Celebs grieve for Chang and Eng star

LOCAL celebrities are still reeling from the news that their good friend died in Sydney over the weekend.

News of 37-year-old singer-actor RJ Rosales' death reached actress Cynthia Lee MacQuarrie via a friend on Monday night. She was shocked, as he was her dear friend.

"I thought it was a joke. I had hoped it was just a vicious rumour," the 32-year-old told The New Paper yesterday.

Filipino-Australian Rosales moved to Singapore in 1998 to take up the role of Chang in the musical Chang & Eng. He performed with MacQuarrie in four stage shows including I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change and they were housemates for a year about four years ago.

Rosales settled in Australia several years ago but regularly returned to Singapore to perform. He was here twice this year and was due to perform in the Crazy Christmas musical, produced by Selena Tan's Dream Academy Productions, this month.

On Monday, MacQuarrie found out he was not coming due to a "personal medical condition" and tried to call him in Sydney. There was no answer. His godmother's phone was also off. MacQuarrie received the bad news from Rosales' sister on Monday.

She eventually managed to speak to his godmother in Sydney, the last person to see Rosales alive on Sunday.

The details of his death remain under wraps and his family has requested privacy.

MacQuarrie said there were some things she could not tell TNP without the family's permission.

She said she had been crying since she was hit with the news, and was exhausted.

Feeling numb

"People are calling, texting and asking me through Facebook about RJ. I'm feeling numb," MacQuarrie said.

"We had a lot of good times together. We did four shows together and it's very memorable to me, "It's so close to Christmas now and I remember us putting up the Christmas tree together," she said.

MacQuarrie last heard from Rosales a few weeks ago when he e-mailed to ask for a contact number. He seemed fine, she said.

Comedian Hossan Leong, 42, who met Rosales during the production of Chang And Eng, said the pair had chatted via Skype a few weeks ago.

"I don't know if he has any health or emotional problems," an upset Leong said.

When he heard the news on Monday, he tweeted: "Why do people do what they do? I will miss you dearly my friend. RIP."

Dream Academy Productions yesterday offered its condolences in a press statement.

"We share our deepest sympathy and condolences with RJ's family, friends and members of Singapore's theatre community, many of whom have been touched by his precious talent and warm friendship. He will be missed."

MacQuarrie is planning a memorial service for Rosales on Monday evening at Kallang Theatre where friends can share stories of the man and sing his songs. Her official Facebook page holds more information.

karpengk@sph.com.sg

This article was first published in The New Paper.