He also won Best Director for his films Ang Padrino (1984) and Kahit Butas ng Karayom, Papasukin Ko (1995).

He lost to the incumbent Gloria Macapagal Arroyo by just over one million votes (3.48%)—the closest margin between the winner and runner-up in the history of Philippine presidential elections.

Seven months after the elections, Poe died of a stroke; hundreds of thousands attended his wake and funeral.

[9][10] Poe was married to actress Susan Roces, who played his onscreen love interest in 17 films.

In 2004, Poe's political opponents tried to derail his bid for the 2004 Philippine presidency when they sought to disqualify him as an illegitimate son of a non-Filipino mother.

[12] Poe dropped out of college to work in the Philippine film industry as a messenger boy, and was given acting roles in subsequent years.

[citation needed] Among the films that received awards were Mga Alabok sa Lupa (1967), Asedillo (1971), Durugin si Totoy Bato (1979), Umpisahan Mo, Tatapusin Ko (1983), and Muslim .357 (1986).

[17] Among his roles were Flavio in the Ang Panday fantasy series, Kahit Konting Pagtingin, Dito sa Pitong Gatang and Aguila.

Fernando Poe Jr., was the Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KNP)'s candidate for the 2004 presidential election.

[18] Poe married actress Susan Roces, the professional name of Jesusa Sonora, in a civil wedding in December 1968.

They later married in a religious service and among their primary sponsors were then-President Ferdinand Marcos and First Lady Imelda.

Poe was admitted to St. Luke's Medical Center in Quezon City in the evening of December 11, 2004 after complaining of dizziness at a gathering in his production studio during a Christmas party.

[24] The funeral procession drew tens of thousands who crowded the streets of Quezon City, an event which drew comparisons to the funeral processions of former Senator Ninoy Aquino in August 1983 – who also had his wake held at the Santo Domingo Church – and of actress Julie Vega in May 1985.

[25] On his 84th birth anniversary on August 20, 2023, Roosevelt station of LRT Line 1 in Quezon City was renamed Fernando Poe Jr. station and FPJ Arena, a sports arena in San Jose, Batangas also named in his honor, was inaugurated.

[28] In 2015, his 1997 film Ang Probinsyano was remade by ABS-CBN into a TV series, starring Coco Martin as the main character to portray twins namely SPO1 Ricardo "Cardo" Dalisay and Police Sr. Insp.