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Lim Kay Tong

Lim Kay Tong (born 10 July 1954) is a Singaporean film, television and stage actor. Notably, he starred opposite Sean Penn in Shanghai Surprise (1986), Pierce Brosnan in Noble House (1988) and Claire Danes in Brokedown Palace (1999), and was the lead actor in Growing Up (1996–2001) and Perth (2004). Lim has been called "Singapore's finest actor", "Singapore's best-known actor" and Singapore's answer to thespians Ian McKellen and Alec Guinness.[1][2][3]

Lim Kay Tong
Lim Kay Tong in Fragrant Rice (2014)
Born (1954-07-10) 10 July 1954 (age 68)
NationalitySingaporean
Other namesKay Tong Lim
Alma materUniversity of Hull
Occupations
  • Actor
  • host
Years active1974–present
AgentTheatreWorks (co-founder)
SpouseSylvia Tan
RelativesNeo Swee Lin (sister-in-law)
FamilyIrene Lim Kay Han (sister)
Lim Kay Siu (brother)
Awards1982: Singapore Drama Festival Best Actor Award
2010: Asian Television Award Best Drama Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
2015: Asian Television Award Best Supporting Actor
2021: Pesta Perdana Best Actor in a Leading Role (Drama Special/Anthology)
Chinese name
Chinese林祺堂
Hanyu PinyinLín Qí-táng
Hokkien POJLîm Kî-tông

Lim is a co-founder and board member of TheatreWorks. He played founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew in 1965, a film that was shot to celebrate Singapore's Golden Jubilee.[4]

Early years

Growing up, Lim's parents introduced him to plays, literature, and all things artistic from the many books around their house. Lim's father, a radiologist, wanted him to become a barrister, but was supportive of his acting dreams.[5]

Educated at Anglo-Chinese School and a boarding school in England, Lim was a national rugby player in his youth, playing the wing-forward position.[6][7] While serving National Service, Lim earned a Singapore Armed Forces Colours award for his accomplishments in rugby.[8]

In 1975, Lim moved to East Riding of Yorkshire, England, to further his education. He graduated from the University of Hull in 1978 with a Bachelor of Acts (Honours) in English and Drama, where the late Anthony Minghella was his contemporary and tutor.[9] In 1980, he earned a diploma in Acting from the Webber-Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in London. In England, he had several bit parts for the BBC's Doctor Who and The Chinese Detective series. In between these walk-on roles, Lim took on odd jobs like window washing, being a night janitor and washing dishes to earn extra money.[10]

Career

Lim's acting career began on the stage, when he auditioned for a production while being bored during National Service.[11] In 1974, he starred in Robert Yeo's landmark play, Are You There, Singapore? for the Experimental Theatre Club.[12] His other initial acting roles were in the plays Equus (1975) and Marching Song (197?) for the University Drama Society and One Mad Night (1975) for the Stage Club.

Upon his return from England, Lim played the lead role in the Experimental Theatre Club's Terry Rex (1982). The Straits Times' Minu Tharoor praised his Terry, writing, "Stage presence is too cliché a term for the imaginative energy with which Kay Tong took control of the play, the stage and his part".[13] For his performance, Lim clinched the Singapore Drama Festival Best Actor Award.

In the same year, Lim began his career as a journalist with The Straits Times. While covering the arts, Lim continued acting in plays like David Henry Hwang's F.O.B. (Fresh Off Boat) (1982), Chandran Lingam's The Nuns (1983) and Abigail's Party (1983), for which his "marvellously taut performance" was praised by The Singapore Monitor's Yap Koon Hong.[14]

Lim's entry into film began in 1984, when he auditioned for the New York casting agent of Year of the Dragon (1985) in Singapore. Lim was unsuccessful, but the casting agent remembered him and recommended him for Shanghai Surprise (1986). Although the film was not critically acclaimed, it gave Lim the break to star in films like Keys to Freedom (1988) and Fifty/Fifty (1992). Lim also got the role of an interrogator in Bernardo Bertolucci's The Last Emperor (1987), but had to give up the role due to a scheduling conflict.[15]

In 1985, Lim tried his hand at directing with David Mamet's Glengarry Glen Ross, retitled Paradise Heights, for the Drama Festival. The Straits Times' Rebecca Chua found that Lim's debut as director "displayed some uncertainty".[16] In the same year, Lim resigned from The Straits Times to set up TheatreWorks in February.[17] TheatreWorks, the first adult professional theatre company in Singapore, was formed to "promote theatre that is relevant to Singaporeans" and create work for English-language actors. Lim served as the company's press and media relations consultant, in addition to acting in several of their plays.[18] Lim also acted in the English-language versions of Kuo Pao Kun's influential plays The Coffin is Too Big for the Hole (1985) and No Parking on Odd Days (1986). Both productions travelled to the Hong Kong Arts Festival in 1987. Of the role he originated in The Coffin is Too Big for the Hole, Lim remembers: "For me, [a one-man show] was panic stations. I had never done a long monologue. In drama school, we had to prepare monologues based on a Shakespearean character. Nothing like this, which was 30 to 35 minutes long. And [Kuo] spent at least a couple of weeks just talking to me. I was worried. Because I thought, when is he going to get down to it?" In preparation, Kuo and Lim visited a coffin-maker and discussed the nature of funerals while Lim memorised the script.[19]

In the late 1980s, Lim spent a few years in Los Angeles, landing roles in Off Limits (1988) and It Could Happen to You (1994). He found the city "very cutthroat and very fake. I didn't like the obsession with showbiz there. It wasn't like living a normal life in a normal city. I knew it was tough before I went, but I also knew if I stayed any longer my soul would be destroyed. The truth is that you had to be in the racial majority to get the parts."[20] Lim also confessed that he's "not one for schmoozing. My career would have been severely hampered if I had hung out there."[21]

Returning to Singapore for good in 1994, Lim starred in MediaCorp's award-winning TV programme Growing Up (1996–2001), set in 1960s and 1970s Singapore. His "outstanding portrayal" as the family patriarch led him to be named by The Straits Times as one of the top ten dads on TV in 2013.[22][23] During his tenure on Growing Up, Lim experienced deaths in his family, which led him to reflect on his role: "You understand grief, loss, redemption, hope...It was a good time to have played that role not only for the experience as an actor, but also [its lessons in] life. If you're to be remembered for a role for the rest of your life, make the most of it."[24] From 1999 to the early 2000s, Lim wrote a fortnightly column for The New Paper.

