Wikipedia

Gurmit Singh

Gurmit Singh Virk, more commonly known simply as Gurmit Singh,[a] (born 24 March 1965) is a Singaporean actor, comedian and host. He was prominently a full-time Mediacorp artiste from 1994 to 2014. He is best known for his role as the titular protagonist named Phua Chu Kang in Phua Chu Kang Pte Ltd, Phua Chu Kang Sdn Bhd and Phua Chu Kang The Movie, for which he won the Asian Television Awards prize for Best Performance by an Actor (Comedy) five times, from 1998 to 2001 and in 2003 for the former.[2] From 2004 to 2005, he won the Highly Commended prize.[3]

Gurmit Singh
Gurmit in 2024
Born
Gurmit Singh Virk Chainchal Singh[1]

(1965-03-24) 24 March 1965 (age 61)
Singapore
EducationOutram Secondary School
OccupationsActor, Comedian, Host
Years active1994–present
Notable workPhua Chu Kang Pte Ltd
Phua Chu Kang Sdn Bhd
Phua Chu Kang The Movie
Spouse
Melissa Wong
​
(m. 1995)​
Children3

Life

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Born in Singapore to a Sikh Indian father, Chainchal Singh Virk and a mother of mixed Chinese and Japanese descent,[4] Gurmit was brought up as a Sikh, but converted to Christianity in 1985.[5][6] Gurmit studied in Outram Secondary School during his years in secondary school.[7]

Gurmit married Melissa Wong in 1995, who is a Cantonese Chinese. They have three children, Gabrielle (born 1997), Elliot (born 2002) and Mikaela (born 2013).[8] Gurmit is an alumnus of National Police Cadet Corps and held the rank of Cadet Inspector.[9]

Gurmit is a native English speaker owing to his multiracial heritage and is also fluent in Malay as he learnt it as his Mother Tongue Language at school.[10]

Career

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Making his debut in the variety show named Live On 5 in 1994, he then became the host and lead actor in the sketch comedy sitcom based on him known as Gurmit's World, which was also debuted in 1994 for the 1st season after Live On 5 Season 1 ended. The 2nd season of Gurmit's World, which continued in 1995, Gurmit portrayed his 'relatives' in a series of skits (unlike the first season where he played a wide assortment of mostly non-recurring characters), featured the first appearance of a character and general contractor named Phua Chu Kang, where he is one of the 6 characters that Gurmit was portraying in the 2nd season of Gurmit's World. The Singlish-based spin-off sitcom based on Phua Chu Kang known as Phua Chu Kang Pte Ltd in 1997 made Gurmit a popular icon, not only in Singapore, but also in neighbouring countries (especially Malaysia and the Riau Islands of Indonesia, as well as the Philippines).[11][12] This factor leads to having another spin-off sitcom sequel based in Malaysia known as Phua Chu Kang Sdn Bhd (2009-2010).

In 2013, Gurmit was nominated for the Best Actor prize at the 1st Golden Wau Awards, aimed at promoting Chinese-language Malaysian films, for his role in Phua Chu Kang The Movie (2010).[13]

In October 2014, the Madame Tussauds Singapore museum unveiled a wax figure of Phua Chu Kang.[14]

In November 2014, Gurmit announced that he would leave the entertainment industry at the end of his full-time television career at Mediacorp - after exactly 20 years. Gurmit shared that he planned to spend more time with his family and would take on engagements on a more selective basis.[15]

In July 2017, Gurmit was announced by the Dover Park Hospice as the Hospice Ambassador.

In August 2020, Phua Chu Kang was announced and signed as Shopee's first Singaporean brand ambassador.[16]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Name of Film Role Notes Ref
2001One Leg KickingTai Po [17]
2007Just Follow LawLim Teng Zui
SumolahAkira
2010Phua Chu Kang The MoviePhua Chu Kang / Phua Ah Pa (Phua Chu Kang's Father) / Phua Ah Kong (Phua Chu Kang's Grandfather from Phua Ah Pa's Side) Phua Ah Pa only appeared in flashbacks when he was younger during the olden century and dynasty period
2011It's a Great, Great WorldSecurity Guard
2012The Million Dollar JobAlvin
2013Taxi! Taxi!Professor Chua See Kiat
Everybody's BusinessJohn Lu
The Million Dollar Job 2: Raffles' GoldAlvin
2016Young & FabulousMr Boo
2019When Ghost Meets ZombiePriest [18]
2024The Chosen One Bai Yun

