How well do you know the host and actor Allan Wu?

Fun fact: Allan Wu's first job was actually at a biotechnology company after he had graduated from university. He went on to host Ford Supermodel of the World and Talentime in 2001 thereby sparking his foray into the entertainment industry. Throughout his two-decade-long career, Allan Wu has presented many shows such as The Amazing Race Asia that spanned multiple years, Ripley’s, Believe It Or Not (2011) and The Amazing Race China Celebrity Edition (2014).

Fans of local television might remember Allan Wu for his acting roles too. He has participated in both English and Mandarin-language productions, which include Bukit Ho Swee (20o2), Mata Mata: A New Era (2014) and Crouching Tiger Hidden Ghost (2021). Allan Wu has also done movies including Rice Rhapsody (2004) and The Leap Years (2008), the latter of which starred his former wife Wong Li-Lin as the lead actress.

Speaking of Wong Li-Lin, the couple called it quits after 10 years of marriage in 2013. According to reports, there were two possible unconfirmed reasons that led to the divorce.

The first was accusations of an extramarital affair on the part of Allan Wu after he was supposedly "seen flirting with an unidentified individual at a Japanese restaurant in a six-star hotel". The second was that Wong Li-Lin is the domineering figure in the relationship leading to disagreements and the eventual breakdown.

Despite the marriage cessation, Allan Wu and Wong Li-Lin continue to co-parent their two children - Sage and Jonas - together. On co-parenting, this was what Allan Wu had to say. "It [can be] challenging. When you have children you are able to impart [things to], and teach them to be independent, to be self-motivated and hardworking, it’s easier. My kids are very independent, they know what they need to do to get the job done and they aren’t easily distracted.

My son is focused on his school work and with running and exercise too. A lot of it comes down to parents who establish the right values and set a good example for them.

So parenting teenagers, it’s not hard. I honestly don’t spend as much time with them as I wish I could, but that’s also because they are so busy themselves with their own friends, school work and college applications. Of course [they also have] their own sources of entertainment. They have a lot more options now as compared to when all they knew was us. I think it comes down to the relationship each respective parent has with their children, and that is established much, much earlier on. [We have to understand] that each child is different and bring out the best in them without being too forceful.

Sometimes I wish they were more sticky and more needy but they are very thoughtful, considerate and positive. I couldn’t ask for more in that respect."

While people might call him a Tiger Dad, Allan Wu and his children disagree.

"I think Sage and Jonas would say that I definitely pushed them athletically. Even though everyone calls me the “Singapore-based Tiger Dad”, I’m nowhere near your stereotypical Tiger Dad.

I asked Sage and Jonas if they see me as one and they’re like, “No you’re not”.

For me, it was about trying to set a good example. Be it when I'm working, or working out to stay in shape, or trying to spend time with [them]. I lead by example.

Athletics has always been the huge foundation of who I am, and I see that in them too. Athletics teaches children so much more than just sports. That’s something a lot of parents fail to realise. They’re so focused on their kids doing academics, taking enrichment classes and doing well in exams. I think athletics helps them with understanding teamwork, disappointment, and improvements. It makes them more resilient and a lot more disciplined not just in sports, but who they are when they try to find their own dreams and achieve their own goals.

It’s our job as parents to let them find their passion and let them use it to drive themselves. That’s what I think is very, very important."

"I think the first 10 years of a child’s life are by far the most formative and the most crucial in establishing the trajectory they are going to take. The greatest teachers a child will ever have are parents. What are you going to do with the time you have with them? Are you going to let them sit and watch YouTube or play with their iPad all day or are you going read a book with them, take them out to exercise and to learn and explore new things? That’s up to the parent. You could spend money and let them go for enrichment classes and have [someone else] teach them to ride a bike or swim, but I rather be hands-on.

In my line of work, I was very blessed because sometimes I only work maybe two or three months a year. The rest of the time I had, I spent with Sage and Jonas. Whether it was me taking them to the track at 1pm, or to the swimming pool."

ICYDK, Allan Wu's eldest child, Sage, got accepted into both Stanford and Princeton University in 2023 (she chose the former in the end).

This result, however, was due to years of planning and financial commitment by Allan Wu and Wong Li-Lin. Measures included sending their children to international schools as well as engaging a university admissions consultancy and mentoring company to help Sage get into the prestigious schools.

"If I can increase her chances, then why not make that sacrifice and make that investment; make that choice as a parent. If we didn’t do this programme and Sage got into a lower tier school, I will always wonder to myself, what if we had done it?"

"Honestly, international schools are not cheap. It's at least $2,000 a month per child now, and that doesn’t include school supplies, trips and all that other stuff. But if I'm going to invest in something in my life, I want to invest in my children. I want to make sure I do whatever I can to help them, to clear a path to a very fulfilling, happy and productive life for the future."

"I'm busting my ass and I'll do whatever I can, to ensure I can meet these fees, to make sure my kids go to a good school and very good university. I realised along the way what is important, through the divorce and through life, you know, and I think for me, the most important thing has always been being a father to these children. I can just eat rice and live in a cardboard box, as long as they're taken care of."

When asked about his dating life in 2023, Allan Wu shared that he wasn't dating anyone seriously at the moment and reiterated that his priority has always been his two kids.

"I’m not seeing anyone formally and I don’t introduce them [to my kids] unless I think it’s going to be more serious. It’s nice to have someone around but watching them grow up has already given me so much joy. Also, I think who the hell would want me, you know, this single dad with two teenage kids.

So yes, I’m just dating here and there, just kinda seeing people. I’m not looking for anything really serious right now. My priority since the divorce has always been Sage and Jonas and to see them happy and grounded means the world to me."

If you ever wanted to look at a hot bod, go scroll through Allan Wu's Instagram and you won't be disappointed by his washboard abs. And might we mention that he is 51 this year?

In a 2021 interview, Allan Wu revealed that he has always been "a very sporty person" and dabbled in a slew of sports since he was a child. He tries to work out five to six days a week if work isn't too much and doesn't limit the food he eats but just controls the quantity.

If you've ever had the taste of local craft beer Brewlander, you might be surprised to know that the brand is fronted by Allan Wu and fellow celeb Daniel Ong of Twelve Cupcakes fame. The brand was started by head brewer John Wei before it was joined by the duo in 2017.

"A lot of people think I’m a total health nut and don’t drink alcohol. But I do like a nice cold glass of beer a couple of times a week after I come home from work and want to wind down. It’s all about moderation. I don’t drink a lot, especially if I’ve filming the next day or a long day with my kids. If anything, I hope people might be pleasantly surprised and think, ‘Wow, this guy is part of a craft beer company and looks like that.’ I found Daniel's idea [of starting a craft beer company together] interesting. But I don’t rely on alcohol to help me through depression or hard times. I just like the taste of it. When I was going through my separation [with actress and ex-wife Wong Li-Lin], I worked out a lot instead. Drinking is more of a social thing!"