Lim's career-defining lead performance as Harry Lee in Perth (2004) was praised by TODAY's Ross Wallace, who wrote, "If there were any doubts that Lim Kay Tong is Singapore's finest actor, 2004's Perth should have laid them to rest...[a] towering performance".[25] Comparing his acting to Robert De Niro and Al Pacino, TODAY also ranked his role as one of the best "male performances of the year in any genre, any country", asking, "Has there ever been a Singaporean performance that surpassed Lim's deranged taxi driver?"[26] Neil Humphreys called Lim's "world-class performance" in Perth "almost without parallel", writing, "This is not a portrayal; it's a metamorphosis".[27] Reflecting on his role, Lim said "it was about time. [The film] wasn't commercially successful, but the role was meaningful...I'm still adamant that I should have underplayed certain parts of Harry, but I'm sure [director] Djinn won't back down from his direction."[28]

In 2007, Lim played the lead in The Photograph, speaking Bahasa Indonesia, a role he considers "significant" in his career.[29] The Indonesian feature film won the 2008 Special Jury Prize at the 43rd Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. In the same year, Lim also served as a jury member of the Singapore International Film Festival.[30] In 2010, Lim won the Asian Television Award Best Drama Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role for his portrayal of Harris Fong in legal drama The Pupil (2010–2011). In 2013, Lim received his second The Straits Times Life! Theatre Awards nomination for Best Actor for Goh Lay Kuan & Kuo Pao Kun (2012–2013), after his first nod for The House of Sleeping Beauties (1994). The Straits Times' Corrie Tan called Lim's performance as Kuo "electrifying...Lim was an incredibly charismatic presence on stage as he breathed life into Kuo's characters. He had a very commanding presence".[31]

In 2014, Lim starred as a fortune teller in HBO (Asia)'s original series, Grace, for which he won the Asian Television Award for Best Supporting Actor for the second time in December 2015.[32] In October, he became the first local star to grace the cover of Esquire Singapore.[33] In the same month, it was revealed that Lim will play founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew in the upcoming film celebrating Singapore's Golden Jubilee, 1965. Lim said, "Lee Kuan Yew is a corner of the story. He frames the timeline, as to when the events take place. It is not overwhelmingly undoable, because it's just a handful of appearances stretched over the time in 1965 and maybe one other scene when he is much older. I overcame my cowardice, and said, 'Let's give it a go and see what happens.'"[34]

In February 2015, Lim reunited with his Growing Up co-star Wee Soon Hui to play husband and wife again in the Channel 5 telemovie Love is Love: Sunset.[35]

In July 2015, Lim portrayed Singapore's first prime minister Lee Kuan Yew in the historical film 1965, including a re-enactment of the iconic press conference when Lee announced that Singapore would be separated from Malaysia.[36] In the same month, Lim read Lee Kuan Yew quotes, paired with music, during a one-night performance with the Singapore Chinese Orchestra.[37]

In August 2015, Lim played the lead role in okto's TV movie, Second Chances, about a group of old folks who break out of an old folks’ home.[38]

In early 2016, Lim played one of the lead roles, Allen, in Ying J. Tan's feature film, Rough Mix.[39]

From 2017 to 2018, Lim worked on two Singtel advertisement campaigns. He narrated the telecommunications company's "Power On" video series in 2017, and in 2018, starred in their hit Chinese New Year short film, "Mr Lim’s Reunion Dinner".[40][41] In 2020, Lim returned as the narrator of Singtel's National Day short film.[42]

In 2019, Lim gave an acting masterclass as part of Manulife Singapore's “Stop the Drama” advertisement.[43]

Personal life

Lim is the older brother of fellow actor Lim Kay Siu, who he starred with in multiple plays.[44] His sister, Irene Lim Kay Han, is an actress. He is first cousins with singer-songwriter Dick Lee.[45]

Lim is married to food writer Sylvia Tan Jui Huang whom playwright Michael Chiang introduced him to.[46] He is also an amateur photographer.[47]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1983 The Highest Honor Uncredited
1986 Shanghai Surprise Mei Gan
1988 Off Limits Lime Green
1988 Keys to Freedom Floating Whorehouse Yee
1992 Fifty/Fifty Akhantar
1993 Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story Philip Tan
1994 It Could Happen to You Sun
1995 Mee Pok Man Mike Kor
1996 Army Daze Captain Lim
1996 Final Cut Short film
1997 12 Storeys Mark
1998 Forever Fever (That's the Way I Like It) Mr. Tay
1999 Brokedown Palace Chief Detective Jagkrit
2001 One Leg Kicking Sonny Lim
2001 A Sharp Pencil Derek
2001 Gourmet Baby The Uncle Short film
2002 True Files Lieutenant Wang
2003 City Sharks Samuel
2004 Perth Harry Lee
2005 Malice Short film
2006 Closur_ Short film
2007 The Photograph Johan Tan
2008 Dance of the Dragon Li Bao
2009 Good Morning 60 Peter Pang Short film
2010 The Impossibility of Knowing Narrator Short film
2013 Durian King Charlie
2013 Broken Maiden Felix Short film
2014 Fragrant Rice Butterfly
2014 Afterimages Agent Sin
2014 The Body Old Man Short film
2015 1965 Lee Kuan Yew
2016 Rough Mix Allen

