Lim Kay Tong

Lim Kay Tong or Kay Tong Lim (Chinese: 林祺堂; pinyin: Lín Qí-táng; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Lîm Kî-tông, born 10 July 1954) is a veteran Singaporean film, TV and stage actor. Notably, he starred opposite Sean Penn in Shanghai Surprise (1986), Pierce Brosnan in Noble House (1988) and Claire Danes in Brokedown Palace (1999), and was the lead actor in Growing Up (1996–2001) and Perth (2004). Lim has been called "Singapore's finest actor", "Singapore's best-known actor" and Singapore's answer to thespians Ian McKellen and Alec Guinness.[1][2][3]

Lim Kay Tong
林祺堂
Lim Kay Tong in Fragrant Rice (2014)
Born	10 July 1954 Colony of Singapore
Nationality	Singaporean
Alma mater	University of Hull
Occupation	Actor, host
Years active	1974–present
Agent	TheatreWorks (co-founder)
Spouse(s)	Sylvia Tan
Relatives	Neo Swee Lin (sister-in-law)
Family	Irene Lim Kay Han (sister) Lim Kay Siu (brother)
Awards	1982: Singapore Drama Festival Best Actor Award 2010: Asian Television Award Best Drama Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role 2015: Asian Television Award Best Supporting Actor
Chinese name
Chinese	林祺堂
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Lín Qí-táng Southern Min Hokkien POJ Lîm Kî-tông

Lim is a co-founder and board member of TheatreWorks. He played founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew in the film celebrating Singapore's Golden Jubilee, 1965.[4]

Early years

Growing up, Lim's parents introduced him to plays, literature, and all things artistic from the many books around their house. Lim's father, a radiologist, wanted him to become a barrister, but was supportive of his acting dreams.[5]

Educated at Anglo-Chinese School and a boarding school in England, Lim was a national rugby player in his youth, playing the wing-forward position.[6][7] While serving National Service, Lim earned a Singapore Armed Forces Colours award for his accomplishments in rugby.[8]

In 1975, Lim moved to East Riding of Yorkshire, England, to further his education. He graduated from the University of Hull in 1978 with a Bachelor of Acts (Honours) in English and Drama, where the late Anthony Minghella was his contemporary and tutor.[9] In 1980, he earned a diploma in Acting from the Webber-Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in London. In England, he had several bit parts for the BBC's Doctor Who and The Chinese Detective series. In between these walk-on roles, Lim took on odd jobs like window washing, being a night janitor and washing dishes to earn extra money.[10]

Career

Lim's acting career began on the stage, when he auditioned for a production while being bored during National Service.[11] In 1974, he starred in Robert Yeo's landmark play, Are You There, Singapore? for the Experimental Theatre Club.[12] His other initial acting roles were in the plays Equus (1975) and Marching Song (197?) for the University Drama Society and One Mad Night (1975) for the Stage Club.

Upon his return from England, Lim played the lead role in the Experimental Theatre Club's Terry Rex (1982). The Straits Times' Minu Tharoor praised his Terry, writing, "Stage presence is too cliché a term for the imaginative energy with which Kay Tong took control of the play, the stage and his part".[13] For his performance, Lim clinched the Singapore Drama Festival Best Actor Award.

In the same year, Lim began his career as a journalist with The Straits Times. While covering the arts, Lim continued acting in plays like David Henry Hwang's F.O.B. (Fresh Off Boat) (1982), Chandran Lingam's The Nuns (1983) and Abigail's Party (1983), for which his "marvellously taut performance" was praised by The Singapore Monitor's Yap Koon Hong.[14]

Lim's entry into film began in 1984, when he auditioned for the New York casting agent of Year of the Dragon (1985) in Singapore. Lim was unsuccessful, but the casting agent remembered him and recommended him for Shanghai Surprise (1986). Although the film was not critically acclaimed, it gave Lim the break to star in films like Keys to Freedom (1988) and Fifty/Fifty (1992). Lim also got the role of an interrogator in Bernardo Bertolucci's The Last Emperor (1987), but had to give up the role due to a scheduling conflict.[15]

In 1985, Lim tried his hand at directing with David Mamet's Glengarry Glen Ross, retitled Paradise Heights, for the Drama Festival. The Straits Times' Rebecca Chua found that Lim's debut as director "displayed some uncertainty".[16] In the same year, Lim resigned from The Straits Times to set up TheatreWorks in February. TheatreWorks, the first adult professional theatre company in Singapore, was formed to "promote theatre that is relevant to Singaporeans" and create work for English-language actors. Lim served as the company's press and media relations consultant, in addition to acting in several of their plays.[17] Lim also acted in the English-language versions of Kuo Pao Kun's influential plays The Coffin is Too Big for the Hole (1985) and No Parking on Odd Days (1986). Both productions travelled to the Hong Kong Arts Festival in 1987. Of the role he originated in The Coffin is Too Big for the Hole, Lim remembers: "For me, [a one-man show] was panic stations. I had never done a long monologue. In drama school, we had to prepare monologues based on a Shakespearean character. Nothing like this, which was 30 to 35 minutes long. And [Kuo] spent at least a couple of weeks just talking to me. I was worried. Because I thought, when is he going to get down to it?" In preparation, Kuo and Lim visited a coffin-maker and discussed the nature of funerals while Lim memorised the script.[18]

