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Andrew Seow
Andrew Seow
Andrew Seow
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Andrew Seow (born 1969 or 1970)[1] is a Singaporean former actor and model.

Key Information

Early life

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Seow studied at St. Patrick's School and Catholic High School. He earned an Advanced Diploma in fashion design, jewellery design and merchandising from Lasalle-SIA College of the Arts.

Career

[edit]

Seow was a model in Singapore and in other parts of Asia before becoming an actor on local television. He is best known for his role as the fiery tempered eldest son Gary Tay in the long-running drama series Growing Up on MediaCorp TV Channel 5, a role which earned him the Best Newcomer in the annual Asian Television Awards in 1996.[2][3] Seow has also starred in numerous Chinese-language dramas on Channel 8, garnering nominations in the annual Star Awards.

Seow was talent-spotted by a Television Corporation of Singapore (TCS) producer in 1996 and subsequently joined TCS. In the mid-90s, Seow, Jason Oh, Thomas Ong, Raymond Yong and Henry Tee formed the boy group The Dragons Five, which was named after the Channel 8 series of the same title.[3]

Since 2010, Seow has been a Senior Curator with Tsu Ho Gallery which specializes in fine art, antiques and jewellery.[4]

In 2025, Seow was working as an auxiliary police officer with security firm Aetos.[5]

Filmography

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Television series

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Year Work Role Notes Ref
1995 Sparks Of Life 生命火花
The Dragons Five 飞龙五将 [1]
1996 Unbroken Cycle 解连环
1996-1997 Triple Nine 2 seasons
1996-2001 Growing Up Gary Tay 6 seasons [3]
1999 Shiver
Dreamers (Wheels)
Can I Help You Sitcom
2001 The Hotel
My Genie 我爱精灵
2003 Love Is Beautiful 美丽家庭
My Genie 2 我爱精灵 II
2004 Man at Forty Tang Tang [3]
Spice Siblings
A Child's Hope II
The Ties That Bind 家财万贯
2005 My Lucky Charm
Zero to Hero
A New Life
2006 The Undisclosed

Theatre

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  • Close: In Your Face by The Necessary Stage (2002)

Awards and nominations

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Organisation Year Category Nominated work Result Ref
Asian Television Awards 1996 Best Newcomer in a Drama Series Growing Up (as Gary Tay) Won [3]
Star Awards 2004 Best Supporting Actor Man at Forty (as Tang Tang) Won

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Andrew Seow

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Andrew Seow is a Singaporean former and model, best known for his role as the rebellious eldest son Gary Tay in the Channel 5 period drama Growing Up (1996–2001). Born around 1970, Seow debuted with in 1995 and rose to prominence with Growing Up, earning the Best Newcomer award at the 1996 for his portrayal of Gary. Over his 12-year acting career, he also gained acclaim for playing Tang Tang in the 2004 drama Man At Forty, securing the Best Supporting Actor award at the that year. Seow left in 2007 and later worked as a senior at Tsu Ho Gallery during the , before transitioning to a in . Inspired by his father, a former officer, he joined Aetos as an officer (APO), where he handles duties such as guarding premises, escorting persons in custody, and conducting searches. Aged about 55 and single, Seow cares for his aging parents and enjoys hobbies including , pet care, nature outings, and cooking traditional dishes like curry chicken. Although he has expressed missing his fans from his days and fondness for the character of Gary, he has stated contentment in his current role, preferring to "take the audience seat" and support contemporary performers rather than return to the spotlight.

Early life and education

Early years

Andrew Seow was born in 1970 in , though the exact date remains undisclosed in public records. He was raised in a typical Singaporean household of Peranakan heritage, with limited details available about his parents and siblings beyond the general multicultural context of mid-20th-century . His father had served as an officer during the British colonial era, approximately 70 years prior to 2025, and was multilingual, fluent in French, English, and Malay, which influenced Seow's early exposure to languages. During his childhood in the 1970s and 1980s, Seow lived in traditional Peranakan shophouses along Clemenceau Avenue before his family relocated to the East Coast area. Seow developed an interest in during his years. Specific childhood hobbies are not well-documented in available sources.