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1981 The Chinese Detective Scarface Episode: "Washing"
1982 Doctor Who Chinaman 3 episodes (uncredited)
1984 Tenko Chinese Policeman / Soldier 2 episodes
1985 Tenko Reunion Bandit Leader TV film
1988 Noble House Brian Kwok 4 episodes
1989 Tanamera – Lion of Singapore Keow Tak 6 episodes
1990 H.E.L.P. Danny Tran Episode: "Fire Down Below"
1992 Frankie's House Frankie TV film
The Ruth Rendell Mysteries Sung Lao Zhong Episode: "The Speaker of Mandarin: Part One"
1994 Vanishing Son Louyung Chang
Murder, She Wrote Bok Episode: "A Murderous Muse"
Vanishing Son IV Louyung Chang
Masters of the Sea Stanley Sim 40 episodes
1995 Troubled Waters Stanley Sim
1996–2001 Growing Up Mr Charlie Tay Wee Kiat Nominated: Asian Television Award 2001 Best Performance by an Actor (Drama)
1998 A Bright Shining Lie Colonel Cao Huynh Van TV film
Heritage: Financial Institutions Narrator TV documentary
2000 Hanging by a Thread TV documentary
2001 Brand New Towkay Arthur Sebastian Wee
2002–2007 True Files Host & Narrator
2002–2003 I, Collector Narrator
2002–2004 Building Dreams: In Search of Singapore Architecture Narrator TV documentary series
2003 No Place Like Home 6 episodes
2004 Life Episode: "Old Men and a Baby"
2005 Spoilt TV film
Nova Voice over Episode: "Sinking the Supership"
2005–2006 Police & Thief Kilpatrick Khoo 4 episodes
2006 Son of the Dragon Governor TV film
2007 Random Acts Various Roles
Stories of Love: The Anthology Series 2
Marco Polo Lord Chenchu TV film
Presidential Art Narrator TV documentary
2008 Kung Fu Killer Khan TV film
The Perfect Exit Koh Kwan Howe
En Bloc Chok Chye Cheng Nominated: Asian Television Award 2010 Best Drama Performance by an Actor
Parental Guidance The Colonel 3 episodes
Spirit of the Time: the World of Chinese Contemporary Art Narrator TV documentary series
2009 The Philanthropist General Win Episode: "Myanmar"
2009 Stormworld Khelioz 8 episodes
2010–2011 The Pupil Harris Fong Weng Kiong 8 episodes; Won: Asian Television Award 2010 Best Drama Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
2011 Perfect Deception 12 episodes
2013 Serangoon Road Tiger General 4 episodes
A Deadly Turn
2014 Grace William Li 4 episodes; Won: Asian Television Award 2015 Best Supporting Actor
Marco Polo
2015 2025 William Tay 13 episodes
Second Chances TV film
Love is Love Andrew TV film Series; Episode: "Sunset"
Lion Moms Papa
2017–2019 Meet the MP Chairman Lao 4 episodes
2020 Raksasa Salihin Heng TV film; Won: Pesta Perdana 2021 Best Actor in a Leading Role - Drama Special/Anthology; Nominated: New York Festivals TV & Film Awards 2021 Best Actor
2020 Invisible Stories Episode: "Keagan"
2021 Reunion Robert Yeh
On The Red Dot Self Episode: "Reunions: Under One Roof And Growing Up"
2023 Veil Edward

Stage

Year Title Role Notes
1974 Are You There, Singapore? Lim Soon Chye[48]
1975 Equus
One Mad Night
1982 Terry Rex Terry Singapore Drama Festival Best Actor Award[49]
F.O.B. (Fresh Off Boat) Steve Part of the Singapore Festival of Arts
1983 The Nuns
Abigail's Party Lawrence
1984 Going West
Bumboat! Part of the Singapore Festival of Arts
1985 Be My Sushi Tonight Hirota-san Adapted from Mike Leigh's Goose Pimples
Paradise Heights Director
Love & Belachan
Fanshen
1985, 1987 The Coffin Is Too Big for the Hole
1986–1987 No Parking on Odd Days
1986 Rashomon Tajomaru
The Window
The Maids & Diary of a Madman Claire
Ash & Shadowless Henry
1987 The Elephant Man Frederick Treves
1988 Piaf
Three Children
1989 Metamorphosis
1990 The Dance and the Railroad & The Sound of a Voice
1993 The Lady of Soul and Her Ultimate "S" Machine Derek
1994 Undercover
Longing Collaborator & Performer
1995 Broken Birds: An Epic Longing
1998 Art
Beauty World 10th Anniversary Production
2003 Revelations
Oh Man!
2004 The House of Sleeping Beauties Yasunari Kawabata Nominated: The Straits Times Life! Theatre Awards 2005 Best Actor[50]
Mixed Blessings
2005 Quills Dr Royer Collard
Heavenly Bento
Skylight Tom
2006 Diaspora
2010 Visible Cities Police Officer
The Red Ballerina Collaborator & Performer
2012–2013 Goh Lay Kuan & Kuo Pao Kun Kuo Pao Kun Nominated: The Straits Times Life! Theatre Awards 2013 Best Actor[51]
2018 In The Silence Of Your Heart Thian Voice-over

