Legendary Actor Xie Shaoguang Making a Comeback to Acting; Appears in TikTok, Too

If you miss the good old days when actors like Xie Shaoguang, Chen Hanwei or Li Nanxing appeared in almost all Channel 8 dramas, here’s something to brighten your day:

Legendary actor Xie Shaoguang, who retired in 2005 after deciding not to renew his contract with MediaCorp, is making a comeback.

The question now is, of course, this: do you still have a television at home?

Legendary Actor Xie Shaoguang Making a Comeback to Acting; Appears in TikTok, Too

The 62-year-old has signed with Mediacorp’s talent management arm, The Celebrity Agency.

Today, he also appeared in The Celebrity Agency’s TikTok channel, looking back at his old works.

@thecelebrityagency To celebrate Xie Shao Guang’s return to showbiz, watch Xie Shao Guang reacts to his past works!😍❤️ #xieshaoguang #谢韶光 #fyp #foryourpage #explore #explorepage #trendingreels #trending ♬ original sound – The Celebrity Agency

While he doesn’t have any confirmed projects lined up yet, Xie expressed that he is waiting for the right role that will allow him to contribute and showcase his skills.

Xie’s journey back to showbiz actually began in 2022 when his former manager, now head of The Celebrity Agency, invited him to conduct acting workshops for younger talents. Reigniting his passion for the craft, Xie realized it was time to return to his first love – acting.

Who is Xie Shaoguang?

For the benefit of the younger folks (or for people who weren’t even born when he retired!), here’s why Xie is such a legend.

He  began his acting career in 1989 and quickly rose to prominence, becoming one of the most respected and awarded actors in Singapore.

Some of his most notable achievements include winning the Star Awards Best Actor award a record five times, receiving the Star Awards Best Supporting Actor award twice and being crowned the All-Time Favourite Artiste, having won the Most Popular Male Artiste award for 10 consecutive years from 1995 to 2004.

Xie’s iconic roles include the Chinese folk deity Ji Gong in the 1997 series The Legends of Jigong, a paralyzed doctor in Stand By Me (1998), and an effeminate man in Holland V (2003).

However, in 2005, at the height of his success, Xie made the shocking decision to retire from acting, citing burnout and a desire for spiritual rediscovery.

He moved to Malaysia, where he was reportedly ordained as a Buddhist monk in 2013, before returning to secular life.

He also opened an animal welfare centre called Animal Paradise and worked as the head chef of a vegetarian restaurant.