In the late 1980s, Lim spent a few years in Los Angeles, landing roles in Off Limits (1988) and It Could Happen to You (1994). He found the city "very cutthroat and very fake. I didn't like the obsession with showbiz there. It wasn't like living a normal life in a normal city. I knew it was tough before I went, but I also knew if I stayed any longer my soul would be destroyed. The truth is that you had to be in the racial majority to get the parts."[19] Lim also confessed that he's "not one for schmoozing. My career would have been severely hampered if I had hung out there."[20]

Returning to Singapore for good in 1994, Lim starred in MediaCorp's award-winning TV programme Growing Up (1996–2001), set in 1960s and 1970s Singapore. His "outstanding portrayal" as the family patriarch led him to be named by The Straits Times as one of the top ten dads on TV in 2013.[21][22] During his tenure on Growing Up, Lim experienced deaths in his family, which led him to reflect on his role: "You understand grief, loss, redemption, hope...It was a good time to have played that role not only for the experience as an actor, but also [its lessons in] life. If you're to be remembered for a role for the rest of your life, make the most of it."[23] From 1999 to the early 2000s, Lim wrote a fortnightly column for The New Paper.

Lim's career-defining lead performance as Harry Lee in Perth (2004) was praised by TODAY's Ross Wallace, who wrote, "If there were any doubts that Lim Kay Tong is Singapore's finest actor, 2004's Perth should have laid them to rest...[a] towering performance".[24] Comparing his acting to Robert De Niro and Al Pacino, TODAY also ranked his role as one of the best "male performances of the year in any genre, any country", asking, "Has there ever been a Singaporean performance that surpassed Lim's deranged taxi driver?"[25] Neil Humphreys called Lim's "world-class performance" in Perth "almost without parallel", writing, "This is not a portrayal; it's a metamorphosis".[26] Reflecting on his role, Lim said "it was about time. [The film] wasn't commercially successful, but the role was meaningful...I'm still adamant that I should have underplayed certain parts of Harry, but I'm sure [director] Djinn won't back down from his direction."[27]

In 2007, Lim played the lead in The Photograph, speaking Bahasa Indonesia, a role he considers "significant" in his career.[28] The Indonesian feature film won the 2008 Special Jury Prize at the 43rd Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. In the same year, Lim also served as a jury member of the Singapore International Film Festival.[29] In 2010, Lim won the Asian Television Award Best Drama Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role for his portrayal of Harris Fong in legal drama The Pupil (2010–2011). In 2013, Lim received his second The Straits Times Life! Theatre Awards nomination for Best Actor for Goh Lay Kuan & Kuo Pao Kun (2012–2013), after his first nod for The House of Sleeping Beauties (1994). The Straits Times' Corrie Tan called Lim's performance as Kuo "electrifying...Lim was an incredibly charismatic presence on stage as he breathed life into Kuo's characters. He had a very commanding presence".[30]

In 2014, Lim starred as a fortune teller in HBO (Asia)'s original series, Grace, for which he won the Asian Television Award for Best Supporting Actor for the second time in December 2015.[31] In October, he became the first local star to grace the cover of Esquire Singapore.[32] In the same month, it was revealed that Lim will play founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew in the upcoming film celebrating Singapore's Golden Jubilee, 1965. Lim said, "Lee Kuan Yew is a corner of the story. He frames the timeline, as to when the events take place. It is not overwhelmingly undoable, because it's just a handful of appearances stretched over the time in 1965 and maybe one other scene when he is much older. I overcame my cowardice, and said, 'Let's give it a go and see what happens.'"[33]

In February 2015, Lim reunited with his Growing Up co-star Wee Soon Hui to play husband and wife again in the Channel 5 (Singapore) telemovie Love is Love: Sunset.[34]

In July 2015, Lim portrayed Singapore's first prime minister Lee Kuan Yew in the historical film 1965, including a re-enactment of the iconic press conference when Lee announced that Singapore would be separated from Malaysia.[35] In the same month, Lim read Lee Kuan Yew quotes, paired with music, during a one-night performance with the Singapore Chinese Orchestra.[36]

In August 2015, Lim played the lead role in okto's TV movie, Second Chances, about a group of old folks who break out of an old folks’ home.[37]

