Late '70s to early '80s: career beginnings and child star era At the early age of four, Sarmenta began his acting career by portraying Peping, the young kid, in the enduring drama series and groundbreaking telenovela
Gulong ng Palad (1977–1983). For this role, he received a nomination for Best Child Actor at the 1978
FAMAS Awards. He debuted as one of the performers on the variety show ''
That's Entertainment, presented by the late Master Showman German Moreno, just three years after his first TV employment. His debut acting role was in the movie Pinagbuklod ng Pag-ibig'', which also starred
Nora Aunor,
Vilma Santos,
Tirso Cruz III, and
Romeo Velasquez. He was also chosen to play Ding, Darna's steadfast sidekick, in
Rio Locsin's 1979
Darna movie.
1980s: Career prime and popularity Sarmenta was coupled with a variety of leading ladies throughout the height of his career, including Jennifer Sevilla, Sheryl Cruz, and Harlene Bautista. But his loveteam with Sheryl Cruz resonated the most among fans and viewers.
Puso sa Puso (1988),
Langit at Lupa (1988), and
Pardina at ang mga Duwende (1989) were three of their projects together.
1990s With the help of violent fist and gun battles and demanding stunts in the movies, Romnick became a well-known action star. In addition, he acted in historical dramas such as
Tirad Pass: The Story of Gen. Gregorio del Pilar (1997), in which he played the lead role, and
Damong Ligaw (1997), a movie version of Ceres Alabado's novel
KangKong 1896, in which he played a farm child who became a Katipunero. In the Gil Portes drama film
Miguel/Michelle from 1998, Sarmenta also played a gay character.
2020s In 2022, he played the father of
Daniel Padilla's character on
2 Good 2 Be True. He then played another gay character in the film
About Us But Not About Us. In 2024, he played the journalist character on a sequel to
Senior High,
High Street. ==Personal life==