Filipinos prove once again that they are world class performers on stage as Fil-American Hollywood actor Ramon de Ocampo lands the much coveted title role of Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” by the Antaeus Theater Company.

The company recently returned to live performances as it launched a new season in Glendale, California.

Filipino-American Hollywood actor Ramon de Ocampo lands the much coveted title role of Shakespeare’s ‘Hamlet.’ IMDB PHOTO

De Ocampo is the first Fil-Am actor to be offered to play Hamlet on a major international stage. Playing Hamlet has launched the careers of distinguished Hollywood stars such as Laurence Olivier, Richard Burton and Ian McKellan.

On the challenge of playing Hamlet, the talented actor said, “I think anyone who’s played Hamlet realizes it’s the biggest role they’ll ever play. “I’ve counted 1,500 lines. At a certain point all you can do is find a way to bring yourself to it, and not look at other people’s Hamlets. I thought it’s such a big role. I better learn it first.

“There has to be something that connects and resonates in a place that’s real for you. I’m moved by the drawn-out family relationships, the idealization of a father and the struggle with a mother and what happens inside that fight. There’s a big sequence with Hamlet and his mother that asks if mothers and sons can come to terms with their faults and understand each other, especially after a tragedy.”

De Ocampo is also the winner of the prestigious Obie Award for his Off-Broadway stage work; and eleven AudioFile Earphone Awards, including Best Voice for two consecutive years, for his work as voice-actor. He is likewise the first Fil-Am to bag the Lifetime Achievement Award in the audiobooks industry.

The actor has also played other Shakespeare roles for the Glendale based troupe — Angelo/Claudio in “Measure for Measure,” Hal in “Henry IV,” Banquo in “Macbeth,” and Edgar in “King Lear.”

Born in the Philippines, he is the son of former Finance Secretary and current Veterans Bank Chairman Robert “Bobby” de Ocampo. An accomplished television, film, stage, and voice actor, Ramón graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (summa cum laude) in Acting from the prestigious Carnegie Mellon University School of Drama, in Pittsburgh.

Ramón is also known for his television work, having recurring roles on “12 Monkeys,” “The West Wing,” “Sons of Anarchy,” and more.

On the big screen, some of his notable roles were in the films “30 Nights” (with Dan Fogler), “Happy Endings” (with Maggie Gyllenhaal, Don Roos), “xXx: State of the Union” (Ice Cube, Willem DaFoe, Samuel L. Jackson), “Hamlet” (Campbell Scott), and “I am I” (with Simon Helberg, Jason Ritter, Jocelyn Towne).