Rudy Fernandez (March 3, 1953 — June 7, 2008) was a multi-awarded Filipino actor and producer. He came to prominence as an action star in the Philippine cinema during the 1980s up to the early 1990s.
Fernandez was born in Manila, the son of film director Gregorio Fernandez. He made his film debut at the age of three, appearing in Luksang Tagumpay (1956), which was directed by his father. He also appeared in another film of his father's, Emily (1960).
Fernandez started his active film career while a student at the University of Santo Tomas, when he was signed to a contract by Sampaguita Pictures in 1970. He was first featured by Sampaguita Pictures in For Your Mama (1970), then paired with Connie Angeles in Sweet Matutina (1976). Fernandez spent the next few years in teenage parts until he made his breakthrough as an action star with Bitayin si Baby Ama (1976). His viability as an action star was further enhanced with the box-office success of Ang Leon, Ang Tigre at ang Alamid (1979).
Fernandez hometown was Lubao, Pampanga. He has one son, Mark Anthony Fernandez, with former partner Alma Moreno and two sons, Renz Marion and Raphael Fernandez (with Lorna Tolentino, his current wife).
During the 2001 elections, Fernandez ran for mayor of Quezon City under the banner of the Puwersa ng Masa. He was defeated by then-House Speaker Sonny Belmonte of the People Power Coalition.
In 2007, it was revealed by Lorna Tolentino on Startalk that Fernandez had been diagnosed with ampullary cancer. Fernandez underwent treatment in Tokyo, Japan for his illness. After a May 10 healing mass by several friends at the Christ the King Church, Quezon City, he was rushed to a San Juan City hospital for back pains. Alternately, the newspaper Sun Star reported that Rudy actually suffered from pancreatic cancer, instead.
After celebrating his 25th wedding anniversary on Sunday, Rudy suffered a seizure on Wednesday but refused to be taken back to the Cardinal Santos Memorial Center in San Juan City. Fernandez died at his Quezon City home on the morning of June 7, 2008. His remains were brought to the Heritage Memorial Park Crematorium in Taguig City at 8:00 a.m.