Television

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Year Name of Show Role Notes Ref
1996Can I Help You?Sam Pereira/Phua Chu Kang Also portrayed Phua Chu Kang in only 1 episode known as Use Your Blain: The Return of Phua Chu Kang episode, reprising his role from Gurmit's World Season 2
1997ShiverFather
1997–2007Phua Chu Kang Pte LtdPhua Chu KangAlso portrayed Phua Ah Pa (Phua Chu Kang's Father) in certain episodes
2002The Amazing Race 3Phua Chu Kang As a cameo, giving out clues to the teams. Originally meant to be the pit stop greeter.
2003My Sister HarmieRani Kaur's brother
Brothers 4Tony Chung
Baby BoomAdam
2005–2008LifelineCPT Daniel De Souza
200780's RewindLarry Goh
The NooseMultiple characters Prominently as Roy Terse and Windy Miao
2008–2009CalefareAndy Lau Hong
Cosmo & GeorgeCosmo
2009–2010Phua Chu Kang Sdn BhdPhua Chu Kang
2014 Say It! Himself Season 2
2018 Fam! Gordon Toh
2019 Lion Mums 3 Edmond Silvani Guest appearance
2020 Slow Dancing Gareth
2022 Sunny Side Up Alex Rajendran [19]
2023 Downstairs Himself Guest appearance

Skit & Entertainment

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Year Name of Show Role Notes
1994Live On 5Host
Gurmit's WorldHost and lead actorPortrayed many different characters and also Phua Chu Kang as well
1995Family Fun Show
Toa Payoh Roadshow
TCS 1st Anniversary
1996Gotcha!Host
Courtesy Show
TCS 2nd Anniversary
Singapore National Day ParadeHost
1997A National Day SpecialHost
Anti-Smoking Show
Terry Fox Run
Courtesy Show
A Nation Connects
Singapore National Day ParadeHost
Anti-Drug Show
Disney Fest
1998Tonight With GurmitHost
Courtesy Campaign 20th Anniversary
Asian Television Awards Show
SingTel Hello Concert
High on Life
Singapore National Day ParadeHost
Anti-Drug Show
Swing Singapore Party
President Star's Charity
1999MediaCorp All Star Charity
Millennium Swing
Singapore National Day ParadeHost
Tonight With GurmitHost
Anti-Drug Show
President Star's Charity
2000Singapore National Day ParadeHost
Tonight With GurmitHost
20012MM
National Crime Prevention Show
President Star's Charity
2002Miss Singapore/Universe 2002
Singapore National Day ParadeHost
Health Matters
President Star's Charity
2003Gurmit's Small Talk
Singapore National Day ParadeHost
2004Singapore IdolHost
Singapore National Day ParadeHost
2005Our Makan Places: Lost and FoundHost
A Blessed ChristmasPhua Chu Kang
Singapore National Day ParadeHost
Sky Symphony Countdown 2006Host
2006Coffee Talk & Hawker Woks Season 3Guest appearance
Singapore Idol (season 2)Host
Our Makan Places: Lost and Found (season 2)Host
Singapore National Day ParadeHost
President Star's Charity
Countdown 2007 at VivoCityHost
2007Countdown 2008 at VivoCityHost
2008Don't Forget the Lyrics! (English version)Host
Our Makan Places: Lost and Found (season 3)Host
Countdown 2009 at Marina BayHost
2009New City Beat 城人新杂志Co-hosted with Bryan Wong, Kym Ng and Adrian Pang
Singapore Idol (season 3)Host
Singapore National Day ParadeHost
2010Singapore National Day ParadeHost
2011Singapore National Day ParadeHost
2012Our Makan Places: Lost and Found (season 4)Host
Singapore National Day ParadeHost
2013Singapore National Day ParadeHost
2014Our Makan Places: Lost and Found (season 5)Host
2016Don't Forget to RememberHost
2018Our Makan Places: Lost and Found (season 6)Host
Singapore National Day ParadeHost
2022 Kin: The Farewell Special Host
  • 2024 & 2025: Host For Mediacorp's National Day Concert by Gardens' By The Bay

Others

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Year Name of Show Role
1998Beauty World: The MusicalTBA
2000My Lonely TartsTBA
2005Phua Chu Kang - The MusicalPhua Chu Kang

Discography

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Albums

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  • Sing Singapore 2002 : One (We Are One) (2002) duet with Tay Ping Hui
  • One Leg Kicking Original Soundtrack: 'Calling': "Into The House" (2001)
  • Moments Gurmit's debut album (2015)
  • Gurmit Goes Local (1995) comedy album

