Richard Ng obit

Hong Kong actor Richard Ng, who acted in S’pore sitcom Under One Roof, dies at 83

 

He was not on the list.

Veteran Hong Kong actor-comedian Richard Ng, who acted in Singapore sitcoms such as Under One Roof and Brothers 4, has died at the age of 83.

Hong Kong media outlet HK01 was first to report his death, which was confirmed by his family in a messaging group, on Monday.

According to the messages, doctors advised Ng’s family members to visit him in hospital on Sunday to say their last goodbyes. Ng was intubated and his family prayed for him.

A family member was told that Ng’s heart stopped and that he had to be resuscitated at one point, but to no avail. The doctors later signed the papers to confirm his death.

Ng’s British wife Susan messaged Hong Kong’s Oriental Daily News: “Yes, unfortunately it is (true). Family is grieving and request privacy at this time.”

The couple, who wed in 1965, have three daughters and a son, actor Carl Ng, 47.

Richard Ng told the Hong Kong media in 2019 that he halted all work as he was suffering from chronic kidney disease and that his kidneys were only 10 per cent functional.

One of his most famous roles on the small screen in Singapore was in the popular sitcom Under One Roof (1995 to 2003), in which he played Uncle Bobby Chow, the protective father of actress Selena Tan’s character Anita Chow and father-in-law to actor Andrew Lim’s hypochondriac character Paul Tan.

Ng also played the chauvinistic eldest brother in the 13-part English-language comedy series Brothers 4 (2003), which starred local actors Gurmit Singh, Tay Ping Hui and Sharon Au, as well as Hong Kong veteran Mimi Choo and Malaysian actor-host Soo Kui Jien.

Selena Tan, 52, tells The Straits Times she remembers Ng fondly, adding: “I was a very new actor at that time when I was told that Richard would be playing my father on Under One Roof. I was very excited to work with someone of his calibre and experience. He was amazing... Always professional, kind and gracious.

“He had a strong work ethic and I remember being very in awe of his awareness of the cameras in the sitcom setting and I learnt much about acting for screen. I would try to emulate his sense of timing and precision. I will always be grateful for the opportunity I had to work with Richard and celebrate his life’s work now as he rests in peace.”

Gurmit Singh, 58, adds: “I was fortunate to work with a man of his status and experience. He wasn’t just about doing his lines right, but he was also always thinking about what else he could do to value-add to the scene with little nuances and expressions. I have nothing but praises working with him on Brothers 4.”

Ng was said to be born into a well-to-do family, with his mother the second wife of his father. She died when he was seven years old, and he went to study in Britain when he was 15.

He acted in a few BBC series after graduating, before returning to Hong Kong in the 1970s. He then joined Hong Kong broadcaster TVB and was involved in the television programme The Hui Brothers Show, hosted by famed celebrity brothers Michael Hui and Sam Hui.

Ng made his movie debut in The Private Eyes (1976) and went on to act in films such as Money Crazy (1977), It Takes Two (1982) and Pom Pom (1984).

He rose to further prominence with his funnyman role in the Lucky Stars comedy movie series (1983 to 1996), which also starred Sammo Hung and Eric Tsang.

More recently, he played a vampire in the horror flick Rigor Mortis (2013) and the director of a department in charge of technical support in the horror comedy Vampire Cleanup Department (2017).

In 2003 he appeared in the second Tomb Raider film, The Cradle of Life.

In 2004, he appeared in a deleted scene in an episode of Black Books. He also appeared in the commercial for the video game Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks.

Ng also appeared in an episode of The Bill in 2005, and an episode of the Nickelodeon UK series, Genie in the House in 2006.

In 2009, he played in Red Dwarf: Back to Earth as Swallow the Nose Maker, a maker of prosthetics.

Ng could be seen on British television, playing a shopkeeper in an advertisement for RAC, alongside Lennox Lewis, and in another advertisement for satellite television, dressed as an eskimo. He also played the emperor of China in a Channel 4 docu-drama, The Great Wall of China. It was first shown on 1 October 2007 at 9pm. In 2008, he appeared as Sifu Chien, the Shaolin master of Hong Kong policeman, Terry Phoo (Eddie Shin) in the pilot episode of the BBC Three program, Phoo Action.