References

  1. ^ Wallace, Ross (29 July 2006). "Perth". MediaCorp. TODAY. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
  2. ^ Tan, Sonja (20 April 1989). "Hitting the Big Time". Singapore Press Holdings. The New Paper. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
  3. ^ Powers, John. "The Best of Singapore's Food Scene". Departures. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
  4. ^ Ng, Gwendolyn (8 October 2014). "Lim Kay Tong to play founding PM Lee Kuan Yew in the movie 1965". Singapore Press Holdings. The Straits Times. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
  5. ^ Cheong, Wayne (3 October 2014). . Mongoose Publishing. Esquire Singapore. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 7 October 2014.
  6. ^ Robert, Godfrey (14 August 1974). "Schoolboy Ting in U-23 rugby team". Singapore Press Holdings. The Straits Times. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
  7. ^ Robert, Godfrey (8 July 1975). "Comeback by ex-stars Salleh and Foo". Singapore Press Holdings. The Straits Times. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
  8. ^ "Supra is Forces' Sportsman of Year". Singapore Press Holdings. The Straits Times. 5 July 1975. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
  9. ^ Martin, Mayo (9 April 2008). "Ten One". MediaCorp. TODAY. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
  10. ^ Abisheganaden, Jacintha (21 October 1982). "Talent night Best Actress Best Actor". Singapore Press Holdings. The Straits Times. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
  11. ^ Martin, Mayo (9 April 2008). "Ten One". MediaCorp. TODAY. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
  12. ^ Tan, Corrie (1 October 2014). . Singapore Press Holdings. The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
  13. ^ Tharoor, Minu (11 October 1982). "Terry Rex: moving theatre". Singapore Press Holdings. The Straits Times. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
  14. ^ Yap, Koon Hong. "Susan's Party: A sitcom that transcends cultures". The Singapore Monitor. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
  15. ^ "Trailblazing a path to Hollywood". Singapore Press Holdings. The New Paper. 28 December 1988. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
  16. ^ Chua, Rebecca (26 August 1985). "No new heights in Paradise". Singapore Press Holdings. The Straits Times. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
  17. ^ "'LKY' vs 'LKY'". AsiaOne. 6 October 2015. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  18. ^ Hoe, Irene (17 February 1985). "Second theatre group formed". Singapore Press Holdings. The Straits Times. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
  19. ^ Tan, Corrie (30 September 2014). "Veiled digs at society and red tape". Singapore Press Holdings. The Straits Times. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
  20. ^ Tan, Jeanine (17 August 2005). "Singapore's Taxi Driver?". MediaCorp. TODAY. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
  21. ^ Cheong, Wayne (3 October 2014). . Mongoose Publishing. Esquire Singapore. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 7 October 2014.
  22. ^ Wai, Rebecca. . Poached Magazine. Archived from the original on 18 September 2014. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
  23. ^ "The top ten dads on TV". Singapore Press Holdings. The Straits Times. 11 June 2013. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
  24. ^ Cheong, Wayne (3 October 2014). . Mongoose Publishing. Esquire Singapore. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
  25. ^ Wallace, Ross (29 July 2006). "Perth". MediaCorp. TODAY. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
  26. ^ "THE BEST AND THE WORST". MediaCorp. TODAY. 23 December 2005. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
  27. ^ Humphreys, Neil (23 August 2005). "They might be giants... so is Lim". MediaCorp. TODAY. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
  28. ^ Cheong, Wayne (3 October 2014). . Mongoose Publishing. Esquire Singapore. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
  29. ^ Tan, Corrie (6 October 2015). "The two 'LKYs' face off". The Straits Times. Singapore Press Holdings.
  30. ^ "Subtlety wins big at film fest". MediaCorp. TODAY. 28 April 2007. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
  31. ^ Ting, Lisabel. "A half-dozen good men". The Straits Times. Singapore Press Holdings. Archived from the original on 20 September 2014. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
  32. ^ Yip, Wai Yee (3 December 2015). "Lim Kay Tong wins at Asian Television Awards". Singapore Press Holdings. The Straits Times. Retrieved 14 December 2015.
  33. ^ Cheong, Wayne (3 October 2014). . Mongoose Publishing. Esquire Singapore. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 7 October 2014.
  34. ^ Ng, Gwendolyn (8 October 2014). "Lim Kay Tong to play founding PM Lee Kuan Yew in the movie 1965". Singapore Press Holdings. The Straits Times. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
  35. ^ Ng, Gwendolyn (12 February 2015). "In love again". Singapore Press Holdings. The Straits Times. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  36. ^ Yip, Wai Yee (29 July 2015). "Challenge playing Lee Kuan Yew". Singapore Press Holdings. The Straits Times. Retrieved 14 December 2015.
  37. ^ Leong, Weng Kam (3 July 2015). "SCO pays tribute to Singapore". Singapore Press Holdings. The Straits Times. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  38. ^ Sing, Melissa Gail (14 August 2015). "Lim Kay Tong: The Life and Opinions of a Veteran Actor". Edipresse Media Asia Limited. Singapore Tatler. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  39. ^ Rough Mix the Movie. YouTube. Archived from the original on 11 December 2021.
  40. ^ "Singtel unveils Power On video to support Team Singapore at the 2017 SEA Games". Singtel. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  41. ^ "Singtel's Chinese New Year video strikes chord with netizens". Singtel. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  42. ^ "Singtel National Day Campaign Strives for Optimistic Tone During Difficult Times". Branding in Asia Magazine. 31 July 2020. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  43. ^ Ng, Avelyn. "Manulife asks folks 'Stop the Drama' on what heart attacks really look like". Marketing Interactive. Lighthouse Independent Media Pte Ltd. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  44. ^ Oorjitham, Santha (9 December 1997). . Asiaweek. Archived from the original on 11 October 2014. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
  45. ^ "i've always loved Dick Lee". Singapore TLA. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
  46. ^ . AsiaOne. Archived from the original on 19 December 2014. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
  47. ^ Martin, Mayo (9 April 2008). "Ten One". MediaCorp. TODAY. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
  48. ^ "S'pore poet to make debut as playwright". Singapore Press Holdings. The Straits Times. 10 July 1974. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
  49. ^ "Talent night". Singapore Press Holdings. The Straits Times. 21 October 1982. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
  50. ^ "LIFE! Theatre Awards toast best and brightest of Singapore theatre". SPH. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
  51. ^ Ting, Lisabel (20 June 2013). . Singapore Press Holdings. The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 19 December 2014. Retrieved 18 September 2014.