Education

Andrew Seow received his primary education at St. Patrick's School in . He subsequently attended Catholic High School for secondary education, where the curriculum included Mandarin language instruction that supported his bilingual capabilities in roles. Seow pursued higher education at LaSalle-SIA of the Arts, earning a in . This training in apparel and design aligned with his early career interests in modeling, providing foundational knowledge of style and aesthetics relevant to and print work.

Entertainment career

Modeling and music

Seow entered the entertainment industry as a model in the early , working primarily in while also gaining exposure across in fashion shows and advertising campaigns. Holding an Advanced Diploma in , , and merchandising from LaSalle-SIA College of the Arts, he built a reputation in the regional modeling scene before transitioning to other areas of entertainment. In the mid-1990s, Seow was part of the cast of the drama series The Dragons Five (1995), alongside Jason Oh, Thomas Ong, Raymond Yong, and Henry Tee. The group of actors, who played members of an squad in the 20-episode production, were affectionately referred to as a 'boyband' by fans due to their popularity, though they focused on and promotional activities without releasing original music albums. The series marked Seow's debut and captured significant fan attention in . Following the conclusion of the production, their collaborative activities ended. Seow's prominence in modeling caught the attention of a producer at the Television Corporation of Singapore (TCS) in his mid-20s, leading to his recruitment and initial acting opportunities with the network in 1995.

Television and film acting

Andrew Seow transitioned into television acting after initial exposure through modeling in Singapore and Asia. He joined Television Corporation of Singapore (TCS), the predecessor to , in 1995 and became known for his roles in local English- and Chinese-language dramas. His early appearances included the police procedural series Triple Nine (1995–1997, two seasons), where he portrayed Norman Kwek in select episodes. In 1996, Seow appeared as Pan Hongsheng in the period drama The Unbroken Cycle, a story spanning multiple lifetimes set in Singapore during the 1920s, 1960s, and present day. Seow achieved breakthrough recognition for his portrayal of Gary Tay, the rebellious and fiery-tempered eldest son in the family period drama Growing Up (1996–2001, six seasons). The series chronicled the Tay family's experiences against Singapore's post-independence history from the to 1980s, with Gary's character arc evolving from youthful defiance and family conflicts to personal maturation amid societal changes. His performance in Growing Up earned him the Best Newcomer award at the 1996 . In 2004, Seow played the loyal and steadfast friend Tang Tang in the Chinese-language drama Man at Forty, which centered on the contrasting lives of two brothers—one affluent and the other impoverished—and their intertwined relationships. The role highlighted themes of friendship and resilience, contributing to Seow's reputation for nuanced supporting performances in period and family-oriented stories. Seow appeared in the 2005 independent drama 4:30, directed by , which traces the evolving bond between a reclusive Korean tenant named Jung (played by Young-jun Kim) and his young landlord, 11-year-old , over a single morning, emphasizing themes of isolation, cultural displacement, and unexpected companionship through subtle, non-verbal . Seow remained active in Singaporean television productions until 2007, primarily taking on supporting roles in period dramas that reflected local cultural and historical narratives, before stepping away from the industry.

Theatre

Andrew Seow's contributions to theatre were limited during his entertainment career, with his most notable involvement being a single production in 2002. Unlike his more extensive work in television and film, Seow's stage appearances were infrequent, reflecting a career trajectory that prioritized screen roles following his breakthrough in local dramas. In September 2002, Seow participated in Close—In My Face, a piece by The Necessary Stage, a prominent Singaporean company known for addressing social and cultural issues through innovative, community-engaged works. Directed by Sean Tobin with dramaturgy by Haresh Sharma, the production ran from 24 September to 5 October at the Marine Parade Community Club Theatrette, co-presented with the to foster dialogue on heartland living. The play served as a communal of stories, impressions, and thoughts gathered over six months from a local community, exploring themes of , intimacy, , loneliness, neighborly relations, animals, and social prejudices in Singapore's high-rise (HDB) estates. Through fragmented narratives, multimedia elements, and humor, it examined the "closeness and closed-ness" of urban life, critiquing cultural clichés, inter-racial dynamics, and political apathy in a relatable, everyday context. Seow was part of the devising and acting ensemble, which included performers like , Natalie Hennedige, and Faith Lew, alongside video contributions from others. He portrayed a newlywed husband from the emerging nomadic , navigating the search for an ideal home and life with his wife (played by Lew), only to confront the imperfections of neighborhood realities. His performance drew on his established persona as a fiery, relatable heartlander, delivering lines with emotional authenticity that resonated with audiences familiar with Singaporean domestic struggles. Reviews highlighted the production's success in mirroring the nuances of HDB existence, with Seow's role contributing to its populist yet insightful portrayal of young urbanites. The play's impact lay in its ability to provoke personal reflections on communal living, underscoring The Necessary Stage's role in amplifying marginalized voices within Singapore's theatre scene, though Seow did not pursue further stage work amid his rising screen commitments.

