Emma Yong Oi-Mun (楊愛曼, 20 January 1975 – 2 May 2012) was a Singaporean actress and singer. She was an actress for MediaCorp from the late 1990s until her death. She appeared in the film, The Blue Mansion, in 2009 and she was in the music group called Dim Sum Dollies. She died of stomach cancer.

Emma Yong
Born
Emma Yong Oi-Mun

(1975-01-20)20 January 1975
Died2 May 2012(2012-05-02) (aged 37)
Resting placeMandai Crematorium
Occupation(s)Actress, singer
Years active1975–2012
Spouses
(m. 2003; div. 2003)
Jerry Lim
(m. 2011⁠–⁠2012)
Musical career
Formerly ofDim Sum Dollies

Education

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Yong studied in Raffles Girls' School[1] and then Raffles Junior College and won the Angus Ross prize – given to the A-level student with the best English literature exam score outside of the United Kingdom – in 1994.[2]

In 2002, Yong went to Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts, London where she graduated with a postgraduate degree in musical theatre.[2]

Acting career

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After Yong finished her A-Levels, she went for open auditions and was cast in musicals Bugis Street (1994) and Mortal Sins (1995).[2]

Filmography

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Theatre

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  • Bugis Street (1994)
  • Mortal Sins (1995)

Personal life

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Yong married actor Gerald Chew in 2003 and divorced 9 months later.[2]

In January 2011, Yong was diagnosed with stomach cancer.[4] A few months later, she married her long time boyfriend, Jerry Lim, an interior designer.[4] She started treatment for her cancer after her marriage.[4] The treatment went well and the cancer was in remission.[4] A routine scan in September showed her cancer relapsed.[4][5]

Death

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Yong died on 2 May 2012 aged 37, after a 17-month battle with the disease.[5] Yong is survived by her parents and two sisters. Her funeral took place at Mandai Crematorium on 4 May 2012. [6]

An Emma Yong Fund was set up after her death to helps artists who are critically ill.[1] A memorial concert was held in remembrance of Yong and to raise money for the Fund.[1] The concert was held at the Esplanade who loaned the use of its Concert Hall for free with all performers performing for free. Ticketing agent, SISTIC, also donated the collected handling fees to charity.[1] Performers included the two other Dim Sum Dollies, Selena Tan and Pam Oei, Sebastian "Broadway Beng" Tan, Karen Tan, Tan Kheng Hua, Denise Tan (who replaced Yong as one of the Dim Sum Dollies), Ivan Heng and Glen Goei.[1] More than $275,500 was raised through the concert.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Chia, Adeline (18 June 2012). "To Emma, with love". The Straits Times. pp. C9.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Tay, Michelle (24 September 2007). "HELLO, DOLLY GROWS UP". The Straits Times. p. 4.
  3. ^ "Emma Yong - Esplanade Offstage". www.esplanade.com. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i Chia, Adeline (15 December 2011). "Emma's year of ups and downs". The Straits Times. pp. C2.
  5. ^ a b "Theatre actress Emma Yong dies aged 36". sg.entertainment.yahoo.com. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
  6. ^ "Emma Yong to be cremated tomorrow". news.asiaone.com. Archived from the original on 23 December 2016. Retrieved 12 December 2016.