Mak Ho Wai

Hong Kong–Singaporean actor (1946–2022)

OccupationActorYears active1982–2008Awards1997 Star Awards for Top 10 Most Popular Male ArtistesChinese nameTraditional Chinese麥皓為Simplified Chinese麦皓为Hanyu PinyinMài HàowèiJyutpingMak6 Hou6 Wai4IPA[mɐk̚˨ hou˨.wɐi˩]

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

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (November 2022)

Television series

Year Title Role Notes Ref
1983 Return of the Condor Heroes unnamed Taoist priest
1984 The Smiling, Proud Wanderer Tou-bat-yung
1986 New Heavenly Sword and Dragon Sabre Chu Yun-cheung
1987 The Legend of the Book and the Sword [20]
1988 It's No Heaven 天堂血路
Twilight of a Nation Yik-san 奕山
1989 The Iron Butterfly 特警90
Looking Back in Anger [6]
The Justice of Life [zh] [7]
1990 Behind Bars 铁窗雄泪
Blood of Good and Evil [zh] [6]
It Runs in the Family [zh] [2]
1991 A New Life Ha Kin-yan 夏健仁
1992 Rage and Passion Royal advisor
The Greed of Man [7]
1993 The Buddhism Palm Strikes Back Cheung Sam
1994 The Legend of the Condor Heroes Tong Cho-tak
Crime and Passion [zh] Last work with TVB [7]
1995 Strange Encounters III [21]
The Golden Pillow [7]
Morning Express [7]
1996 Creative Edge 创意先锋 [10]
Don't Worry Be Happy 敢敢做个开心人 Old Hero [7]
Ambition Superintendent Sir 唐Sir The series is only broadcast by TVB in 1996.
1997 The Guest People [22]
1998 The Return of the Condor Heroes (1998) Zhou Botong [5]
Legend of the Eight Immortals Han Zhongli [5]
2005 Destiny Cen Fei's father [18]

Film

Year Title Role Notes Ref
1986 Loves Of The Living Dead Striptease show's boss
1988 The Last Conflict Priest [23]
The Romancing Star II [23]
Faithfully Yours Taxi driver [23]
1989 All Night Long 夜瘋狂
1990 Sunshine Friends 笑星撞地球 [23]
1991 The Banquet
1992 Game Kids 機Boy小子之真假威龍
1993 Millionaire Cop 千面天王
My Hero II [zh] [23]
1994 Mr. Sardine 沙甸魚殺人事件
1995 When a Child Is Born 有兒萬事足 Dr Shen [24]
Sea Eagle 海岸猎鹰 [21]
Fatal Memory 血案迷情

Theatre

Year Title Role Notes Ref
1997 Hu-Du-Men (虎度门) [15]

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Result Ref.
1997 Star Awards 1997 Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes Top 10 [13][14]

