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Chew Chor Meng
Chinese name	周初明 (Simplified)
Jyutping	chow1 chun1 meng2 (Cantonese)
Origin	Singapore
Born	November 20, 1968 (1968-11-20) (age 41) Singapore
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1990 - Present
Spouse(s)	Deon Chew
Children	2

Chew Chor Meng (born November 20, 1968; simplified Chinese: 周初明; pinyin: Zhōu Chūmíng) is a Singaporean television actor.

Contents 1 Career 2 Personal life 2.1 Illness 3 Filmography 3.1 Television 3.2 Variety 4 References 5 External links

[edit] Career

Chew started his career in MediaCorp Studios after winning Star Search in 1990, a bi-annual nationwide talent search. Since then, he has never failed to make it to the Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes in Star Awards, an award ceremony for TV personalities, since its inception in 1994. In 2004, Chew was awarded the All Time Favourite Artiste Award as he had garnered a record of 10 popularity awards.

Chew is able to immerse himself so well into his characters that viewers often have a lasting impression of his roles. This was evident when he bagged the Best Actor Award in Star Awards 2000 in Hainan Kopi Tales. His popularity has also spread across the causeway as he was voted the Most Popular MediaCorp Male Artiste in Malaysia. Chor Meng made his first crossover to English sitcom in Mr. Kiasu. He was best known for his role as Jacky Chang aka Ah Bee, a salesman with a penchant for grabbing 'lobangs' (good opportunities that cannot be missed) in the popular Channel 8 sitcom "Don't Worry, Be Happy", which spanned for six seasons. Chor Meng initially dropped out from the role of Ah Bee after the 3rd season due to fear of being typecast, and also because he wanted to focus more on drama and variety shows. He eventually reprised the role for the latter half of the 6th (and final) season for "Don't Worry Be Happy", and appeared in a spinoff series titled "Lobang King" focusing on Ah Bee and his new league of friends. His Lobang King role was named as one of the most memorable TV roles alongside other characters like Teacher Aiyoyo (Chen Liping), Bobo (Zoe Tay) and many others in the Star Awards 25 years of Drama special.

Now a well-known household name, Chew has gone from acting in drama series to hosting large-scale events including overseas collaboration with Taiwan and China.

Chew is a contracted artiste for MediaCorp and the contract is set to expire in October 2010^[1]. Chew has said he does not expect his contract to be renewed, on the account of his debilitating illness^[1]. Currently, he is planning to enter the restaurant business after his artiste contract expires^[1]. This will be Chew's second foray into the eatery business^[1].

[edit] Personal life

Chew is married to Deon Tan and they have two daughters, born in 2002 and 2004. He revealed during a celebrity talk show in early 2008 that he did not have a happy childhood, often being abused by his overly strict father (a compulsive gambler), who committed suicide when Chew was still in primary school. He began attending a Charismatic church, Renewal Centre from 2007 and was baptized in late November 2008 with his daughters.^[2]

[edit] Illness

On December 19, 2008, Chew announced during a church event that he was suffering from Kennedy's disease, a muscular dystrophy illness that resulted in him limping while filming for his latest role as Wang Zhongkun in Love Blossoms II.^[3] Chew said that he was diagnosed with the illness in September 2008, and that he alerted the local press as to his condition, but asked the press to not report it yet, as he was psychologically not ready for it. Chew originally planned on officially announcing his illness during the Star Awards 2008 ceremony, due to be held in March 2009. However, signs of his illness can be clearly seen already, and the news was hard to keep under wraps.^[4] The illness has also brought on cardiac problems and diabetes for Chew^[1].

Since the illness was revealed, Chew became a member of the local disabled sports club, and has been taking swimming lessons to strengthen his body^[5].

