Desmond Tan

Desmond Tan (born 19 August 1986) is a Singaporean actor. He won the Star Awards for Best Actor twice in 2018 and 2026 for his role in When Duty Calls and Devil Behind The Gate respectively. He had also won the Star Awards for Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes ten times.

Education Tan was educated at Pioneer Secondary School and Jurong Junior College. After participating in Star Search 2007, he juggled acting commitments with studies at the National University of Singapore. He studied real estate and graduated with an honours degree in 2011.

Career In 2007, Tan participated in Star Search 2007, a Mediacorp's reality talent search show, and was runner-up in the show. He was awarded a contract with Mediacorp and began his part time acting career with some minor roles in various Channel 8 dramas.

After almost five years in the industry, Tan won his first award, the Rocket Award, at the 2012 Star Awards for the biggest breakthrough after a critically acclaimed performance as rickshaw driver Luo Xiaoxiao in the anniversary drama A Song to Remember.

In 2018, he starred as the fictional serial killer Derek Ho in Code of Law. Tan later won Best Actor at the Star Awards for his role as Loke Junguang in When Duty Calls, a military television series sponsored by the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Home Affairs.

Tan had won ten Star Awards for Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes in 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026.

During the Star Awards 2026, Tan won his second Best Actor award for Devil Behind The Gate and his tenth Most Popular Male Artiste award. He also won the BYD Favourite Male Character Award for the same role.

On 7 December 2021, Tan married his university sweetheart at a ceremony held in France. On 4 October 2023, Desmond announced on social media that his wife was pregnant. Their daughter was born on 5 March 2024. On 3 April 2025, Tan announced via Instagram that his wife is pregnant with their second child, a boy.

Filmography

Television series

Film YearTitleRole Notes 2010 Love Cuts Young customer Special appearance2014 1400 Rain 2018 The Big Day Xu Nuoyan

Variety show hosting

Discography Compilation albums Year English title Mandarin title 2015 MediaCorp Music Lunar New Year Album 15 新传媒群星金羊添吉祥 2016 MediaCorp Music Lunar New Year Album 16 新传媒群星金猴添喜庆 2017 MediaCorp Music Lunar New Year Album 17 新传媒群星咕鸡咕鸡庆丰年 2018 MediaCorp Music Lunar New Year Album 18 新传媒群星阿狗狗过好年 2019 MediaCorp Music Lunar New Year Album 19 新传媒群星猪饱饱欢乐迎肥年 2020 MediaCorp Music Lunar New Year Album 20 裕鼠鼠纳福迎春了 2021 MediaCorp Music Lunar New Year Album 21 福满牛年Moo Moo乐 2023 MediaCorp Music Lunar New Year Album 23 新传媒2023贺岁传辑哈皮兔宝福星照

Singles YearTitleNotes 2013"关怀方式" 2017 "Merry Summer Christmas" "关怀新方式" For the drama series When Duty Calls 2018 "将爱延续" For the drama series Blue Tick (以读不回)"大大的爱"For the drama series You Can Be An Angel 3 (你也可以是天使 3)2022"夜空的魔法"For the drama series Home Again (多年后的全家福)2025"错爱"For the drama series Devil Behind The Gate (庭外的一角)

Awards and nominations