Veteran actor Cocoy Laurel passes away at 72

GMA Network

3 days ago

Veteran actor Cocoy Laurel has died. He was 72.
He passed away on June 14, as confirmed on Monday by the Laurel family via his late mother Celia Diaz Laurel's Facebook page. The page is supervised by the Laurel family.
Cocoy's cause of death was not disclosed.
'It is with deep affection and grateful faith that we entrust our dear brother, Victor, into the hands of our almighty Lord, GOD, Creator and Savior,' the official announcement read.
'He worshipped God and praised Him through his music and artistry and blessed others so generously. Rest in peace. beloved brother, mentor, maestro and friend."
In the post, Cocoy's family also expressed how 'incredibly grateful' they are to him and thanked the late actor for everything he has done for them.
'You will always have a special place in our hearts," it added.
Cocoy's niece, actress Denise Laurel, mourned her uncle in a separate post on Instagram.
'With deep sorrow, we announce the passing of my beloved uncle, mentor and confidant Cocoy Laurel — a gifted actor, singer, and a man that lived for God,' she began.
Denise described Cocoy as a man who graced the world with his talent, kindness, generosity, faith, and a heart overflowing with love.
'His voice — one that moved so many hearts and lifted spirits — now leading the heavenly choir, singing praises before the throne of the One he served so deeply reunited with his friends and family,' she wrote.
'Though we mourn his absence, we celebrate his life and the legacy of love, art, and devotion he leaves behind in the hearts of all the people whose life he's changed,' Denise added.
Cocoy's other niece, theater actress Nicole Laurel Asensio, also penned a heartfelt post on Facebook, saying that losing her Ninong Cocoy is 'one of the most difficult things ever.'
According to Nicole, she got to hold his hand and see him just a few nights before he passed away.
'You are with Jesus now in paradise, so full of his love and light as you showed us in the years we were blessed to have you here. You truly lived a life serving him with all your heart and your multitude of talents,' Nicole wrote.
She expressed her gratitude to the late actor for loving them with a pure heart, for sharing his many gifts and talent, and for teaching her not just how to sing, but how to truly love song.
'If it weren't for you I would have never embraced the blessing of music. Thank you for everything you did for our family, thank you for always being a positive force and inspiring us. Thank you for the private messages you would send each day to uplift and encourage me when times were tough,' Nicole said.
'There will never be another YOU… God's gift to us all, we are so heartbroken to lose you, but in comfort to know you are with Jesus in a place filled with beauty and music beyond measure, and reunited with Lola, Papa Doy, Tita Stella, Tita Suzie and Tito Tip."
The stage actress added that she feels saddened for not being home with her family at this time. She fondly recalled her long conversations with Cocoy, who once expressed his wish for her to share her voice with the world.
'I honor your wish and I promise to sing every song with you as my driving force and inspiration,' she wrote.
Nicole also thanked everyone for their prayers, saying that his death '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. I love you so much Tito Cocoy," she said.
Cocoy, born Victor D. Laurel on March 2, 1953, is the son of the late Vice President Salvador Laurel and the late singer and stage actress Celia Diaz Laurel.
Cocoy began his career in his teens and rose to fame acting alongside the late superstar Nora Aunor in 'Lollipops and Roses' in 1971. He went on to appear in several films, including 'Impossible Dream,' 'Ophelia and Paris,' Disco Fever", and 'Pinoy American Style," among others.
Aside from being a movie star, he was also an esteemed theater actor, notably known for his role as The Engineer in the hit musical 'Miss Saigon" and Jean Valjean in "Les Misérables."
—Jade Veronique Yap/CDC, GMA Integrated News