{{short description|Filipino-American actor & singer (born 1973)}} {{Infobox person | name = Paolo Montalban | image = (image) - 507879.jpg | caption = Montalban in 2023 | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1973|05|21}} | birth_place = Manila, Philippines | education = St. Peter's Preparatory School | alma_mater = Rutgers University (BS) | occupation = Actor, singer | years_active = 1997–present | notable_works = {{plainlist| * ''Cinderella'' (1997) * ''Mortal Kombat: Conquest'' (1998–1999) }} }}
'''Paolo Montalban''' (born May 21, 1973) is an American actor and singer best known for his performance in the 1997 Disney television film ''Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella'' as Prince Christopher, opposite Brandy as Cinderella and Whitney Houston as the Fairy Godmother.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20125224,00.html |title=Paolo Montalban: Actor |work=People.com |date=May 11, 1998 |accessdate=1 April 2012}}</ref> He reprised that role in a stage version of the musical with Deborah Gibson and then Jamie-Lynn Sigler as Cinderella and Eartha Kitt as the Fairy Godmother.<ref>[https://www.playbill.com/article/the-shoe-fits-r-hs-cinderella-begins-tour-nov-28-in-fl-com-93475 The Shoe Fits: R&H's Cinderella Begins Tour Nov. 28 in FL] Playbill, November 28, 2000</ref><ref>[https://www.playbill.com/article/tour-of-r-hs-cinderella-with-sigler-kitt-and-quinton-lands-in-nyc-may-3-13-com-96410 Tour of R&H's Cinderella, With Sigler, Kitt and Quinton, Lands in NYC May 3-13] Playbill, May 3, 2001</ref>
==Personal life== Montalban was born in Manila, Philippines, to Paul and Vivian Montalban.<ref name=FilAm>{{cite book |title=Fil-Am: The Filipino American Experience |chapter=Prince Charming |first=Eric |last=Gamalinda |author-link=Eric Gamalinda |editor-first1=Alfred A. (Executive) |editor-last1=Yuson |editor-link1=Alfred Yuson |editor-first2=Eric (Associate) |editor-last2=Gamalinda |publisher=Publico, Inc. |location=Makati City<!--- as spelled out in the book ---> |pages=162–163 |year=1999 |isbn=971-92110-0-8 |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/filamfilipinoame0000unse/page/162/mode/2up?q=paolo+montalban |access-date=2023-03-30 |via=Internet Archive text collection |chapter-url-access=limited}}</ref> His family immigrated to the United States when he was a year old and lived in a studio apartment in Manhattan's West Side across the street from The Juilliard School and Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.<ref name=FilAm/> He is an alumnus of St. Peter's Preparatory School and holds a degree in pre-med psychology from Rutgers University.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.broadwaysings.com/paulo-montalban|title=Paolo Montalban|website=broadwaysings.com|access-date=2019-07-09|archive-date=2021-04-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210426021809/https://www.broadwaysings.com/paulo-montalban|url-status=dead}}</ref>
On December 6th, 2025, Paolo announced his engagement to Yoanna Nikolova on Instagram.<ref>{{citeweb|url=https://www.instagram.com/reel/DR7VcjyAAne/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==|access-date=2025-12-06|title= itspaolomontalban on Instagram}}</ref>
==Career== In 1997, Montalban starred in ''Cinderella'' as Prince Christopher alongside Whitney Houston, Whoopi Goldberg, and Brandy. He also played Kung Lao (ancestor of Kung Lao) in the syndicated series ''Mortal Kombat: Conquest'' along with Daniel Bernhardt and Kristanna Loken.
Montalban was also cast in John Dahl's ''The Great Raid'' as Sgt. Valera, and played Raul<ref>{{cite web |title=American Adobo |first=Vince |last=Magi |website=americanadobo.com |url=http://www.americanadobo.com |access-date=2007-09-22 |quote=Star Awards--Best New Actor nominee, Paolo Montalban ... WINNER Filipino Heritage Award – Most Promising Talent, Paolo Montalban}}</ref> in the independent film ''American Adobo''. He also appeared in ''Just Wright'' starring Queen Latifah, ''The Adjustment Bureau,'' and the short film ''Two Weeks''.
Montalban was named one of ''People's'' 50 Most Beautiful People of 1998.<ref>{{cite web |title=Paolo Mantalban |work=The Kennedy Center |accessdate=14 February 2012 |url=http://www.kennedy-center.org/explorer/artists/?entity_id=4437&source_type=A |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131207221714/http://www.kennedy-center.org/explorer/artists/?entity_id=4437&source_type=A |archivedate=7 December 2013 }}</ref>
He has appeared on Broadway in ''Pacific Overtures'', ''The King and I'' and ''Breakfast at Tiffany's'', starring Emilia Clarke. Off-Broadway, he was in ''Two Gentlemen of Verona'' at Shakespeare in the Park, ''The Romance of Magno Rubio'' at Ma Yi Theater Company, among others.<ref>{{cite web |title=Paolo Montalban Theatre Credits |work=Broadway World |url=http://broadwayworld.com/people/Paolo_Montalban/}}</ref> He also guest starred in ''Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'' (season 8, episode 20: "Annihilated") and ''One Life to Live''.
