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.
Personal life Tan completed his national service in the 1st Commando Battalion with the rank of Captain.
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 YearTitleRole Notes 2008Beach Ball Babes (球爱大战)Crime Busters x 2 Hu Zhiyang 2009 The Dream Catchers Will The Ultimatum Together Lin Dehua 2010 The Best Things in Life Beethoven Breakout Cai Haoyu 2011 C.L.I.F. Xu Wenbin A Song to Remember Luo Xiaoxiao 2012Bluff (别搞怪！) Mr Wang The Enchanted Du Jiahong Poetic Justice Tang Zhisheng 2013 It's a Wonderful Life Hao Fuqi 96°C Café Xu Liqiao The Dream MakersGao Jian The Journey: A Voyage Hong Shi 2014Against The Tide Zhou Jianfeng The Journey: Tumultuous Times Hong Shi Point of EntryVictor de CruzSpouse for HouseTan Kai Lan 2015 Love on Air (音为爱) Eason TesTube EpisodeSecond Chance (流氓律师)Li Dashan Spouse For House 2Tan Kai LanMata Mata: A New GenerationTommy Foo2016Peace & Prosperity Hong Yingxiong The Truth Seekers Hong Junyan Hero Himself 2017Dream Coder Zheng Hongyi When Duty Calls Lu Junguang 2018 Eat Already? 4 Oliver VIC Wu Shenghao Love at Cavenagh Bridge (加文纳桥的约定)Fang Yiqun Blue Tick (已读不回)Mo Sidong You Can Be An Angel 3 (你也可以是天使3)Sunny Xia Yaoyang Code of Law (Season 4)Derek Ho Zhi Zhong2019 Hello From The Other Side – Its Time (阴错阳差 — 时辰到) GaryAll Is Well – Singapore (你那边怎样，我这边OK)Wu Pinrui Derek – Code Of Law Derek Ho Zhi Zhong2020Who Is Killer? (谁是凶手？)Liu Zhi Qiang All Around You (回路网)Huo JunhaoCode of Law (Final Season)Derek Ho Zhi Zhong 2021 CTRL Zhou Zhiping Key Witness (关键证人)Chen Zhiming The Take Down (肃战肃绝) Zhou Haoyang 2022 Home Again (多年后的全家福) Ah Lang I Want To Be A Towkay (亲家冤家做头家) Himself Cameo When Duty Calls 2 (卫国先锋2) Lu Junguang 2023 Strike Gold Liu Guangming All That Glitters Lin Musen (Liu Mu) 2024 Moments (时光倾城) Zhan Hefeng 2025Devil Behind The Gate (庭外的一角)Yuan YingcaiYuan Yingjie
Film YearTitleRole Notes 2010 Love Cuts Young customer Special appearance2014 1400 Rain 2018 The Big Day Xu Nuoyan
Variety show hosting YearTitle Notes 2013 My Star Guide 8 (我的导游是明星 8) 2015My Star Guide 10 (我的导游是明星 10) 2017 My Star Guide 12 (我的导游是明星 12) 2018 Away with My BFF (老友出走记) 2025Mind Our Business (艺起耍大牌)
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 Organisation Year Award Nominated work Result Star Awards 2010 Unforgettable Villain Together 2012 Rocket Award A Song To Remember 2014 Star Awards for Most Popular Regional Artiste (China) Star Awards for Most Popular Regional Artiste (Indonesia) Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes Favourite Male Character The Journey: A Voyage 2015 Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes Star Awards for Most Popular Regional Artiste (Indonesia) 2016 London Choco Roll Happiness Award Second Chance 2017 Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes 2018 Best Actor When Duty Calls Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes 2016 Best Actor You Can Be An Angel 3 Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes 2021 Best Actor All is Well – Singapore Bioskin Most Charismatic Artiste Award Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes 2022 Best Actor Key Witness The Male Show Stealer Bioskin Most Charismatic Artiste Award Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes 2023 Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes 2024 Best Actor All That Glitters Favourite Male Character Favourite Onscreen Couple (Drama) As Lin Musen with Li Zhenyu (All That Glitters) Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes 2025Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes 2026Best ActorDevil Behind The Gate Favourite Male Character As Yuan Yingcai/Yuan Yingjie (Devil Behind The Gate) Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes PPCTV Awards2015Favourite Male Character (Cambodia)The Journey: A Voyage Favourite Lead Actor (Cambodia) Favourite Onscreen Couple (with Jeanette Aw) (Cambodia)
References
External links
on toggle.sg