At the end of last year, following the departure of three-time TV King Roger Kwok (郭晉安) from TVB, another TV King — 57-year-old Joe Ma Tak-chung (馬德鐘) — officially left the broadcaster upon the expiry of his contract.
It’s Not Retirement: Still Passionate About Acting
There was widespread speculation that the drama The Unusual Prosecutor <非常檢控觀> would be his “final work” before retirement. Joe Ma personally addressed the rumors to set the record straight, clarifying that his departure was simply due to the completion of his contract, and shared that his current work mainly involves travelling between Hong Kong and mainland China, taking on both drama productions and commercial appearances.
Asked whether he would consider working with other television stations, he replied, “As actors, we look at the script and the role. Of course, I have a good relationship with TVB. It’s just that the contract ended — if there’s a suitable opportunity, we can always discuss it again. I’ve always worked in this way.”
Balances work in Hong Kong and mainland China
Joe Ma joined TVB in 1993 and steadily worked his way up from supporting roles to become a leading man. Notably, he portrayed authoritarian figures numerous times, possibly due to his real-life experience as a police officer. In 2018, he won the TV King title for his role as Mak Joi-tin in Life on the Line <跳躍生命線>. Over the years, he has left TVB on several occasions to explore opportunities elsewhere — including development in mainland China, before returning to the station on per-project contracts.
While his latest departure has left some drama fans feeling reluctant to see him go, his current status as a “free agent” means audiences can likely expect to see his performances again soon, across different platforms.
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