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Adrian Pang

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In this Chinese name, the family name is Pang.
Adrian Pang
Born (1966-01-08) 8 January 1966 (age 58)
Malacca, Malaysia
NationalitySingaporean
Education
Alma mater
Occupations
  • Actor
  • producer
  • host
Years active1990s-present
AgentFLY Entertainment
Spouse
Tracie Howitt
​
(m. 1995)​
Children2
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese彭耀順
Simplified Chinese彭耀顺
Hanyu PinyinPéng 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.

Early life

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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

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Homecoming

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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

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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

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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

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

Filmography

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Television series

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Year Title Role Notes Ref
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
2007 Do Not Disturb : Lunch Hour
2008 Nanny Daddy Liu Zhuolun
2009 Polo Boys Gregory Koh
Red Thread Alex Sung
2010 With You Zhou Wen-an
2010 - 2011 The Pupil Dennis Tang Teng Soon
2011 Code of Law Dennis Tang Teng Soon Season 1
2012 The Kitchen Musical Bryan S
2017 SeNT Zacheus Lee
2018−2020 The Bridge Commander Lim Boon Teck
2019 Lion Mums Ho Kang Peng Season 3
2019 I See You (看见看不见的你) Zhong Zhiwen
2020 Code of Law Dennis Tang Teng Soon Season 5
2021−2022 Lion Mums Ho Kang Peng Season 4
2022 Little Women Calvin Ng / Hotel Manager Cameo [12]

Film

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Year Title Role Notes Ref
1995 Night Watch Korean technician
1998 Forever Fever Hock
1999 Everybody Loves Sunshine [10]
2000 Second Generation Jimmy
Night Swimmer Kenneth
2001 Spy Game Jiang [10]
2005 I Do, I Do Lee Ah Peng
2007 Gone Shopping Valentine Tan
Men in White
2008 The Carrot Cake Conversations Matthew
Pulua Hantu Damian Lee
2009 The Blue Mansion Wee Teck Meng
2012 Dance Dance Dragon Eric Tan
Bait Jessup
The Bouncer Short 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
2020 The Pitch Himself Short film
2022 #LookAtMe Pastor Josiah Long
Before Life After Death Raymond Kwan
2023 Sunday Mr Lee

Shows hosted

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Year Title Notes Ref
2000–2004 Yummy King
2002 Chingay Parade
Singapore Film Festival
Singapore National Day Parade (pre-parade)
2003 Chingay Parade
2004 Top 10 十不相瞒
2005 Singapore National Day Parade
2005–2006 Makan 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 Party End 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
2012–2013 Chasing Happiness Channel NewsAsia programme

Theatre

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Year Title Role Location
1993 The Magic Fundoshi The Servant, The Wife, The Acolyte Mu-Lan Theatre Company, London
1993 Hair Tribe The Old Vic, UK
1994 Into the Woods Jack Singapore Repertory Theater, Singapore
1995 Privates on Parade Ming Greenwich Theatre, UK
1995 Little Shop of Horrors Seymour Singapore Repertory Theater, Singapore
1996 The Glass Menagerie Tom Wingfield Singapore Repertory Theater, Singapore
1996 The Magic Fundoshi The Servant, The Wife, The Acolyte Singapore Repertory Theater, Singapore
1997 Hamlet Prince Hamlet Singapore Repertory Theater, Singapore
1997 New Territories Wong, Monkey Yellow Earth Theatre, London
1998 Take Away Damien Mu-Lan Theatre Company, London
1999, 2000 They're Playing Our Song Vernon Singapore Repertory Theater, Manila, Philippines
2001 Barefoot in the Park Paul Singapore Repertory Theater, Singapore
2004 The Odd Couple Felix Ungar, Oscar Madison Singapore Repertory Theater, Singapore
2005 A Twist of Fate Uncle Albert VizPro Entertainment / Singapore Repertory Theater, Singapore
2006 The Dresser Norman Singapore Repertory Theater, Singapore
2007, 2008 The Pillowman Tupolski Singapore Repertory Theater, Singapore
2009 Much Ado About Nothing Benedick Singapore Repertory Theater, Singapore
2010 The Full Monty Jerry Pangdemonium, Singapore
2011 Into the Woods The Baker Singapore
2011 Dealer's Choice Stephen Pangdemonium, Singapore
2011 Closer Larry Pangdemonium, Singapore
2012 God of Carnage Michael Atlantis Production / Singapore Repertory Theater, Singapore
2012 Swimming with Sharks Buddy Ackerman Pangdemonium, Singapore
2012 Spring Awakening Headmaster Knochenbruch Pangdemonium, Singapore
2013 Rabbit Hole Howie Corbett Pangdemonium, Singapore
2013 Next to Normal Dan Pangdemonium, Singapore
2014 The Rise and Fall of Little Voice Raysay Pangdemonium, Singapore
2014 Frozen Ralph Pangdemonium, Singapore
2015 Circle Mirror Transformation Shultz Pangdemonium, Singapore
2015 Tribes Dad Pangdemonium, Singapore
2015 Chinglish Minister Cai Guoliang Pangdemonium, Singapore
2019 Late Company Bill Victoria Theatre, Singapore
2024 Salesman in China Ying Ruocheng Stratford Festival, Canada

Bibliography

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  • Pang, Adrian (2013). Hansel and Girl Girl. Milenko Prvacki. Singapore. ISBN 978-981-07-3182-3. OCLC 1007705718.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)

Awards and nominations

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Star Awards

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Year Ceremony Category Nominated work Result Ref
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 II Nominated
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

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Year Award Category Work Result Ref
2003 Asian Television Awards Best Comedy Actor Ah Girl II Nominated
2007 Asian Television Awards Best Comedy Actor Maggi & Me Nominated
2009 Asian Television Awards Best Actor Red Thread Won

References

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  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. ^ a b 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. ^ a b c 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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