External links

  • Lim Kay Tong at IMDb

tong, this, chinese, name, family, name, born, july, 1954, singaporean, film, television, stage, actor, notably, starred, opposite, sean, penn, shanghai, surprise, 1986, pierce, brosnan, noble, house, 1988, claire, danes, brokedown, palace, 1999, lead, actor, . In this Chinese name the family name is 林 Lim Lim Kay Tong born 10 July 1954 is a Singaporean film television and stage actor Notably he starred opposite Sean Penn in Shanghai Surprise 1986 Pierce Brosnan in Noble House 1988 and Claire Danes in Brokedown Palace 1999 and was the lead actor in Growing Up 1996 2001 and Perth 2004 Lim has been called Singapore s finest actor Singapore s best known actor and Singapore s answer to thespians Ian McKellen and Alec Guinness 1 2 3 Lim Kay TongLim Kay Tong in Fragrant Rice 2014 Born 1954 07 10 10 July 1954 age 68 Colony of SingaporeNationalitySingaporeanOther namesKay Tong LimAlma materUniversity of HullOccupationsActorhostYears active1974 presentAgentTheatreWorks co founder SpouseSylvia TanRelativesNeo Swee Lin sister in law FamilyIrene Lim Kay Han sister Lim Kay Siu brother Awards1982 Singapore Drama Festival Best Actor Award 2010 Asian Television Award Best Drama Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role 2015 Asian Television Award Best Supporting Actor 2021 Pesta Perdana Best Actor in a Leading Role Drama Special Anthology Chinese nameChinese林祺堂Hanyu PinyinLin Qi tangHokkien POJLim Ki tongLim is a co founder and board member of TheatreWorks He played founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew in 1965 a film that was shot to celebrate Singapore s Golden Jubilee 4 Contents 1 Early years 2 Career 3 Personal life 4 Filmography 4 1 Film 4 2 Television 4 3 Stage 5 References 6 External linksEarly years EditGrowing up Lim s parents introduced him to plays literature and all things artistic from the many books around their house Lim s father a radiologist wanted him to become a barrister but was supportive of his acting dreams 5 Educated at Anglo Chinese School and a boarding school in England Lim was a national rugby player in his youth playing the wing forward position 6 7 While serving National Service Lim earned a Singapore Armed Forces Colours award for his accomplishments in rugby 8 In 1975 Lim moved to East Riding of Yorkshire England to further his education He graduated from the University of Hull in 1978 with a Bachelor of Acts Honours in English and Drama where the late Anthony Minghella was his contemporary and tutor 9 In 1980 he earned a diploma in Acting from the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in London In England he had several bit parts for the BBC s Doctor Who and The Chinese Detective series In between these walk on roles Lim took on odd jobs like window washing being a night janitor and washing dishes to earn extra money 10 Career EditLim s acting career began on the stage when he auditioned for a production while being bored during National Service 11 In 1974 he starred in Robert Yeo s landmark play Are You There Singapore for the Experimental Theatre Club 12 His other initial acting roles were in the plays Equus 1975 and Marching Song 197 for the University Drama Society and One Mad Night 1975 for the Stage Club Upon his return from England Lim played the lead role in the Experimental Theatre Club s Terry Rex 1982 The Straits Times Minu Tharoor praised his Terry writing Stage presence is too cliche a term for the imaginative energy with which Kay Tong took control of the play the stage and his part 13 For his performance Lim clinched the Singapore Drama Festival Best Actor Award In the same year Lim began his career as a journalist with The Straits Times While covering the arts Lim continued acting in plays like David Henry Hwang s F O B Fresh Off Boat 1982 Chandran Lingam s The Nuns 1983 and Abigail s Party 1983 for which his marvellously taut performance was praised by The Singapore Monitor s Yap Koon Hong 14 Lim s entry into film began in 1984 when he auditioned for the New York casting agent of Year of the Dragon 1985 in Singapore Lim was unsuccessful but the casting agent remembered him and recommended him for Shanghai Surprise 1986 Although the film was not critically acclaimed it gave Lim the break to star in films like Keys to Freedom 1988 and Fifty Fifty 1992 Lim also got the role of an interrogator in Bernardo Bertolucci s The Last Emperor 1987 but had to give up the role due to a scheduling conflict 15 In 1985 Lim tried his hand at directing with David Mamet s Glengarry Glen Ross retitled Paradise Heights for the Drama Festival The Straits Times Rebecca Chua found that Lim s debut as director displayed some uncertainty 16 In the same year Lim resigned from The Straits Times to set up TheatreWorks in February 17 TheatreWorks the first adult professional theatre company in Singapore was formed to promote theatre that is relevant to Singaporeans and create work for English language actors Lim served as the company s press and media relations consultant in addition to acting in several of their plays 18 Lim also acted in the English language versions of Kuo Pao Kun s influential plays The Coffin is Too Big for the Hole 1985 and No Parking on Odd Days 1986 Both productions travelled to the Hong Kong Arts Festival in 1987 Of the role he originated in The Coffin is Too Big for the Hole Lim remembers For me a one man show was panic stations I had never done a long monologue In drama school we had to prepare monologues based on a Shakespearean character Nothing like this which was 30 to 35 minutes long And Kuo spent at least a couple of weeks just talking to me I was worried