Joel Torre

José Rizalino de León Torre^[6] was born on June 19, 1961,^[7] and hailed from Bacolod.^[8] He is the son of Alfonso Obregon Torre and Luz de Leon Diaz.^[9] Torre began performing in theater at the age of seven,^[9] performing with the Masskara theater group in Bacolod, which was overseen by director Peque Gallaga.^[10]

Torre studied at the University of St. La Salle in Bacolod.^[11]

At age seven, Torre was a member of the Bacolod-based Masskara theater group ran by director Peque Gallaga, where his passion for acting started. He was the youngest member in the group which composed of 13 people. He then played a small role in Lino Brocka's Gumising ka, Maruja which was shot in Bacolod in 1978. A few years later, Gallaga tasked Torre to play a role for his 1982 film Oro, Plata, Mata.^[12][13] In 1990, Torre starred in the action drama Kunin Mo Ang Ulo ni Ismael, based on the radio drama by Rey Langit serialized in DZRH. The film reportedly earned over ₱12 million in Metro Manila.^[14]

In 2024, Torre was cast in the 2024 regional Bacolod film, Under A Piaya Moon.^[15]

Torre's middle name, Rizalino, comes from the fact that he was born exactly 100 years after the Filipino national hero José Rizal.^[6] Torre married Christy Azcona in 1990. They have two daughters, Maria "Aila" Ariela and Maria "Marela" Raphaela.^[16]

In 2003, Torres and his wife founded JT's Manukan Grille in Quezon City. It offers Bacolod-style chicken inasal, a native dish of his. Currently, it has 35 branches in the country.^[17]

In 2024, Philippines AirAsia partnered with Torre's JT's Manukan Grille to offer Bacolod chicken inasal in-flight. It also opened its first overseas restaurant in Lucky Plaza, Singapore.^[18]