The late Comedy King Dolphy (Rodolfo Vera Quizon Sr.), remembered for his iconic roles in film and television, continues to provide for his heirs through his enduring estate. (Photo courtesy of Dolphy Quizon official archives )
More than a decade after his death, Comedy King Dolphy’s estate continues to support his heirs through royalties, businesses, and real estate ventures.
MANILA — More than a decade since his passing in 2012, the late Rodolfo “Dolphy” Quizon Sr., the Philippines’ Comedy King, continues to provide for his family through royalties, businesses, and real estate that he left behind. Dolphy, who fathered 18 acknowledged children, left not only a towering career in film and television but also a carefully managed inheritance. According to his sons, the estate was divided into 20 shares, ensuring that each child—and even the descendants of siblings who have since passed—benefits from what he built.
In a recent interview, actor and director Epy Quizon revealed that he and his siblings still receive what he calls an “allowance” from their father. He clarified that this income comes from royalties and business ventures tied to Dolphy’s name, including Pidol’s Bakeshop and Banayad Whisky, brands inspired by Dolphy’s on-screen persona and humor. Epy stressed that the family is not “billionaire-rich” but continues to enjoy modest, regular support from these projects. “There are 18 of us, and the shares are divided,” he said, adding that even heirs of deceased siblings are included.
His brother Eric Quizon, who serves as co-executor of the estate alongside Zsa Zsa Padilla, has explained that all ventures using Dolphy’s likeness or intellectual property are managed transparently, with royalties distributed among the heirs. The family has also acted to protect Dolphy’s image, filing cases in the past against unauthorized use of his name on products.
One of the family’s most visible legacy businesses is Pidol’s Bakeshop, rolled out as a franchise in 2024–2025 through a partnership with Global Franchise House. The bakery, named after Dolphy’s affectionate nickname “Pidol,” was designed to connect his memory to the everyday Filipino table. With branches opening in Mindanao, including Zamboanga, the bakeshop reflects Dolphy’s wholesome persona, offering affordable breads and pastries while serving as a steady source of royalties for the family.
In 2025, the heirs also launched the official Banayad Whisky, inspired by a running gag from Dolphy’s hit sitcom Home Along Da Riles. Marketed as a tribute product, the whisky quickly became a pop-culture item. The launch followed the family’s earlier legal efforts in 2023 to block unauthorized products that misused Dolphy’s image.
Beyond these businesses, Dolphy also left behind real estate investments that formed part of his inheritance to his children. Known for valuing property ownership, he acquired land and homes over the years, some of which were later sold to cover mounting medical expenses during his final years. Eric Quizon revealed that the family spent up to ₱17 million during Dolphy’s last confinement, prompting the sale of select properties. In 2014, the estate announced that certain holdings would be auctioned, though not the entire portfolio. Among the more notable assets was the Dolphyville subdivision in Calatagan, a family-owned property that proved especially valuable during the COVID-19 pandemic. When income streams were scarce, the heirs entered a joint venture to sell portions of the subdivision, closing deals within six months and generating much-needed cash flow. Dolphy had also begun transferring some properties to his children before his death, ensuring that they were directly provided for.
The Quizon heirs remain visible in entertainment, politics, and music. Eric Quizon built his reputation as an actor, director, and producer while serving as the family’s spokesperson. Epy Quizon established himself as a dramatic actor and filmmaker, often in independent cinema. Vandolph Quizon became a comedian and later pursued public service. Meanwhile, Zia Quizon, daughter of Dolphy and singer Zsa Zsa Padilla, pursued a career in music, gaining recognition as a singer-songwriter.
The inheritance arrangement also accounts for heirs who have since passed away, such as Rolly Quizon, Dolphy’s son who rose to fame in the 1970s and 1980s as part of the classic sitcom John en Marsha. Rolly portrayed the youngest son, Rolly Puruntong, acting alongside his real-life father and Nida Blanca. He died in 2018 at the age of 59 after suffering a stroke, but his descendants continue to receive his share of Dolphy’s estate.
Dolphy died on July 10, 2012, at age 83 due to multiple organ failure. More than a decade later, his presence continues to be felt not only through reruns of his classic films and television shows but also through the businesses, properties, and royalties that continue to provide for his heirs. For his children, the Comedy King’s greatest gift was not just financial security but the legacy of laughter and the enduring reminder that his life’s work still touches millions.
