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Gurmit Singh

Gurmit Singh Virk Chainchal Singh (born 24 March 1965; Punjabi: ਗੁਰਮੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ, romanized: Gurmīt Siṅgh; Chinese: 葛米星; pinyin: Gémǐ Xīng) is a Singaporean actor, comedian, presenter, and television personality. He was prominently a full-time Mediacorp artiste from 1994 to 2014. He is best known for his role as the titular character Phua Chu Kang in Phua Chu Kang Pte Ltd, Phua Chu Kang Sdn Bhd and Phua Chu Kang The Movie, for which he won the Asian Television Awards prize for Best Performance by an Actor (Comedy) five times, from 1998 to 2001 and in 2003 for the former.[2] From 2004 to 2005, he won the Highly Commended prize.[3]

Life

Born to a Sikh Indian father, Chainchal Singh, and an East Asian (Chinese–Japanese) mother,[4] Gurmit was brought up as a Sikh, but converted to Christianity in 1985.[5][6] Gurmit studied in Outram Secondary School during his secondary school years.[7]

Gurmit is married to Melissa, a Cantonese Chinese. They have three children, Gabrielle (born 1997), Elliot (born 2001) and Mikaela (born 2013).[8] Gurmit is an alumnus of National Police Cadet Corps, Singapore, and held the rank of Cadet Inspector.[9]

Career

Making his debut in the variety show Live on 5 in 1994, he then became the host and lead actor of sitcom Gurmit's World, also debuted in 1994. The second season of Gurmit's World, continued in 1995, in which Gurmit portrayed his 'relatives' in a series of skits (unlike the first season where he played a wide assortment of mostly non-recurring characters), featured the first appearance of a character named Phua Chu Kang. The Singlish-based spin-off sitcom Phua Chu Kang Pte Ltd in 1997 made Gurmit a popular icon, not only in Singapore, but also in neighbouring countries (especially Malaysia). This factor leads to having a spin-off sitcom sequel based in Malaysia, Phua Chu Kang Sdn Bhd (2009-2010).

In 2013, Gurmit was nominated for the Best Actor prize at the 1st Golden Wau Awards, aimed at promoting Chinese-language Malaysian films, for his role in Phua Chu Kang The Movie (2010).[10]

In October 2014, the Madame Tussauds Singapore museum unveiled a wax figure of Phua Chu Kang.[11]

In November 2014, Gurmit announced that he would leave the entertainment industry at the end of his full-time television career at Mediacorp - after exactly 20 years. Gurmit shared that he planned to spend more time with his family and would take on engagements on a more selective basis.[12]

In August 2020, Phua Chu Kang was announced and signed as Shopee's first Singaporean brand ambassador.[13]

Filmography

Film

Television

Others

Accolades


Discography

Albums

Compilations

References

  1. ^ Sun, David (8 June 2021). "Gurmit Singh gets 3-month driving ban, $800 fine for speeding at 131kmh with son in car". The Straits Times. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
  2. ^ Fong, Kai (19 March 2012). "I'm not the funnyman people think I am: Gurmit Singh". Yahoo. Yahoo Singapore. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
  3. ^ "Winners - Asian Television Awards". Asian Television Awards. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
  4. ^ Mak Mun San (5 September 2006). "The real Gurmit Singh". The Star. Malaysia.
  5. ^ "A peak into Singapore's sitcom hero and Malaysia's too". Korean Press. 23 April 2010. Archived from the original on 23 July 2011.
  6. ^ "Broken to the Core; Transformed by God - Gurmit Singh". christianitymalaysia.com. Archived from the original on 12 August 2023. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  7. ^ Renuga, M.; Neo Tiong Seng (1 February 2018). "Outram Secondary School". Singapore Infopedia. National Library Board. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
  8. ^ "Gurmit Singh's family enjoys new member". AsiaOne. 16 August 2013. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
  9. ^ "campsite of npcc alumni: Gurmit Singh". NPCC Alumni. Singapore: National Police Cadet Corps Alumni Association. 24 January 2007.
  10. ^ Ma, Kevin. "Golden Wau nominations favour Aniu, Chiu, Teh". Film Business Asia. Archived from the original on 1 June 2016. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
  11. ^ Singh, Bryna (26 October 2014). "Readers vote: Which Madame Tussauds Singapore wax figure looks most like the real McCoy?". Singapore Press Holdings. The Straits Times. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  12. ^ Seah, May (28 November 2014). "Gurmit quits his day job". MediaCorp. TODAY. Retrieved 28 November 2014.
  13. ^ Van, Tong (23 August 2020). "Phua Chu Kang signed as Shopee's first Singaporean brand ambassador". Inside Retail.
  14. ^ Elley, Derek (22 March 2002). "One Leg Kicking". Variety. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
  15. ^ "'Heart was aching': Wang Yuqing and Gurmit Singh share poignant parenting memories". AsiaOne. 18 June 2022. Retrieved 28 May 2023.

External links