Jose Sixto Raphael Gonzalez Dantes III, popularly known as Dingdong Dantes, is a director/actor and model, born on August 2, 1980 in Quezon City, Philippines.He is the son of Jose Dantes, Jr. and Angeline Gonzalez Dantes. Dantes began his career as a child model, appearing in a dairy product commercial when he was two years old. Several other commercials followed before he became part of an all-male dance group called Abztract Dancers, with his friend, actor Dino Guevarra, and his cousin, actor, Arthur Solinap. Their group became regulars on Eat Bulaga and That's Entertainment.
As an actor, he debuted on GMA Network's youth-oriented T.G.I.S. when he was 17, under the name Raphael Dantes playing the role of Iñaki. He appeared in films like Honey My Love So Sweet and I'm Sorry My Love, and television programmes including Anna Karenina and did a few guesting stints on ABS-CBN such as a F.L.A.M.E.S. episode, a youth-oriented romantic-drama anthology with different love teams and stories that aired from 1996 to 2002.
In 2000, Dantes appeared in the sitcom Super Klenk with Ara Mina.
In 2001, Dantes was paired with actress Tanya Garcia as they top-billed GMA-7's primetime soap opera series Sana Ay Ikaw Na Nga. The two headlined in another primetime romance-drama billing in 2003 titled Twin Hearts. Dantes then took on several hosting jobs including beauty pageants such as the prestigious Binibining Pilipinas and GMA Network's reality artist search, StarStruck, a role he retained for a few seasons, and the game show Family Feud before its transfer to Edu Manzano.
Aside from his television stints, Dantes appeared in films including Magkapatid and Pangarap Ko Ang Ibigin Ka.
Dantes hosts the suspense-thriller Wag Kukurap, occasionally directing. He played King Ybrahim in the Encantadia fantasy-themed television saga and the 2006 film Moments of Love.