Compilations

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  • A Happy Journey Starts Like That! (2009)
  • The PCK Sar-vivor Rap (2003)
  • Love, No Boundaries: "Into the House" (2001) [album single]

Awards and nominations

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OrganisationYearAccoladeNominated workResults Ref.
Star Awards2002Top 10 Most Popular Male ArtistesN/aWon
2003Top 10 Most Popular Male ArtistesN/aWon
Star Awards for Most Popular Regional Artiste (Malaysia)N/aNominated
2004Top 10 Most Popular Male ArtistesN/aNominated
2005Top 10 Most Popular Male ArtistesN/aWon
2006Top 10 Most Popular Male ArtistesN/aWon
2007Top 10 Most Popular Male ArtistesN/aWon
2009Top 10 Most Popular Male ArtistesN/aNominated
2010Top 10 Most Popular Male ArtistesN/aNominated
2011Top 10 Most Popular Male ArtistesN/aNominated
2012Top 10 Most Popular Male ArtistesN/aNominated
2014Top 10 Most Popular Male ArtistesN/aNominated
Asian Television Awards 1998 Best Comedy ActorPhua Chu Kang Pte Ltd (as Phua Chu Kang)Won [20]
Golden Horse Film Festival and Awards2007Best Leading ActorJust Follow LawNominated

Notes

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  1. ↑ Punjabi: ਗੁਰਮੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ, romanized: Gurmīt Siṅgh; Chinese: 葛米星; pinyin: Gémǐ Xīng

References

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  1. ↑ Sun, David (8 June 2021). "Gurmit Singh gets 3-month driving ban, $800 fine for speeding at 131kmh with son in car". The Straits Times. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
  2. ↑ Fong, Kai (19 March 2012). "I'm not the funnyman people think I am: Gurmit Singh". Yahoo. Yahoo Singapore. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
  3. ↑ "Winners - Asian Television Awards". Asian Television Awards. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
  4. ↑ Mak Mun San (5 September 2006). "The real Gurmit Singh". The Star. Malaysia.
  5. ↑ "A peak into Singapore's sitcom hero and Malaysia's too". Korean Press. 23 April 2010. Archived from the original on 23 July 2011.
  6. ↑ "Broken to the Core; Transformed by God - Gurmit Singh". christianitymalaysia.com. Archived from the original on 12 August 2023. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  7. ↑ Renuga, M.; Neo Tiong Seng (1 February 2018). "Outram Secondary School". Singapore Infopedia. National Library Board. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
  8. ↑ "Gurmit Singh's family enjoys new member". AsiaOne. 16 August 2013. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
  9. ↑ "campsite of npcc alumni: Gurmit Singh". NPCC Alumni. Singapore: National Police Cadet Corps Alumni Association. 24 January 2007.
  10. ↑ "#SHOWBIZ: Phua Chu Kang's Gurmit Singh impresses local podcasters with fluent Malay". NST Online. 8 November 2024. Retrieved 10 April 2026.
  11. ↑ "TV5's drama delight & laughternoon break". Philstar.com. 24 September 2009. Retrieved 15 December 2025.
  12. ↑ "MediaCorp Launches Block in the Philippines". World Screen. 10 September 2009. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
  13. ↑ Ma, Kevin. "Golden Wau nominations favour Aniu, Chiu, Teh". Film Business Asia. Archived from the original on 1 June 2016. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
  14. ↑ Singh, Bryna (26 October 2014). "Readers vote: Which Madame Tussauds Singapore wax figure looks most like the real McCoy?". Singapore Press Holdings. The Straits Times. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  15. ↑ Seah, May (28 November 2014). "Gurmit quits his day job". MediaCorp. TODAY. Retrieved 28 November 2014.
  16. ↑ Van, Tong (23 August 2020). "Phua Chu Kang signed as Shopee's first Singaporean brand ambassador". Inside Retail.
  17. ↑ Elley, Derek (22 March 2002). "One Leg Kicking". Variety. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
  18. ↑ "Oh, the horror! Singaporean horror films haunting our screens this 2019". CNA Lifestyle. Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  19. ↑ "'Heart was aching': Wang Yuqing and Gurmit Singh share poignant parenting memories". AsiaOne. 18 June 2022. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  20. ↑ Yeo, Edwin (15 December 1998). "Comic sweep". The New Paper. p. 21. Retrieved 10 April 2026 – via NewspaperSG.
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