Hossan Leong (b. 1969, Singapore–) is an actor, comedian, director, television and radio host, motivational speaker and entertainer.1
Early life
Leong received his primary and secondary education at the Anglo-Chinese School.2 During his secondary level, he joined the Boys’ Brigade as his extra-curricular activity (ECA), but later switched to the Gardening Society, for which he was the president. Other childhood interests of his included playing the piano. His first acting attempt was at the Anglo-Chinese Junior College, where he played the doctor in a staging of The Diary of Anne Frank.3
Having failed his General Certificate of Education O-Level Chinese examination four times, Leong was expelled from his junior college. He then went on to pursue a diploma in electronic engineering from the French-Singapore Institute, which is now known as Nanyang Polytechnic. However, owing to his unhappiness studying engineering, he quit school to carve a career in acting – a decision his family supported.4
Leong first developed an interested in professional acting during his time in national service. He was subsequently introduced to Haresh Sharma of theatre company, The Necessary Stage.5 He first acted professionally in The Necessary Stage’s production, Off Centre, in 1993. The following year, he appeared in Talk, a talk-show comedy that Sharma had specially written for him. His career progressed from then on, with Leong taking up his first television role, Sponge, in the popular local television series, Under One Roof. He played the boyfriend of the character Denise.6 In 1997, Leong performed his debut solo stand-up comedy, Singapore Boy. The show opened to sold-out crowds and since then Leong has often been referred to as “Singapore Boy”.7
Actor and entertainer
Since his first foray into professional acting in 1993, Leong has acted in more than 50 plays over the next 12 years.8 Besides theatre performances, he has also acted in local films such as One Leg Kicking (2001)9 and I Not Stupid (2002). In 2003, he directed his first theatre production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Flower Drum Song in Sydney. Two years later, he acted in the local Chinese drama series, Youfu, which broadened his experience in Chinese drama. Other television credits include The Perfect Cut 2 and hosting programmes such as Extreme Gourmet, Extreme Japan, ABC DJ and Bring Your Toothbrush.10
Leong stages an annual live show called The Hossan Leong Show, which first premiered in 2009.11 The popular comedy satirises current affairs. In 2011, he appeared on Singapore Mediacorp TV Channel 5 as a host for We Are Singaporeans, a game show centred on Singapore’s culture and history.12 In addition to hosting radio shows such as The Gold Breakfast Show on Gold 90.5 FM and The Lush Life on LUSH 99.5,13 Leong has been involved in charity projects such as Kiehl’s You Can Change the World,14 as well as charity performances including When I was Little for children’s theatre group, The Little Company, to raise funds for the company.15 He has also acted as a voice-over artist for many radio and television commercials.16
Other work
Leong is the co-founder and director of Paul Carr Consultancy, a communications agency.17 In 2013, he also established Double Confirm Productions, which stages some of his shows and provides entertainment services for clients.18
Other activities
Leong was the ambassador of the Speak Mandarin Campaign in 2005 and 2006. He was selected because the campaign was then targeting English-educated Chinese Singaporeans, particularly those born after 1965, which matched his social profile.19 Leong was seen as a good example, as he chose to improve his Mandarin after leaving school. He did so to improve his job scope and expand his career options. He also mentioned that after he had picked up Mandarin again, he discovered how beautiful its metaphors are.20
In 2006, Leong wrote, directed and acted in a play for the Speak Good English Movement. In the same year, Leong was awarded the Prix des Ambassadeurs Francophones (Francophone Ambassador Award) for helping to promote French culture in Singapore. He was also named the Ambassador for Paris 2012. In 2010, he was conferred the Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Order of Arts and Letters) by the French government for his achievements in the arts and contributions to French culture and the cultural ties between Singapore and France. Being fluent in French, he has performed in productions co-organised by the Alliance Française such as No Regrets: Tribute to Edith Piaf in 200721 and A Singaporean in Paris in 2010.22
Awards
2001: Best Ensemble at the inaugural Life! Theatre Awards, in Asian Boys Vol. 1.23
2003: Best Supporting Actor, 3rd DBS Life! Theatre Awards 2002, for Honk! 24
2010: Best Ensemble at the 10th Life! Theatre Awards, for SING DOLLAR! The Musical Comedy About Money.25
Selected works
1993: Full-time actor/facilitator for The Necessary Stage.26
1997: Acted in Chang and Eng, a popular landmark Singapore musical by Action Theatre.27
2001: Acted in the film, One Leg Kicking as Eugene, the soccer team coach.28
2002: Acted in Forbidden City: Portrait of an Empress by The Singapore Repertory Theatre.29
2003: Directed Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Flower Drum Song for AHA! Productions.30
2004: Acted in Private (Partly) – House of Flying Chestnuts for STAGES.31
2006: Acted in Little Shop of Horrors for Dream Academy Productions.32
2008: Performed in the solo concert Seriously Hossan for Esplanade’s Late Nite Series.33 Also directed Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs for Wild Rice.34
2009: Directed Beauty & the Beast for Wild Rice.35
2010: Directed Crazy Christmas 2010 for Dream Academy Playhouse.36 Also acted in The Full Monty for Pangdemonium.37
2011: Acted in the musical, The Rocky Horror Show.38
