Adrian Pang

Last updated

Adrian Pang
Born (1966-01-08) 8 January 1966 (age 58)
Malacca, Malaysia
Nationality Singaporean
Education
Alma mater
Occupations
  • Actor
  • producer
  • host
Years active1990s-present
Agent FLY Entertainment
Spouse
Tracie Howitt
​
(m. 1995)​
Children2
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese 彭耀順
Simplified Chinese 彭耀顺
Hanyu Pinyin Péng Yàoshùn

Adrian Pang Yeow Soon (born 8 January 1966) is a Singaporean actor, host, and contracted artiste under FLY Entertainment. A full-time Mediacorp artiste from 1990 to 2010, Pang first came to prominence in the Singapore television scene with his performances in both English-language and Chinese-language television dramas produced by MediaCorp and SPH MediaWorks in the 1990s. Since then, he has taken roles in hosting and theatre production. More recently, he had a small role in the Hollywood cybercrime movie Blackhat (2015), starring Chris Hemsworth and Wang Leehom.

Contents

Early life

Pang was born in Malacca, Malaysia, but emigrated to Singapore shortly after with his family. He was educated at Anglo-Chinese School and Anglo-Chinese Junior College. [1] Although he graduated with a law degree from Keele University in Britain, he did not practice, he trained at the ARTTS International in Bubwith instead. He worked for a number of years in British theatre and television before returning to Singapore. While he was based in Britain, he would occasionally return to Singapore for stage work where he first caught the eye of Singaporeans when he starred in the Singaporean comedy film Forever Fever (1998).

Career

Homecoming

Upon returning home, Pang joined Mediacorp. Pang later switched to SPH MediaWorks as a producer-presenter when the new company was established in 2001. It was around this time in 2001 that he moved back permanently to Singapore with his family. He quickly established himself as a household name through his work on SPH MediaWorks Channel i. A versatile talent, he excelled in hosting as well as acting, such as in the comedy Durian King and the main actor in the channel's final production, Six Weeks, before its impending merger with Mediacorp in 2005. An original idea of his, Pang co-wrote Six Weeks and was part of the creative process from start to finish.

Recognition

Re-employed by Mediacorp after the merger, he went on to appear in Chinese dramas on Mediacorp Channel 8, such as the blockbuster drama Portrait of Home (同心圆) in 2005. His portrayal of the eccentric Dadi earned him a Best Actor nomination in Star Awards 2005. He achieved this accolade despite the fact that he is much more comfortable speaking in English than in Mandarin (something many English-speaking Singaporeans can relate to). Indeed, he admitted he had much difficulty acting in the show. He even describes himself as a 'kentang', a Malay term, to describe someone who is very Westernised.

He also starred in Jack Neo's romantic comedy I Do I Do (2005) with Sharon Au. He also appeared on Makan King on Channel U, Nine Lives on Arts Central and Maggi & Me on Mediacorp Channel 5. In March 2007, he clinched the coveted Best Actor award at the national Life! Theater Awards for 2006.

He has also appeared in various theatrical performances such as Forbidden City: Portrait of An Empress (2002), A Twist of Fate (2005), The Dresser, The Odd Couple and many others.

Pang's humour makes him one of the more sought-after hosts in Singaporean media. He was the host for The Arena and Deal or No Deal aired on Mediacorp Channel 5. He has also helped to host the National Day Parade Celebrations in Singapore as well as Miss Singapore Universe.

He also played the male lead in the series Parental Guidance opposite Hong Kong actress, Jessica Hsuen. That was also the first time Pang played a legal professional on television.

In 2008, he filmed a Chinese drama serial, Nanny Daddy , which was telecast on Channel 8 in September that year.

In 2009, he snared a leading role as a "blind" lawyer named Alex Sung bent on revenge in the Channel 5 blockbuster drama Red Thread and clinched the "Best Actor" award at the 14th Asian Television Awards (ATA). [2]

In January 2010, Pang announced that after his current artiste contract with Mediacorp expires in March, he will "experimentally" leave the entertainment industry, and establish a drama company with his wife, to be called "PANGDEMONiUM!". [3] According to Pang, the "experimental" leave was made possible via a prior arrangement with Mediacorp executives, and that he is open to returning to Mediacorp, or act in Mediacorp projects, in the future. At this time he did not appear for the last few episodes in New City Beat and acted in Channel 8 drama series With You . [3]

PANGDEMONiUM!'s inaugural production was The Full Monty held in June 2010, based on The Full Monty . Their next production, Closer showed from February to March 2011. Their third play, Dealer's Choice was played from 29 September to 12 October 2011. They went on to produce Spring Awakening in February 2012 [4] and Swimming with Sharks in September 2012. [5]

In 2012, Pang starred in the Mediacorp Raintree Pictures movie Dance Dance Dragon (龙众舞) alongside Kym Ng and Dennis Chew. The movie was aired in all local cinemas during the Lunar New Year period.

