Tay Ping Hui (born 10 November 1970) is a Singaporean actor and director, known for starring in many Chinese-language television dramas in Singapore and mainland China. In 2014, Tay made his directorial debut with the basketball film Meeting the Giant.

Tay Ping Hui
Tay at the Star Awards 2017
Born (1970-11-10) 10 November 1970 (age 53)[1]
NationalitySingaporean
Education
Alma materNational University of Singapore
Occupations
  • Actor
  • film director
Years active1998−present
AgentGHY Culture & Media[2]
Spouse
Edna Lim
(m. 2010)
[3]
AwardsFull list
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese鄭斌輝
Simplified Chinese郑斌辉
Hanyu PinyinZhèng Bīnhuī
Hokkien POJTēⁿ Pin-hui

Widely regarded as an "Ah-Ge" (阿哥, "big brother") of Caldecott Hill for being one of the most successful actors in Singapore's Chinese-language entertainment industry, Tay won his first Star Awards for Best Actor, after being nominated in that category eight times.

Early life

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Tay attended Catholic High School (Primary and Secondary) and Catholic Junior College.[4][5] He was conferred a Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in Economics and Political Science from the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences of the National University of Singapore.[6]

Career

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Rise to fame

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After he graduated from university, Tay was the General Manager of an American food and beverage franchise and was planning to pursue a MBA at Harvard University before he was scouted to join TCS (later MediaCorp).

Barely a year after his debut in On the Edge - Mr Personality, Tay won the "Best Supporting Actor" award at the 1999 Star Awards for his portrayal of a gang leader in Stepping Out.

Established Leading Man

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Following his Star Award "Best Supporting Actor" win, Tay quickly established himself as one of Singapore's most prominent actors, playing leading roles in both English and Mandarin productions. Tay was also recognised in Lianhe Zaobao's " Top 50 Most Popular Asian Idol" for five consecutive years.

While Tay was often cast in 'manly' suave policeman roles in dramas such as C.I.D., Honour and Passion and C.L.I.F., it was his role as a crude Ah beng-turned-chef in Bountiful Blessings that earned him his first Star Awards for Best Actor, after being nominated in that category eight times.

In addition to his starring roles in Singapore productions, Tay also acted in Hong Kong film productions such as Summer Holiday directed by Jingle Ma, starring with Hong Kong actress Sammi Cheng, and "Infernal Affairs II" alongside Anthony Wong and Francis Ng. Tay also performed in stage play Butterflies are Free, handpicked by Hong Kong film director Clifton Ko as well as the mandarin stage musical Don't Forget to Say Good Bye (记得说再见).

Venture to China

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Tay made his mainland Chinese production debut as Huang Feihu in the China -produced supernatural fantasy television series The Legend and the Hero alongside China Megastar Fan Bing Bing, Liu De Kai and Taiwanese Star Ma Jing Tao.

In 2018, Tay left Mediacorp and shifted his focus to acting in China. Tay signed on with Perfect World Pictures (Singapore) in 2018, a China-based agency that was subsequently renamed to GHY Culture & Media. During his time in China, Tay played prominent roles, including the roles of Genghis Khan in The Legend of the Condor Heroes (2017 TV series) and Yan Nantian in Handsome Siblings (2020 TV series).

While Tay mostly acted in mainland Chinese productions, he still returned to Singapore to film sporadically. In March 2023, Tay joined the cast in the second season of Titoudao, a televised drama adaptation of a stageplay with the same title.[7]

Becoming A Freelance Actor

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In 2024, Tay made a significant career move by parting ways with his China-based agency GHY Culture & Media to pursue freelance acting opportunities. Expressing his aspirations for Hollywood, he unveiled his ambition to explore new horizons in the entertainment industry. [8] Notably, Tay revealed that he had previously auditioned for a role in The Brothers Sun, but was unsuccessful. [9]

Other

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Tay has also performed live numerous times on stage for events such as National Day and New Year's Day countdown and has performed alongside Taiwanese stars Wu Bai and Harlem Yu. He has also performed the theme songs of several MediaCorp series such as The Unbeatables III and Double Happiness I. His recording of Follow Me (跟着我一起) from Honour and Passion was named the Best Drama Theme Song at the Star Awards 2007.