Because I thought when is he going to get down to it In preparation Kuo and Lim visited a coffin maker and discussed the nature of funerals while Lim memorised the script 19 In the late 1980s Lim spent a few years in Los Angeles landing roles in Off Limits 1988 and It Could Happen to You 1994 He found the city very cutthroat and very fake I didn t like the obsession with showbiz there It wasn t like living a normal life in a normal city I knew it was tough before I went but I also knew if I stayed any longer my soul would be destroyed The truth is that you had to be in the racial majority to get the parts 20 Lim also confessed that he s not one for schmoozing My career would have been severely hampered if I had hung out there 21 Returning to Singapore for good in 1994 Lim starred in MediaCorp s award winning TV programme Growing Up 1996 2001 set in 1960s and 1970s Singapore His outstanding portrayal as the family patriarch led him to be named by The Straits Times as one of the top ten dads on TV in 2013 22 23 During his tenure on Growing Up Lim experienced deaths in his family which led him to reflect on his role You understand grief loss redemption hope It was a good time to have played that role not only for the experience as an actor but also its lessons in life If you re to be remembered for a role for the rest of your life make the most of it 24 From 1999 to the early 2000s Lim wrote a fortnightly column for The New Paper Lim s career defining lead performance as Harry Lee in Perth 2004 was praised by TODAY s Ross Wallace who wrote If there were any doubts that Lim Kay Tong is Singapore s finest actor 2004 s Perth should have laid them to rest a towering performance 25 Comparing his acting to Robert De Niro and Al Pacino TODAY also ranked his role as one of the best male performances of the year in any genre any country asking Has there ever been a Singaporean performance that surpassed Lim s deranged taxi driver 26 Neil Humphreys called Lim s world class performance in Perth almost without parallel writing This is not a portrayal it s a metamorphosis 27 Reflecting on his role Lim said it was about time The film wasn t commercially successful but the role was meaningful I m still adamant that I should have underplayed certain parts of Harry but I m sure director Djinn won t back down from his direction 28 In 2007 Lim played the lead in The Photograph speaking Bahasa Indonesia a role he considers significant in his career 29 The Indonesian feature film won the 2008 Special Jury Prize at the 43rd Karlovy Vary International Film Festival In the same year Lim also served as a jury member of the Singapore International Film Festival 30 In 2010 Lim won the Asian Television Award Best Drama Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role for his portrayal of Harris Fong in legal drama The Pupil 2010 2011 In 2013 Lim received his second The Straits Times Life Theatre Awards nomination for Best Actor for Goh Lay Kuan amp Kuo Pao Kun 2012 2013 after his first nod for The House of Sleeping Beauties 1994 The Straits Times Corrie Tan called Lim s performance as Kuo electrifying Lim was an incredibly charismatic presence on stage as he breathed life into Kuo s characters He had a very commanding presence 31 In 2014 Lim starred as a fortune teller in HBO Asia s original series Grace for which he won the Asian Television Award for Best Supporting Actor for the second time in December 2015 32 In October he became the first local star to grace the cover of Esquire Singapore 33 In the same month it was revealed that Lim will play founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew in the upcoming film celebrating Singapore s Golden Jubilee 1965 Lim said Lee Kuan Yew is a corner of the story He frames the timeline as to when the events take place It is not overwhelmingly undoable because it s just a handful of appearances stretched over the time in 1965 and maybe one other scene when he is much older I overcame my cowardice and said Let s give it a go and see what happens 34 In February 2015 Lim reunited with his Growing Up co star Wee Soon Hui to play husband and wife again in the Channel 5 telemovie Love is Love Sunset 35 In July 2015 Lim portrayed Singapore s first prime minister Lee Kuan Yew in the historical film 1965 including a re enactment of the iconic press conference when Lee announced that Singapore would be separated from Malaysia 36 In the same month Lim read Lee Kuan Yew quotes paired with music during a one night performance with the Singapore Chinese Orchestra 37 In August 2015 Lim played the lead role in okto s TV movie Second Chances about a group of old folks who break out of an old folks home 38 In early 2016 Lim played one of the lead roles Allen in Ying J Tan s feature film Rough Mix 39 From 2017 to 2018 Lim worked on two Singtel advertisement campaigns He narrated the telecommunications company s Power On video series in 2017 and in 2018 starred in their hit Chinese New Year short film Mr Lim s Reunion Dinner 40 41 In 2020 Lim returned as the narrator of Singtel s National Day short film 42 In 2019 Lim gave an acting masterclass as part of Manulife Singapore s Stop the Drama advertisement 43 Personal life EditLim is the older brother of fellow actor Lim Kay Siu who he starred with in multiple plays 44 His sister Irene Lim Kay Han is an actress He is first cousins with singer songwriter Dick Lee 45 Lim is married to food writer Sylvia Tan Jui Huang whom playwright Michael Chiang introduced him to 46 He is also an amateur photographer 47 Filmography EditFilm Edit Year Title Role Notes1983 The Highest Honor Uncredited1986 Shanghai Surprise Mei Gan1988 Off Limits