In late 2012, Pang starred in the Singapore Repertory Theatre's production of God of Carnage . [6] The next year, he went on to star in a stage adaptation of Rabbit Hole opposite popular actress Janice Koh. [7]

In 2014, Pang wrote his first book for children, Hansel and Girl Girl. The children's picture book, illustrated by Cultural Medallion winner Milenko Prvacki, transplants the traditional Hansel and Gretel fairy tale to a Singapore setting. Published by Epigram Books, part of the proceeds went to charity. [8]

Recent years

In recent years, Pang is best known to play the fictional role of a senior lawyer, Dennis Tang, in MediaCorp's The Pupil and Code of Law television drama series. Ironically, in real life, Pang actually graduated with a law degree from University of Keele (UK) in his younger years, though he did not go into a legal job.

Pang was the creative director for the Singapore National Day Parade in 2022. [9]

Personal life

Pang married Tracie Howitt in 1995. They have two sons. [10]

Filmography

Television series

YearTitleRoleNotesRef
2000 Arabian Nights Gulnare
2005 Portrait of Home Zhou Dadi [11]
Portrait of Home II (同心圆2)
2006–2008 Maggi & Me Johnny Tan
2007–2008 Parental Guidance James Seto
2007Do Not Disturb : Lunch Hour
2008 Nanny Daddy Liu Zhuolun
2009Polo BoysGregory Koh
Red ThreadAlex Sung
2010 With You Zhou Wen-an
2010 - 2011 The Pupil Dennis Tang Teng Soon
2011 Code of Law Dennis Tang Teng SoonSeason 1
2012 The Kitchen Musical Bryan S
2017SeNTZacheus Lee
2018−2020 The Bridge Commander Lim Boon Teck
2019Lion MumsHo Kang PengSeason 3
2019I See You (看见看不见的你)Zhong Zhiwen
2020 Code of Law Dennis Tang Teng SoonSeason 5
2021−2022Lion MumsHo Kang PengSeason 4
2022 Little Women Calvin Ng / Hotel ManagerCameo [12]

Film

YearTitleRoleNotesRef
1995 Night Watch Korean technician
1998 Forever Fever Hock
1999Everybody Loves Sunshine [10]
2000Second GenerationJimmy
Night SwimmerKenneth
2001 Spy Game Jiang [10]
2005 I Do, I Do Lee Ah Peng
2007 Gone Shopping Valentine Tan
Men in White
2008The Carrot Cake ConversationsMatthew
Pulua HantuDamian Lee
2009 The Blue Mansion Wee Teck Meng
2012 Dance Dance Dragon Eric Tan
Bait Jessup
The BouncerShort film [13]
2013 Sex.Violence.FamilyValues The director
Judgement Day Prime Minister
2014 Unlucky Plaza Sky / Terence Chia
2015 Blackhat Keith Yan
The Faith of Anna Waters Father Matthew Tan
2018 Boi Gordon
Republic of Food Chia Kau Peng
2020The PitchHimselfShort film
2022 #LookAtMe Pastor Josiah Long
Before Life After DeathRaymond Kwan
2023 Sunday Mr Lee

Shows hosted

YearTitleNotesRef
2000–2004Yummy King
2002Chingay Parade
Singapore Film Festival
Singapore National Day Parade (pre-parade)
2003Chingay Parade
2004Top 10 十不相瞒
2005 Singapore National Day Parade
2005–2006Makan King 好吃王
2006 Chingay Parade
Miss Singapore Universe finals
2007 The Arena I
Code Red 爱上小红点
Phua Chu Kang Pte Ltd Wrap PartyEnd of series wrap-up
Miss Singapore Universe finals
2007–2008 Deal or No Deal
2009 Don't Forget the Lyrics! English edition, Comic Mayhem episode
New City Beat 城人新杂志Co-hosted with Gurmit Singh, Bryan Wong and Kym Ng
2012–2013Chasing Happiness Channel NewsAsia programme