Awards and recognition

Awards

Andrew Seow's acting career earned him two notable awards, both recognizing his contributions to Singaporean television dramas. At the inaugural in 1996, Seow won the Best Newcomer in a Drama Series for his portrayal of the rebellious eldest son Gary Tay in Growing Up, marking a significant debut recognition that affirmed his potential in the regional television landscape. Eight years later, at the 2004 ceremony held on 12 December 2004 at the TV Theatre, Seow received the Best Supporting Actor award for his role in Man at Forty, a highly regarded honor in Singapore's television industry that celebrated his ability to convey the emotional depth of midlife challenges.

Nominations

Andrew Seow received several nominations at the annual Star Awards, Singapore's premier television honors organized by Mediacorp, for his roles in Chinese-language dramas broadcast on Channel 8. These nominations acknowledged his skillful portrayals of multifaceted supporting characters, reflecting the industry's recognition of his range beyond his breakthrough in Growing Up. Although specific non-winning nods are not extensively detailed in contemporary reports, they occurred during his peak acting years in the early 2000s, coinciding with his shift toward more mature, dramatic roles that earned critical and peer acclaim for their emotional depth. For example, he was nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the 2003 Star Awards for his role in Love Is Beautiful. This pattern of nominations underscores Seow's sustained impact on local entertainment, bridging his early fame with later versatility, without overshadowing his awarded achievements.

Later career

Following his retirement from acting in 2006, Andrew Seow transitioned into the , taking on the role of Senior Curator at Tsu Ho Gallery in from 2010 to around 2024. The gallery specializes in , antiques, and high-end , areas where Seow's expertise in curation involves selecting and organizing collections for display, managing exhibitions, and advising on acquisitions to highlight cultural and aesthetic value. This position represented a significant creative pivot for Seow, shifting from performative arts to the curatorial stewardship of visual and , driven by his longstanding interest in and design. His education in from Lasalle College of the Arts, where he earned an Advanced Diploma (1989–1993), informed his curatorial work.

Auxiliary police work

In April 2024, Andrew Seow joined as an officer, representing a notable shift from his earlier pursuits in following a period of gallery curatorship. At age 55, Seow cited personal fulfillment and societal contribution as key drivers, particularly after years of caregiving for his parents and stepping away from in 2006. His father, a former officer during Singapore's British colonial era, played a pivotal role in the decision, urging Seow to "do something meaningful in your life." Seow also drew inspiration from Lawrence Wong's appeals for Singaporeans to engage in roles. As an officer, holding the rank of (APF), Seow undergoes 12-hour shifts and must pass annual fitness tests while being licensed to carry and handle firearms. His spanned and covered more than a dozen modules, equipping him with powers, protections, and immunities akin to those of regular police officers in . These responsibilities focus on duties, such as and event protection, underscoring the disciplined nature of the role. Seow's transition drew media spotlight in July 2025, with features emphasizing the contrast between his past portrayal of a rebellious youth in the series Growing Up and his current uniformed service. Coverage in outlets like and portrayed the move as an inspiring example of mid-life reinvention amid economic and personal life stages. Seow himself reflected on the role's rewards, stating, "My life is very fulfilled, honestly," highlighting its alignment with his desire for purposeful work.
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