Jaime Santos (born October 8, 1951), professionally known as Jimmy Santos, is a Filipino actor, comedian, TV host, former professional basketball player and vlogger. He is one of the hosts from Eat Bulaga! from 1983 until 2022.
Basketball career
Prior to his acting career, Santos became one of the "starting five" players of Jose Rizal College Heavy Bombers in which they had won a 1972 NCAA Championship together with Philip Cezar and David Cezar. He would later play for the U/tex Weavers in the commercial league MICAA, the PBA's forerunner. Santos also played thirteen games in the PBA's inaugural season (1975) for the 7-Up Uncolas. In the featured Old-timers game during the 1991 PBA All-Star week, Santos was named MVP for his late-game heroics and hijinks on the court, leading his White team over the Blue team.
Showbiz career
After a one-season stint with the 7-Up Uncolas in the PBA, Santos began appearing in serious movie supporting roles in the 1970s. His debut movie was Bontoc with the late action King Fernando Poe, Jr., and his other movies including Little Christmas Tree. In the 1980s he turned to comedy, and became a regular in the Philippine television series Iskul Bukol and T.O.D.A.S.: Television's Outrageously Delightful All-Star Show. He also became a regular host in the noon-time television variety show Eat Bulaga! until 2022. Since then, he starred as lead comic actor in such feature films as I Love You 3X a Day, Bondying (a remake), Wooly Booly, and Humanap Ka ng Panget.
In 2011, Santos played a supporting role alongside Vice Ganda in The Unkabogable Praybeyt Benjamin, which gained the distinction of being the highest-grossing Filipino film of all time.
In 2013, he returned to action via Bang Bang Alley with co-star Megan Young.
In 2014, Santos returned to comedy via the film My Illegal Wife with co-stars Zanjoe Marudo and Pokwang.
Santos's most recent film is TOL in 2019 with co-stars Enchong Dee and Jessy Mendiola.
Personal life
Jimmy has 3 children, a daughter and 2 sons, his youngest also following the footsteps of his father as a basketball player. He finished banking and finance at the Jose Rizal College (now Jose Rizal University).
In 2021, Santos started a YouTube channel under the name "Jimmy Saints" where he covers vignettes about his life.