Cha Shao-kwong (born 15 September 1961), professionally known as Xie Shaoguang, is a Singaporean actor, chef and former monk best known for acting in many Chinese-language television series produced by MediaCorp Channel 8. He was prominently a full-time Mediacorp artiste from 1989 to 2005. He re-signed with MediaCorp on 5 September 2024, citing possible future projects.
Widely regarded as one of Singapore's best actors, Xie received five Star Awards for Best Actor, a record that he held for 15 years for the most wins in that category before being surpassed by Chen Hanwei in 2019.
Career
Since the start of his acting career in 1989 in the television series A Mother's Love (亲心唤我心), Xie has received numerous accolades, including winning the Star AwardsBest Actor award five times and the Best Supporting Actor award twice since the ceremony's inception in 1994. One of his most notable roles is the Chinese folk deity Ji Gong in the 1997 television series The Legends of Jigong.[1]
In 2005, Xie formalised his plans to retire from the entertainment industry when he decided not to renew his contract which expired in September the same year, although his intention to quit has been made known years earlier.[1] He said that after retirement, he would be living in Malaysia, where he planned to open a refuge for stray dogs and cats. His last screen appearance was in the television series Baby Blues, which ended its run on 9 September 2005.
After a 12-year hiatus, Xie made a short official media appearance on 14 October 2017 to conduct acting classes for younger actors.[2] Xie has stated he would return to acting, if there is a role that can persuade him to do so.[3] In 2024, he signed with The Celebrity Agency seeking for new acting roles after being persuaded by his former manager, Ivy Low who's now the head of the management agency.[4][5]
Personal life
Xie kept a low-profile following his initial departure from the entertainment industry, refusing any requests to appear in public events or on screen, including an invitation by Singaporean director Anthony Chen to star in the award-winning film Ilo Ilo.[2]
In 2016, Singaporean media reported that Xie renounced his monkhood and had become a head chef in a vegetarian restaurant.[8] Xie moved back to Singapore prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.[4]
^ ab谢韶光时隔12年重返新传媒，为年轻后辈开演艺班授课 [Xie Shaohuang returns to MediaCorp after 12 years, conducts acting classes for young actors]. Toggle (in Simplified Chinese). 14 October 2017. Archived from the original on 13 October 2017. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
^Hong, Minghua (14 October 2017). 现身新传媒 谢韶光：可为角色复出 [Appearing at Mediacorp Xie Shaoguang: I may return to showbiz because of the role]. Lianhe Zaobao (in Simplified Chinese). Retrieved 26 April 2018.
^Huang, Zhifa; Chen, Mingyao (27 March 2016). 退演艺圈11年 两年半前剃度出家 谢韶光还俗 [Retired from showbiz for 11 years, entered the Buddhist order two-and-a-half years ago, Xie Shaoguang has given up his monk vows]. Lianhe Zaobao (in Simplified Chinese). Retrieved 26 April 2018.
