Bai Yan: His Life In Pictures
The beloved veteran star was so much more than Singapore's favourite grandpa.
To most Singaporeans, Bai Yan, who passed away this morning, is loved for being that genial grandpa in Ch 8 dramas in the ’80s and ’90s. But he had a whole other life before becoming a TV actor at the ripe old age of 65.
In April this year, CNA ran a documentary series called Love In A Time of Change and one of the episodes illustrated the super sweet love story between Bai Yan and his wife, former actress Ye Qing. Titled Love is a Stage: Bai Yan & Ye Qing, the doc, which featured an interview done with the couple at their home in 2006, uncovered a treasure trove of never-before-seen pics of Bai Yan as a young man.
Having arrived in Singapore from China just before the outbreak of World War II, Bai Yan was first a gewutuan (song and dance troupe) performer — which was where he met and fell in love with Ye Qing — before adapting his craft to suit the ever-changing entertainment landscape in Singapore. And he continued to do so throughout his 60-year career.
Bai Yan-shu was a man who dedicated his whole life to entertaining Singaporeans and for that we are eternally grateful.