Sept 20 -- JOHOR, Malaysia: Former Singapore actor Xie Shaoguang has become a Buddhist monk at a temple in Pontian, Johor on Monday, reported Shin Min Daily News.
Xie Shaoguang (left) and Huang Biren (right) in a scene from the hit 1998 drama "Stand By Me"
Xie has kept a low profile since his retirement from showbiz in 2005 and has had very little contact with his former colleagues.
Veteran actress Lin Meijiao, a friend of the actor, told channelnewsasia.com through her manager that she did not know Xie has become a monk, and only found out about it from recent media reports.
Zheng Geping, who had worked with Xie in the drama Holland V, expressed that he was also surprised by the news.
Xie had won numerous acting awards for his performances in dramas like “The Golden Pillow”, “Stand By Me” as well as “Holland V”.
His final acting project was the 2005 drama “Baby Blues” which also starred Chen Liping.