MANILA, Philippines – Rodwick “Red” Sternberg, a beloved actor who rose to fame in the 1990s teen drama T.G.I.S., died suddenly on the morning of Tuesday, May 27.
His wife, Sandy Sternberg, confirmed his death on social media on Thursday, May 29, saying that Red died just three days before what would have been his 51st birthday.
“It is hard to find the words right now to say that this has been the most difficult time I have ever gone through my whole life. To be greeted ‘happy birthday’ and ‘sorry for your loss’ at the same time three consecutive days of what was supposed to be a celebration full of birthdays. May was our month! 5th, 28th, 29th, and 30th,” she wrote.
“To those who knew him from his early acting days, he was ‘Kiko,’ but to our three kids and I he was simply Daddy/Dada,” she added.
Sandy requested that fans keep the Sternberg family in their thoughts and prayers, and to respect their need for privacy as they “navigate this difficult journey.”
Details on the memorial have yet to be released. The actor’s cause of death was not disclosed.
Sternberg became a familiar face to ’90s Filipino teens as “Kiko” in the GMA youth-oriented show T.G.I.S. (Thank God It’s Sabado), which first aired in 1995. He starred alongside fellow teen idols back then, including Angelu de Leon, Bobby Andrews, Rica Peralejo, Raven Villanueva, Michael Flores, and Ciara Sotto.
Mark Reyes, the director of T.G.I.S., took to Instagram to honor the actor.
“The entire T.G.I.S Barkada is heartbroken to lose one of our own,” he wrote.
Apart from the weekly series, he also appeared in T.G.I.S.: The Movie and the thriller Silaw. – Rappler.com