Chacko Vadaketh (born 1963 in Kerala, India) is a Malaysian actor, emcee and voice over artist, formerly a litigation lawyer who is part of the Malayali/Keralan Syrian Christian community. He is based in Kuala Lumpur and Los Angeles.
Chacko Vadaketh | |
|---|---|
 Chacko Vadaketh 2023 in Kuala Lumpur | |
| Born | |
| Nationality | Malaysian |
| Education | Carter Thor Studios, Los Angeles New School, New York Barrister-at-Law of Lincoln's Inn, London Cambridge University (Pembroke College) |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1999–present |
| Known for | Guest Star in Cinemax UK/US series Strike Back (2019) Co-Star in BBC One series Our Girl (2018) Coach Tharman in Anak Merdeka (ASTRO 2017) Nat Geo / History Channel Asia series Road to Nationhood (2016-2018) As Sabo Singh in Singapore for all three seasons of sitcom Mr Kiasu (2002) |
| Website | https://chackovadaketh.com |
Recent credits include narrator for the Nat Geo/History Channel Asia series Road to Nationhood (2016-2018),[1] host for the Royal Gala for The Prince of Wales in Kuala Lumpur (2017),[2] Coach Tharman in Anak Merdeka (ASTRO 2017), King Bimbisara in Amrapali Singapore (2017), Co-Star in BBC One series Our Girl (2018),[3] Guest Star in Cinemax UK/US series Strike Back (2019),[4] The Bridge (HBO Asia, viu, 2018). Chacko was Sabo Singh in Singapore for all three seasons of sitcom Mr Kiasu (2002):[5] nominated for Best Comedy, Asian Television Awards and played the villain Sarkar opposite Antonio Sabàto Jr. in the movie Princess of Mars (2009).
In August 2023, he was appointed to a two-year term on the Board of the Film Development Corporation of Malaysia (FINAS).[6][7]
Early life
editFamily
editHis father Tan Sri V.C. George, son of Chacko of Vadaketh house, is a former judge of the Court of Appeal of Malaysia and past president of the Malaysian Bar,[8] and his mother Puan Sri Datin Dr. Rebecca George was[9] a Consultant Paediatrician[10] who moved to Malaysia from India after her marriage in 1962 and worked at the Seremban and Kuala Lumpur General Hospitals and retired as Associate Professor of Paediatrics at University of Malaya Medical Center.[11] She is a pioneer in the study and treatment of Dengue Virus Infection in children, authoring textbooks on it and was a consultant for the WHO.[12] His father was born in Klang, Selangor, Malaysia and his mother in Ooty, Tamil Nadu, India and both are of the Keralan Syrian Christian community.
School
editHis primary schooling was in The Garden School and Batu Road School both in Kuala Lumpur. He secured a place to do his secondary education at the Victoria Institution,[13] Kuala Lumpur where he remained for 5 years before going to Haileybury in Hertfordshire, England to do his A levels.
University & Acting schools
editHe has a degree in Law and Archaeology & Anthropology from Cambridge University (Pembroke College)[14] and is a Barrister-at-Law of Lincoln's Inn, London.
He studied at the New School, New York by taking classes in Acting for Film and Television; Directing for the Stage and Introduction to Film Making. He studied acting at the Carter Thor Studios, Los Angeles.