Montalban has appeared in productions of ''The King and I'' on Broadway and around the country, where he has played both Lun Tha, the young lover, and the title role of the King.<ref>[https://dcmetrotheaterarts.com/2013/12/06/shall-we-schmooze-paolo-montalban-on-playing-the-king-in-the-king-and-i-at-olney-theatre-center-by-joel-markowitz/ 'Shall We Schmooze?' Paolo Montalban on Playing The King in ‘The King and I’ at Olney Theatre Center by Joel Markowitz] DC Metro Theatre Arts</ref> In 2022, Montalban starred as Captain Von Trapp in the Dallas Theater Center production of ''The Sound of Music'' at the Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre.<ref>[https://www.broadwayworld.com/dallas/article/VIDEO-First-Look-at-Paolo-Montalban-Tiffany-Solano-More-in-THE-SOUND-OF-MUSIC-20220406 VIDEO: First Look at Paolo Montalban, Tiffany Solano & More in THE SOUND OF MUSIC] Broadway World, April 6, 2022</ref> On March 28, 2023, he succeeded Peter Francis James as Florenz Ziegfeld in the Broadway revival of ''Funny Girl'' and remained with the show until it closed on September 3 of that year.<ref>[https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Paolo-Montalban-and-Anne-L-Nathan-Will-Join-Cast-of-FUNNY-GIRL-on-Broadway-20230321 Paolo Montalban and Anne L. Nathan Will Join Cast of FUNNY GIRL on Broadway] Broadway World, March 21, 2023</ref><ref>[https://www.playbill.com/article/goodbye-gorgeous-funny-girl-starring-lea-michele-and-tovah-feldshuh-plays-final-broadway-performance-september-3 'Goodbye, Gorgeous!' Funny Girl, Starring Lea Michele and Tovah Feldshuh, Plays Final Broadway Performance September 3] Playbill, September 3, 2023</ref>
He reunited with Brandy in the Disney+ movie ''Descendants: The Rise of Red'', part of the ''Descendants'' franchise, which premiered July 12, 2024.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://whatsondisneyplus.com/new-descendants-the-rise-of-red-character-posters-released/|last=Palmer|first=Roger|date=April 8, 2024|website=whatsondisneyplus.com|access-date=April 8, 2024 |title=New "Descendants: The Rise Of Red" Character Posters Released}}</ref> He is set to reprise the role in ''Descendants: Wicked Wonderland''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bucksbaum |first=Sydney |date=2025-05-06 |title=Brandy, Paolo Montalban, Rita Ora, Melanie Paxson returning for ''Descendants: Wicked Wonderland'' |url=https://ew.com/brandy-paolo-montalban-rita-ora-melanie-paxson-return-descendants-wicked-wonderland-11728777 |access-date=2025-05-06|website=Entertainment Weekly |language=en-US}}</ref>
On January 17, 2024, he originated the role of Kurt Huber in the world premiere of the off-Broadway musical ''White Rose''.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://playbill.com/production/white-rose-the-musical-off-broadway-theatre-row-theatre-2024 | title=White Rose: The Musical (Off-Broadway, Theatre Row Theatre, 2024) }}</ref>
== Filmography ==
=== Film === {| class="wikitable" |+ !Year !Title !Role !Notes |- |2001 |''American Adobo'' |Raul | |- |2005 |''The Great Raid'' |Sgt. Valera | |- |2010 |''Just Wright'' |Sommelier | |- |2012 |''Two Weeks'' |Dad |Short film |- | 2020 | ''The Girl Who Left Home'' | Tony | |- | 2023 | ''Asian Persuasion'' | Lee-Kwan Lee | |- | 2024 |''Descendants: The Rise of Red'' | rowspan="2"|King Charming | |- | 2026 |''Descendants: Wicked Wonderland'' | |}
=== Television === {| class="wikitable" |+ !Year !Title !Role !Notes |- |1997 |''Cinderella'' |Prince Christopher |Television film |- |1998–1999 |''Mortal Kombat: Conquest'' |Kung Lao |22 episodes |- |2007 |''Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'' |Wahid |Episode: "Annihilated" |- | 2010 | ''One Life to Live'' | Tahiti Cop #1 | 1 episode |- |2013 |''City of Dreams'' |Paolo Montalban |Episode: "The Ballad of Ofagina" |- | rowspan="3" |2015 |''Madam Secretary'' |Military Tech |2 episodes |- |''Nurse Jackie'' |Second Investigator |Episode: "Jackie and the Wolf" |- |''The Blacklist'' |Forensic Agent |Episode: "Arioch Cain" |} == Theatre ==
