Zhang Yaodong

Last updated

Zhang Yaodong
Born
Teoh Yeow Tong

(1977-12-17) 17 December 1977 (age 47)
Nationality Malaysian
Other namesQrios
Alma mater University of Hertfordshire
Occupations
  • Actor
  • businessman
  • model
  • Amateur Singer
Years active2001–present
AgentThe Celebrity Agency (????-2025)
Children2
Awards Full list
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese 張耀棟
Simplified Chinese 张耀栋
Hanyu Pinyin Zhāng Yàodòng
Jyutping Zoeng1 Jiu6 Dung3
Hokkien POJ Tiuⁿ Iāu-tòng
Tâi-lô Tiunn Iāu-tòng

Zhang Yaodong (born Teoh Yeow Tong on 17 December 1977) is a Malaysian actor and businessman based in Singapore. [1]

Contents

Career

Acting career

Zhang entered the entertainment industry after finishing first runner-up in the Malaysian edition of talent-search contest Star Search in 2001. He was previously a model and had done various commercials in Malaysia before joining MediaCorp. He made his small screen debut in the sixth season of popular sitcom, Don't Worry, Be Happy.

After seven years in the industry, Zhang was awarded his first lead role in Happily Ever After . [2] He has since played lead roles in series such as The Greatest Love of All , Your Hand in Mine and several Malaysian co-productions. He has been dubbed by many as the "Chinese Michael Jackson" as he bears a strong resemblance to the late singer.

In the Star Awards 2007, Zhang won the Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes award, his first award in his acting career and was also nominated for the Best Actor Award, his first ever nomination in the acting category. [3] Zhang won the Top 10 award once again in 2010. In his speech, he thanked veteran artistes and mentors Huang Wenyong, Huang Biren and Chen Hanwei.

Zhang left MediaCorp in mid-2012 as he chose not to renew his contract with his last work being the 2012 anniversary drama Joys of Life . [2] He planned to further his career in China but did not rule out a possibility of returning to MediaCorp. [4] He signed a new contract with Mediacorp in 2015 [2] and has since starred in Mind Game as well as long-running drama Life - Fear Not .

Zhang has won 6 Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes in 2007, 2011–2013, 2016 and 2024 respectively.

In 2025, after revealing he had two daughters, Zhang was not longer employed by Mediacorp. [5] Zhang was nominated for Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes for the 2025 Star Awards despite leaving Mediacorp and had no media presence. [6] However, as he had performed in an eligible programme within the qualifying period (2024), he remained a valid nominee for public voting categories. [6]

Business career

Zhang with fellow Mediacorp actor, Terence Cao, opened a stall, Restoran Selayang, selling roast meat in SIngapore. Zhang also opened a Taiwanese beef noodles restaurant, Niu Taste, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. [7] Both had since closed down. [7] In 2017, Zhang with three other partners, two of whom are Vietnamese, opened a Japanese-Vietnamese fusion restaurant, Maru, in Tanjong Pagar, Singapore. The restaurant had since been closed also. [8]

In 2019, Zhang in an interview, said he had pulled out of all his eateries due to his busy filming commitment. [9]

In 2025, Zhang owned a seafood zi char stall l in a Tampines Industrial Park coffee shop. [8]

Personal life

Zhang's parents were from Selayang, Selangor in Malaysia and were hawkers. [10] Zhang's hometown is Kuala Lumpur. [9]

In 2024, Zhang revealed he has two daughters. [11] [12]

Filmography

Television series

YearTitleRoleNotesRef.
2002Don't Worry Be Happy VI (敢敢做个开心人)
The Vagrant Gan Yuan
Beautiful Connection
2003 True Heroes Peter
Holland V Ying Tianyang
Always on My Mind (无炎的爱)
2004 The Crime Hunters
An Ode to Life Zhang Wenxi
Beautiful Trio
A Child's Hope II Huang Pinde
My Mighty-in-Laws Ding Mu
2005 Portrait of Home Lin Dajiang
Love Concierge (爱的掌门人)Sunny
2006 Measure of Man Norman
C.I.D Wu Guoxiong
2007 Dear, Dear Son-in-Law Jiang Junji [13]
Falling in Love Tom Hang
The Greatest Love of All Zhao Jiaxuan [5]
Happily Ever After Wu Gang
2008 Crime Busters x 2 Yu Qing
Love Blossoms Machi Ma Daji
Where the Heart Is Hong Jiakang
2009 Your Hand in Mine Yue Guang
2010 The Score Luo Shunbang
The Best Things In Life Bai Chuanyi
2011 On the Fringe Leo
Be Happy Cheng Fang
A Tale of 2 Cities Ouyang Ming
2012 Joys of Life Qian Yiduo
Double Bonus Jin Junyang
2013 Disclosed Lin Feng
Love At Risk Wang Li'an
2015 Life - Fear Not Liu Yishou
Mind Game Guo Yongyan
2016 Hero Zhang Zhentian
C.L.I.F. 4 Chen Yu
My First School Weng Zhihao
Beyond Words Gao Lixian
2017 Eat Already? 2 Dehua
118 II Wang Zhipeng
2018Heart To Heart (心点心)Zhou Gangsheng
Blessings 2 (祖先保佑2)Liu Saiding
Liu Qingshan
Gifted Li Xiaoyi
2019Daybreak (天空渐渐亮)Zheng Weilong [5]
All Is Well – Singapore (你那边怎样,我这边OK)Cai Fulai
Dear Neighbours (我的左邻右里)He Weiren [9]
2020A Jungle Survivor (森林生存记)Guo Dahua
2021Leave No Soul Behind (21点灵)Feng Degang
Live Your Dreams  [ zh ] (大大的梦想)Li Weicheng
Soul Old Yet So Young (心里住着老灵魂)Cai Zhenye [2]
Mind Jumper (触心罪探)Huang Runze [2]
Watch Out! Alexius (小心啊!谢宇航)Xie Yuhang
2022Sisters Stand Tall (快跑吧, 丽娇)Li Zheyi
Healing Hands (医生不是神)Wen Bo'an [2]
2023 Fix My Life Yang Feifan
Family Ties Aoki
My One and Only Lucas Low
Stranger in the DarkMr Luo [14]
2024Born to Shine (孺子可教也)Woo Shangjin [15]

