Leung Sing Poh

Biography

Leung Sing Poh, known affectionately as "Uncle Por," was born on April 29, 1909, in Singapore. Originally named Leung Sihai, he hailed from Nanhai, Guangdong. His father was a celebrated Cantonese opera singer in Singapore, and his sister was also a noted opera performer. From a young age, he was deeply passionate about Cantonese opera and greatly admired the style of Ma Sze Tsang. He trained under prominent masters in Singapore and Malaya. He began his career at seventeen and quickly rose to fame, becoming one of the "Four Heavenly Kings" of Southeast Asia. In 1940, he moved to Hong Kong at Ma Sze Tsang's invitation to join the Tai Ping Troupe. After World War II, he transitioned to comedic roles (Chousheng) due to weight gain and excelled so brilliantly that he was crowned the "King of Chousheng." He was a founding star of Hong Kong television in 1967 and hosted the long-running variety show "Enjoy Yourself Tonight" for over a decade. He appeared in nearly 400 films and musicals. He served five consecutive terms as chairman of the Cantonese Opera Artists Guild. In 1977, he became the first Hong Kong artist to receive the MBE from the British Queen. His final public performance was in 1980, despite having undergone intestinal cancer surgery. He passed away from colorectal cancer on February 12, 1981, in Hong Kong at the age of 72.