Veteran actor Ronaldo Valdez is dead, reportedly after committing suicide in the family home on Sunday afternoon.

He is believed to have shot himself with his own handgun, believed to be a .45 caliber pistol.

However, Quezon City police authorities have not yet officially released the final report of its investigation until they receive a confirmation from the PNP Crime Laboratory that reportedly conducted autopsy.

James Ronald Dulaca Gibbs in real life, Valdez was a senior citizen at 77.

He was rushed to the St. Luke’s Hospital in Quezon City a few minutes after family driver Angelito Oclarit found him unconscious in a chair inside the family residence at Unit 25 Casa Nueva Homes, 15 Manga Street, Barangay Mariana, QC around 3:20 pm on December 17.

Hospital authorities pronounced him dead at exactly 4:16 pm.

Police sources said the actor’s son, comedian Janno Gibbs, was among the family members who came to the hospital to be with his father.

The sources added that suicide has been initially suspected as the cause of death as they found the Norinco pistol with serial number 454697 and a fired cartridge case in the spot where the elder actor was found.

It was also reported that the victim suffered two wound to the head but it was speculated that these were entry and exit injuries caused by a single bullet.

Valdez’s family has yet to issue an official statement about the death of its patriarch.

Reports that the actor is suffering from prostate cancer remained unconfirmed.

Meanwhile, QCPD Director P/Brig. Gen. Red Maranan told the news media that suicide as the cause of death could not yet be officially ascertained until the autopsy findings are returned to his office.

Valdez belonged to a family of show business personalities, with children Janno and Melissa, among them. Relatives included the late news anchor Angelo Castro Jr., Jay Ilagan, Robert Arevalo and Liberty Ilagan.

His film career as an actor spanned five decades and started when he was discovered by fellow actor, the late Dolphy, in the mid-1960’s.