Ng Man-tat
吳孟達
Born
Ng Man-tat

(1952-01-02)2 January 1952
Xiamen, Fujian, China
Died27 February 2021(2021-02-27) (aged 69)
Tai Wai, Hong Kong, China
OccupationActor
Years active1973–2021
Awards
Hong Kong Film Awards – Best Supporting Actor
1990 A Moment of Romance

Chinese name
Traditional Chinese吳孟達
Simplified Chinese吴孟达

Richard Ng Man-tat (Chinese: 吳孟達, 2 January 1952[1][2] – 27 February 2021), commonly called Uncle Tat (達叔), was a Hong Kong actor originally from Fujian. He was a veteran with dozens of awards in the Hong Kong film industry, including Best Supporting Actor at the 10th Hong Kong Film Awards for his role in A Moment of Romance.[3] Ng was best known for his comedic roles alongside Stephen Chow and was a versatile actor with many memorable performances throughout his career.[4]

Early life

Richard Ng Man-tat was born on Gulangyu island in Xiamen, Fujian, on 2 January 1952.[5][1][2] He had an older sister and two younger brothers.[1] As such, his mother tongue was actually Hokkien, but his younger brothers cannot speak it at all. Ng's family migrated to Hong Kong when he was five.[1] The family relied on his father's monthly income of HK$500 to survive. Ng studied at Aberdeen Technical School, where he taught a mechanical course to help provide for the family.[1]

Career

Early acting career and bankruptcy

Ng noticed TVB's Chinese Folklore, which had an actor, Lin Wei Tu (林偉圖), who was Ng's coworker at the factory where he was working. Ng thought he met the requirements of being an actor and signed up for TVB's acting classes in 1973.[1] In 1974, he graduated fifth in his batch of trainees, alongside veteran actor Chow Yun-fat, and debuted when he was 22.[5][1] He was one of the seven from his batch to sign an acting contract with TVB.[6]

Ng's breakout film was the 1979 edition of the television series Chor Lau-heung in which he played Wu Tit-fa.[7] This role allowed him to become one of the more sought-after actors of that time. However, he became caught up in the fame and fortune that he gained, and starting gambling. By 1980, he owed HK$300,000 to loan sharks and was declared bankrupt. TVB then minimised his appearances.[6] Ng wanted to borrow money from his friends, including Chow, but he was turned away by them, and then considered suicide as a possible recourse.[8] After some consideration, Ng decided to restudy and improve his acting skills, reading up on Konstantin Stanislavski's An Actor Prepares and Zheng Junli's The Birth of a Role (角色的誕生).[6] To pay off his debts, two-thirds of Ng's salary was used for repayments.[1] While repaying his debts, Ng was cast in 1981's Heroic Cops, in which his efforts were recognised, thus enabling him to continue acting in films and television series.[9] The debts were paid off by 1984.[6]

Acting career resurgence

In 1985, Ng acted in the television series Police Cadet '84 which was well-received by local television audiences, and allowed his peers in the industry to re-evaluate him in a positive manner.[6] He began to receive new work at a more consistent rate.[9] In 1988, Ng began to co-star with Stephen Chow with their first TVB television series together, The Final Combat,[6] and also the popular 1990 film All for the Winner, where he played the role of Chow's uncle. From then on, the two collaborated in numerous "mo lei tau" films in the same style as All for the Winner. He was best known for co-starring with Chow in comedy films that broke Hong Kong box office charts in the 1990s.[10][11]

Through 1991, Ng carried a grudge against Chow Yun-fat for not lending him money. When Ng won the Best Supporting Actor award at the 10th Hong Kong Film Awards for A Moment of Romance, he openly snubbed Chow. Benny Chan, the director of A Moment of Romance, then revealed to Ng that it was on Chow's recommendation that Ng had gotten the role for the film. Chow also had similarly assisted him to get the role for Heroic Cops.[9] Chow said that he didn't want to lend money to him as he feared that it would turn into a form of reliance, making it harder for Ng to recover from his gambling habit. Both Ng and Chow reconciled thereafter.[12][13][14]

Although Ng owed much of his popularity to co-starring in comedy films, he showed himself to be a versatile actor in successfully portraying various roles. An example of such was in his portrayal of Sister 13's father in Portland Street Blues, where he played a man who could not feel anything but abuse and rejection. It proved to be the perfect complement to his usual "mo lei tau" style with Chow. He also played Andy Lau's sidekick in the Lee Rock series in a more serious role, which won him Best Supporting Actor at the 10th Hong Kong Film Awards.[15] In Hong Kong, Ng was often known as "Uncle Tat",[16] a nickname most likely derived from his role as Stephen Chow's sidekick (often as his uncle) in their films.[17] Ng was sometimes credited as Richard Ng.[18]