{| class="wikitable" |+ !Year !Title !Role !Venue !Notes |- |1998 |''The King and I'' |Lun Tha |Neil Simon Theatre |Revival Broadway Cast |- |2004 |''Pacific Overtures'' |Manjiro |Studio 54 |Revival Broadway Cast |- |2005 |''Two Gentlemen of Verona'' |Eglamour |Delacorte Theater |Off-Broadway |- |2013 |''Breakfast at Tiffany's'' |u/s Jose, u/s Yunioshi |Cort Theatre |Original Broadway Cast |- |2017 |''Bella: An American Tall Tale'' |Tommie Haw/Skeeter |Playwrights Horizons |Off-Broadway World Premiere <br>Nominated - Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical |- |2020 |''The Unsinkable Molly Brown'' |Arthur |Abrons Arts Center (Transport Group) |Original Off-Broadway Cast |- |2023 |''Funny Girl'' |Florenz Ziegfeld |August Wilson Theatre |Broadway Replacement |- |2024 |''White Rose: The Musical'' |Professor Kurt Huber |Theatre Row |Original Off-Broadway Cast |- |}
== Discography == All credits adapted from Apple Music and Spotify.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Paolo Montalban on Apple Music |url=https://music.apple.com/us/artist/paolo-montalban/74769184 |access-date=2026-01-28 |website=Apple Music |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Paolo Montalban - Spotify |url=https://open.spotify.com/artist/4kuC7xG99W9mCidBr5sg0V?si=LEu4Zj-VTX-1rptgEmsujA |access-date=2026-01-28 |website=Spotify}}</ref>
=== As featured artist ===
==== Singles ==== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:left;" ! rowspan="1" scope="col" | Year ! rowspan="1" scope="col" | Title ! rowspan="1" scope="col" | Album ! rowspan="1" scope="col" | Writer(s) ! rowspan="1" scope="col" | Producer(s) |- | rowspan="2" |2025 ! scope="row" |"Capricorn (Gravity)"<br>{{Small|(Retrograde The Musical featuring Paolo Montalban)}} |''Retrograde The Musical (Studio Cast Recording)'' |Nick Laughlin, Richard C. Walter, Drew Louis, Jesse Saint John |Drew Louis |- ! scope="row" |"Sale"<br>{{Small|(Christine Toy Johnson featuring Jasmine Forsberg, Michael K. Lee, Cecilia Lin, and Paolo Montalban)}} |''Fusong'' |Cecilia Lin, Christine Toy Johnson |{{N/A|No producer credited}} |- |2024 ! scope="row" |"So This Is Love"<br>{{Small|(Brandy featuring Paolo Montalban)}} |''Descendants: The Rise of Red (Original Soundtrack)'' |Al Hoffman, Jerry Livingston, Mack David |TheRon "Neff-U" Feemster |- | rowspan="5" |2022 ! scope="row" |"I Ain't Down Yet"<br>{{Small|(The Cast of ''The Unsinkable Molly Brown'' featuring Paolo Montalban)}} | rowspan="5" |''The Unsinkable Molly Brown (The New Off-Broadway Cast Recording)'' | rowspan="5" |Meredith Willson | rowspan="5" |Michael Croiter, Michael Rafter, Dick Scanlan |- ! scope="row" |"Just Becuz"<br>{{Small|(The Cast of ''The Unsinkable Molly Brown'' featuring Paolo Montalban)}} |- ! scope="row" |"I've A'ready Started In"<br>{{Small|(The Cast of ''The Unsinkable Molly Brown'' featuring Paolo Montalban)}} |- ! scope="row" |"Belly up to the Bar, Boys"<br>{{Small|(The Cast of ''The Unsinkable Molly Brown'' featuring Paolo Montalban)}} |- ! scope="row" |"He's My Friend"<br>{{Small|(The Cast of ''The Unsinkable Molly Brown'' featuring Paolo Montalban)}} |- |2005 ! scope="row" |"My Lord Governer of Uraga, You Have Saved My Life"<br>{{Small|(Stephen Sondheim featuring Michael K. Lee and Paolo Montalban)}} |''Pacific Overtures (The New Broadway Cast Recording)'' |Stephen Sondheim |{{N/A|No producer credited}} |}
==External links== * {{Twitter}} * {{IMDb name}} * {{IBDB name}}
==See also== * Filipinos in the New York metropolitan area
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Montalban, Paolo}} Category:1973 births Category:Living people Category:American male film actors Category:American male actors of Filipino descent Category:Male actors from Manila Category:American male musical theatre actors Category:American male television actors Category:Rutgers University alumni Category:St. Peter's Preparatory School alumni Category:20th-century American male actors Category:20th-century American male singers Category:20th-century American singers Category:21st-century American male actors Category:21st-century American male singers Category:21st-century American singers