[edit] Filmography

[edit] Television

(双天至尊II) || 丁照辉

Year	Title	Role
2008	Love Blossoms 2 (心花朵朵开2)	Wang Zhongkun
2007	The Golden Path (黄金路)	Huang Kaida 黄凯达
2005	My Lucky Charm (情来运转)	TBA
2003	Lobang King	Ah Bee
2002	Springs Of Life (春到人间)	蔡大炮
	Mr Kiasu II	Kiasu
2001	The Hotel (大酒店)	TBA
	The Reunion (顶天立地）	李克淳
	Mr Kiasu	Kiasu
2000	Hainan Kopi Tales (琼园咖啡香)	龙亚星
	The Voices Within (心灵物语）	TBA
	The Legendary Swordsman (笑傲江湖)	林平之
1999	Wok Of Life (福满人间）	游日安/ 游永福
1998	Riding The Storms (陌生人）	蔡贵南
	The New Adventures of Wisely (卫斯理传奇)	TBA
1997	Immortal Love (不老传说)	陈小贵
	For Better or Worse (精英份子）	TBA
1996	Don't Worry, Be Happy (敢敢做个开心人)	Ah Bee
	The Unbeatables II (双天至尊II)	丁照辉
	1995	Embroidered Banner (花帜)	TBA
Ah Xue II (阿雪II）		TBA
The Teochew Family (潮洲家族)		Hong San
1994	Romance In The 7th Month (七月幽情)	TBA
	The Valiant One (昆仑奴)	TBA
	Challenge of Truth (铁证柔情)	TBA
	1995	Embroidered Banner (花帜)	TBA
Ah Xue II (阿雪II）		TBA
The Teochew Family (潮洲家族)		Hong San
1994	Romance In The 7th Month (七月幽情)	TBA
	The Valiant One (昆仑奴)	TBA
	Challenge of Truth (铁证柔情)	TBA
	Young Justice Bao (侠义包公)	Bao Zheng (Justice Bao)
1993	The Witty Advisor (金牌师爷)	Mo Bairen
	The Brave Ones (荡寇英雄)	TBA
	Angel of Vengeance (暴雨狂花)	TBA
	Heavenly Beings (再战封神榜)	火神
1992	Crazy Chase (富贵也疯狂)	TBA
	Memories of June (六月的童话)	TBA
	Fiery Passion (烈焰焚情)	TBA
1991	The Last Swordsman (最后一个大侠)	Yi Pingzi	The Future Is Mine (锦秀前程）	TBA

[edit] Variety

Year	Title	Role
2001	Tonite With Chor Meng (夜猫行动)	Host
	Super Movie Fan Club (超级影迷俱乐部)	TBA
	Lunar New Year Special 2001 (金蛇运转贺新年)	TBA
	All Stars Variety 2001 (全星展艺献温情)	TBA
2000	Affairs of the Heart (心手相连）	TBA
1999	Star Search (才华横溢出新秀)	TBA
1995	City Beat (城人杂志)	Co-host
	Star Search (才华横溢出新秀)	TBA
	Variety Tonight - Now You Know (1995 原来如此)	TBA
1994	Chew on Eight (河畔飘香尝美食)	Host
1993	Star Search (才华横溢出新秀)	TBA

[edit] References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e} "明年10月约满　周初明计划进军饮食业 (Translation: Artiste Contract Due to Expire in October of Next Year, Chew Plans Eatery Business Venture)" (in Simplified Chinese). Lianhe Wanbao (Singapore). 7 July 2009. http://showbiz.omy.sg/Showbiz/E-News/Story/OMYStory200907071508-73062.html. Retrieved 2009-07-13. 
2. ^ Tan, Dawn Weie (21 December 2008). "'I may need a wheelchair'--But actor Chew Chor Meng refuses to let muscular atrophy get him down" (in English). The Straits Times. http://www.straitstimes.com/print/Breaking%2BNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_317020.html. Retrieved 2009-05-30. 
3. ^ Teo, Jasmine (19 December 2008). "Chew has muscular atrophy" (in English). The Straits Times. http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_316507.html. Retrieved 2008-12-22. 
4. ^ "患肌肉萎缩症 周初明受访： 坐轮椅也要 看女儿长大 (Translation: Suffering from muscular atrophy, Chew Chor Meng's Exclusive Interview: "I will watch my daughter grow up, even if I have to watch from a wheelchair")" (in Simplified Chinese). Lianhe Wanbao (carried on omy.sg). 20 December 2008. http://www.omy.sg/Showbiz/E-News/Story/OMYStory200812201701-28249.html. Retrieved 2008-12-22. 
5. ^ "成为残疾人士体育理事会会员　周初明每周4天游泳健身 (Translation: Becoming a member of a disabled sports organisation, Chew Chor Meng swims 4 times a week for fitness)" (in Simplified Chinese). Lianhe Zaobao (Singapore). http://showbiz.omy.sg/Showbiz/E-News/Story/OMYStory200907090410-73597.html. Retrieved 2009-07-13. 

[edit] External links

• Chew Chor Meng's MediaCorp Celeb Bio
• Chew Chor Meng at the Internet Movie Database

v • d • e Star Awards for All Time Favourite Artiste award 2004-2008 Li Nanxing (2004) · Zoe Tay (2004) · Chew Chor Meng (2004) · Fann Wong (2005) · Xie Shaoguang (2005) · Chen Liping (2006) · Huang Bi Ren (2008) ·