Wahid Satay

Singaporean actor (1930–2023)

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Wahid Satay

Satay in 1962

Born|

Abdul Wahid bin Ahmad

1930 (1930)

Indragiri, Riau, Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia)

Died| 22 May 2023(2023-05-22) (aged 92–93)

Singapore

Nationality| Singaporean
Other names|

* A. Wahid
* Wahid Satay
* S. M. Wahid

Occupations|

* Actor
* comedian
* singer

Years active| 1948–2005
Spouse|

Azimah Mohd Talib

(m. 1953; died 1995)​

Abdul Wahid bin Ahmad (1930 – 22 May 2023), also known as Wahid Satay, A. Wahid or S. M. Wahid, was a Singaporean actor, comedian and singer.

## Early life and education

[edit]

Wahid was born in 1930 at Indragiri, Riau, Sumatra, in the Dutch East Indies.[1][2] and migrated to Singapore in 1935. He received his early education at the Geylang Malay School.

## Career

[edit]

Prior to his acting career, he took painting, which was his hobby since his school days. Because of the quality of his paintings, Wahid was offered a job as a studio set painter at the Cathay Keris Studios at East Coast Road at the end of 1956.[3] In 1957, director B.N. Rao needed a young comedian to be given a role in the film Pontianak. Rao noted that Wahid was always telling jokes to his co-workers and always making everyone on the set laugh, and thus decided to include him in Pontianak as a comedic role.

The role given to Wahid is the part of a satay seller (hence the stage name 'Wahid Satay', given by Cathay Keris Studios owner Loke Wan Tho) in a village where the people are afraid of Pontianak. Wahid so effectively acted the part of the satay seller that the scene became one of the most memorable scenes of the film Pontianak. The movie Pontianak created its own history when it broke Malay movie theatre records, with total takings of more than one million dollars, the highest amount then in 1957.[4]

Following his huge success in Pontianak, Wahid was promoted from assistant painter to full-time actor with a three-year contract. Wahid was not only competent in the field of acting, but also singing. Besides his skills in front of the camera, Wahid also performed live shows to promote his films. Up to his death, Wahid still got many invitations to perform live on stage. During his Cathay Keris Studio days, Wahid represented his studios at the Asia Pacific Film Festivals in Tokyo, Manila and Hong Kong.[4]

As an actor with Cathay Keris Studios, Wahid starred in numerous lead and supporting actor comic parts, which led him to be labelled "the Jerry Lewis of Singapore and Malaya".[5][6]

Apart from his iconic comedic roles during the 1950s and 1960s, he also rose to fame with another comedic actor, Mat Sentul in the same period. Thus both of them were involved together in numerous comedy films of those eras such as Pak Pandir Moden, 2 Kali 5, etc.

## Personal life and death

[edit]

Satay suffered from diabetes and heart disease.[7] He died from complications of diabetes on 22 May 2023, at the age of 93. Satay was found dead on his bed by one of his granddaughters (on the maternal line), Mahirah Mohd Yassin and was already a widower for 28 years for his wife, Azimah Mohd Talib has since passed away in 1995.[7] He was subsequently buried at the Pusara Aman Muslim cemetery at Lim Chu Kang.[3]

## Filmography

[edit]

### Film

[edit]

Year  | Title  | Role  | Notes  | Ref

|
|
|
|

1948  | Pertaruhan |  | Cameo appearance  |
1957  | Pontianak | Ali  |  |
1958  | Satay | Kamil  |  |
Serangan Orang Minyak | Baning  |  |
Sumpah Pontianak | Ali  |  |
Che Mamat Parang Tajam | Mamat  |  |
1959  | Rasa Sayang Eh... | Baning  |  |
Jula Juli Bintang Tiga | Kering  |  |
1960  | Pak Pandir Moden | Kulop  |  |
Che Mamat Parang Tumpul | Mamat  |  |
1961  | Sultan Mahmud Mangkat Dijulang | Awang  |  |
Sri Mersing | Jalak  |  |
Lela Satria |  |  |
Gado Gado |  |  |
Puteri Gunong Ledang |  |  |
1962  | Chelorong Cheloreng | Cheloreng  |  |
Badang | Badang  |  | [7]
Mabuk Kepayang | Hassan  |  |
Jula Juli Bintang Tujuh | Mertoh  |  |
Laila Majnun |  |  |
1963  | Masuk Angin Keluar Asap | Wahid  |  | [8]
Gul Bakawali |  |  |
Gila Talak | Wahid / Wahab  |  |
1964  | Pontianak Gua Musang | Ali  |  |
1965  | Tiga Botak | Wahid  |  |
Muda Mudi |  |  |
1966  | Naga Tasik Chini | Belitong  |  |
Anak Dara | Laba  |  | [7]
Dua Kali Lima | Wahid  |  |
1979  | Mat Tenggek | Wahid  |  |
Dendang Perantau | Wahid  |  |
1980  | Tuan Besar | Tuan Wahid  |  |
2004  | Pontianak Harum Sundal Malam | Palace Officials  | Cameo appearance
2005  | Senario XX | Tok Ketua  |  |

## Awards and nominations

[edit]

Year  | Award  | Category  | Nominated Work  | Status  | Ref

|
|
|
|
|

1966  | Asian Film Festival  | Best Comedian  |  |  | [3]
2007  | Pesta Perdana | Lifetime Achievement Award  | —  |  | [3]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Wahid Satay, veteran actor of Malay cinema, dies at age 93". Free Malaysia Today. 22 May 2023. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
2. ^ "Satayman Wahid". eresources.nlb.gov.sg. The Straits Times. 11 September 1990. p. 6. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
3. ^ a b c d Abdul Hadi, Eddino (22 May 2023). "Veteran Singaporean actor-comedian Wahid Satay dies at 93". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
4. ^ a b "Cinemamalaysia.com.my - Wahid Satay - Info". 1 November 2012. Archived from the original on 1 November 2012. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
5. ^ "Page 8 Advertisements Column 2". The Straits Times. 3 January 1959. p. 8. Retrieved 13 February 2017 - via NewspaperSG.
6. ^ Tan, Bridget (15 July 1988). "Meet Wahid Satay, the Jerry Lewis of Malaya". Weekend East. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
7. ^ a b c d "Seniman Wahid Satay meninggal dunia pada usia 93 tahun". BERITA Mediacorp. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
8. ^ "Actress, comedian seek film awards". The Straits Times. 22 March 1963. p. 10. Retrieved 30 August 2022.

## External links

[edit]

* Wahid Satay at IMDb

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF

National|

* France
* BnF data

*[m.]: married