Hong Kong–Singaporean actor (1946–2022)
Mak Ho Wai (Chinese: 麥皓為; 7 January 1946 – 14 April 2022) was a Hong Kong-Singaporean television actor with TVB and then Mediacorp.
Early life and education
Mak studied at the National Taiwan Ocean University, receiving a bachelor's degree in electronic engineering. He later earned a master's degree in Chinese language studies at the Beijing Normal University at the age of 60.[1][2]
Career
After graduating from National Taiwan Ocean University, Mak was a radio DJ in Taiwan a period of time. Having spent ten years in Taiwan, he was proficient in speaking standard Mandarin.[3][4]
Mak enrolled into the twelfth cohort of the TVB artiste training class in 1982 to fulfil the wishes of his younger brother, Mak Dai-Shing [zh], who was also an actor with TVB.[5] Mak Dai Shing died in the CAAC Flight 3303 accident in the same year.[6] After completing the training course, he was retained by TVB as an actor, playing mostly a support role in numerous televised drama in the ensuing years. Notable roles during his time at TVB included the head of an investment firm in The Justice of Life [zh] in 1989 and a newspaper vendor in The Greed of Man in 1992.[5][7]
In 1994, Mak played his last acting role with TVB as a prosecutor in Crime and Passion [zh].[8] In September 1994,[9] he moved to Singapore to further his career.[10]
In 1996, Mak played the patriarch of the family featured in the Chinese drama series, Don't Worry Be Happy (敢敢做个开心人).[11] As the drama was popular, with about 68,000 viewers tuning in for its first episode, and 75,000 viewers for its third episode,[12] Mak would gain the moniker, "Old Hero" (老 Hero) for the rest of his life, which was referenced throughout the series.[11][3]
On 5 October 1997, Mak received the Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes at the Star Awards.[13][14] Barely a week later, Mak was part of the Singapore's stage production of Hu-Du-Men (虎度门) that ran between 10 and 14 October.[15][16] The play was first staged in Hong Kong in the 80s, and it later was adapted into the 1996 Hong Kong film, Hu-Du-Men.[17]
In 2005, Mak had a cameo role in the television series, Destiny (梦在手里), which was the final television role in his acting career.[18]
In 2018, it was reported that Mak had volunteered to be a docent at the National Museum of Singapore.[1][10]
Personal life
Mak had two daughters.[19]
When Mak moved to Singapore to further his career in September 1994, he brought along his entire family.[9] Previously while still under contract with TVB, he had expressed that he would like to migrate to Singapore due to the living environment and the education system.[19] On 25 May 1997, Mak received his Singapore citizenship.[19]
Mak died on 14 April 2022 in Singapore.[10]
Filmography
Television series
Film
Theatre
| Year
|
Title
|
Role
|
Notes
|
Ref
|
| 1997
|
Hu-Du-Men (虎度门)
|
|
|
[15]
|
Awards and nominations
References
External links