Author
Geraldine Yeoh
References
1. Paul Carr Consultancy. (2013). Hossan Leong. Retrieved 2016, January 9 from Paul Carr Consultancy website: http://www.paulcarrconsultancy.com/about/hossan-leong.php
2. Loh, G. (2009, October 1). Show me the funny. Today, p. 42. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
3. William, R. (2008, December 11). Hossan Leong. I-S Magazine Singapore. Retrieved 2011, May 9 from http://is.asia-city.com/events/article/first-person-hossan-leong
4. Tan, J. (2004, September 27). Hossan’s leap of faith. Today, p. 23. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
5. Cheam, J. (2005, September 17). Small man, big dreams. The Straits Times, p. 4. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
6. Teo, W. (2007, January 26). Side-splittingly funny. Today, p. 82. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
7. Yet one more act by Hossan. (1997, September 18). The Straits Times, p. 7; Tan, J. (2003, October 11). Back in business. Today, p. 28; Cheam, J. (2005, September 17). Small man, big dreams. The Straits Times, p. 4. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
8. Cheam, J. (2005, September 17). Small man, big dreams. The Straits Times, p. 4. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
9. Off to a kicking start. (2001, October 23). Today, p. 17. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
10. Paul Carr Consultancy. (2013). Hossan Leong. Retrieved 2016, January 9 from Paul Carr Consultancy website: http://www.paulcarrconsultancy.com/about/hossan-leong.php
11. Loh, G. (2009, October 1). Show me the funny. Today, p. 42. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
12. Seah, M. (2011, April 5). A local boy. Today, p. 4. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
13. Wong, S. (2009, August 22). 5 questions with Hossan leong and Angel Teo. Today, p. 57. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
14. Kiehl’s serves up green tees. (2009, August 8). Today, p. 32. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
15. Big helping hand for little company. (2003, July 31). The Straits Times, p. 2. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
16. Paul Carr Consultancy. (2013). Hossan Leong. Retrieved 2016, January 9 from Paul Carr Consultancy website: http://www.paulcarrconsultancy.com/about/hossan-leong.php; Paul Carr Consultancy. (2013). Voice-over talent: Hossan Leong. Retrieved 2016, January 9 from Paul Carr Consultancy website: http://www.paulcarrconsultancy.com/services/voice-over-talent.php#hossanleong
17. Paul Carr Consultancy. (2013). Hossan Leong. Retrieved 2016, January 9 from Paul Carr Consultancy website: http://www.paulcarrconsultancy.com/about/hossan-leong.php; Double Confirm Productions. (2015). About us. Retrieved 2016, January 9 from Double Confirm Productions website: http://doubleconfirm.sg/about-us/about-double-confirm-productions/
18. Tan, C. (2013, July 23). Hossan starts own company. The Straits Times, p. 14. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
19. Bob to the beat of Speak Mandarin drive. (2005, November 9). The Straits Times, p. 3. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
20. Page 23 advertisements column 1. (2006, April 2). The Straits Times, p. 23. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
21. A Piaf tribute worth catching. (2007, March 31). Today, p. 34. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
22. Nanda, A. (2010, March 18). Ooh-la-la, Paris, lah. The Straits Times, p. 9. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
23. Double Confirm Productions. (2015). About Hossan Leong. Retrieved 2016, January 9 from Double Confirm Productions website: http://doubleconfirm.sg/about-us/hossan-leong-2/
24. Singapore Press Holdings. (2003, March 28). The 3rd DBS Life! Theatre Awards 2002 [Press release]. Retrieved 2016, January 9 from Singapore Press Holdings website: http://www.sph.com.sg/media_releases/71
25. Chia, A. (2010, March 31). Sweet dreams made of these. The Straits Times, p. 4. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
26. Lee. J. (2003, July 30). Our inseparable past and future. Today, p. 25. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
27. Musical’s second run. (1997, July 29). The New Paper, p. 25. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
28. Off to a kicking start. (2001, October 23). Today, p. 17. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
29. Cheah, U. H. (2006, September 15). Forbidden City: Getting better with time. The Business Times, p. 33. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
30. Broadway World. (n.d). Hossan Leong biography. Retrieved 2016, January 9 from Broadway World website: http://www.broadwayworld.com/people/bio/Hossan-Leong/
31. Chew, D. (2004, November 26). Black roasted. Today, p. 50. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
32. Little shop of horrors. (2006, October 30). The Straits Times, p. 15. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
33. Toh, C. (2008, June 13). This time, it’s getting personal. Today, p. 120. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
34. Snow White & the seven dwarfs. (2008, October 26). The Straits Times, p. 54. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
35. Martin, M. (2009, November 30). One tame animal. The Straits Times, p. 25. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
36. Chia, A. (2010, December 10). Crazy time of year. The Straits Times, p. 22. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
37. Chia, A. (2010, June 18). Stripping for a cause. The Straits Times, p. 14. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
38. Tan, C. (2011, January 7). Rocky’s a knockout. The Straits Times, p. 7. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
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