Gurmit Singh
Gurmit Singh | |
|---|---|
 Gurmit in 2024 | |
| Born | Gurmit Singh s/o Chainchal Singh Virk[1] 24 March 1965 |
| Nationality | Singaporean |
| Education | Outram Secondary School |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, comedian, presenter, television personality |
| Years active | 1994–present |
| Notable work | Phua Chu Kang Pte Ltd Phua Chu Kang Sdn Bhd Phua Chu Kang The Movie |
| Spouse | Melissa Wong |
| Children | 3 |
Gurmit Singh s/o Chainchal Singh Virk (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
[edit]Born to a Sikh Punjabi Indian father, Chainchal Singh Virk and a mother of Chinese–Japanese descent,[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 Wong. They have three children, Gabrielle (born 1997), Elliot (born 2002) and Mikaela (born 2013).[8] Gurmit is an alumnus of National Police Cadet Corps, Singapore and held the rank of Cadet Inspector.[9]
Gurmit Singh is a native English speaker owing to his multiracial heritage but is also fluent in Malay, Mandarin as well as Hokkien albeit in these two Chinese varieties he is a basic speaker of both.[10]
Career
[edit]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).[11]
In October 2014, the Madame Tussauds Singapore museum unveiled a wax figure of Phua Chu Kang.[12]
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.[13]
In August 2020, Phua Chu Kang was announced and signed as Shopee's first Singaporean brand ambassador.[14]
Filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]| Year | Name of Film | Role | Notes | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Fire-Eater | TBA | ||
| 2001 | One Leg Kicking | Tai Po | [15] | |
| 2006 | We Are Family | Phua Chu Kang (guest appearance) | ||
| 2007 | Just Follow Law | Lim Teng Zui | ||
| Sumolah | Akira | |||
| 2010 | Phua Chu Kang The Movie | Phua Chu Kang / Phua Ah Pa (Phua Chu Kang's Father) / Phua Ah Kong (Phua Chu Kang's Grandfather from Phua Ah Pa's Side) | Phua Ah Pa only appeared in flashbacks when he was younger during the olden century and dynasty period | |
| 2011 | It's a Great, Great World | Security Guard | ||
| 2012 | The Million Dollar Job | Alvin | ||
| 2013 | Taxi! Taxi! | Professor Chua See Kiat | ||
| Everybody's Business | John Lu | |||
| The Million Dollar Job 2: Raffles' Gold | Alvin | |||
| 2016 | Young & Fabulous | Mr Boo | ||
| 2024 | The Chosen One | Bai Yun |
Television
[edit]| Year | Name of Show | Role | Notes | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Can I Help You? | Sam Pereira | ||
| 1997 | Shiver | Father | ||
| 1997–2007 | Phua Chu Kang Pte Ltd | Phua Chu Kang | Also portrayed Phua Ah Pa (Phua Chu Kang's Father) in certain episodes | |
| 2001 | The Hotel | Guest appearance | ||
| 2002 | The Amazing Race 3 | |||
| 2003 | My Sister Harmie | Rani Kaur's brother | ||
| Brothers 4 | Tony Chung | |||
| Baby Boom | Adam | |||
| 2005–2008 | Lifeline | CPT Daniel De Souza | ||
| 2007 | 80's Rewind | Larry Goh | ||
| The Noose | Multiple characters | Prominently as Roy Terse and Windy Miao | ||
| 2008–2009 | Calefare | Andy Lau Hong | ||
| Cosmo & George | Cosmo | |||
| 2009–2010 | Phua Chu Kang Sdn Bhd | Phua Chu Kang | ||
| 2018 | Fam! | Gordon Toh | ||
| 2019 | Lion Mums 3 | Edmond Silvani | Guest appearance | |
| 2020 | Slow Dancing | Gareth | ||
| 2022 | Sunny Side Up | Alex Rajendran | [16] | |
| 2023 | Downstairs | Himself | Guest appearance |
Skit & Entertainment
[edit]| Year | Name of Show | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Live on Five | Host | |
| Gurmit's World | Host and lead actor | ||
| 1995 | Family Fun Show | ||
| Toa Payoh Roadshow | |||
| TCS 1st Anniversary | |||
| 1996 | Gotcha! | Host | |
| Courtesy Show | |||
| TCS 2nd Anniversary | |||
| Singapore National Day Parade | Host | ||
| 1997 | A National Day Special | Host | |
| Anti-Smoking Show | |||
| Terry Fox Run | |||
| Courtesy Show | |||
| A Nation Connects | |||
| Singapore National Day Parade | Host | ||
| Anti-Drug Show | |||
| Disney Fest | |||
| 1998 | Tonight With Gurmit | Host | |
| Courtesy Campaign 20th Anniversary | |||
| Asian Television Awards Show | |||
| SingTel Hello Concert | |||
| High on Life | |||
| Singapore National Day Parade | Host | ||
| Anti-Drug Show | |||
| Swing Singapore Party | |||
| President Star's Charity | |||
| 1999 | MediaCorp All Star Charity | ||
| Millennium Swing | |||
| Singapore National Day Parade | Host | ||
| Tonight With Gurmit | Host | ||
| Anti-Drug Show | |||
| President Star's Charity | |||
| 2000 | Singapore National Day Parade | Host | |
| Tonight With Gurmit | Host | ||
| 2001 | 2MM | ||
| National Crime Prevention Show | |||
| President Star's Charity | |||
| 2002 | Miss Singapore/Universe 2002 | ||
| Singapore National Day Parade | Host | ||
| Health Matters | |||
| President Star's Charity | |||
