Mano Maniam, revered Malaysian actor and theatre stalwart, dies at 79

The Star

5 days ago

Mano Maniam in a 2007 Kuala Lumpur production of 'Krapp's Last Tape' by Samuel Beckett. The distinguished Malaysian actor - a towering figure in theatre, television, and film - passed away last night. He was 79. Photo: The Star/Filepic
Mano Maniam, the distinguished Malaysian actor, arts advocate, educator and cultural anthropologist – an extraordinary multi-hyphenate whose presence shaped the nation's performing arts landscape – died last night. He was 79.
News of his passing has prompted tributes from PEN Malaysia, theatre contemporary Patrick Teoh, performing arts outfit theatrethreesixty, publisher/filmmaker Amir Muhammad and many others on social media.
To the mainstream audience, Mano was best known as the affable 'Uncle Chan' from the beloved late-1990s, early 2000s television series Kopitiam – a role that brought him widespread recognition and endeared him to a new generation of viewers.
The cast of the late 1990s TV series 'Kopitiam' (from left): Rashid Salleh, Mano Maniam, Lina Teoh and Douglas Lim. Photo: The Star/Filepic
Born in Ipoh in 1945, Mano was a towering presence in the Malaysian performing arts scene for over five decades.
His love for the stage began in childhood, enchanted by colourful bangsawan and sandiwara shows (Malay theatre road shows) in Ipoh. At ACS Ipoh in the early 1960s, he discovered Shakespeare – a passion that led him back to the school as a teacher, inspiring others as he once was.
With a career that spanned theatre, television, film, education, and cultural discourse, he brought gravitas, warmth, and intellect to every role he inhabited.
In 1996, 'Adorations' stood out as a significant local theatre work - an Odissi dance performance framed as a dialogue between guru (Mano Maniam, pic) and disciple (Ramli Ibrahim). Photo: Sutra Foundation
Whether commanding the stage in Shakespearean leads or Beckett monologues, or appearing in international productions like Anna and the King and Netflix's Marco Polo , he brought a quiet intensity and presence that transcended language and genre.
On the local front, Mano will be remembered for his roles in the cult film Mat Gelap (1990), the gritty big city drama Kolumpo (2013), and the acclaimed Barbarian Invasion (2021).
His deep, resonant voice, commanding stage presence, and gentle wisdom made him not just a household name, but also a mentor to generations of theatre practitioners and students alike.
Throughout his long career, Mano moved effortlessly between the intimate spaces of theatre and the global reach of screen.
On local television, he was a familiar and grounding presence in both English and Tamil dramas, further cementing his role as a cultural bridge across communities.
Even in his later years, Mano remained a tireless force in the arts. Well into his 70s, he lent his rich, resonant voice to narration work and found joy in teaching acting to senior citizens at the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (KLPAC), continuing to nurture creativity in others.
Just last year, his voice brought poetic dimension to Meniti Cakerawala: The Science & Romance Of The Cosmos, a production that, fittingly, married science and wonder echoing the same balance of intellect and soul that defined his life's work.