In 2000, Richard Ng appeared alongside his son, Carl Ng, in the film Love at First Sight a.k.a. Sausalito. The two have since appeared together several more times, including in Dante Lam's Jiang hu: The Triad Zone (2000), Lemon Crush (2002), Sammo Hung's Legend of the Dragon (2004) and the Jingle Ma film, Happy Birthday (2007).

Filmography

 

Films

Golden Needles (神奇奪命計) (1975) - Lin To's man

The Private Eyes (半斤八兩) (1976) - Police Officer

The Pilferer's Progress (發錢寒) (1977) - Dragon Ng

Murder Most Foul (慌失失) (1979, director and co-writer)

Itchy Fingers (神偷妙探手多多) (1979) - Tiny

Carry On Pickpocket (提防小手) (1982) - Wu

It Takes Two (難兄難弟) (1982)

The Return of the Condor Heroes (1983, TV Series) - Luk Koon Ying

Winners and Sinners (奇謀妙計五福星) (a.k.a. 5 Lucky Stars) (1983) - Exhaust Pipe

Wheels on Meals (快餐車) (a.k.a. Million Dollar Heiress) (1984) - Brilliant Patient

Heaven Can Help (上天救命) (1984) - Chan Siu-Ming

Pom Pom (神勇雙響炮) (1984) - Chau / Walker

The Return of Pom Pom (雙龍出海) (1984) - Chau

My Lucky Stars (福星高照) (a.k.a. Lucky Stars Superior Shine) (1985) - Sandy

Mr. Boo Meets Pom Pom (智勇三寶) (1985) - Chau

Twinkle, Twinkle Lucky Stars (夏日福星) (1985) - Sandy

Yes, Madam (皇家師姐) (a.k.a. Police Assassins) (1985) - Old Master's Roommate

The S.I.B. Files (1986, TV Series)

Lucky Stars Go Places (最佳福星) (a.k.a. The Luckiest Stars) (1986) - Sandy

The Haunted Island (鬼猛腳) (a.k.a. Spooky, Spooky, Spooky) (1986) - East Bay Station Commander

Pom Pom Strikes Back (雙龍吐珠) (1986) - Chau

From Here to Prosperity (奪寶計上計) (1986)

Millionaire's Express (富貴列車) (a.k.a. Shanghai Express) (1986) - Han

The Wrong Couples (不是冤家不聚頭) (1987)

Mr. Vampire 3 (靈幻先生) (1987) - Mao Ming

Mr. Handsome (美男子) (1987) - Dr. Richard Chow

My Cousin, the Ghost (表哥到) (1987) - Cousin Ng Dut Dai

Magnificent Warriors (中華戰士) (a.k.a. Yes, Madam 3 a.k.a. Dynamite Fighters) (1987) - Paulina Wong

Mistaken Identity (烏龍賊替身) (1988) - Cheung Kan-Sing

Gaston en Leo in Hong Kong (Belgian film, 1988) - Agent 008

King of Stanley Market (褲甲天下) (1988)

Golden Swallow (金燕子) (1988) - Hsiang Yu

Yes, Madam 2 (皇家師姐 III 雌雄大盜) (a.k.a. In the Line of Duty Part 3 a.k.a. Force of the Dragon) (1988) - Neddy the Ninja

Keep on Dancing (繼續跳舞) (1988)

Faithfully Yours (最佳女婿) (1988) - Ying's Father

Miracles (奇蹟) a.k.a. Mr. Canton and Lady Rose (1989) - Captain Ho

Run, Don't Walk (老虎出監) (1989) - Ng Shing-Choi

Beyond the Sunset (飛越黃昏) (1989) - Wong

Excuse Me, Please! (猛鬼山墳) (1989) - Cock

Unfaithfully Yours (花心三劍俠) (1989)

Return of the Lucky Stars (福星闖江湖) (1989) - Tai-Shan

Mr. Sunshine (開心巨無霸) (1989)