Lime Green1988 Keys to Freedom Floating Whorehouse Yee1992 Fifty Fifty Akhantar1993 Dragon The Bruce Lee Story Philip Tan1994 It Could Happen to You Sun1995 Mee Pok Man Mike Kor1996 Army Daze Captain Lim1996 Final Cut Short film1997 12 Storeys Mark1998 Forever Fever That s the Way I Like It Mr Tay1999 Brokedown Palace Chief Detective Jagkrit2001 One Leg Kicking Sonny Lim2001 A Sharp Pencil Derek2001 Gourmet Baby The Uncle Short film2002 True Files Lieutenant Wang2003 City Sharks Samuel2004 Perth Harry Lee2005 Malice Short film2006 Closur Short film2007 The Photograph Johan Tan2008 Dance of the Dragon Li Bao2009 Good Morning 60 Peter Pang Short film2010 The Impossibility of Knowing Narrator Short film2013 Durian King Charlie2013 Broken Maiden Felix Short film2014 Fragrant Rice Butterfly2014 Afterimages Agent Sin2014 The Body Old Man Short film2015 1965 Lee Kuan Yew2016 Rough Mix AllenTelevision Edit Year Title Role Notes1981 The Chinese Detective Scarface Episode Washing 1982 Doctor Who Chinaman 3 episodes uncredited 1984 Tenko Chinese Policeman Soldier 2 episodes1985 Tenko Reunion Bandit Leader TV film1988 Noble House Brian Kwok 4 episodes1989 Tanamera Lion of Singapore Keow Tak 6 episodes1990 H E L P Danny Tran Episode Fire Down Below 1992 Frankie s House Frankie TV filmThe Ruth Rendell Mysteries Sung Lao Zhong Episode The Speaker of Mandarin Part One 1994 Vanishing Son Louyung ChangMurder She Wrote Bok Episode A Murderous Muse Vanishing Son IV Louyung ChangMasters of the Sea Stanley Sim 40 episodes1995 Troubled Waters Stanley Sim1996 2001 Growing Up Mr Charlie Tay Wee Kiat Nominated Asian Television Award 2001 Best Performance by an Actor Drama 1998 A Bright Shining Lie Colonel Cao Huynh Van TV filmHeritage Financial Institutions Narrator TV documentary2000 Hanging by a Thread TV documentary2001 Brand New Towkay Arthur Sebastian Wee2002 2007 True Files Host amp Narrator2002 2003 I Collector Narrator2002 2004 Building Dreams In Search of Singapore Architecture Narrator TV documentary series2003 No Place Like Home 6 episodes2004 Life Episode Old Men and a Baby 2005 Spoilt TV filmNova Voice over Episode Sinking the Supership 2005 2006 Police amp Thief Kilpatrick Khoo 4 episodes2006 Son of the Dragon Governor TV film2007 Random Acts Various RolesStories of Love The Anthology Series 2Marco Polo Lord Chenchu TV filmPresidential Art Narrator TV documentary2008 Kung Fu Killer Khan TV filmThe Perfect Exit Koh Kwan HoweEn Bloc Chok Chye Cheng Nominated Asian Television Award 2010 Best Drama Performance by an ActorParental Guidance The Colonel 3 episodesSpirit of the Time the World of Chinese Contemporary Art Narrator TV documentary series2009 The Philanthropist General Win Episode Myanmar 2009 Stormworld Khelioz 8 episodes2010 2011 The Pupil Harris Fong Weng Kiong 8 episodes Won Asian Television Award 2010 Best Drama Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role2011 Perfect Deception 12 episodes2013 Serangoon Road Tiger General 4 episodesA Deadly Turn2014 Grace William Li 4 episodes Won Asian Television Award 2015 Best Supporting ActorMarco Polo2015 2025 William Tay 13 episodesSecond Chances TV filmLove is Love Andrew TV film Series Episode Sunset Lion Moms Papa2017 2019 Meet the MP Chairman Lao 4 episodes2020 Raksasa Salihin Heng TV film Won Pesta Perdana 2021 Best Actor in a Leading Role Drama Special Anthology Nominated New York Festivals TV amp Film Awards 2021 Best Actor2020 Invisible Stories Episode Keagan 2021 Reunion Robert YehOn The Red Dot Self Episode Reunions Under One Roof And Growing Up 2023 Veil EdwardStage Edit Year Title Role Notes1974 Are You There Singapore Lim Soon Chye 48 1975 EquusOne Mad Night1982 Terry Rex Terry Singapore Drama Festival Best Actor Award 49 F O B Fresh Off Boat Steve Part of the Singapore Festival of Arts1983 The NunsAbigail s Party Lawrence1984 Going WestBumboat Part of the Singapore Festival of Arts1985 Be My Sushi Tonight Hirota san Adapted from Mike Leigh s Goose PimplesParadise Heights DirectorLove amp BelachanFanshen1985 1987 The Coffin Is Too Big for the Hole1986 1987 No Parking on Odd Days1986 Rashomon TajomaruThe WindowThe Maids amp Diary of a Madman ClaireAsh amp Shadowless Henry1987 The Elephant Man Frederick Treves1988 PiafThree Children1989 Metamorphosis1990 The Dance and the Railroad amp The Sound of a Voice1993 The Lady of Soul and Her Ultimate S Machine Derek1994 UndercoverLonging Collaborator amp Performer1995 Broken Birds An Epic Longing1998 ArtBeauty World 10th Anniversary Production2003 RevelationsOh Man 2004 The House of Sleeping Beauties Yasunari Kawabata Nominated The Straits Times Life Theatre Awards 2005 Best Actor 50 Mixed Blessings2005 Quills Dr Royer CollardHeavenly BentoSkylight Tom2006 Diaspora2010 Visible Cities Police OfficerThe Red Ballerina Collaborator amp Performer2012 2013 Goh Lay Kuan amp Kuo Pao Kun Kuo Pao Kun Nominated The Straits Times Life Theatre Awards 2013 Best Actor 51 2018 In The Silence Of Your Heart Thian Voice overReferences Edit Wallace Ross 29 July 2006 Perth MediaCorp TODAY Retrieved 19 September 2014 Tan Sonja 20 April 1989 Hitting the Big Time Singapore Press Holdings The New Paper Retrieved 19 September 2014 Powers John The Best of Singapore s Food Scene Departures Retrieved 19 September 2014 Ng Gwendolyn 8 October 2014 Lim Kay Tong to play founding PM Lee Kuan Yew in the movie 1965 Singapore Press Holdings The Straits Times Retrieved 8 October 2014 Cheong Wayne 3 October 2014 Lim Kay Tong Mongoose Publishing Esquire Singapore Archived from the original on 24 September 2015 Retrieved 7 October 2014 Robert Godfrey 14 August 1974 Schoolboy Ting in U 23 rugby team Singapore Press Holdings