:Chew Chor Meng

Chew started his career in showbiz after winning Star Search in 1990, a bi-annual nationwide talent search. Since then, he has never failed to make it to the Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes in the Star Awards, an award ceremony for TV personalities, since its inception in 1994. In 2004, Chew was awarded the All-Time Favourite Artiste with Li Nanxing and Zoe Tay.

He first earned his acting nomination for his role as Hong San in the 1995 epic The Teochew Family, which he's still known to audiences in China. This was also evident when he bagged the Best Actor Award in Star Awards 2000 in Hainan Kopi Tales. His popularity has also spread across the causeway as he was voted the Most Popular MediaCorp Male Artiste in Malaysia. He made his first crossover to English sitcom in Mr. Kiasu. During the late 1990s to early 2000s, he was best known for his role as Jacky Chang aka Ah Bee, a salesman with a penchant for grabbing 'lobangs' (good opportunities that cannot be missed) in the popular Channel 8 sitcom Don't Worry, Be Happy, which spanned for six seasons. Chew initially dropped out from the role of Ah Bee after the 3rd season due to fear of being typecast, and also because he wanted to focus more on drama and variety shows. He eventually reprised the role for the latter half of the 6th (and final) season for Don't Worry Be Happy, and appeared in a spinoff series Lobang King focusing on Ah Bee and his new league of friends.

Chew is known for his versatility and ability to portray different characters that leave a lasting impression. At the 25th anniversary special in 2007, his character Ah Bee was named as one of the most memorable TV roles and his role as the villain Li Kechun in The Reunion was voted the Top 10 most memorable villains. In 2009 he won the Best Supporting Actor award, despite the nominations being dominated by cast of the popular blockbuster series The Little Nyonya, for his portrayal of a promising young doctor driven to vice and insanity by unfortunate circumstances in The Golden Path.

Now a well-known household name, Chew has gone from acting in drama series to hosting shows and large-scale events including overseas collaborations with Taiwan and China. He was nominated for the Best Info-Ed Host Award at the Star Awards 2010 for co-hosting Food Hometown.

Chew's contract with MediaCorp was set to expire in October 2010. Due to his illness, Chew initially did not expect his contract to be renewed. However, reports surfaced in November 2010 that Chew's contract was renewed for a further two years, with particular emphasis on hosting and new artiste training duties.{{cite news|script-title=zh:周初明獲續約2年 或轉戰主持教學|trans-title=Chew Chor Meng's Contract Renewed For Two Years, Might Turn to Hosting and Training|language=zh|url=http://www.chinapress.com.my/content_new.asp?dt=2010-11-02&sec=entertainment&art=1102en11.txt|accessdate=21 November 2010|newspaper=ChinaPress.com|date=1 November 2010|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101104165221/http://www.chinapress.com.my/content_new.asp?dt=2010-11-02&sec=entertainment&art=1102en11.txt|archivedate=4 November 2010|df=dmy-all}} He made his acting comeback with Channel U's Show Hand, followed by Channel 8 30th anniversary drama special Joys of Life.

Before the contract extension, Chew was planning to enter the restaurant business, which would have been Chew's second foray into the eatery business.

During the 2019 Star Awards, Chew was awarded the Special Achievement Award.{{Cite web |last=Auto |first=Hermes |date=2019-04-14 |title=Mediacorp pays tribute to late actor Aloysius Pang at Star Awards {{!}} The Straits Times |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/entertainment/mediacorp-pays-tribute-to-late-actor-aloysius-pang-at-star-awards |access-date=2023-04-14 |website=www.straitstimes.com |language=en}}

In 2017, Chew, Dennis Chew and two other partners opened a Thai Mookata (barbecue-cum-steamboat) stall, 888 Mookata, at a coffee shop in Hougang, Singapore.{{Cite web |title=3 Budget-Friendly Eateries Owned By Local Celebs |url=https://www.8days.sg/eatanddrink/celebfoodies/3-budget-friendly-eateries-owned-local-celebs-236091 |access-date=2023-01-09 |website=8 Days |language=en}} In 2018, after setting up their third stall, both Chews started a porridge stall, The Famous Zhou, or known in Chinese, Zhou Chu Ming (粥出名), a play on Chew's name and their surnames.{{Cite web |title=Chew Chor Meng And Dennis Chew Open Porridge Stall Called 'Zhou Chu Ming' |url=https://www.8days.sg/eatanddrink/hawkerfood/chew-chor-meng-and-dennis-chew-open-porridge-stall-called-zhou-chu-ming-355526 |access-date=2023-01-09 |website=8 Days |language=en}}

In 2023, Chew with Dennis Chew and two other friends opened a Thai bistro, Viewdee Thai Bistro, at Sprout Hub, Henderson.{{Cite web |title=Chew Chor Meng Opens Thai Bistro In Former School Canteen, Sells Thai Fish Head Hotpot |url=https://www.8days.sg/eatanddrink/celebfoodies/chew-chor-meng-opens-thai-bistro-former-school-canteen-sells-thai-fish-head-hotpot-731796 |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=8 Days |language=en}} The same year, Chew, Dennis Chew, food blogger Maureen Ow (Miss Tam Chiak) and another friend opened a coffeeshop with ten stalls in Hougang.{{cite web |title=Chew Chor Meng, Dennis Chew & Food Blogger Miss Tam Chiak Open A Kopitiam Together |url=https://www.8days.sg/eatanddrink/hawkerfood/tam-chiak-kopitiam-chew-chor-meng-dennis-chew-miss-tam-chiak-open-kopitiam-hougang-809131 |website=8days |access-date=19 August 2023 |language=en}}