| 2003 | Gurmit's Small Talk | ||
| Singapore National Day Parade | Host | ||
| 2004 | Singapore Idol | Host | |
| Singapore National Day Parade | Host | ||
| 2005 | Our Makan Places: Lost and Found | Host | |
| A Blessed Christmas | Phua Chu Kang | ||
| Singapore National Day Parade | Host | ||
| Sky Symphony Countdown 2006 | Host | ||
| 2006 | Coffee Talk & Hawker Woks Season 3 | Guest appearance | |
| Singapore Idol (season 2) | Host | ||
| Our Makan Places: Lost and Found (season 2) | Host | ||
| Singapore National Day Parade | Host | ||
| President Star's Charity | |||
| Countdown 2007 at VivoCity | Host | ||
| 2007 | Countdown 2008 at VivoCity | Host | |
| 2008 | Don't Forget the Lyrics! (English version) | Host | |
| Our Makan Places: Lost and Found (season 3) | Host | ||
| Countdown 2009 at Marina Bay | Host | ||
| 2009 | New City Beat 城人新杂志 | Co-hosted with Bryan Wong, Kym Ng and Adrian Pang | |
| Singapore Idol (season 3) | Host | ||
| Singapore National Day Parade | Host | ||
| 2010 | Singapore National Day Parade | Host | |
| 2011 | Singapore National Day Parade | Host | |
| 2012 | Our Makan Places: Lost and Found (season 4) | Host | |
| Singapore National Day Parade | Host | ||
| 2013 | Singapore National Day Parade | Host | |
| 2014 | Our Makan Places: Lost and Found (season 5) | Host | |
| 2016 | Don't Forget to Remember | Host | |
| 2018 | Our Makan Places: Lost and Found (season 6) | Host | |
| Singapore National Day Parade | Host | ||
| 2022 | Kin: The Farewell Special | Host |
Others
[edit]| Year | Name of Show | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Beauty World: The Musical | TBA |
| 2000 | My Lonely Tarts | TBA |
| 2005 | Phua Chu Kang - The Musical | Phua Chu Kang |
Accolades
[edit]Discography
[edit]Albums
[edit]- Sing Singapore 2002 : One (We Are One) (2002) duet with Tay Ping Hui
- One Leg Kicking Original Soundtrack: 'Calling': "Into The House" (2001)
- Moments Gurmit's debut album (2015)
- Gurmit Goes Local (1995) comedy album
Compilations
[edit]- A Happy Journey Starts Like That! (2009)
- The PCK Sar-vivor Rap (2003)
- Love, No Boundaries: "Into the House" (2001) [album single]
References
[edit]- ^ 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.
- ^ Fong, Kai (19 March 2012). "I'm not the funnyman people think I am: Gurmit Singh". Yahoo. Yahoo Singapore. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
- ^ "Winners - Asian Television Awards". Asian Television Awards. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
- ^ Mak Mun San (5 September 2006). "The real Gurmit Singh". The Star. Malaysia.
- ^ "A peak into Singapore's sitcom hero and Malaysia's too". Korean Press. 23 April 2010. Archived from the original on 23 July 2011.
- ^ "Broken to the Core; Transformed by God - Gurmit Singh". christianitymalaysia.com. Archived from the original on 12 August 2023. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
- ^ Renuga, M.; Neo Tiong Seng (1 February 2018). "Outram Secondary School". Singapore Infopedia. National Library Board. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
- ^ "Gurmit Singh's family enjoys new member". AsiaOne. 16 August 2013. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
- ^ "campsite of npcc alumni: Gurmit Singh". NPCC Alumni. Singapore: National Police Cadet Corps Alumni Association. 24 January 2007.
- ^ https://www.nst.com.my/lifestyle/groove/2024/11/1131647/showbiz-phua-chu-kangs-gurmit-singh-impresses-local-podcasters#:~:text=%22And%20since%20I%20have%20many,dancer%20instead%20of%20a%20comedian.
- ^ Ma, Kevin. "Golden Wau nominations favour Aniu, Chiu, Teh". Film Business Asia. Archived from the original on 1 June 2016. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Seah, May (28 November 2014). "Gurmit quits his day job". MediaCorp. TODAY. Retrieved 28 November 2014.
- ^ Van, Tong (23 August 2020). "Phua Chu Kang signed as Shopee's first Singaporean brand ambassador". Inside Retail.
- ^ Elley, Derek (22 March 2002). "One Leg Kicking". Variety. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
- ^ "'Heart was aching': Wang Yuqing and Gurmit Singh share poignant parenting memories". AsiaOne. 18 June 2022. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
External links
[edit]- Gurmit Singh at IMDb
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
- Singaporean television personalities
- 1965 births
- Living people
- Singaporean Charismatics
- Singaporean people of Indian descent
- Singaporean people of Punjabi descent
- Singaporean people of Japanese descent
- Singaporean people of Chinese descent
- Singaporean male television actors
- Singaporean male stage actors
- Singaporean male film actors
- Converts to Christianity from Sikhism
- 20th-century Singaporean male actors
- 21st-century Singaporean male actors