Ex-TV actor Collin Chee revealed that he ended his marriage with his wife of 22 years in 2019, in a report published by Lianhe Zaobao last Saturday (Oct 7).
The 57-year-old said: "I got divorced. It was something I never expected. It happened anyway, but I am still good friends with my ex-wife."
The couple married in 1997 and have four children, two daughters and two sons who are all in their twenties.
"We did not make our divorce difficult for our children. They all love me and I am very grateful," Collin added.
Their children often made appearances in Collin's Instagram posts where they spent quality time together. Collin is also now operating his online durian business Spikes of Love with his two sons.
Collin debuted with Singapore Broadcasting Corporation (now Mediacorp) after Star Search 1993 and left showbiz in 1996. After his marriage, he helped out in her family's wholesale business and lived in Indonesia from 2009 to 2015.
He told the Chinese daily he left the entertainment industry then because considering his ex-wife's family business background, he felt that being in showbiz might inevitably lead to troubles and wanted to give her a peace of mind.
"I have no regrets, after all, everything was a choice made at that moment," he added.
Collin also revealed that he had since found new love. His girlfriend is a 52-year-old Singapore citizen originally from Ipoh, who is working as a financial consultant and a divorcee with two grown-up sons, whom Collin gets along well with.
When asked if they have any plans to marry, he said: "At our age, I just accept fate when it comes and let it take its course."
He added that it was his girlfriend who encouraged him to return to the entertainment industry.
"She said that at my age, I have nothing to worry and be concerned about, so I just enjoy the process and do what I like."
After a hiatus of 27 years, Collin recently returned to acting and is currently filming the new movie King of Hawkers, where he plays Li Guozhong, a rich playboy from Hong Kong who is divorced from Zhang Nala (Dawn Yeoh).
Guozhong fell in love at first sight with Nala when they were younger and she became pregnant out of wedlock. To maintain the family's reputation, Guozhong's mother, Madam Lee (Mimi Chu), allowed Nala to be married into their family, but did not hold a wedding banquet for them.
Guozhong is said to be someone who cares very much about other people's opinions of him, a people-pleaser and doesn't have his own opinion. To bolster his family's business, Guozhong searches for Nala after their divorce and finds her operating her family-run bak chor mee stall in Singapore. He then organises a competition to take over Nala's and other hawkers' businesses.
Speaking to AsiaOne at the press conference and lensing ceremony recently, Collin said that Guozhong is a character who feels "empty" because his mother is overcontrolling.