John Cheng Yeow Nam was a Singaporean actor and Getai compere who made his screen debut in Money No Enough and was most notable for his criminal figure roles in various media. was one of his most notable performances of a gangster figure.
Career
Cheng's first screen appearance was in the 1998 filmMoney No Enough, and the following year he was cast in . Cheng was best known for portraying thuggish, brutal types prone to violence, as a homage to his alleged past career as a loan shark. I Not Stupid was a noticeable first reversal of this stereotypical role – he was cast in a minor role as a police officer tasked with rescuing hostages. Other stereotype role reversals included a minor role as a friend of the three men in That One Not Enough, his portrayal of an effeminate hairdresser in 2004's I Do, I Do, and his last film role as a medium in the 2013 film Judgement Day. Cheng was more active in the getai scene as a compere, along with other part-time actors like Lin Ruping, Liu Lingling and Wang Lei.
Personal life
In a 1996 interview, Cheng opened up on his past as a hooligan. As one of five children with two parents working to support the family, Cheng was neglected and turned to smoking, violence and acts of gangsterism, under the influence of friends. He later joined a loan-shark syndicate and became a runner. Cheng worked several menial jobs before entering showbiz in 1987. He received his secondary education in Chai CheeSecondary School. He was arrested on charges of abusing Ecstasy in 2006, and was jailed for a year. Cheng maintained the drug was slipped into his drink while he was unaware. Cheng courted controversy when he shouted at journalists during Jack Neo's 2010 press conference on the latter's marital affairs. Netizens were divided over his behaviour, with some rapping him for passing off Neo's affair as a norm. Cheng married twice and had three daughters.
Death
In the early hours of 22 January 2013, Cheng collapsed backstage while performing in Club Cleopatra, in Parklane Shopping Mall. He died shortly thereafter aged 52, apparently from a heart attack. Reports later emerged that Cheng had an unhealthy habit of guzzling ten bottles of Coca-Cola daily, to sustain energy levels for his long working hours. He was also suffering from high blood pressure and high cholesterol, and was taking medication for these conditions.
