Leung Sing Poh

Leung Sing-Bor MBE (1908 – February 21, 1981) was a famous Cantonese opera performer, and a pioneer actor of TVB. He was also the chairman of the cantonese opera group Chinese Artist Association of Hong Kong from 1965 to 1970

Early life

Born in Singapore as Leung Guang Choy, Leung was devoted to Cantonese Opera since young, he loved the legendary Ma Sze Tsang and learnt the Ma style of singing Cantonese opera, his father Leong Yuet was a famous Cantonese opera performer in Singapore, Leong convinced his father to allow him to learn Cantonese opera from a Malaysian master only known as Dai Dam Kan (Big Brave Kan in Cantonese) Leung officially joined a Cantonese Opera troupe at the age of 18, Leung started acting in Wusheng roles which made him very popular and one of the members of the Nanyang four kings of Cantonese opera

Career

In 1939, Ma Sze Tsang's Taiping troupe in Hong Kong needed actors, and Ma aware of Leung's fame, invited him to join the Taiping troupe, Leung and his family thus went to Hong Kong and stayed there ever since. During the World War II, when the Japanese attacked Hong Kong, Leung brought his family to escape to Guangzhou to Macau then to Guangxi At Guangxi, he formed a Cantonese opera troupe there and performed in various towns of Guangxi.

After the world war, Leung started to gain weight, and was unsuitable for acting Wusheng anymore, and thus changed to Chousheng (clown) in which he portrayed villainous and also funny roles in cantonese opera, acting in several famous Cantonese Opera troupes, Leung thus gained the reputation of being "Chousheng Wang" or Clown King in Cantonese opera.

In 1950, Leung was recommended by his seniors to join in the filming industry, in which he has acted over 400 movies in supporting roles

TVB Pioneer

Leung Sing Bor is widely known to be one of the pioneers of TVB, being one of its first actors to join TVB, and also hosted the popular Enjoy Yourself Tonight show in Hong Kong for many years till his death.

Chinese Artist Association of Hong Kong

Leung was chairman of the Chinese Artist Association of Hong Kong from 1965 to 1970, a association of Hong Kong Cantonese opera artists, thus contributing greatly to the Hong Kong Cantonese opera industry, Leung was later awarded the MBE on 13 April 1973 by the Queen Elizabeth II, whom represented by Governor Murray MacLehose for his artistic contributions towards Cantonese Opera.

Death

Leung died of cancer in 1981, aged 73.

Children

Leung's children are all famous actresses at their own right, Leung Po Ching is an actress known for portraying a housewife in EYT, Leung Po Ying (Man Lan) - actress with movie opposite Bruce Lee, and Leung Po Chu - another Cantonese opera performer.