References

  1. ^ a b 黃梓恒 (11 February 2018). "【我本善良】「金慶」麥皓為已移民 漢語言文學碩士畢業好鬼勁". 香港01 (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  2. ^ a b "演员麦皓为去世当天入土安葬，女儿称没有追思仪式，最后露面曝光_于家人_米雪_小角色". www.sohu.com. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  3. ^ a b 管雪梅 (19 April 1997). '老Hero'5月成新加坡公民 笑言学非所用：工程系毕业，却当了演员 成小女儿朋友的偶像 一见他就喊：老Hero叔叔. Shin Min Daily News. p. 10. 很多观众都奇怪麦皓为来自香港，却能讲得一口流利的华语，他说，"我曾在台湾住了10年，在台湾大学念书，毕业也曾在台湾电台当DJ，你知道吗，我当年还收到不少新马的听众的来信啊。"" ... "原来，家住勿洛大牌61的麦皓为，有两个女儿，大女儿最近去年刚考完A水准，而小女儿则正念小学4年级，没接拍戏通告时，麦皓为都会陪女儿等校车，而校车上的小学生们，看到这位电视上的"老Hero"，都非常兴奋，于是，"老Hero叔叔"的叫声四起，害得麦皓为应接不暇。
  4. ^ 赵琬仪. 与陶大宇曾是演员训练班同学 麦皓为为演戏看小说学华语. Lianhe Zaobao. p. 7. 原来他曾在台湾居住10年之久，头5年念书，后5年工作，大学课程攻读的是电子工程。在台湾的那段时间，他为了学华语，下过一番苦功。叫他印象深刻，是他曾参与一项戏剧演出，碍于语言问题，导演要把原来是演员的他调到幕后。当时的他很不服气，要求导演给他两个星期的时间，克服语音问题。
  5. ^ a b c d Lim, Ruey Yan (14 April 2022). "Don't Worry, Be Happy veteran actor Mak Ho Wai dies at 76 | The Straits Times". www.straitstimes.com. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  6. ^ a b c 聯合新聞網 (14 April 2022). "資深港星麥皓為「繼承亡弟遺志」入行40年 驚傳病逝友米雪證實". 噓！星聞 (in Chinese). Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g "Former TVB and Mediacorp actor Mak Ho Wai dies at 76". AsiaOne. 14 April 2022. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  8. ^ "Hong Kong actor Mak Ho Wai dies at 76". The Star. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
  9. ^ a b 林秀萍 (26 February 1997). 麦皓为将成为新加坡公民 [Mak Ho Wai will become Singapore citizen]. Lianhe Zaobao. p. 9. 加入新视之前，他是香港无线电视台演员，1994 年 9 月携家带眷移民本地，他已是新加坡永久居民。
  10. ^ a b c d "资深艺人麦皓为因病去世 享寿76岁". 8world Entertainment Lifestyle (in Chinese (Singapore)). Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  11. ^ a b 胡文雁 (1 March 1996). 敢敢讲·敢敢演·敢敢颠 《敢敢做个开心人》要你好看. Lianhe Zaobao. p. 5. 其中麦皓为和方辉继《展翅高飞》后，再演夫妻，是"敢敢家族"的重量级人物。" ... 有这么一个怕老婆的老公，方辉可想而知，一定霸道非常。"是啊！我在戏里是个男人婆，从来不穿裙子，常常把'敢敢'两个字挂在嘴边，什么都'敢敢'。敢敢去！敢敢做！敢敢买！对老公很凶，开口闭口叫他老 hero，可是心地很善良。"
  12. ^ 胡文雁 (20 March 1996). 反映小人物心声受欢迎 《敢敢做个开心人》收视率高. Lianhe Zaobao. p. 6. 华语环境剧《敢敢做个开心人》播出三星期以来，观众反应热烈，第一集收视点创下星期天9点档时段的记录，达68万，而上星期天播出的第三集《失钟记》，更是"精益求精"，收视率达75万。以没有大卡士（剧中只有饰演张英才的周初明是偶像小生）的环境剧来说，能有70万以上的收视，表现已经很不错，证明这类轻松有趣，而且非常生活化，较能反映小人物心声的小品，确实很受观众欢迎。
  13. ^ a b Star Awards 2019 - Flashback 1997《红星大奖2019》Say peace, not cheese 和平的胜利 (Trailer) (in Chinese). 10 April 2019.
  14. ^ a b 周国威 (6 October 1997). 新视今年红星大奖揭晓 李铭顺林晓佩夺得 最佳男女主角奖. Lianhe Zaobao. p. 1. 新视97年度十大男、女红星也分别在吴君如和张学友的宣布下诞生，他们是陈泰鸣、陈天文、郭亮、赖兴祥、李铭顺、李南星、麦皓为、谢韶光、宏荣、周初明、陈莉萍、陈丽贞、范文芳、郭妃丽、郭淑贤、黄碧仁、潘玲玲、黄丽玲、许美珍和郑惠玉。
  15. ^ a b 邹文学 (3 October 1997). 为仁慈医院筹款 香港名演员米雪 来新演《虎度门》. Lianhe Wanbao. p. 8. 另一方面，新加坡也推出了非常强大的演员阵容配合，他们是新视演员麦皓为和陈致光，前新视演员宋丽华，广播界名人郭贤华和歌手郭飞等。
  16. ^ 许瑞霞 (11 October 1997). 《虎度门》昨晚首演成功 米雪男友尹志强 从香港送花篮祝贺. Lianhe Wanbao. p. 20. 《虎度门》是为仁慈医院筹款，经从昨天开始至14日，一连5晚，在嘉龙剧院演出，目前还有剩票，有意观赏者，每晚可到现场购票。
  17. ^ 萧芳芳演粤剧文武生 《虎度门》台上台下都有戏. Lianhe Zaobao. 15 November 1995. p. 5. 《女人四十》是许鞍华替萧芳芳量身定造的剧本，舒琪在80年代看到杜国威的《虎度门》同名舞台剧，已有改拍电影的冲动，脑里想的最佳主角人选就是萧芳芳，这股冲动还多亏了《女人四十》扬眉吐气，才让舒琪在将近10年后梦想成真。
  18. ^ a b "Chew Chor Meng, May Phua Pay Tribute To Don't Worry Be Happy's 'Lao Hero' Mak Ho Wai, Who Passed Away At 76". 8 Days. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  19. ^ a b c 管雪梅 (5 June 1997). 麦皓为全家成为新加坡公民 护照拿到马上澳洲拍外景 [Mak Ho Wai becomes Singapore citizen for family and obtains passport for overseas shoot in Australia]. Shin Min Daily News. p. 19. 他是在5月25日那晚，出席了一项隆重的"欢迎晚宴"仪式，正式接获了新加坡公民权，第二天，麦皓为就马上持着公民权，到移民局申请新加坡国际护照了。"本来申请护照 要等一段时间的，但是，因此我急着要申请澳洲的签证，随《敢敢》外景大队到澳洲拍摄外景，所以公司特别写了信，要求移民局通融，让我早点办好，看，我今天就拿到了。"" ... "94 年9月自香港举家移居我国的麦皓为，之前是香港无线电视的签约艺人，他说会选择移民新加坡，是因为喜欢这里的生活环境和教育环境。"我最开心的是两个女儿在这里很能适应，而且学业成绩很好。"家住勿洛的麦皓为，有两个女儿，大女儿最近去年刚考完A水准，而小女儿则正念小学4年级。
  20. ^ "米雪悼念香港资深演员麦皓为：您的笑声感觉常在". www.163.com. 15 April 2022. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  21. ^ a b "新视电影 海岸猎鹰 月黑风高缉私追踪 展开体力智力搏斗". Shin Min Daily News. 3 May 1995. p. 10. Retrieved 15 November 2022 – via NewspaperSG.
  22. ^ "The Guest People". Archived from the original on 17 June 2016. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
  23. ^ a b c d e 莫匡堯 (14 April 2022). "綠葉演員麥皓為逝世 回顧五個大銀幕經典詼諧角色". 香港01 (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  24. ^ "杨宝玲来新'偷生仔'". Lianhe Wanbao. 15 May 1995. p. 10. Retrieved 15 November 2022 – via NewspaperSG.

External links

  • Mak Ho Wai at IMDb
  • Mak Hiu-Wai at Hkmdb