Chew graduated from Ngee Ann Polytechnic. He is married to Deon Tan and they have two daughters, born in 2002 and 2004. He revealed during a celebrity talk show in early 2008 that he did not have a happy childhood, often being abused by his overly strict father (a compulsive gambler and alcoholic), who committed suicide when Chew was still in primary school. He began attending a Charismatic church, Renewal Centre from 2007 and was baptised in late November 2008 with his daughters.{{cite web|url=http://www.straitstimes.com/print/Breaking%2BNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_317020.html |title='I may need a wheelchair'--But actor Chew Chor Meng refuses to let muscular atrophy get him down |last=Tan |first=Dawn Weie |date=21 December 2008 |publisher=The Straits Times |accessdate=30 May 2009 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090122042809/http://www.straitstimes.com/print/Breaking%2BNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_317020.html |archivedate=22 January 2009 }}

On 19 December 2008, Chew announced during a church event that he was suffering from Kennedy's disease, a muscular dystrophy illness that resulted in him limping while filming for his latest role as Wang Zhongkun in Love Blossoms II.{{cite web | url=https://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking+News/Singapore/Story/STIStory_316507.html | title=Chew has muscular atrophy | accessdate=13 November 2019 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081223231347/https://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking+News/Singapore/Story/STIStory_316507.html | archivedate=23 December 2008}}{{cite web | url=http://sg.news.yahoo.com/cna/20081225/ten-317-chew-chor-meng-ok-2fbb342.html | title=Chew Chor Meng is OK! | accessdate=13 November 2019 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081228064959/http://sg.news.yahoo.com/cna/20081225/ten-317-chew-chor-meng-ok-2fbb342.html | archivedate=28 December 2008}} Chew said that he was diagnosed with the illness in September 2008, and that he alerted the local press as to his condition, but asked the press to not report it yet, as he was psychologically not ready for it. Chew originally planned on officially announcing his illness during the Star Awards 2008 ceremony, due to be held in March 2009. However, signs of his illness can be clearly seen already, and the news was hard to keep under wraps.{{cite web|url=http://www.omy.sg/Showbiz/E-News/Story/OMYStory200812201701-28249.html|script-title=zh:患肌肉萎缩症 周初明受访： 坐轮椅也要 看女儿长大|trans-title=Suffering from muscular atrophy, Chew Chor Meng's Exclusive Interview: "I will watch my daughter grow up, even if I have to watch from a wheelchair"|date=20 December 2008|publisher=Lianhe Wanbao (carried on omy.sg)|language=zh|accessdate=22 December 2008}} The illness has also brought on cardiac problems and diabetes for Chew.{{cite news|url=http://showbiz.omy.sg/Showbiz/E-News/Story/OMYStory200907071508-73062.html|script-title=zh:明年10月约满 周初明计划进军饮食业|trans-title=Artiste Contract Due to Expire in October of Next Year, Chew Plans Eatery Business Venture|date=7 July 2009|publisher=Lianhe Wanbao (Singapore)|language=zh|accessdate=13 July 2009|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090710013617/http://showbiz.omy.sg/Showbiz/E-News/Story/OMYStory200907071508-73062.html|archivedate=10 July 2009|df=dmy-all}}

Since the illness was revealed, Chew became a member of the local disabled sports club, and has been taking swimming lessons to strengthen his body.{{cite news|url=http://showbiz.omy.sg/Showbiz/E-News/Story/OMYStory200907090410-73597.html|script-title=zh:成为残疾人士体育理事会会员 周初明每周4天游泳健身|trans-title=Becoming a member of a disabled sports organisation, Chew Chor Meng swims 4 times a week for fitness|publisher=Lianhe Zaobao (Singapore)|language=zh|accessdate=13 July 2009|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090712025919/http://showbiz.omy.sg/Showbiz/E-News/Story/OMYStory200907090410-73597.html|archivedate=12 July 2009|df=dmy-all}}

In September 2016, Chew appeared in episode 6 of I Want to Be a Star that had to be taken down from Toggle's website due to public outcry about the show's casual racism. Chew's character said onscreen that Indians and Africans are "all the same". Mediacorp's online service, has apologised on behalf of the show.{{Cite web |last=Auto |first=Hermes |date=2016-10-26 |title=Mediacorp's Toggle removes Shane Pow's 'blackface' episode following outcry {{!}} The Straits Times |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/entertainment/mediacorps-toggle-removes-shane-pows-blackface-episode-following-outcry |access-date=2023-01-09 |website=www.straitstimes.com |language=en}}

{{Reflist|}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20150910014225/http://www2.toggle.sg/celeb-bios/en/tv/biography/chew-chor-meng.html Chew Chor Meng profile] on Toggle
• {{IMDb name|id=1163819|name=Chew Chor Meng}}

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