Child Actors in 1980s
While on set with his acting buddies
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Khairudin Samsudin
Name: Khairudin Samsudin
Years active: 1982 - Present
Prominent appearances:
Khairudin (born in 1971) started his career in the entertainment business more than 30 years ago. He was fondly remembered by his viewers as the cute-faced actor who has been popular since the era of Bengkel Radio (Radio Workshop) in 1978, Bengkel Kanak-Kanak SBC (SBC Children Workshop) and also the serial Lima Sekawan in the 70s. At the tender age of 7, he had already developed an interest in acting and attended various workshops to further develop his talents.
Among his popular dramas are Setangkai Kembang Melati (1991), Sayang Mona (1992), Sirih Dara Sirih Di Raja dan Cinta Marlina (1994) and lastly, he appeared in Tiang Berukir (1995). Since then, he progressed on to more adult roles for which he was casted as the male lead in the better known projects such as Bara (2000-2001) and Rahsia Perkhawinan (2006). With the production of Kelakar Rabak (2007), Khairudin demonstrated his natural comedic talent, thus becoming one of the industry’s leading comedic actor.
Besides acting, Khairudin also enquired into directing, producing and hosting television programmes. He managed successfully to attain a respectable reputation in both theatrical productions and television programmes. He is talented not only in the ability to adapt to various acting roles, but also engages in directing, producing, scriptwriting and hosting for stage and television.
What is he doing now?
He is now the Creative Director of Gridmedia, which specializes in TV programs, TV commercials, Corporate Video, Event Coverage and Training Videos.
AWARDS
At 17, he bagged the Best Supporting Actor Award in the Kumuning Youth Theatre Festival, and followed up the following year clinching the Best Actor Award. He also won a Best Actor Award in 2006’s Pesta Perdana.
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Shahrin Azhar Mohamed
Name: shahrin azhar mohamed
Years active: 1980s - Present
Prominent appearances:
Shahrin (born in 1972) entered Bengkel Kanak Kanak (Children Workshop) in the 1980s and subsequently, got his first taste of stardom when he was only around 9 years of age when he appeared in the original Mat yoyo series (Aksi Mat Yoyo), a show about kids and for the kids.
Besides being a familiar face on Malay television, Shahrin is a keen businessman. From 1994 (at only 22 years of age) onwards; he set up and worked for various business, ranging from planning concerts, décor and wedding DJ.
Shahrin disappeared from the media industry for 7 years (2000-2007) because of a audacious remark that he made during an interview in 2000. During the 7 years, Shahrin concentrated on doing businesses. He came back onto Suria in 2007 and began to focus more on emceeing as he discovered his talent for hosting, which he had honed in those 7 years.
Nowadays he takes up hosting lifestyle shows and info-ed programs (appearances this year include Jus and Makan Story), as well as being the master-of-ceremony for Suria events, such as the Anugerah Skrin 2010 media conference.
Trivia
Shahrin's own children have also followed their father's footsteps and are also active child actors. His son, Danish Qayyum Putra Shahrin Azhar and daughter Iman Qistina Putri Shahrin Azhar were both contenders for the Bintang Cilik Terbaik award (Best Young Star award) in the Pesta Perdana Awards in 2013. Danish eventually clinched the coveted award, beating his younger sister and 3 other young talents, proving that he is also a good actor in his own right.
What is he doing now?
Currently Shahrin is the Creative Director of Idee Pte Ltd (June 2012 to present).
AWARDS
Previously in Qaboom Communications, Shahrin directed Misi Anak Tempatan or M.A.T (Mission of our local Children) and produced Mentari (Ray of Hope). His efforts were recognized and rewarded by the Malay community when Qaboom Communications won an award in the Pesta Perdana Awards in 2012 for Best Drama Special & Best Info-Ed Program.
Name: Bryan Wong Lok Kiang
Years active: 1982 - Present
Prominent appearances:
Bryan Wong (born in 1971) started his acting career when he was 8 years old taking part in a Singapore Broadcasting Company acting course; his class included Fann Wong. The start of his career was not smooth sailing, his first role did not make it past the cutting room floor. It was only later in 1982, then 11, when he made it onto the television screens of Singaporeans in the programme, Children’s Play House. Bryan continued to act in minor roles in programmes such as, The Ingenious Six, Mother, The Way To Judo and Airforce. In 1992, Bryan was one of the leads in the first Singapore produced English language drama, Masters of the Sea: Troubled Waters. But Bryan truly found his calling as a host, first in the programme Gen Y then later in the wildly successful City Beat, which made Bryan and his co-hosts household names. The prolific host was involved in many more shows most notably in Home Décor Survivor and hosting the Ren Ci Charity Show several times. Bryan did not act in as many dramas in later years but during years in SPH Mediaworks he acted in several overseas dramas such as Chinese Paladin and Eternity: A Chinese Ghost Story, which gained him some recognition in China and Taiwan.
What is he doing now?
He starred in the recent local Chinese Drama, Gonna Make It, the first for him in 7 years for which he is receiving rave reviews. Bryan also started his own interior design company.
AWARDS
Bryan is an established figure in Singapore Television. His 10 wins in the Star Awards for Top 10 most popular Male Artistes in the past years means that he will receive an All-Time Favourite Artiste Award in 2014.
Bryan Wong
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Name: Michelle Chia Wan Yi
Years active: 1981 - present
Prominent appearances:
Michelle Chia (谢韵仪), born in1975, started her career as a child actress at the tender age of 6. She was a lovable child actress who was involved in numerous classic dramas such as The Awakening II 雾锁南洋之风雨同舟 (1984), Home is Where Love is 吾爱吾家 (1985), Samsui Women红头巾 (1986) and Painted Faces 戏班 (1987).
She later caught the audience’s attention at the age of 15 when she convincingly played the role of a Ma Jie in the classic docu-drama series Vow of Celibacy 梳起的岁月 (1990). After her tertiary education, she naturally joined MediaCorp and broadened her artistic skills by successfully crossing over to hosting.
Trivia
Chia owns Twister hair salon, which has three outlets in Singapore. In 2011, she co-hosted the red carpet event of the prestigious Mnet Asian Music Awards which was broadcasted live worldwide. As of May 2012, Chia’s contract with MediaCorp had expired and she declined to renew it, stating that she “wanted the break to smell the roses and do more charity work”.
What is she doing now?
Chia has appeared in numerous variety shows, bringing weekly entertainment to viewers.
AWARDS
She was voted one of the Top Ten Most Popular Female Artistes in 1999.