His first encounter with Drama and acting was in his pre-teen years under the tutelage of Donald Davies who taught Speech and Drama in Kuala Lumpur at the Federal Academy of Music. He also sang with the church choir was active in church theatre productions at the St Thomas Marthoma Syrian Church in Kuala Lumpur. He got hooked on acting as an undergraduate at Cambridge University playing roles like Othello,[15] Benvolio and Siddhartha. He played Abanaza in musical pantomime for the Cambridge University Light Entertainment Society. CULES with Prince Edward at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Work
editHe was a litigator with the law firm Shearn Delamore based in Kuala Lumpur.[16]
Acting career
editFilmography
edit- Shadowplay ... Hans the Hoarder (2019)
- Tie the Knot ... Dilip (2016)
- Battle Scars ... Dr. Shah (2015)
- Life in Color ... Sangie (voice) (2015)
- Booze Boys & Brownies ... Frances Turquoise (2014)
- The Pink Sorrys (Short) ... Jimmy (2014)
- Arachnoplilia (Short) ... Puri (2013)
- Paranormal Whacktivity ... George (2013)
- SALADIN (animated TV Series) ... super villain The Host (voice) (2012)
- Use Me Up (Short) ... Lily's Co-worker (2012)
- I Am Singh ... Muslim Community Leader (2011)
- Little Blue Pill ... Commercial Director (2010)
- Blue Movies (Short) ... Sayed Mahmoud (2009)
- Princess of Mars ... Sarka / Sab Than (2009)
- The Blue Mansion ... Additional Voice (2009)
- 1957: Hati Malaya ... EEC Thuraisingam (2007)
- Entrapment ... Principal (1999)
Television
edit- Strike Back ... Professor Shah (2019)
- That Squirrel DID WHAT?! ... Sergio (2015)
- Paloma ... Motivational Speaker (2014)
- The Bold and the Beautiful ... Muhammed (2014)
- Susanna ... Driver (2013)
- In Plain Sight ... Abu Patek (2012)
- Rules of Engagement - Episode: Rug-of-War ... Ravi (2010)
- The Forgotten ... Bellhop (2010)
- Mr. Kiasu ... Sabo Singh (2002)
- AlterAsians ... Dr. Sam (2000)
- The Bridge ... Anil Raj (2018)
Documentary
edit- Kaleidoscope of Rainforest Conservation ... written, directed, narrated and produced by Chacko Vadaketh (2022)
- Road to Nationhood (Nat Geo/History Channel Asia series) ... Narrator (2016-2018)
- Confessions of a Self-Hating Jew ... Yoga Student #1 (2012)
- Aftermath with William Shatner ... Jessica's Iraqi Doctor (2010)
- The Big Durian ... Self (2003)
Theatre
editRoles in Kuala Lumpur including
- Tales from the Scars (2019)[17]
- Love Story (2017)[18]
- Shakespeare Goes Bollywood (2016)[19]
- Love Journey – A Nation Of Two (2015)[20]
- King Arthur (Camelot)
- Capulet (Romeo & Juliet)
- Nehru (Sindhu-A tribute to Nehru)
References
edit- ^ Rich resources behind road to independence New Straits Times, September 2016
- ^ Chacko Vadaketh co-hosts for Prince Charles with Yasmin Yusuf YouTube 2017
- ^ Episode 5 - Nigeria, Belize and Bangladesh Tours BBC One, 2018
- ^ Strike Back: Silent War entertainment focus, March 2019
- ^ Mr Kiasu Channel 5 meWATCH
- ^ Fahmi hands over appointment letters to six new FINAS members BERMANA Malaysia, 2023
- ^ Fahmi serah watikah pelantikan kepada enam Ahli Perbadanan FINAS ASTRO Awani, 2023
- ^ A salute to George The Star, April 2017
- ^ Pioneer female paediatrician Dr Rebecca George dies at 88 The Vibes, June 2022
- ^ Working tirelessly for children New Straits Times, October 2014
- ^ Dr Rebecca George paints on porcelain to help kids with cancer The Star, July 2014
- ^ Working tirelessly for children New Straits Times, October 2014
- ^ Interview with Chacko Vadaketh ASTRO Vbuzz, 2016
- ^ Interview with Chacko Vadaketh KL Lifestyle Magazine Oct. 2018
- ^ Interview with Chacko Vadaketh KL Lifestyle Magazine Oct. 2018
- ^ Chacko Vadaketh - Actor, Voice-Over Artist, Host Eksentrika Magazine
- ^ Musings from the heart New Straits Times, August 2019
- ^ Dama Asia's first English musical New Straits Times, June 2017
- ^ The bard in Bollywood New Straits Times, September 2016
- ^ Tale of love that bridges boundaries By Aref Omar New Straits Times, July 2015
External links
edit- Personal homepage chackovadaketh.com
- X @chackovadaketh
- Instagram @chackovadaketh
- Chacko Vadaketh at IMDb
- Profile at actors access