Films

YearTitleRoleNotesRef.
2024OversteerTony [16]

Awards and nominations

YearCeremonyCategoryNominated workResultRef
2007 Star Awards Best Actor The Greatest Love of All (as Zhao Jiaxuan)Nominated [17]
Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes Won
2009 Star Awards Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes Nominated
2010 Star Awards Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes Nominated
2011 Star Awards Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes Won
2012 Star Awards Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes Won
2014 Star Awards Most Popular Regional Artiste (Cambodia)Nominated
2016 Star Awards Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes Top 10
2017 Star Awards Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes Nominated
2019 Star Awards Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes Nominated
2020Asian Academy AwardBest ActorDaybreak(as Zeng Weilong)Won
2021 Star Awards Best Actor Daybreak(as Zeng Weilong)Nominated [17]
Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes Nominated
2022 Star Awards Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes Nominated [18]
2023 Star Awards Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes Nominated
2024 Star Awards Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes Won [19]
2025 Star Awards Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes Nominated [20]

References

  1. "Malaysian-born actors Chris Lee, Shaun Chen, Chen Han Wei, Zhang Yao Dong headline a live session". CNA Lifestyle. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Lim, Ainslyn (8 September 2022). "Zhang Yaodong On His New Side Hustle As A Marketing Consultant & Why He Wants To Take His Time To Settle Down". CNA Lifestyle . Retrieved 13 July 2025.
  3. "May the brightest stars win". Channel NewsAsia. 19 October 2007.
  4. "Apple Hong is starting over in Beijing". AsiaOne. 27 June 2012.
  5. 1 2 3 Chan, Ilsa (23 February 2025). "Actor Zhang Yaodong no longer Mediacorp artiste following series of scandals". CNA Lifestyle . Retrieved 24 February 2025.
  6. 1 2 "红星大奖2025|卷入桃花风波 张耀栋入围十大引议". 柔佛人 China Press. 22 May 2025. Retrieved 21 May 2025.
  7. 1 2 Lee, Jocelyn (10 November 2017). "Why Zhang Yaodong Is A Serial F&B Towkay". 8days . Retrieved 13 July 2025.
  8. 1 2 Gan, Charis (13 June 2025). "Actor Zhang Yaodong starts TikTok account, says he is grateful for support for his Tampines zi char stall". CNA Lifestyle . Retrieved 13 July 2025.
  9. 1 2 3 Tan, Kenda (14 May 2019). "Why Did Zhang Yaodong Join Star Search When He Doesn't Like "Competing With Others"?". Today . Retrieved 13 July 2025.
  10. Koh, Jiamun (4 June 2025). "Zhang Yaodong Serves Diners At His Tampines Tze Char Stall After Staff Resigns; Praised For "Making An Honest Living"". 8days . Retrieved 13 July 2025.
  11. Koh, Jiamun. "Zhang Yaodong Reveals He Has 2 Daughters". 8days. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  12. Koh, Jiamun. "Shaun Chen Met Zhang Yaodong's 2 Daughters Years Ago, Says They "Look A Lot Like Their Dad"". 8days. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  13. Wong, Avis (15 October 2007). "Houren shines as grumpy dad". The New Paper . p. 30.
  14. 潘, 雪忆 (22 September 2023). "《熟悉的陌生人》大胆起用新脸孔 萧歆霓、王硕瀚、卓芳娴首挑大梁". 8world Entertainment Lifestyle (in Chinese (Singapore)). Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  15. "Ex-TV star Hong Guorui returns to screen, shares how driving Grab helps in his acting". AsiaOne. 19 October 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  16. Koh, Jiamun (25 September 2024). "Director Of Zhang Yaodong's Movie Speaks Up For The Actor About His Sex Scandal: "He Told Me His Conscience Is Clear"". 8days. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
  17. 1 2 Lee, Jan (21 March 2024). "My Perfect Weekend with actor Zhang Yaodong". The Straits Times . ISSN   0585-3923 . Retrieved 13 July 2025.
  18. "Star Awards Top 40 Most Popular Artistes revealed; Brandon Wong gets first nomination". sg.style.yahoo.com. 11 March 2022. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
  19. Lim, Bryan (22 April 2024). "Star Awards 2024: Jeremy Chan says wife Jesseca Liu woke up early in the morning to vote for him in Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes". Yahoo News. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
  20. Wong, Bryan (20 May 2025). "Nominees For Star Awards 2025 & How You Can Win A BYD Car By Voting". 8days . Retrieved 9 July 2025.