Richie Koh (born 16 June 1993) is a Singaporean actor who is signed to MediaCorp.

In 2023, Koh won the Star Awards for Best Actor for his critically acclaimed role as an intellectually disabled young adult in the drama series Your World in Mine. At the age of 29, he is also the second youngest recipient of the award, after Christopher Lee who won in 1997 at the age of 26.

In 2025, he received a nomination for the Golden Horse Award for Best Leading Actor for his performance in the film A Good Child.

Early life

Richie Koh was born on 16 June 1993. He graduated from Ngee Ann Polytechnic with a Diploma in Financial Informatics in 2014.

Career

In 2013, Koh was scouted when Channel U’s Hey Gorgeous team went to various campuses in Singapore looking for suitable contestants. He garnered much support during the competition and emerged as first runner-up. He chose the stage name "Rui Qi" as his stage name on the advice of Singaporean host-actress Quan Yi Fong.

In 2017, after serving National Service, Koh started his career by debuting in Channel 8’s army-themed drama When Duty Calls, a major role that charmed viewers' hearts. Fans sang praises of his natural acting and good looks, factors which landed him his first nomination for Best Newcomer in Star Awards 2018. October that year saw Koh jetting off to Changzhou, Jiangsu for a month to film China-web movie The Legendary Detective of the Shanghai Bund where he played an assistant to the agency detective.

The following year, Koh made cameo appearances in long-running Channel 8 drama Life Less Ordinary and Toggle series Die Die Also Must Serve. In addition, he wrapped up filming on 118 Reunion and made a special appearance in local movie Wonderful! Liang Xi Mei directed by Jack Neo. His role as a gangster boss in the movie saw him gain new fans both here and across the Causeway. Koh also acted in several Toggle Original productions such as Star Crossed, and he took the lead role in Divided as well as The Distance Between. In addition, Koh acted in a Gilbert Chan movie 23:59: The Haunting Hour as a soldier tasked to kill a snake spirit.

On 30 August 2018, The Celebrity Agency announced that Koh would be expanding his career to China after it signed a co-management contract with China’s LongAllStar Entertainment Group. Koh trained in China for 2 months to hone his acting skills before returning to Singapore.

In 2021, Koh starred as Zhu Yongjie in Live Your Dreams, where he was nominated MyPick! Favourite Male Show Stealer and Favourite CP in Star Awards 2022.

In 2022, Koh soared to fame after starring in the immensely popular Your World in Mine as an intellectually disabled Zheng Tiancai. For this role, he received the Best Actor award at the Star Awards 2023, which was also his first time being nominated in that category. Koh was also nominated Best Actor in a Leading Role at the Asian Television Awards in 2022.

In 2025, Koh received his first nomination for the Golden Horse Award for Best Leading Actor for his performance in the drama film A Good Child, in which he portrayed a drag queen caring for his estranged mother. The nomination was announced as part of the 62nd Golden Horse Awards, marking one of Singapore’s rare acting nominations at the Taiwanese film awards. He was nominated alongside Chang Chen, Joseph Chang, Will Or and Lan Wei-hua, with Chang Chen ultimately winning the award.

Personal life

Koh is in a relationship with fellow actress Hayley Woo. Woo confirmed she was dating Koh and called him a 'romantic boyfriend' on the Valentine's Day on 14 February 2024.

Filmography

Koh in April 2017

Television series

YearTitleRoleNotesRef.
2017When Duty CallsLu Xianfeng
Life Less OrdinarySong BaojianCameo
2018FamMalcolm Wong
Star CrossedWeng Leong
Die Die Also Must Serve (战备好兄弟)JunkangCameo
118 Reunion (118 大团圆)Yang Wei
Divided (分裂)Li Renyi
The Distance Between (下个路口遇见你)Amos Song
2019How Are You?ShaunCameo
Playground (游乐场)Jackson Wong
If Only (离归)ZhenfengDirectorial debut project
2020Crimewatch 2020Daryl Cheong Zhi YongEpisode 10
2021CTRLHuang Xuezhong
Live Your Dreams[zh] (大大的梦想)Zhu Yongjie
2022It's All Your Fault! (都是你啦 !)Kelvin Wong
Your World in MineZheng Tiancai
Crimewatch 2022Eric Lim Yong ShengEpisode 4
Summer Wind (被风吹过的夏天)Pan BoruiSingaporean-Chinese production
2023Mr Zhou's Ghost Stories@Job Haunting IIDr Fang
Cash on DeliveryLin Juncong
Whatever Will Be, Will BeLiu BirangDialect series
Till the EndPeng You
2024Artificial Kin (爱不虚拟)Lu Xiao Ming
Coded Love

Film

YearTitleRoleNotesRef.
2018Wonderful! Liang Xi MeiBig Boss
23:59: The Haunting HourRecruit Desmond Cheng
2020The Diam Diam EraAh Huat
2021The Diam Diam Era Two
2023Flying TigersCaptain Ho Weng TohShort film
2025A Good ChildJia Hao
2026Luck My LifeTian Cai
TBAThe Legendary Detective Of The Shanghai Bund (上海滩神探)Xiao Ding

Awards and nominations

OrganisationYearCategoryNominated workResultRef
Star Awards2018Best NewcomerWhen Duty Calls (as Lu Xianfeng)Nominated
2022Favourite Male Show StealerLive Your Dreams (as Zhu Yongjie)Nominated
Favourite CP (with Tasha Low)Nominated
2023Best ActorYour World in Mine (as Zheng Tiancai)Won
Favourite Male Show StealerWon
Top 3 Most Popular Rising StarsWon
2024Best ActorCash On Delivery (as Lin Juncong)Nominated
The Show StealerNominated
Favourite CP (with He Ying Ying / Boon Hui Lu)Cash On Delivery (as Lin Juncong with Qiu Si Ting)Nominated
Till The End (as Peng You with Lin Huiqi)Nominated
Top 10 Most Popular Male ArtistesNominated
Bioskin Most Charismatic Artiste AwardWon
2025Best ActorCoded LoveNominated
Top 10 Most Popular Male ArtistesWon
Asian Television Awards2022Best Actor in a Leading RoleYour World in Mine (as Zheng Tiancai)Nominated
Golden Horse Awards2025Best Leading ActorA Good ChildNominated

External links