In 2013, Tay completed his feature film directorial debut with a Singapore-China co-production Meeting the Giant (再见巨人), first of its kind in such collaboration in the local movie industry. The movie was screened in Singapore and China.[citation needed]

Personal life

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In 2010, Tay married a university lecturer.[10]

Filmography

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Television series

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Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1999 Are You My Brother? (错体双宝) Liu Dongcheng
Stepping Out Liu Mei Won - Best Supporting Actor, Star Awards 1999
2000 My Home Affairs (家事) Hong Guoren
As You Like It (随心所遇) Pierre
The Stratagem(世纪攻略) Zhuo Lingfeng
2001 A War Diary Lim Teck Meng
The Reunion Liu Yazhou
The Hotel Bill Fong
2002 Fantasy (星梦情真) Song Ziqian
The Unbeatables III Luo Shenfeng/ Luo Yifeng
Health Matters (一切由慎开始) Jeffrey
2003 Love is Beautiful (美丽家庭) Zheng Liheng
A Child's Hope Huang Junsheng
Always on my Mind (无炎的爱) Tiger Li Xiaohu
Brothers 4
2004 Spice Siblings Wen He
The Ties that Bind (家财万贯) Ma Yucai
My Mighty In-Laws (野蛮亲家) Simon
Devil Blues (叛逆战队) Di Jun
2005 A Life of Hope Su Dongping
Destiny Shen Jingwen
2006 C.I.D. Chen Long (Sean)
2007 Mars vs Venus Liu Yifan (Steven)
Honour and Passion Bao Wenjing
The Golden Path Huang Kaijie
2008 The Truth Lu Zhiwei
La Femme Huang Quanhe
Crime Busters x 2 Lü Daxiong
2009 The Dream Catchers Wang Zhiwei
The Ultimatum Sun Jie [5]
Baby Bonus Li Jiacheng [11]
2010 New Beginnings Li Zihao
Unriddle Zhang Yuze
The Family Court Shen Xiping
2011 C.L.I.F. Zhong Yida
Bountiful Blessings Xie Donghai Won - Best Actor, Star Awards 2012
2012 Rescue 995 Huang Yixun
Unriddle 2 Zhang Yuze Won - Best Supporting Actor, Star Awards 2013
2013 Break Free Li Tianming
Start-Up! 创! Fang Qicai
96°C Café Lao Jingfeng [12]
Love at Risk Wu Qishan
2014 World at Your Feet Hong Canghai
2015 Love? (限量爱情) Tay
Mind Game Liang Wenjie
Tanglin Peter Tay
Crescendo Jiang Chufan
2016 Soul Reaper (勾魂使者) Chen Haotian
Hero Rice King
2017 The Lead Himself
The Legend of the Condor Heroes Genghis Khan
2018 Babies On Board Sun Zhihui
2019 Mind's Eye (心眼) Yiwei
2020 Handsome Siblings Yan Nantian [13]
2021 Crouching Tiger Hidden Ghost (卧虎藏鬼) Ralph Lee

Film

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Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2014 Meeting the Giant Eagles player Also director and writer [12]
2020 Precious Is the Night A mysterious man

Web series

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Year Title Role Notes Ref.
TBA Miss Tanya Douyin miniseries [14]

Variety and reality show

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Year Title Notes Ref.
2023 Chu Fa Ba! Shan Guang De Ni (出发吧!闪光的你) Guest appearance [2]

Discography

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Drama soundtrack

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Year Song title Drama Other artist(s) Ref
2002 灰色地带 The Unbeatables III
2004 有家是福} 喜临门 Jeff Wang, Huang Shi Yu
2007 跟着我一起 宝家卫国
2017 初衷 第一主角
2018 爱以外的意外 新生 Lin Si Tong