In early 2016, Lim played one of the lead roles, Allen, in Ying J. Tan's feature film, Rough Mix.[38]

From 2017 to 2018, Lim worked on two Singtel advertisement campaigns. He narrated the telecommunications company's "Power On" video series in 2017, and in 2018, starred in their hit Chinese New Year short film, "Mr Lim’s Reunion Dinner".[39][40]

In 2019, Lim gave an acting masterclass as part of Manulife Singapore's “Stop the Drama” advertisement.[41]

Personal life

Lim is the older brother of fellow actor Lim Kay Siu, who he starred with in multiple plays.[42] His sister is the actress Dr Irene Lim Kay Han. He is first cousins with singer-songwriter Dick Lee.[43]

Lim is married to food writer Sylvia Tan Jui Huang whom playwright Michael Chiang introduced him to.[44] He is also an amateur photographer.[45]

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1983	The Highest Honor		Uncredited
1986	Shanghai Surprise	Mei Gan
1988	Off Limits	Lime Green
1988	Keys to Freedom	Floating Whorehouse Yee
1992	Fifty/Fifty	Akhantar
1993	Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story	Philip Tan
1994	It Could Happen to You	Sun
1995	Mee Pok Man	Mike Kor
1996	Army Daze	Captain Lim
1996	Final Cut		Short film
1997	12 Storeys	Mark
1998	Forever Fever (That's the Way I Like It)	Mr. Tay
1999	Brokedown Palace	Chief Detective Jagkrit
2001	One Leg Kicking	Sonny Lim
2001	A Sharp Pencil	Derek
2001	Gourmet Baby	The Uncle	Short film
2002	True Files	Lieutenant Wang
2003	City Sharks	Samuel
2004	Perth	Harry Lee
2005	Malice		Short film
2006	Closur_		Short film
2007	The Photograph	Johan Tan
2008	Dance of the Dragon	Li Bao
2009	Good Morning 60	Peter Pang	Short film
2010	The Impossibility of Knowing	Narrator	Short film
2013	Durian King	Charlie
2013	Broken Maiden	Felix	Short film
2014	Fragrant Rice	Butterfly
2014	Afterimages	Agent Sin
2014	The Body	Old Man	Short film
2015	1965	Lee Kuan Yew
2016	Rough Mix	Allen

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1981	The Chinese Detective	Scarface	Episode: "Washing"
1982	Doctor Who	Chinaman	3 episodes (uncredited)
1984	Tenko	Chinese Policeman / Soldier	2 episodes
1985	Tenko Reunion	Bandit Leader	TV Film
1988	Noble House	Brian Kwok	4 episodes
1989	Tanamera – Lion of Singapore	Keow Tak	6 episodes
1990	H.E.L.P.	Danny Tran	Episode: "Fire Down Below"
1992	Frankie's House	Frankie	TV Film
1992	The Ruth Rendell Mysteries	Sung Lao Zhong	Episode: "The Speaker of Mandarin: Part One"
1994	Vanishing Son	Louyung Chang
1994	Murder, She Wrote	Bok	Episode: "A Murderous Muse"
1994	Vanishing Son IV	Louyung Chang
1994	Masters of the Sea	Stanley Sim	40 episodes
1995	Troubled Waters	Stanley Sim
1996–2001	Growing Up	Mr Charlie Tay Wee Kiat	Nominated: Asian Television Award 2001 Best Performance by an Actor (Drama)
1998	A Bright Shining Lie	Colonel Cao Huynh Van	TV Film
1998	Heritage: Financial Institutions	Narrator	TV Documentary
2000	Hanging by a Thread		TV Documentary
2001	Brand New Towkay	Arthur Sebastian Wee
2002–2007	True Files	Host & Narrator
2002–2003	I, Collector	Narrator
2002–2004	Building Dreams: In Search of Singapore Architecture	Narrator	TV Documentary series
2003	No Place Like Home		6 episodes
2004	Life		Episode: "Old Men and a Baby"
2005	Spoilt		TV Film
2005	Nova	Voice over	Episode: "Sinking the Supership"
2005–2006	Police & Thief	Kilpatrick Khoo	4 episodes
2006	Son of the Dragon	Governor	TV Film
2007	Random Acts	Various Roles
2007	Stories of Love: The Anthology Series 2
2007	Marco Polo	Lord Chenchu	TV Film
2007	Presidential Art	Narrator	TV Documentary
2008	Kung Fu Killer	Khan	TV Film
2008	The Perfect Exit	Koh Kwan Howe
2008	En Bloc	Chok Chye Cheng	Nominated: Asian Television Award 2010 Best Drama Performance by an Actor
2008	Parental Guidance	The Colonel	3 episodes
2008	Spirit of the Time: the World of Chinese Contemporary Art	Narrator	TV Documentary series
2009	The Philanthropist	General Win	Episode: "Myanmar"
2009	Stormworld	Khelioz	8 episodes
2010–2011	The Pupil	Harris Fong Weng Kiong	8 episodes; Won: Asian Television Award 2010 Best Drama Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
2011	Perfect Deception		12 episodes
2013	Serangoon Road	Tiger General	4 episodes
2013	A Deadly Turn
2014	Grace	William Li	4 episodes; Won: Asian Television Award 2015 Best Supporting Actor
2014	Marco Polo
2015	2025	William Tay	13 episodes
2015	Second Chances		TV Film
2015	Love is Love	Andrew	TV Film Series; Episode: "Sunset"
2015	Lion Moms	Papa