In 2001, Ng and Stephen Chow collaborated for the last time in Shaolin Soccer.[6] In 2006 Ng starred in the Taiwanese drama The Hospital as Tang Guotai (唐國泰), a professor and director of surgery. He was subsequently nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the 42nd Golden Bell Awards in 2007.[19]

In 2019, Ng starred in the science fiction film The Wandering Earth,[20] in which he played the grandfather of the male lead.[6] Ng nearly rejected the role as he believed that the Chinese film industry was not fit to make science fiction movies, and he had to undergo heart surgery at the time.[21] During the filming, he had to bear the weight of a 35 kilograms (77 lb) spacesuit while still recovering from his heart failure in 2014.[22]

Personal life

Ng married Mak Lee Lee, a Hong Kong artist, in 1976. They met during a TVB training class.[23] Mak gave birth to twin daughters.[24] After Ng's gambling debts had risen to HK$300,000, Mak filed for a divorce which was granted in 1994.[23] While Ng and Mak were still married, Ng cohabited with Lo Siu Chi (卢少慈), also a Hong Kong artist, and had a daughter together.[25] In 1993, while Ng was filming All's Well, Ends Well Too in Singapore, he met Hou Shanyan (侯珊燕), a Malaysian beauty pageant runner-up and artist.[23][26] Ng married Hou in 1996, and they had a daughter and son. He lived with his family in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, until shortly before his death, when he asked to spend time in Hong Kong.[23][25]

Being a native of Xiamen, he was fluent in Hokkien. He was reported to be speaking Hokkien with the cast when he was filming in Taiwan.[27]

Illness and death

Ng was admitted to the hospital in 2014 for heart failure due to a viral infection.[28] After this incident, Ng had a will drawn up, and remained in poor health from that point.[22] In February 2021, he confirmed that he suffered from liver cancer and had been undergoing chemotherapy followed by rest and recuperation, but his condition had turned critical.[29]

On 27 February 2021, Ng died in his sleep at Tai Wai's Union Hospital at the age of 69.[30][2]

