Ariel Rivera

Jose Ariel Jimenez Rivera, professionally known as Ariel Rivera, is a renowned Filipino recording artist, television actor, and television host. Born in Manila, he immigrated to Canada with his family during his youth and graduated with a degree in architectural drafting before returning to the Philippines for a vacation. His musical talent was discovered by chance, leading to a prolific singing career in the early 1990s. Rivera quickly captured the public's imagination, earning the moniker "Kilabot ng Kolehiyala" (College Girls' Heartthrob) with timeless romantic ballads such as "Sana Kahit Minsan" and "A Smile in Your Heart". Transitioning smoothly into the realm of screen acting, Rivera made his feature film debut in 1992's "Bakit Labis Kitang Mahal," earning critical acclaim right away. His natural dramatic presence quickly cemented him as a respected character actor and leading man in both cinema and television. Over the decades, he has worked seamlessly across both major Philippine television networks—ABS-CBN and GMA Network—starring in prominent primetime teleseryes including "Ina, Kapatid, Anak," "Doble Kara," and "The Fake Life." Rivera is widely regarded in the Philippine entertainment industry as a model professional with an enduring multi-decade career. He is married to celebrated actress and television personality Gelli de Belen, with whom he has two sons, forming one of local showbiz's most enduring and respected marriages.