Fred Esplana

Fred Esplana (born Wilfred Esplana, date unknown) is a veteran Filipino character actor, stunt performer, and fight director who was active in Philippine and international action cinema from the 1960s through the early 2000s. Known primarily for playing henchmen and action extras, he was a member of the renowned stunt group SOS Daredevils. Alongside fellow stuntman Jay Grama, he also served as a fight director for films starring comedy legend Dolphy.

According to the above interview, Fred was working as a waiter at Nichols Airbase in late 1962 when an out-of-work stuntman selling pan-de-sal suggested Fred visit the SOS gym. He trained for several months, learning fencing from earlier masters like Johnny Monteiro, before SOS President Ric Bustamante invited him to his first film shoot: Talahib (released March 1963) starring Joseph Estrada. Fred soon became the SOS' go-to instructor, even teaching karate star Roberto Gonzalez how to do cinematic fight moves. 

Uncredited as one of Hopalong's goons in They Call Him Chop Suey (dir. Jun Gallardo, 1975)

As one of Mother's Gagamba gang members in Stariray (dir. Romy Villaflor, 1981)

As one of Facundo's goons in Da Best In Da West (dir. Romy Villaflor, 1981)

Uncredited as one of Columbus' goons in For Y'ur Height Only (dir. Eddie Nicart, 1981)

As one of Romy Diaz's henchmen (right) in D'Wild Wild Weng (dir. Eddie Nicart, 1982)

As one of Senor Manolo Cervantes' goons in The Impossible Kid (dir. Eddie Nicart, 1982) 

As one of the Orphulus warriors in Mad Warrior/Clash Of The Warlords (dir. Willy Milan, 1984)