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
From there, his film career generated a streak of box-office records that few Filipino actors have matched.
The Unkabogable Praybeyt Benjamin (2011) became a massive hit, followed by Sisterakas (2012), Girl, Boy, Bakla, Tomboy (2013), The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin (2014), and Beauty and the Bestie (2015).
That run continued into the second half of the decade with The Super Parental Guardians (2016), Gandarrapido: The Revenger Squad (2017), Fantastica (2018), and The Mall, the Merrier! (2019).
Each film attracted large audiences and contributed to his record total gross.
Recent Work (2020-Present)
Vice Ganda returned to the big screen with Partners in Crime in 2022, which he co-starred in with partner Ion Perez.
In 2024, he starred in And the Breadwinner Is…, a family comedy-drama that became a top-grossing entry at the 2024 Metro Manila Film Festival.
He won Best Actor at the 73rd FAMAS Awards for that performance, one of his most significant individual acting honors.
In 2025, he appeared in Call Me Mother, continuing his string of annual film releases.
Vice Ganda was also among the honorees at the 8th Entertainment Editors’ Choice Awards in July 2025, receiving a Box Office Heroes citation for And the Breadwinner Is….
During his speech, he addressed his relationship with the Filipino public directly, describing it as a love-hate connection built over nearly two decades of daily television exposure.
Vice Ganda Filmography
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 2010 | Petrang Kabayo |
| 2011 | The Unkabogable Praybeyt Benjamin |
| 2012 | Sisterakas |
| 2013 | Girl, Boy, Bakla, Tomboy |
| 2014 | The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin |
| 2015 | Beauty and the Bestie |
| 2016 | The Super Parental Guardians |
| 2017 | Gandarrapido: The Revenger Squad |
| 2018 | Fantastica |
| 2019 | The Mall, the Merrier! |
| 2022 | Partners in Crime |
| 2024 | And the Breadwinner Is… |
| 2025 | Call Me Mother |
Vice Ganda Awards and Recognition
Ganda has collected a wide range of awards across television, film, and music throughout his career.
- Best Actor, 73rd FAMAS Awards (And the Breadwinner Is…, 2025)
- 2 Asian Academy Creative Awards, including Best Entertainment Presenter/Host (2021)
- Guinness World Record
- Star on the Eastwood City Walk of Fame
- Multiple PMPC Star Awards for TV, including Best Male TV Host and Best Talent Search Program Host
- Awit Awards for Best Novelty Recording and Best Dance Recording
- Forbes Asia Most Influential Celebrity in Asia-Pacific
- Reader’s Digest Most Trusted Personality in the Philippines (2023)
Ganda also holds the record as the highest-grossing Filipino movie actor of all time, with a combined box-office total of 4.6 billion since 2022.
Vice Ganda Partner: Ion Perez
Vice Ganda has been in a relationship with Filipino actor and model Ion Perez since 2018. The two met through It’s Showtime, where Perez worked as a host alongside Vice Ganda.
They held a commitment ceremony in Las Vegas, Nevada, on October 19, 2021, at The Little Vegas Chapel.
Following the ceremony, Vice Ganda spoke openly about how married life brought a deeper, less superficial joy than anything he had experienced before.
Ion Perez is a Filipino actor, model, and television host. He and Vice Ganda have also appeared together on screen, including in the 2022 film Partners in Crime and The Mall, the Merrier! (2019).
Vice Ganda Net Worth
Vice Ganda’s estimated net worth is $20 million as of 2026. His wealth comes from multiple income streams across television, film, music, and endorsements.
His long-running role on It’s Showtime provides a steady base income, supplemented by annual film releases that consistently perform at the Philippine box office.
Each major film project adds significant revenue to his earnings, given his track record as the country’s top-grossing movie actor.
Vice Ganda has served as a brand endorser for Globe Telecom, where he made history as the company’s first LGBTQ endorser. He has also worked with other major Philippine and international brands over the course of his career.
His music career through Star Music adds royalties and recording income on top of his performance earnings. His YouTube channel has accumulated over 800 million total views, contributing additional ad revenue.
He also authored a satirical book titled President Vice: Ang Bagong Panggulo ng Pilipinas, which added a publishing income stream to his portfolio.
Ganda’s wealth reflects thirty years of consistent work across every major entertainment medium in the Philippines.
Vice Ganda Social Media
Vice Ganda maintains a large presence across multiple platforms. On Instagram, he posts under the handle @praybeytbenjamin, where he has accumulated tens of millions of followers.
His YouTube channel has grown to over 8.5 million subscribers with more than 800 million total video views.
He is also active on Facebook at facebook.com/vicegandaofficialph and on Twitter/X at @vicegandako.
His combined follower count across all platforms is nearly 50 million, placing him among the most followed Filipino personalities online.
Summary
Vice Ganda built a career from Manila comedy clubs in 1997 into a decades-long reign as the Philippines’ highest-grossing movie actor, hosting one of the country’s most-watched daily television shows while earning a FAMAS Best Actor award and a Guinness World Record along the way.
His impact on Philippine entertainment is matched by his visibility as one of the country’s most prominent LGBTQ public figures.