Stage

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1974	Are You There, Singapore?	Lim Soon Chye[46]
1975	Equus
1975	One Mad Night
1982	Terry Rex	Terry	Singapore Drama Festival Best Actor Award[47]
1982	F.O.B. (Fresh Off Boat)
1983	The Nuns
1983	Abigail's Party	Lawrence
1984	Going West
1984	Bumboat!
1985	Be My Sushi Tonight	Hirota-san	Adapted from Mike Leigh's Goose Pimples
1985	Paradise Heights	Director
1985	Love & Belachan
1985	Fanshen
1985, 1987	The Coffin Is Too Big for the Hole
1986–1987	No Parking on Odd Days
1986	Rashomon	Tajomaru
1986	The Window
1986	The Maids & Diary of a Madman	Claire
1986	Ash & Shadowless	Henry
1987	The Elephant Man	Frederick Treves
1988	Piaf
1988	Three Children
1989	Metamorphosis
1990	The Dance and the Railroad & The Sound of a Voice
1993	The Lady of Soul and Her Ultimate "S" Machine	Derek
1994	Undercover
1994	Longing	Collaborator & Performer
1995	Broken Birds: An Epic Longing
1998	Art
1998	Beauty World		10th Anniversary Production
2003	Revelations
2003	Oh Man!
2004	The House of Sleeping Beauties		Nominated: The Straits Times Life! Theatre Awards 2005 Best Actor[48]
2005	Quills	Dr Royer Collard
2005	Heavenly Bento
2005	Skylight	Tom
2006	Diaspora
2010	Visible Cities	Police Officer
2010	The Red Ballerina	Collaborator & Performer
2012–2013	Goh Lay Kuan & Kuo Pao Kun	Kuo Pao Kun	Nominated: The Straits Times Life! Theatre Awards 2013 Best Actor[49]
2018	In The Silence Of Your Heart	Thian	Voice-over

References

1. Wallace, Ross (29 July 2006). "Perth". MediaCorp. TODAY. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
2. Tan, Sonja (20 April 1989). "Hitting the Big Time". Singapore Press Holdings. The New Paper. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
3. Powers, John. "The Best of Singapore's Food Scene". Departures. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
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5. Cheong, Wayne (3 October 2014). "Lim Kay Tong". Mongoose Publishing. Esquire Singapore. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 7 October 2014.
6. Robert, Godfrey (14 August 1974). "Schoolboy Ting in U-23 rugby team". Singapore Press Holdings. The Straits Times. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
7. Robert, Godfrey (8 July 1975). "Comeback by ex-stars Salleh and Foo". Singapore Press Holdings. The Straits Times. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
8. "Supra is Forces' Sportsman of Year". Singapore Press Holdings. The Straits Times. 5 July 1975. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
9. Martin, Mayo (9 April 2008). "Ten One". MediaCorp. TODAY. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
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11. Martin, Mayo (9 April 2008). "Ten One". MediaCorp. TODAY. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
12. Tan, Corrie (1 October 2014). "Classic Singapore plays No. 2 – Are You There, Singapore?". Singapore Press Holdings. The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
13. Tharoor, Minu (11 October 1982). "Terry Rex: moving theatre". Singapore Press Holdings. The Straits Times. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
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22. "The top ten dads on TV". Singapore Press Holdings. The Straits Times. 11 June 2013. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
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25. "THE BEST AND THE WORST". MediaCorp. TODAY. 23 December 2005. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
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34. Ng, Gwendolyn (12 February 2015). "In love again". Singapore Press Holdings. The Straits Times. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
35. Yip, Wai Yee (29 July 2015). "Challenge playing Lee Kuan Yew". Singapore Press Holdings. The Straits Times. Retrieved 14 December 2015.
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37. Sing, Melissa Gail (14 August 2015). "Lim Kay Tong: The Life and Opinions of a Veteran Actor". Edipresse Media Asia Limited. Singapore Tatler. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
38. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WPAZAUF6Yo
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46. "S'pore poet to make debut as playwright". Singapore Press Holdings. The Straits Times. 10 July 1974. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
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External links

• Lim Kay Tong at IMDb