Awards and nominations

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Year Ceremony Category Nominated work Result Ref
1998 Star Awards Best Newcomer On the Edge: Mr Personality Nominated
1999 Star Awards Best Supporting Actor Stepping Out (as Liu Mei) Won
Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes Top 20
2000 Star Awards Best Actor My Home Affairs (as Hong Guoren) Nominated
Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes Top 10
2001 Star Awards Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes Top 10
2002 Star Awards Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes Top 20
2003 Star Awards Best Actor Love Is Beautiful (as Zheng Liheng) Nominated
Best Theme Song The Unbeatables III Nominated
Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes Top 10
2004 Star Awards Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes Top 10
2005 Star Awards Best Actor A Life of Hope (as Su Dongping) Nominated
Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes Top 10
2006 Star Awards Best Actor C.I.D. (as Cheng Long Sean) Nominated
Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes Top 10
2007 Star Awards Best Actor Mars VS Venus (as Liu Yifan Steven) Nominated
Best Theme Song Honour and Passion Won
Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes Top 10
2009 Star Awards Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes Top 10
Best Actor The Golden Path Nominated
2010 Star Awards Best Actor The Ultimatum (as Sun Jie) Nominated
Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes Top 10
2011 Star Awards Best Actor The Family Court (as Shen Xiping) Nominated
Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes Top 10
2012 Star Awards Best Actor Bountiful Blessings (as Xie Donghai) Won
All-Time Favourite Artiste Won
Favourite Male Character Nominated
2013 Star Awards Best Supporting Actor Unriddle 2 (as Zhang Yuze) Won
2014 Star Awards Star Awards for Most Popular Regional Artiste (China) Nominated
Star Awards for Most Popular Regional Artiste (Indonesia) Nominated
Star Awards for Most Popular Regional Artiste (Malaysia) Nominated
Star Awards for Most Popular Regional Artiste (Cambodia) Nominated
2015 Star Awards Star Awards for Most Popular Regional Artiste (Indonesia) Nominated
Star Awards for Most Popular Regional Artiste (China) Nominated
Star Awards for Most Popular Regional Artiste (Cambodia) Nominated
2016 Star Awards Favourite Onscreen Couple Crescendo (as Jiang Chufan) Nominated
2018 Star Awards Best Theme Song The Lead Nominated

References

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  1. ^ May Seah (5 October 2020). "Tay Ping Hui on turning 50 and current goals: 'More ripped, less char kway teow'". CNA. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  2. ^ a b "郑斌辉参与中国综艺"认老" 庆幸岳母去世时留在身旁 | 早报". www.zaobao.com.sg (in Simplified Chinese). Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  3. ^ "Tay Ping Hui On Spending Time With Uni Lecturer Wife, Whom He Calls Almost Every Day When He's Working In China". 8days. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  4. ^ 我的老师最难忘 (in Chinese). Lianhe Zaobao. September 2011.[permanent dead link]
  5. ^ a b "He still lives with his parents". www.asiaone.com. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  6. ^ "Call me a Toa Payoh boy". AsiaOne. 29 January 2009.
  7. ^ "Titoudao returns for a second season, Chen Liping in her first English drama role". CNA. 4 March 2023. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  8. ^ "Actor Tay Ping Hui is now a freelancer, hints at working in Hollywood in the future". 15 March 2024. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  9. ^ "Tay Ping Hui auditioned for Netflix's The Brothers Sun but didn't get it, remains open to acting in a Mediacorp show if plot and role are interesting". 13 March 2024. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  10. ^ Chin, Felicia (28 June 2010). "Tay Ping Hui Wife: Singapore Actor Tay Ping Hui Is Married | theAsianparent". sg.theasianparent.com.
  11. ^ "I want a child before I grow old". The New Paper. 28 September 2009. p. 20.
  12. ^ a b migration (18 June 2014). "Director Tay Ping Hui teaches basketball players to act in Meeting The Giant". The Straits Times. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  13. ^ "Tay Ping Hui On Working In China: "I Stay In The Better Hotels And Fly Business Class All The Time."". TODAYonline. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  14. ^ 陈, 诗雨 (13 October 2023). "淡淡的忧伤要怎么快?郑斌辉、徐彬、黄嫊方首次拍抖音短剧 认"加速表演"挑战大". 8world Entertainment Lifestyle (in Chinese (Singapore)). Retrieved 13 October 2023.
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