PPL Entertainment Inc., the management team of veteran actress Jaclyn Jose, has confirmed the news of her demise. She was 60 years old.
"It saddens us to inform every one of the untimely passing of Miss Jaclyn Jose (real name Mary Jane Guck). More details will be shared as soon as they are available," it said in a statement.
"The Guck and Eigenmann families are requesting for everyone to please pray for the eternal repose of Miss Jaclyn Jose and for them to be allowed the respect and privacy to mourn her passing, and navigate these difficult times," it added.
Although her family has not issued any statement, reports indicate that the actress was discovered lifeless in her residence in Quezon City on Sunday, March 3.
Tributes
Several of her colleagues from the industry took time to remember Jose and pay their respects.
Sharing a photo of them hugging, Kylie Padilla posted on Instagram, "You will be missed [heartbreak emoji]"
Gardo Versoza also posted a photo of them together with the caption, "Mahal na mahal kita abe [crying and heartbreak emoji] Masakit na paalam. Magkwentuhan pa tayo di ba. (I love you so much, friend. Saying goodbye hurts. We still have stories to share, right?)"
Ice Seguerra said also on Instagram, "Hindi ako makapaniwala. Maraming salamat sa pagmamahal mo kay Liza. Lagi mo siyang sinusuportahan nung nasa FDCP at pinagtatanggol nung wala na siya. Thank you for your kindness. Sobrang nakakalungkot. Nakikiramay ako sa pamilya at sa lahat nang nagmamahal sa nag-iisang Jaclyn Jose. Napakalaking kawalan sa buong industriya. (I can't believe it. Thank you so much for loving Liza. You always supported her when she was at FDCP and defended her when she was gone. Thank you for your kindness. Extremely heartbreaking. I extend my condolences to the family and to all who love the one and only Jaclyn Jose. Her loss is a huge blow to the entire industry.)"
Gladys Reyes also paid tribute to her saying, "Ate Jane @jaclynjose, nakakagulat naman, binigla mo kaming lahat. ang dami nating pinagsamahan, simula 9 years old ako sa Lovingly Yours Helen hanggang dito sa huling movie natin na Apag, di ka nagbago sakin. (Ate Jane, this is a shock. We've shared so much together, from when I was 9 years old in Lovingly Yours Helen to our latest movie Apag, you never changed.)"
An icon
Jose is one of the most respected and multi-awarded actresses in the Philippines. She made history as the first Filipino and Southeast Asian to win the Best Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival in 2016 for her role as Rosa Reyes in Brillante Mendoza's socio-political drama film "Ma' Rosa."
She was honored by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts for this achievement at the Ani ng Dangal ceremony in 2017.
In 2023, she was awarded the Movie Icon Award by The Entertainment Editors' Choice (The Eddys) of the Society of Philippine Entertainment Editors.
Jose's first project on television was in the soap opera "Familia Zaragoza," playing Ester from 1996 to 1997. Her popularity rose when she played Magda in "Mula Sa Puso" (1997–1998).
She was last seen in "FPJ's Batang Quiapo" on ABS-CBN as Jail Chief Supt./BGen. Dolores Espinas.
Born Mary Jane Santa Ana Guck, Jose has two children, former actress Andi Eigenmann and son Gwen Garimond Ilagan Guck.