John Cheng

John Cheng Yeow Nam (1961 - 22 January 2013) was a Singaporean actor and getai compere.

Biography

Career

Cheng's first screen appearance was in the 1990 Channel 8 drama When Dawn Breaks, and he continued to appear in Channel 8 dramas throughout his career. But he became known for his role as an Ah Long in Jack Neo's 1998 movie Money No Enough, and the following year he was cast in Liang Po Po as a gang boss.

Many of the roles he was known for - Ah Longs, criminals, and violent figures - were based on his past career as an Ah Long himself. That One Not Enough was was the first reversal of this stereotypical role, where he played a supporting role as a provision shop worker, and without his trademark beard. In a more notable instance, he had a cameo in I Not Stupid as a hostage rescue officer. Other such instances included his portrayal of an effeminate hairdresser in 2004's I Do, I Do, and his last film role as a medium in the 2013 film Judgement Day.

Cheng was also active in the getai scene as a host, along with fellow hosts Lin Ruping, Liu Lee Lyne and Wang Lei who similarly dabbled in acting on the side.

Cheng was usually credited as Zhong Yaonan or John Cheng. Within the entertainment industry and to fans, he was known as Ah Nan or Ah Nam.

Personal life

In a 1996 interview, Cheng opened up on his past as a hooligan. As one of five children with both parents working to support the family, Cheng was neglected and turned to smoking, violence and acts of gangsterism, under the influence of friends. He later joined an Ah Long syndicate and became a runner. Cheng worked several menial jobs before entering showbiz in 1987. He received his secondary education in Chai Chee Secondary School.

He was arrested on charges of using Ecstasy in 2006, and was jailed for a year. Cheng maintained the drug was slipped into his drink unknowingly.

Cheng courted controversy when he shouted at journalists during Jack Neo's 2010 press conference on his extramarital affairs. Netizens were divided over his behaviour, with some criticising him for passing off Neo's affair as a norm.

Cheng married twice, first to an unknown woman and later Lung Yoke Ching, with whom he had three daughters.

Death

In the early hours of 22 January 2013, Cheng collapsed backstage following a performance in Club Cleopatra, in Parklane Shopping Mall. He died shortly thereafter from a heart attack.

Reports later emerged that Cheng had an unhealthy habit of guzzling 10 bottles of Coca-Cola daily, to sustain energy levels for his long working hours. He was also suffering from high blood pressure and high cholesterol, and was on medication for these conditions.

Filmography

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1995	Lady Investigators	Ah Long	Episode 10 Credited as Zhang Yaonan Voice dubbed over.
2001	Return of the Condor Heroes
2007	Folks Jump Over the Wall	Ah Long
2008	Pulau Hantu	Frankie Low	TV movie

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1998	Money No Enough	Ah Long
	Hitman in the City	Crow
1999	Liang Po Po: The Movie	Big Boss
	The Mirror	Roman (Lor Meng)
	That One No Enough	Tan Beng Soon
2002	I Not Stupid	Police officer
2003	Homerun	Rioter
2004	The Best Bet	4D King
	I Do, I Do	Jojo Chee
2008	Money No Enough 2	Chen Guan Sai
	Missing You	Wu Cheng Shan	Fangfang's husband
2009	Where Got Ghost	Nan
2011	The Ghosts Must Be Crazy	Nan
2013	Judgement Day	Uncle Jiu