Theater, television and film will never be the same again without Victor Laurel.
Victor, who contributed a sense of order to the once frenzied moments of teenyboppers in the 60s and 70s, is gone.
Laurel died on Saturday, June 14, 2025, his family confirmed in an official statement issued two days after.
Cocoy Laurel’s remains lie at the Heritage Park and Crematorium in Taguig City.
Show business has poured in endless odes to the theater, film and TV icon.
Here are some of them:
“Cocoy was the sweetest. Will always remember you with affection dearest Cocoy.”—Celeste Legaspi, actress, singer.
“Thank you everyone for your prayers. This is really a tough one. My heart is broken and it’s hard to function but I am rejoicing that he is in heaven with the angels as he was always an angel to us on earth."—Nicole Laurel Asencio, singer.
“Rest now in Peace, KAB Bro Cocoy Laurel. Sad day. Reunion na kayo ng (already with) Best friend mo (your) Sis ATE GUY. Two months after you followed her. Now I understand why you’re not answering my SMS and PMs. Thank you, Bro COCOY. True LOVE IS REAL!”—Marie Cusi, Noranian.
“I’ve got to be where my spirit can run free, gotta find my corner of the sky.”—Audie Gemora, actor, singer.
“You were always the kindest and gentlest person to me, my dearest Cocoy. I remember you holding my hand in the wings backstage at Meralco Theatre for every show, when I was waiting to go on to sing my solo song about my dying duck. I was all of 7 years old when we did ‘Pippin,’ and I wasn't nervous at all to sing my big solo song in front of hundreds of people with a full orchestra, before the age of lapel microphones (blame that on the innocent courage of childhood). But there was one show in particular when I was nervous for you: you were in rough vocal shape, fighting off a cough and a cold, and you weren't sure if you could hit your notes for the rest of the show. For that one particular show, I held YOUR hand, and I remember silently giving you all the strength and courage that I could as we waited for our cue in the wings. And that's when I realized what our dear Tita Bibot was always saying: about how we should always be generous to our fellow actors. For all those times you held my hand, I cannot thank you enough. But I will be forever thankful for that one show when I held your hand and gave you all the energy I could muster. Because I've carried that one moment from that one show for the 45 years that I've been doing theater. That one show we had when I had to hold your hand has led to me holding other people's hands backstage. Giving them energy, assurance, encouragement, or just the silent comfort of knowing someone was there, rooting for them. You were always the perfect example of a generous actor, but that one show gave me the opportunity to actually be one. To you. And hopefully, that has also led to me being a generous human being. 45 years ago, I first stepped on the stage as Theo. You were my Pippin. You will always be my Pippin. And you have finally found your corner of the sky. Godspeed, my dear friend. Say hello to Mommy and Daddy up there. Thank you Cocoy Laurel. We love you.”—Jamie Wilson, actor.
Victor was one of the favorite leading men of Nora Aunor in the movie hits “Lollipops and Roses,” “Lollipops and Roses at Burong Talangka” and “Impossible Dream.”
He was also the leading man of Vilma Santos in “Disco Fever” and “Pinay, American Style” and Margie Moran in “Oh Margie Oh.”
Laurel had many stints at the Repertory Philippines and clinched the role of the iconic Engineer role in the Australian edition of “Miss Saigon.”
Cocoy was the son of the late Salvador H. Laurel, Vice-President of the Philippines during the Cory Aquino administration and Celia Diaz-Laurel, stage actress and arts patroness.
He was 72.
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