Ye Fong

Seow Tian Chye, known as Ye Fong (1932 – September 1995), was a Singaporean comedian. He was part of a Singaporean comedy duo, with Wang Sa, who were akin to the Laurel and Hardy of the East.[1]

Early life and education

Ye was born in 1932 at Sungai Way, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia.[2] His elder uncle, who was without children, adopted Ye from his parents at the age of 4.[2] With his adoptive father, Ye stayed at Malacca, Malaysia and subsequently moved to Singapore.[2]

Ye studied at Ying Sin School (應新學校) which was managed by Ying Fo Fui Kun, a Hakka clan association in Singapore.[2] He would later transferred to study at Qifa Primary School.[2]

Career

Ye's adoptive father was a goldsmith which influenced Ye to join the same trade.[2] He learned the trade within fifteen months and became a goldsmith.[2]

Ye often performed with Wang as a comedy duo at the New World Amusement Park and on television in the 1960s and 1970s.[3][4]

Ye, in his first film role in The Crazy Bumpkins, won the Best Comedy Actor in the 20th Asia Pacific Film Festival in 1974.[5]

Death

Ye died of a heart attack in September 1995.[1]

At the Star Awards 2003, Ye together with Wang, were awarded posthumously the 40th Anniversary Evergreen Achievement Award.[6]

References

1. "10 things to know about the 60s". 14 May 2015. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
2. 新明日报. "【阿甲阿甲就好系列】王沙曾卖报 野峰曾打金 | 联合早报". www.zaobao.com.sg (in Simplified Chinese). Retrieved 28 June 2024.
3. "When three parks ruled Singapore's night life". The Straits Times. 25 March 1990.
4. Goy, Priscilla (29 December 2016). "The past is perfect for next year's calendar". The Straits Times. Retrieved 4 May 2020. The mural depicts the interior of a typical living room in the 1970s - with comedy duo Wang Sa and Ye Fong on the TV screen.
5. "王沙野峰6部经典电影作品重现". Zaobao (in Chinese). 8 August 2015. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
6. "风云榜 Hall of Fame". Archived from the original on 2 May 2014. Retrieved 25 September 2020.