Filmography

Film

Television

[45][46]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "藝海生涯原是夢……吳孟達". hokongsai.com. Archived from the original on 23 December 2013. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 网易 (3 March 2021). "吴孟达家人首发布讣告，公布丧礼细节和时间，更正达叔年龄是71岁". www.163.com. Archived from the original on 10 March 2021. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  3. ↑ "10th Hong Kong Film Awards winners and nominees" Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine(in Chinese) . 10th Hong Kong Film Awards. HK Film Awards. Retrieved 8 June 2011.
  4. ↑ Cheang, Michael (28 February 2021). "Late HK actor Ng Man-tat's five most memorable roles". The Star. Malaysia. Archived from the original on 4 March 2021. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  5. 1 2 "Sadly Overlooked: The Career of Hong Kong actor Ng Man Tat". ScreenAnarchy. 10 August 2017. Archived from the original on 14 November 2020. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 网易 (28 February 2021). "吴孟达46年演艺生涯回顾：做绿叶也能发光". news.163.com. Archived from the original on 10 March 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  7. ↑ Chor Lauheung (TV Series 1979– ) - IMDb, archived from the original on 4 July 2021, retrieved 4 March 2021
  8. ↑ "吳孟達坦言與周星馳有心結星爺需要被人否定". 成都商報. 23 October 2008. Archived from the original on 17 March 2014. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  9. 1 2 3 4 网易 (28 February 2021). "全面回顾"小人物"吴孟达浮浮沉沉的一生". www.163.com. Archived from the original on 4 July 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  10. ↑ "Legendary Hong Kong actor Ng Man-tat dies of liver cancer at 70". South China Morning Post. 27 February 2021. Archived from the original on 28 February 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  11. ↑ "Comedian Ng Man Tat's Frail Appearance Has Everyone All Worried". TODAYonline. Archived from the original on 4 July 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  12. 1 2 "吴孟达曾因嗜赌背债 误会周润发见死不救想轻生". www.8world.com. Archived from the original on 4 July 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  13. ↑ "Ng Man Tat Hated Chow Yun Fat For Not Lending Him Money To Clear His Debts Years Ago". TODAYonline. Archived from the original on 1 March 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  14. ↑ "吴孟达曾破产找周润发借钱被拒，五个字体现出发哥满满朋友情谊！_腾讯网". xw.qq.com. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  15. ↑ "香港電影金像獎". 香港電影金像獎. Archived from the original on 30 August 2016. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  16. ↑ "別了，達叔！懷念一代綠葉吳孟達 | 甄港彰". 眾新聞 (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 16 May 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  17. ↑ "吳孟達「達叔」一路好走！懷念達叔經典電影對白 | Art". Madame Figaro Hong Kong. 27 February 2021. Archived from the original on 4 July 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  18. ↑ "Hong Kong veteran actor, Ng Man-tat passes away at 70 (Updated: 6.20pm)". Dimsum Daily. 27 February 2021. Archived from the original on 28 February 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  19. ↑ (in Chinese) Taiwan Television 42nd Golden Bell Awards homepage (2007) Archived 21 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 25 September 2010
  20. 1 2 "《流浪地球》曝特辑 冒险小分队经受冰火双重考验" (in Chinese (China)). 1905.com. 8 January 2019. Archived from the original on 27 February 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  21. ↑ "Ng Man Tat nearly rejects "The Wandering Earth"". sg.news.yahoo.com. Archived from the original on 4 July 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  22. 1 2 "Ng Man Tat, 70, Says He's Not Fully Recovered And Could Hardly Breathe While Shooting This Movie Scene". 8 Days. Archived from the original on 4 July 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  23. 1 2 3 4 "Actor Ng Man-tat used to pay nearly HK$1,000,000 per month to sustain his 3 families". Dimsum Daily. 28 February 2021. Archived from the original on 28 February 2021. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  24. 1 2 3 Lim, Ruey Yan (1 March 2021). "Late HK actor Ng Man Tat remembered by Singapore artistes". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 3 March 2021. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  25. 1 2 "Ng Man Tat was living in Johor Bahru for many years but wanted to return to Hong Kong prior to his death". AsiaOne. 1 March 2021. Archived from the original on 3 March 2021. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  26. ↑ "Actor's family was with him until the end | The Star". www.thestar.com.my. Archived from the original on 2 March 2021. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  27. ↑ "吳孟達15年前來台「拍戲都講閩南語」　張鈞甯聞病危驚：他人很好". ETToday (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 27 February 2021.
  28. ↑ Lim, Ruey Yan (23 February 2021). "HK actor Ng Man Tat in hospital, but 'worst is over'". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 2 March 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  29. ↑ "Ng Man Tat Just Had Surgery For Liver Cancer And Is Undergoing Chemotherapy Now". TODAYonline. Archived from the original on 23 February 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  30. ↑ "Veteran actor Ng Man-tat dies at age 70". The Standard. Archived from the original on 27 February 2021. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
  31. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 "Ng Man-Tat (吳孟達)". www.lovehkfilm.com. Archived from the original on 2 January 2021. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  32. ↑ "熊乃瑾"挑战"吴孟达 "恶搞"《蔡李佛拳》". ent.sina.cn. 20 June 2010. Archived from the original on 4 July 2021. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  33. ↑ "吴孟达《大片》演草根 想和星爷拍收山作". ent.sina.com.cn. Archived from the original on 4 July 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  34. ↑ "2013年曾主演《冠军歌王》．黄明志曝吴孟达收不高片酬". www.sinchew.com.my. Archived from the original on 27 February 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  35. ↑ "《香港仔》及《那夜凌晨，我坐上了旺角開往大埔的紅VAN》首映 揭開第38屆香港國際電影節序幕". 香港国际电影节. Archived from the original on 8 May 2014. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
  36. ↑ "窃听风云3》曝土豪版海报 刘青云吴孟达等亮相". 8 October 2013. Archived from the original on 11 October 2013.
  37. 1 2 3 黄少伟; 李亦筠 (28 February 2021). "吴孟达病逝 本地艺人社媒悼念". 早报 (in Simplified Chinese). Archived from the original on 3 March 2021. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  38. ↑ 网易 (7 March 2017). "《毒诫》首发"突破毒界"海报"回头是岸"预告". ent.163.com. Archived from the original on 7 March 2017. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  39. ↑ 三立新聞網 (23 May 2018). "等24年！《新烏龍院》原班人馬再齊聚 預告保證笑破肚皮 | 娛樂星聞 | 三立新聞網 SETN.COM". www.setn.com (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 10 October 2020. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  40. ↑ "《一品爵爷》2月19号上线，吴孟达温兆伦多年后再续前缘！_周星驰". www.sohu.com. Archived from the original on 4 July 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  41. ↑ 马庆云 (22 April 2019). "对不起周星驰，吴孟达再拍电影《万妖国》，豆瓣差评率超过毕志飞". Archived from the original on 4 July 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  42. ↑ "金巧巧重回西游《真假美猴王之大圣无双》首映礼在京举行". news.163.com. 6 December 2020. Archived from the original on 4 July 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  43. ↑ 完 (16 December 2020). "玄幻片《长安伏妖》定档1月8日 保剑锋克拉拉主演|保剑锋|克拉拉|长安伏妖_新浪娱乐_新浪网". ent.sina.com.cn. Archived from the original on 30 December 2020. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  44. ↑ "电影《少林寺之得宝传奇》王宝强、吴孟达出演，故事简单，有笑点". 16 February 2021. Archived from the original on 4 July 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  45. ↑ "吴孟达 (豆瓣)". movie.douban.com. Archived from the original on 13 April 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  46. ↑ "⓿⓿ Ng Man-Tat - Actor - Hong Kong - Filmography - TV Drama Series - Chinese Movies". chinesemov.com. Archived from the original on 21 October 2020. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
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