Mat Yeung Ming (born 27 February 1981) is a Hong Kong television actor and host known for his roles as Lui Ting in Screen Play (2000), as Wan Po-yu in The 'W' Files (2003), as Tin Hoi in Be Home for Dinner (2011), and as Senior Inspector Jasper Kong in Master of Play (2012).
Mat Yeung | |||||||||||||
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| Born | Lam Ming-lok 譚澤峰 27 February 1981 British Hong Kong | ||||||||||||
| Occupation(s) | Actor, television host, businessman | ||||||||||||
| Years active | 1999–present | ||||||||||||
| Partner(s) | Sharon Chan, Chloe Nguyen, Lisa Ch'ng | ||||||||||||
| Awards | TVB Anniversary Awards – Most Improved Male Artiste 2017 My Dearly Sinful Mind, Bet Hur, Love and Construction & All Work No Pay Holidays Sr.2 | ||||||||||||
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Career
editIn September 1998, Yeung signed a management contract with TVB after graduating from the company's 17th Artiste Training Class. He was given his first major role in the comedy-drama serial Screen Play (2000), where he portrayed Lui Ting, a character based on Nicholas Tse. Yeung was pushed by his company to compete in the male beauty pageant Mister World in 2000, and was misplaced. Yeung returned to Hong Kong and played a few more minor roles afterwards, before winning another major role in the teen drama Aqua Heroes and mystery/adventure drama The 'W' Files, both which aired in 2003.
In 2005, his career was interrupted when Yeung was arrested for DUI and criminal damage.[1] He was sentenced to 150 hours of community service,[2] and became the first TVB actor having to retake acting classes again.[1] To make ends meet, Yeung opened a clothing retail store in Mong Kok during 2006, but the store closed down within a year of business. He tried another business with selling Chinese mitten crab, but the business went bankrupt within three months.[1] In 2018, Yeung returned to the food business by opening up stew soup shops, stating that acting income is often unstable and would be actively participating to help.[3] However due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Yeung had to shut down all his shops and revert to takeaway and online sales by 2022.[4]
In 2011, Yeung's career was revived after a successful portrayal of Tin Hoi in the sitcom Be Home for Dinner. He was nominated for Most Improved Male Artiste at the 2011 TVB Anniversary Awards. He eventually won this award in 2017. Yeung got his first male leading role in the 2019 drama My Commissioned Lover.
Criminal history
editIn 2005, Yeung was arrested for DUI and criminal damage.[1] He was sentenced to 150 hours of community service.
In August 2020, Yeung was arrested for his involvement in a car collision, after refusing to provide a blood sample to the police when they noted the smell of alcohol in his breath.[5] Yeung's ongoing promotional campaigns for the Hong Kong Police Force were suspended after his arrest.[6] He won a last-minute bid for freedom after a magistrate decided to remand him in custody over two driving offences, only to later allow him to reverse his guilty plea on the grounds that he had received “improper” legal advice.[7]
In November 2021, he was found guilty of all three charges and sentenced to 18 days in prison.[8] During the trial, it was also mentioned that Yeung in a separate incident had been fined for using his mobile phone while driving.[9]
In September 2022, judge Johnny Chan Jong-herng told Yeung that evidence for his careless driving charge was "rock-solid".[10] Yeung was released on bail for HK$100,000 and ordered to not leave Hong Kong, to report to the police every Wednesday, and to not drive while on bail.[10] A traffic cop at the scene and medical report showed that Yeung committed drunk driving.[10]
In December 2022, Yeung lost his appeal, and the judge found Yeung only have "average" levels of remorse, said Yeung's plea was "capricious," and also said evidence against Yeung was "ironclad."[11]
Political views
editYeung is a staunch supporter of the pro-Beijing camp, being very outspoken among the entertainment industry.
