Difference between revisions of "John Cheng"

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(Created page with "'''Cheng Yeow Nam''' (1961 - 22 January 2013) was a Singaporean actor and getai compere. ==Biography== ===Career=== Cheng's first screen appearance was in the 1998 film '...")
 
 
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'''Cheng Yeow Nam''' (1961 - 22 January 2013) was a Singaporean actor and [[getai]] compere.
'''John Cheng Yeow Nam''' (1961 - 22 January 2013) was a Singaporean actor and getai host.  


==Biography==
==Biography==
===Career===
===Career===
Cheng's first screen appearance was in the 1998 film ''Money No Enough'', and the following year he was cast in ''Liang Po Po''. Cheng was best known for portraying thuggish, brutal types prone to violence, as a homage to his alleged past career as a loan shark. ''[[I Not Stupid]]'' was a noticeable first reversal of this stereotypical role - he was cast in a minor role as a police officer tasked with rescuing hostages. Other stereotype role reversals 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 (2013 film)|Judgement Day]]''.
Cheng's first credited screen appearance was in the 1990 Channel 8 drama When Dawn Breaks, and he continued to appear in Channel 8 dramas throughout his career. Like fellow Channel 8 actors [[Yap Hei Long]] and Alex Lee Han Kwan, Cheng mostly played Ah Longs, criminals, and violent characters. Many of these roles were based on his past career as an Ah Long himself.


Cheng was more active in the getai scene as a compere, along with other part-time actors like [[Lin Ruping]], [[Liu Lee Lyne]] and [[Wang Lei]].
Cheng 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.  


Cheng was usually credited as Zhong Yaonan or John Cheng. Within the entertainment industry and fans, he was known as Ah Nan or Ah Nam.
''That One Not Enough'' 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 [[Lin Ruping]], [[Liu Lee Lyne]] and [[Wang Lei]] who also had acting experience.
 
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===
===Personal life===
In a 1996 interview, Cheng opened up on his past as a hooligan. As one of five children with two 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 a loan-shark 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.
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 abusing Ecstasy in 2006, and was jailed for a year. Cheng maintained the drug was slipped into his drink unknowingly.
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 the latter's marital affairs. Netizens were divided over his behaviour, with some rapping him for passing off Neo's affair as a norm.  
Cheng controversially shouted at journalists during a 2010 press conference addressing Jack Neo's extramarital affairs. Netizens were divided over his behaviour, with some criticising him for passing off Neo's affair as a norm.  


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


===Death===
===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, apparently from a heart attack.
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==
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Television
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
|1994 || Lethal Duo || Tian's Father || Episode 10<br>Voice dubbed over
|-
|1995 || Lady Investigators || Ah Long || Episode 10<br>Credited as Zhang Yaonan<br>Voice dubbed over.
|-
|2001 || Return of the Condor Heroes || ||
|-
|2003 || Comedy Nite 2003 || Cast regular ||
|-
|2004|| My Love My Home || Chief Hei || Episode 7
|-
|2007 || Folks Jump Over the Wall || Ah Long ||
|-
|rowspan=2|2008 || Let Love Flow (Sichuan earthquake charity show) || Himself || Appeared as a member of JTeam
|-
|| Pulau Hantu || Frankie Low || TV movie
|}
 
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Film
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
|rowspan=2|1998 || Money No Enough || Ah Long ||
|-
|[[Hitman in the City]] || Crow ||
|-
|rowspan=3|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 ||
|-
|rowspan=2|2004 || The Best Bet || 4D King ||
|-
| I Do, I Do || Jojo Chee ||
|-
|rowspan=2|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 ||
|}


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 ==
[[Category:Singaporeans]]
* ''[[Money No Enough]]'' (1997)
* ''[[Liang Po Po]]'' (1998)
* ''[[Hitman in the City]]'' (1998)
* ''[[The Mirror (1999 film)|The Mirror]]'' (1999)
* ''[[That One No Enough]]'' (1999)
* ''Return of the Condor Heroes'' (2001)
* ''[[I Not Stupid]]'' (2002)
* ''[[Homerun (film)|Homerun]]'' (2003)
* ''[[The Best Bet]]'' (2004)
* ''[[I Do, I Do]]'' (2004)
* ''[[Folks Jump Over The Wall]]'' (2007)
* ''[[Love Blossom]]'' (2008)
* ''[[The Chen Shucheng Show]]'' (2008)
* ''[[Pulau Hantu]]'' (2008)
* ''[[Money No Enough 2|Money No Enough II]]'' (2008)
* ''[[Missing You...|Missing You]]'' (2008)
* ''[[Where Got Ghost?]]'' (2009)
* ''[[The Ghosts Must Be Crazy]]'' (2011)
* ''[[Judgment Day (2013 film)|Judgment Day]]'' (2013)

Latest revision as of 21:30, 2 November 2019

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

Biography[edit]

Career[edit]

Cheng's first credited screen appearance was in the 1990 Channel 8 drama When Dawn Breaks, and he continued to appear in Channel 8 dramas throughout his career. Like fellow Channel 8 actors Yap Hei Long and Alex Lee Han Kwan, Cheng mostly played Ah Longs, criminals, and violent characters. Many of these roles were based on his past career as an Ah Long himself.

Cheng 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.

That One Not Enough 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 Lin Ruping, Liu Lee Lyne and Wang Lei who also had acting experience.

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[edit]

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

Cheng married twice. His second wife was Lung Yoke Ching, with whom he had three daughters.

Death[edit]

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[edit]

Television
Year Title Role Notes
1994 Lethal Duo Tian's Father Episode 10
Voice dubbed over
1995 Lady Investigators Ah Long Episode 10
Credited as Zhang Yaonan
Voice dubbed over.
2001 Return of the Condor Heroes
2003 Comedy Nite 2003 Cast regular
2004 My Love My Home Chief Hei Episode 7
2007 Folks Jump Over the Wall Ah Long
2008 Let Love Flow (Sichuan earthquake charity show) Himself Appeared as a member of JTeam
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
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