# Mak Ho Wai

Mak Ho Wai (Chinese: 麥皓為; 7 January 1946 – 14 April 2022) was a Hong Kong-Singaporean television actor with TVB and then Mediacorp.

## Early life and education

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.

## Career

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.
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. Mak Dai Shing died in the CAAC Flight 3303 accident in the same year. 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.
In 1994, Mak played his last acting role with TVB as a prosecutor in Crime and Passion [zh]. In September 1994, he moved to Singapore to further his career.
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). As the drama was popular, with about 68,000 viewers tuning in for its first episode, and 75,000 viewers for its third episode, Mak would gain the moniker, "Old Hero" (老 Hero) for the rest of his life, which was referenced throughout the series.
On 5 October 1997, Mak received the Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes at the Star Awards. 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. 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.
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.
In 2018, it was reported that Mak had volunteered to be a docent at the National Museum of Singapore.

## Personal life

Mak had two daughters.
When Mak moved to Singapore to further his career in September 1994, he brought along his entire family. 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. On 25 May 1997, Mak received his Singapore citizenship.
Mak died on 14 April 2022 in Singapore.

## Filmography
### Television series

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1983 | Return of the Condor Heroes | unnamed Taoist priest | |
| 1984 | The Smiling, Proud Wanderer | Tou-bat-yung | |
| 1986 | New Heavenly Sword and Dragon Sabre | Chu Yun-cheung | |
| 1987 | The Legend of the Book and the Sword | | |
| 1988 | It's No Heaven 天堂血路 | | |
| 1988 | Twilight of a Nation | Yik-san 奕山 | |
| 1989 | The Iron Butterfly 特警90 | | |
| 1989 | Looking Back in Anger | | |
| 1989 | The Justice of Life [zh] | | |
| 1990 | Behind Bars 铁窗雄泪 | | |
| 1990 | Blood of Good and Evil [zh] | | |
| 1990 | It Runs in the Family [zh] | | |
| 1991 | A New Life | Ha Kin-yan 夏健仁 | |
| 1992 | Rage and Passion | Royal advisor | |
| 1992 | The Greed of Man | | |
| 1993 | The Buddhism Palm Strikes Back | Cheung Sam | |
| 1994 | The Legend of the Condor Heroes | Tong Cho-tak | |
| 1994 | Crime and Passion [zh] | | Last work with TVB |
| 1995 | Strange Encounters III | | |
| 1995 | The Golden Pillow | | |
| 1995 | Morning Express | | |
| 1996 | Creative Edge 创意先锋 | | |
| 1996 | Don't Worry Be Happy 敢敢做个开心人 | Old Hero | |
| 1996 | Ambition | Superintendent Sir 唐Sir | The series is only broadcast by TVB in 1996. |
| 1997 | The Guest People | | |
| 1998 | The Return of the Condor Heroes (1998) | Zhou Botong | |
| 1998 | Legend of the Eight Immortals | Han Zhongli | |
| 2005 | Destiny | Cen Fei's father | |

### Film

| Year | Title | Role |
| 1986 | Loves Of The Living Dead | Striptease show's boss |
| 1988 | The Last Conflict | Priest |
| 1988 | The Romancing Star II | |
| 1988 | Faithfully Yours | Taxi driver |
| 1989 | All Night Long 夜瘋狂 | |
| 1990 | Sunshine Friends 笑星撞地球 | |
| 1991 | The Banquet | |
| 1992 | Game Kids 機Boy小子之真假威龍 | |
| 1993 | Millionaire Cop 千面天王 | |
| 1993 | My Hero II [zh] | |
| 1994 | Mr. Sardine 沙甸魚殺人事件 | |
| 1995 | When a Child Is Born 有兒萬事足 | Dr Shen |
| 1995 | Sea Eagle 海岸猎鹰 | |
| 1995 | Fatal Memory 血案迷情 | |

## Theatre

| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref |
| 1997 | Hu-Du-Men (虎度门) | | | |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Result | Ref. |
| 1997 | Star Awards | Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes | Won | |