Yeung has a critical stance on the protest, as he has urged people to disassociate themselves from the violence and voice their support for police officers.[12][13] Due to his position on the protests, protesters have targeted him, which has led to boycotts of television shows he has starred in and his shops across Hong Kong. [12][13] Conversely, he remarked: "Whether the business is good or not doesn't bother me, but I am very sad that rioters became more and more violent in streets and more common people got hurt."[12][13] He further explained that: "At this time, business is not that important anymore. Now it's the struggle for humanity that matters, we must return to humanity. I feel that in the past months, humanity is lost in Hong Kong."[12][13]
During the protests, Yeung was discovered insulting the protesters in a WhatsApp group with foul language, "All guys are fxxking crazy" (佢老味成班癲X咗).[14][15] Yeung was criticised by Flow Leung, another TVB artist, who claimed that two TVB staff left the group chat in anger and felt that Yeung went overboard when laughing at the two leaving the group chat.[16] Yeung claimed he has made no judgement on peaceful protesters and criticized Leung for quoting him out of context.[17]
Yeung, who is well known for playing police figures, commented: "I can see our selfless police officers work so hard to protect us. However, some people kept smearing them and cooking up fake news to mislead the public."[12][13] During the protests in November 2019, Yeung was helping the police in clearing roadblocks established by the protesters.[18]
Yeung signed a petition in support of the national security law.[11]
Filmography
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Face to Face | extra | |
| A Kindred Spirit | extra | Sitcom | |
| Dragon Love | extra | ||
| At the Threshold of an Era | extra | ||
| Witness to a Prosecution | extra | ||
| 2000 | War of the Genders | extra | Sitcom |
| Ups and Downs | extra | ||
| The Threat of Love | extra | ||
| Armed Reaction II | extra | ||
| Street Fighters | extra | ||
| Incurable Traits | extra | ||
| A Matter of Customs | extra | ||
| Screen Play | Lui Ting | ||
| Crimson Sabre | extra | ||
| 2001 | Armed Reaction III | ||
| Seven Sisters | |||
| 2002 | Family Man | ||
| The Trust of a Lifetime | |||
| 2003 | Back to Square One | ||
| Aqua Heroes | Sam Kong Koon-kit | ||
| The 'W' Files | Wan Po-yu | ||
| 2004 | A Handful of Love | Calvin | |
| To Get Unstuck in Time | Ko Ming | ||
| Shades of Truth | Leung Ka-lok (Happy Jai) | ||
| 2005 | The Academy | Chan Ling-ling's boyfriend | |
| Women on the Run | Ching Jun | ||
| Face to Fate | Chor Man-kung | ||
| Healing Hands III | Ko Lok | ||
| Forensic Heroes | Frankie Mok Cheuk-ho | ||
| 2007 | Ten Brothers | Long Legs Seven | Previously warehoused; released overseas in 2005 |
| The Ultimate Crime Fighter | Ken | ||
| Best Selling Secrets | Don | Episode 55 | |
| 2008 | Catch Me Now | Cheng Wai-shing | 2 episodes (Eps. 13–14) |
| The Silver Chamber of Sorrows | Sheung Sai-cho | ||
| Last One Standing | Motel owner | ||
| The Money-Maker Recipe | Szeto Hiu-kwong | ||
| Moonlight Resonance | Jimmy Wong Hiu-lung | ||
| The Four | Soldier | cameo | |
| 2008-2009 | The Gem of Life | Oscar | |
| 2009 | Just Love II | Lee King-ho | 4 episodes |
| E.U. | Kwok King-cheung | ||
| The Winter Melon Tale | Prince | ||
| 2010 | In the Eye of the Beholder | Ha Hau-yung | |
| Fly with Me | Danny Yung Man-lai | ||
| Some Day | Sin Pok | Sitcom recurring | |
| A Pillow Case of Mystery II | Chik Ming-yin | ||
| Beauty Knows No Pain | Owen | ||
| The Comeback Clan | Chung Ching (Eight) | ||
| Twilight Investigation | Sean Wong Chun-fung | Nominated — TVB Anniversary Award for Most Improved Male Artiste | |
| 2011 | Only You | Keegan | Nominated — TVB Anniversary Award for Most Improved Male Artiste |
| Love and Again | Ying Fung | Previously warehoused; released overseas in 2004 | |
| Be Home for Dinner | Tin Hoi | Sitcom regular Nominated — TVB Anniversary Award for Most Improved Male Artiste | |
| My Sister of Eternal Flower | Koo Suk-lam | Nominated — TVB Anniversary Award for Most Improved Male Artiste | |
| The Other Truth | Ben Wong Chi-nam | 4 episodes (Eps. 14–19) Nominated — TVB Anniversary Award for Most Improved Male Artiste | |
| 2012 | Daddy Good Deeds | Peter | cameo |
| Master of Play | Senior Inspector Jasper Kong Sing-yu | ||
