SINGAPORE – Local veteran actor Moses Lim, best known for his work in TV sitcom Under One Roof, died on Feb 11 at the age of 75.

The news of his death was announced on his Facebook account on the morning of Feb 12.

The post noted the various roles Lim had played, such as his act on Channel 8 variety series Comedy Nite (1990 to 2000) and his most famous part as beloved patriarch Tan Ah Teck in the popular Channel 5 comedy series Under One Roof (1995 to 2003).

“Those who had the privilege of working with him speak warmly of his generosity in mentoring younger talents and his absolute dedication to his craft,” read the Facebook post announcing Lim’s death.

“Whether he was delivering punchlines in English or Chinese, Moses had that incredible gift of making everyone feel like family – that was his magic.” 

Lim was known for his love for food, later becoming a food critic. He founded and managed Moses Lim Gourmet Club, which organised gourmet tours.

He leaves behind his wife Monica, daughters Grace and Angela, and four granddaughters.

Lim, who had heart surgery in 2018, revealed in an interview with news website 8world that he was diagnosed with slow pulse rate in late 2022, and declined to get an artificial cardiac pacemaker despite being advised by a doctor to do so.

He explained that he was against it due to his age, and that it was better to avoid surgical procedures, having taken three months to recover after his heart surgery, which had complications.

He added that his pulse and heartbeat were normal in a scan six months later, after he became more conscious of his diet.

The post on his Facebook page read: “Take your bow, Tan Ah Teck. You’ve given us the performance of a lifetime. A television icon, a devoted father and a Singapore treasure.

“What a wonderful show it has been.”

Actor Nicholas Lee, who played Lim’s son Ronnie Tan in Under One Roof, paid tribute to his onscreen father.

“My dearest Moses, you are like the second dad I’ve lost and the pain is indescribable,” Lee wrote on Instagram on Feb 12.

“I shall treasure always and fondly the many moments we shared during those years of incredible joy. Unforgettable and irreplaceable. I’m so thankful to be able to share one last scene with you just last month. Sleep well Dad, love you always.”

Lim, a former student of Catholic High School and Maris Stella High School, first honed his comedic skills performing xiangsheng (crosstalk), a form of stand-up comedy, in the 1970s.

His show-business career kicked off in the 1990s when Channel 8 launched its Chinese-language variety show programming. Lim and local actor-director Jack Neo, then also an unknown, answered the broadcaster’s call for hosting duos for its new show Comedy Nite. The move launched both Lim and Neo to national stardom.

In 1995, Lim successfully crossed over to the English-speaking world with Under One Roof, and became a leading player on both channels. He went on to be the first Singaporean to bag an Asian Television Award for Best Male Actor in a Comedy in 1996.

Lim was also nominated in the Star Awards’ Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes category for five consecutive years from 2001 to 2005, and took home a trophy in 2004.

He ventured onto the big screen, appearing in local films such as One Leg Kicking (2001), Twilight Kitchen (2003), Just Follow Law (2007) and Our Sister Mambo (2015).

Outside the entertainment industry, Lim was a pioneer in food tours via his Moses Lim Gourmet Club. He has been organising and leading travellers on trips around the world in search of culinary delights since 1993.

https://www.straitstimes.com/life/local-veteran-actor-moses-lim-dies-at-age-75