Mak Ho Wai

Mak studied at the National Taiwan Ocean University, receiving a bachelor's degree in electronic engineering. He later earned a master's degree in Chinese language studies at the Beijing Normal University at the age of 60.^[1][2]

After graduating from National Taiwan Ocean University, Mak was a radio DJ in Taiwan a period of time. Having spent ten years in Taiwan, he was proficient in speaking standard Mandarin.^[3][4]

Mak enrolled into the twelfth cohort of the TVB artiste training class in 1982 to fulfil the wishes of his younger brother, Mak Dai-Shing [zh], who was also an actor with TVB.^[5] Mak Dai Shing died in the CAAC Flight 3303 accident in the same year.^[6] After completing the training course, he was retained by TVB as an actor, playing mostly a support role in numerous televised drama in the ensuing years. Notable roles during his time at TVB included the head of an investment firm in The Justice of Life [zh] in 1989 and a newspaper vendor in The Greed of Man in 1992.^[5][7]

In 1994, Mak played his last acting role with TVB as a prosecutor in Crime and Passion [zh].^[8] In September,^[9] he moved to Singapore to further his career.^[10]

In 1996, Mak played the patriarch of the family featured in the Chinese drama series, Don't Worry Be Happy (敢敢做个开心人).^[11] As the drama was popular, with about 68,000 viewers tuning in for its first episode, and 75,000 viewers for its third episode,^[12] the moniker used throughout the series, "Old Hero" (老 Hero), would be synonymous with him for the rest of his life.^[11][3]

On 5 October 1997, Mak received the Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes at the Star Awards.^[13][14] Barely a week later, Mak was part of the Singapore's stage production of Hu-Du-Men (虎度门) that ran between 10 and 14 October.^[15][16] The play was first staged in Hong Kong in the 80s, and it later was adapted into the 1996 Hong Kong film, Hu-Du-Men.^[17]

In 2005, Mak had a cameo role in the television series, Destiny (梦在手里), which was the final television role in his acting career.^[18]

In 2018, it was reported that Mak had volunteered to be a docent at the National Museum of Singapore.^[1][10]

Mak had two daughters.^[19]

When Mak moved to Singapore to further his career in September 1994, he brought along his entire family.^[9] Previously while still under contract with TVB, he had expressed that he would like to migrate to Singapore due to the living environment and the education system.^[19] On 25 May 1997, Mak received his Singapore citizenship.^[19]

Mak died on 14 April 2022 in Singapore.^[10]