| No Good Either Way | Jacky Ho Ching-chik | ||
| The Last Steep Ascent | Ngai Po-law | ||
| 2012-2013 | Missing You | Marcus Lo Yin-pan | |
| 2013 | The Day of Days | Wang Tsan-bong | |
| Season of Love | Hinson Dai Yu-hin | Episodes 1–5: "Chapter of Spring" | |
| Slow Boat Home | Chan Moon-kei | ||
| Karma Rider | Ching Ying-hung | ||
| 2014 | Outbound Love | Ching Chin-bok | |
| Storm in a Cocoon | Hung Chuk-gau | ||
| Black Heart White Soul | Lau Yim | ||
| Shades of Life | Kwong Chi Hung | Episode 12 | |
| 2015 | Madam Cutie On Duty | Brother Chang Han | |
| Momentary Lapse Of Reason | Sam Yat Yin | ||
| Every Step You Take | cameo | ||
| Captain of Destiny | Sam Ching Sum | ||
| Lord of Shanghai | |||
| 2015-2016 | The Executioner | Chek Tsz-chau | |
| 2016 | My Dangerous Mafia Retirement Plan | Liu Shau-Kay | |
| Brother's Keeper II | Luck | ||
| 2017 | My Dearly Sinful Mind | Tong Yat (Day) | Won - TVB Anniversary Award for Most Improved Male Artiste |
| 2018 | Apple-colada | Wong Yau-choi | |
| Fist Fight | Ha Tin Hang (Leo) | ||
| 2019 | The Defected | Yau Lai-kit (Mat) | |
| Police Tactical Unit 2019 | Ting Jin-bo | ||
| My Commissioned Lover | Long Chiu-yong (Gus) | Nominated - TVB Anniversary Award for Best Actor | |
| 2020 | Airport Strikers | Ma Yong-yee (Easy) | Nominated - TVB Anniversary Award for Best Actor |
| The Exorcist’s 2nd Meter | Moses | cameo (episodes 19-20) | |
| On-Lie Game | Szeto Chung (Sunny) | ||
| Line Walker: Bull Fight | Foot massage customer | cameo (episode 27) | |
| 2021 | Shadow of Justice | Chun Wing-hei | Nominated - TVB Anniversary Award for Best Actor Nominated — TVB Anniversary Award for Favourite TVB Actor in Malaysia |
| Sinister Beings | Kwok Ho | Nominated - TVB Anniversary Award for Best Supporting Actor | |
| The Kwoks And What | Kwok Tak-ming (Derek) | Nominated - TVB Anniversary Award for Best Actor Nominated - TVB Anniversary Award for Most Popular Onscreen Partnership (with Nina Paw, Joe Ma, Stephanie Che and Fei Wu) Nominated — TVB Anniversary Award for Favourite TVB Actor in Malaysia | |
| 2023 | Night Beauties | Cheuk Chi-fei | Nominated - TVB Anniversary Award for Best Actor |
References
edit- ^ a b c d 《心戰》慘死情侶煲起 翻生揚明：試過半年冇糧出 [Master of Play's tragic couple heats up, resurrected Mat Yeung: "Had no income for six months"]. Face Magazine via IHKTV (in Chinese). 2012-06-05. Retrieved 2012-06-05.
- ^ 揚明判社會服務令 [Mat Yeung sentenced to community service]. Sina (in Chinese). 2007-09-20. Retrieved 2012-06-05.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Mat Yeung wants to open more stew soup shops". Yahoo. 2019-09-19.
- ^ "6 Hong Kong celebrity restaurateurs who lost millions due to Covid-19". South China Morning Post. 2022-03-30.
- ^ "Hong Kong actor Mat Yeung Ming arrested for drink-driving offence". South China Morning Post. 2020-08-08. Retrieved 2020-08-09.
- ^ "TVB 藝人楊明《東張西望》受訪避談醉駕：撞完車比較暈 警：其警隊宣傳將暫停 | 立場報道 | 立場新聞". 立場新聞 Stand News. Retrieved 2020-08-09.
- ^ "Hong Kong TV star Mat Yeung Ming avoids being remanded in custody at last second after reversing plea in careless driving case". 24 March 2021. SCMP. 2021-03-24
- ^ Lam, Marco (5 November 2021). "Careless driving and tinted windows land actor behind bars". The Standard.
- ^ Siu, Jasmine (4 November 2021). "Hong Kong TV star Mat Yeung Ming jailed for 18 days, banned from driving for 2 years and fined over careless driving case". South China Morning Post.
- ^ a b c Standard, The. "Actor released on bail, awaits appeal against careless driving imprisonment sentence". The Standard. Retrieved 2022-09-22.
- ^ a b "Court jails Hong Kong TV star Mat Yeung, rejects appeal against 18-day sentence". South China Morning Post. 2022-12-22. Retrieved 2022-12-22.
- ^ a b c d e "Hong Kong actor stands firm for supporting cops despite being targeted by rioters". The Straits Times. 12 January 2020.
- ^ a b c d e "HK pro-police actor firm after being targeted by rioters". China Daily. 12 January 2020.
- ^ "楊明爆粗鬧示威者". Apple Daily 蘋果日報. Retrieved 2019-10-22.
- ^ "【反送中】港男梁裕恆指楊明批評示威者挖磚 楊明15字回應指控 - 香港經濟日報 - TOPick - 娛樂". topick.hket.com. Retrieved 2019-10-22.
- ^ "Mr. Former Hong Kong Contestant, Flow Leung criticizes Matt Yeung openly". Asian E News. 7 October 2023.
- ^ "【反送中】楊明承認曾批評部分示威者 斥前港男斷章取義以一句話表立場 - 香港經濟日報 - TOPick - 娛樂". topick.hket.com. Retrieved 2019-10-22.
- ^ "【Kelly Online】示威者觀塘堵路 藝人楊明落車清路障". www.singtaousa.com. Retrieved 2019-11-14.