Demon Intruder (夜魔先生) (a.k.a. The Nocturnal Demon) (1990) - Cab Driver

Family Honour (無名家族) (1990) - Ming's Husband

Red Dust (滾滾紅塵) (1990) - Yu

License to Steal (龍鳳賊捉賊) (1990) - No. 1 (Inspector Tam)

Till Death Shall We Start (衰鬼撬牆腳) (1990)

Slickers vs. Killers (黐線枕邊人) (1991) - Chow

Ghost Punting (五福星撞鬼) (1991) - Da Shan-Di

The Gambling Ghost (洪福齊天) (1991) - Roadblock Cop

Son on the Run (帶子洪郎) (1991)

The Banquet (豪門夜宴) (a.k.a. Party of a Wealthy Family) (1991) - Siu-Chi's Father

Handsome Siblings (絕代雙驕) (1992)

Banana Spirit (精靈變) (1992) - Tang

Saviour of the Soul II (九二神鵰之痴心情長劍) (1992) - Devil King

Boys Are Easy (追男仔) (1993) - Ching Sing

Kung Fu Cult Master (倚天屠龍記之魔教教主) (a.k.a. Evil Cult a.k.a. Lord of the Wu Tang a.k.a. Kung Fu Master) (1993) - King of Green Bat: Wai Yat Siu

Future Cops (超級學校霸王) (1993) - Uncle Richard Yu/Green Wolf/Blanka

Perfect Couples (皆大歡喜) (1993)

Mack the Knife 流氓醫生 (1995) (a.k.a. Dr. Mack) (1995) - Professor Bao

Don't Give a Damn (方面俾) (a.k.a. Burger Cop) (1995) - Old Bluffer on Bus

Once in a Lifetime (終身大事) (1995)

Heaven Can't Wait (救世神棍) (1995) - Taoist

Whatever Will Be, Will Be (仙樂飄飄) (1995) - Wing's Dad

How to Meet the Lucky Stars (運財五福星) (1996) - Dee

Ah Kam (阿金) (1996) - Detective

Once Upon a Time in China and America (黃飛鴻之西域雄獅) (1997) - Han

Hong Kong Night Club (香港大夜總會) (1997) - Yu Ten-sen

Sausalito (一見鍾情) (a.k.a. Love at First Sight) (2000)

Jiang hu: The Triad Zone (江湖告急) (2000)

The Monkey King (a.k.a. The Lost Empire) (2001, TV Series) - Communist Official

Beijing Rocks (北京樂與路) (2001) - Wu De-hui

Lemon Crush (2002)

My Wife Is 18 (我老婆唔夠秤) (2002)

My Dream Girl (炮製女朋友) (2003) - Cheung Tin

Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life (2003) - buyer (as Richard Woo)

Brothers 4 (2003, TV series)

Legend of the Dragon (龍威父子) (2004)

Mr. 3 Minutes (3分鐘先生) (2006) - Chung Gai-cheung

Happy Birthday (生日快樂) (2007) - Xiao Mi's Dad

Phoo Action (2008, TV Series) - Sifu Chien

Red Dwarf: Back to Earth (2009, TV Series) - The Nose Maker

Here Comes Fortune (財神到) (2010)

Silver Lining (2010, TV Series)

Flirting Scholar 2 (2010)

Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame (2010)

Perfect Wedding (2010)

Men Suddenly in Love (2011)

The Fortune Buddies (2011)

Supercapitalist (2012) - Donald Chang

Rigor Mortis (2013) - Uncle Tung

Little Big Master (2015)

Lost in Hong Kong (2015)

Skiptrace (2016)

100 Days Of Love (閃婚100天) (2017, TV Series)

Vampire Cleanup Department (2017)

20:16 (2017)

Bio Raiders (2017)

Crazy This Year (2018)

Hotel Soul Good (2018)

Dearest Anita (2019)

A Lifetime Treasure (2019)

Invincible Dragon (2019)

Walk with Me (2019)

Go Back to China (2019)

All's Well End's Well 2020 (2020) - cameo

Where the Wind Blows (2023) - filmed in 2017