Theatre

YearTitleRoleLocation
1993The Magic FundoshiThe Servant, The Wife, The AcolyteMu-Lan Theatre Company, London
1993 Hair Tribe The Old Vic, UK
1994 Into the Woods JackSingapore Repertory Theater, Singapore
1995 Privates on Parade MingGreenwich Theatre, UK
1995 Little Shop of Horrors SeymourSingapore Repertory Theater, Singapore
1996 The Glass Menagerie Tom WingfieldSingapore Repertory Theater, Singapore
1996The Magic FundoshiThe Servant, The Wife, The AcolyteSingapore Repertory Theater, Singapore
1997 Hamlet Prince Hamlet Singapore Repertory Theater, Singapore
1997New TerritoriesWong, Monkey Yellow Earth Theatre, London
1998Take AwayDamienMu-Lan Theatre Company, London
1999, 2000 They're Playing Our Song VernonSingapore Repertory Theater, Manila, Philippines
2001 Barefoot in the Park PaulSingapore Repertory Theater, Singapore
2004 The Odd Couple Felix Ungar, Oscar MadisonSingapore Repertory Theater, Singapore
2005A Twist of FateUncle AlbertVizPro Entertainment / Singapore Repertory Theater, Singapore
2006 The Dresser NormanSingapore Repertory Theater, Singapore
2007, 2008 The Pillowman TupolskiSingapore Repertory Theater, Singapore
2009 Much Ado About Nothing BenedickSingapore Repertory Theater, Singapore
2010 The Full Monty JerryPangdemonium, Singapore
2011 Into the Woods The BakerSingapore
2011 Dealer's Choice StephenPangdemonium, Singapore
2011 Closer LarryPangdemonium, Singapore
2012 God of Carnage MichaelAtlantis Production / Singapore Repertory Theater, Singapore
2012 Swimming with Sharks Buddy AckermanPangdemonium, Singapore
2012 Spring Awakening Headmaster KnochenbruchPangdemonium, Singapore
2013 Rabbit Hole Howie CorbettPangdemonium, Singapore
2013 Next to Normal DanPangdemonium, Singapore
2014 The Rise and Fall of Little Voice RaysayPangdemonium, Singapore
2014 Frozen RalphPangdemonium, Singapore
2015 Circle Mirror Transformation ShultzPangdemonium, Singapore
2015 Tribes DadPangdemonium, Singapore
2015 Chinglish Minister Cai GuoliangPangdemonium, Singapore
2019Late CompanyBillVictoria Theatre, Singapore
2024Salesman in ChinaYing Ruocheng Stratford Festival, Canada

Bibliography

Awards and nominations

Star Awards

YearCeremonyCategoryNominated workResultRef
2005 Star Awards Best Actor Portrait of Home Nominated
Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes —Top 20
2006 Star Awards Best Actor Portrait of Home IINominated
Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes —Top 20
2007 Star Awards Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes —Top 20
2009 Star Awards Best Actor Nanny Daddy Nominated
Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes —Top 20

Asian Television Awards

YearAwardCategoryWorkResultRef
2003 Asian Television Awards Best Comedy ActorAh Girl IINominated
2007 Asian Television Awards Best Comedy Actor Maggi & Me Nominated
2009 Asian Television Awards Best ActorRed ThreadWon

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References

  1. ↑ "Adrian pang flunked A-Level Chinese". AsiaOne. 24 November 2009.
  2. ↑ "Asian Television Awards 2009 Winners". Archived from the original on 14 November 2015. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
  3. 1 2 彭耀顺不续约 要和太太开设剧团 [Adrian Pang not renewing his contract, and will open a drama company with his wife] (in Chinese). Shin Min Daily News (published on omy.sg). 14 January 2010. Archived from the original on 17 January 2010. Retrieved 17 January 2010.
  4. ↑ "Spring Awakening By PANGDEMONiUM!". Archived from the original on 16 November 2012. Retrieved 4 October 2012.
  5. ↑ "Swimming with Sharks – Pangdemonium".
  6. ↑ "Theatre Review (Singapore): God of Carnage by Yasmina Reza". Archived from the original on 14 April 2013. Retrieved 29 November 2012.
  7. ↑ "Rabbit Hole". The UrbanWire. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  8. ↑ "Hansel and Girl Girl". Epigram Books. Archived from the original on 4 September 2014. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
  9. ↑ "Gratitude and optimism: Lessons from battling depression that Adrian Pang wants to share with NDP 2022 audiences". CNA. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  10. 1 2 3 Auto, Hermes (14 November 2021). "'I was running on empty': Actor Adrian Pang on his battle with depression | The Straits Times". www.straitstimes.com. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
  11. ↑ "ADRIAN PANG ASIAN ENGLISH". voiceovers.asia. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
  12. ↑ cue (27 September 2022). "Adrian Pang and other local actors appear in K-drama Little Women's Singapore scenes | The Straits Times". www.straitstimes.com. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
  13. ↑ "Ghost in the machine: Singapore films in 2012". www.fareastfilm.com (in Italian). Retrieved 14 October 2022.
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