MANILA - (3rd UPDATE) Veteran actor Mark Gil passed away at 8 a.m. on Monday due to liver cancer, his family confirmed in a statement. He was 52.
Born Raphael Joseph de Mesa Eigenmann, Gil was diagnosed with cancer in 2012 and found out in June this year that it was terminal.
Upon Gil's request, his family had decided to keep secret the condition and refuted reports that the actor was battling the illness.
"It was Ralph's request that this should not be revealed, and we did not question his decision," a statement read. "To those who have asked us about his condition, especially his colleagues, the press and fans, we apologize for not being forthright, but we also ask for understanding."
Gil was among the clan of Eigenmann celebrities in local showbiz. The second child of singer Eddie Mesa and actress Rosemarie Gil, he was a sibling to Michael de Mesa and Cherie Gil, both movie stars.
He is survived by his wife, Maricar, and their daughter Stephanie Cheri, and five other children from three previous relationships. Among his children are TV stars Sid Lucero and Andi Eigenmann.
According to the joint statement of his family, Gil died peacefully in the company of his family members and had been in high spirits during his last days.
Meantime, the Eigenmanns requested that they be given time to mourn Gil's passing privately. They announced that an event celebrating the life and work of Gil will be held on Wednesday, starting at 10 a.m., at the La Salle Greenhills chapel.
Gil rose to fame for his role in the movie “Batch '81.” His other movies include “Underage,” “Indio,” “Miss X” and “Palabra de Honor,” among others.
His TV shows, meanwhile, include “Guns and Roses,” “100 Days to Heaven,” “Walang Hanggan,” “Imortal,” and “Magkaribal.” Gil’s last project with the ABS-CBN was the primetime series “The Legal Wife.”
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