The Straits Times Retrieved 18 September 2014 Robert Godfrey 8 July 1975 Comeback by ex stars Salleh and Foo Singapore Press Holdings The Straits Times Retrieved 18 September 2014 Supra is Forces Sportsman of Year Singapore Press Holdings The Straits Times 5 July 1975 Retrieved 18 September 2014 Martin Mayo 9 April 2008 Ten One MediaCorp TODAY Retrieved 19 September 2014 Abisheganaden Jacintha 21 October 1982 Talent night Best Actress Best Actor Singapore Press Holdings The Straits Times Retrieved 18 September 2014 Martin Mayo 9 April 2008 Ten One MediaCorp TODAY Retrieved 19 September 2014 Tan Corrie 1 October 2014 Classic Singapore plays No 2 Are You There Singapore Singapore Press Holdings The Straits Times Archived from the original on 6 October 2014 Retrieved 2 October 2014 Tharoor Minu 11 October 1982 Terry Rex moving theatre Singapore Press Holdings The Straits Times Retrieved 18 September 2014 Yap Koon Hong Susan s Party A sitcom that transcends cultures The Singapore Monitor Retrieved 18 September 2014 Trailblazing a path to Hollywood Singapore Press Holdings The New Paper 28 December 1988 Retrieved 19 September 2014 Chua Rebecca 26 August 1985 No new heights in Paradise Singapore Press Holdings The Straits Times Retrieved 18 September 2014 LKY vs LKY AsiaOne 6 October 2015 Retrieved 11 April 2023 Hoe Irene 17 February 1985 Second theatre group formed Singapore Press Holdings The Straits Times Retrieved 18 September 2014 Tan Corrie 30 September 2014 Veiled digs at society and red tape Singapore Press Holdings The Straits Times Retrieved 30 September 2014 Tan Jeanine 17 August 2005 Singapore s Taxi Driver MediaCorp TODAY Retrieved 19 September 2014 Cheong Wayne 3 October 2014 Lim Kay Tong Mongoose Publishing Esquire Singapore Archived from the original on 24 September 2015 Retrieved 7 October 2014 Wai Rebecca ALL THINGS LOCAL OUR FAVOURITE SINGAPOREAN TV SHOWS Poached Magazine Archived from the original on 18 September 2014 Retrieved 19 September 2014 The top ten dads on TV Singapore Press Holdings The Straits Times 11 June 2013 Retrieved 19 September 2014 Cheong Wayne 3 October 2014 Lim Kay Tong Mongoose Publishing Esquire Singapore Archived from the original on 24 September 2015 Retrieved 8 October 2014 Wallace Ross 29 July 2006 Perth MediaCorp TODAY Retrieved 19 September 2014 THE BEST AND THE WORST MediaCorp TODAY 23 December 2005 Retrieved 19 September 2014 Humphreys Neil 23 August 2005 They might be giants so is Lim MediaCorp TODAY Retrieved 19 September 2014 Cheong Wayne 3 October 2014 Lim Kay Tong Mongoose Publishing Esquire Singapore Archived from the original on 24 September 2015 Retrieved 8 October 2014 Tan Corrie 6 October 2015 The two LKYs face off The Straits Times Singapore Press Holdings Subtlety wins big at film fest MediaCorp TODAY 28 April 2007 Retrieved 19 September 2014 Ting Lisabel A half dozen good men The Straits Times Singapore Press Holdings Archived from the original on 20 September 2014 Retrieved 19 September 2014 Yip Wai Yee 3 December 2015 Lim Kay Tong wins at Asian Television Awards Singapore Press Holdings The Straits Times Retrieved 14 December 2015 Cheong Wayne 3 October 2014 Lim Kay Tong Mongoose Publishing Esquire Singapore Archived from the original on 24 September 2015 Retrieved 7 October 2014 Ng Gwendolyn 8 October 2014 Lim Kay Tong to play founding PM Lee Kuan Yew in the movie 1965 Singapore Press Holdings The Straits Times Retrieved 8 October 2014 Ng Gwendolyn 12 February 2015 In love again Singapore Press Holdings The Straits Times Retrieved 21 August 2019 Yip Wai Yee 29 July 2015 Challenge playing Lee Kuan Yew Singapore Press Holdings The Straits Times Retrieved 14 December 2015 Leong Weng Kam 3 July 2015 SCO pays tribute to Singapore Singapore Press Holdings The Straits Times Retrieved 21 August 2019 Sing Melissa Gail 14 August 2015 Lim Kay Tong The Life and Opinions of a Veteran Actor Edipresse Media Asia Limited Singapore Tatler Retrieved 27 August 2016 Rough Mix the Movie YouTube Archived from the original on 11 December 2021 Singtel unveils Power On video to support Team Singapore at the 2017 SEA Games Singtel Retrieved 21 August 2019 Singtel s Chinese New Year video strikes chord with netizens Singtel Retrieved 21 August 2019 Singtel National Day Campaign Strives for Optimistic Tone During Difficult Times Branding in Asia Magazine 31 July 2020 Retrieved 13 June 2021 Ng Avelyn Manulife asks folks Stop the Drama on what heart attacks really look like Marketing Interactive Lighthouse Independent Media Pte Ltd Retrieved 21 August 2019 Oorjitham Santha 9 December 1997 The Sum of Their Parts Asiaweek Archived from the original on 11 October 2014 Retrieved 18 September 2014 i ve always loved Dick Lee Singapore TLA Retrieved 13 October 2014 Lim Kay Tong and Sylvia Toh AsiaOne Archived from the original on 19 December 2014 Retrieved 18 September 2014 Martin Mayo 9 April 2008 Ten One MediaCorp TODAY Retrieved 19 September 2014 S pore poet to make debut as playwright Singapore Press Holdings The Straits Times 10 July 1974 Retrieved 18 September 2014 Talent night Singapore Press Holdings The Straits Times 21 October 1982 Retrieved 18 September 2014 LIFE Theatre Awards toast best and brightest of Singapore theatre SPH Retrieved 19 September 2014 Ting Lisabel 20 June 2013 A half dozen good men Singapore Press Holdings The Straits Times Archived from the original on 19 December 2014 Retrieved 18 September 2014 External links EditLim Kay Tong at IMDb Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lim Kay Tong amp oldid 1149258033, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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