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Obituary: Veteran actor Robby Tumewu dies at 65
Courtesy of kapanlagi
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Courtesy of kapanlagi.com
Veteran actor and designer Robby Tumewu, best known for his role in the popular 1990s comedy series Lenong Rumpi, passed away on Monday at the age of 65.
Born in Bandung, West Java, in 1953, Robby started his career as a fashion designer known for his colorful creations, holding his first fashion show in 1973.
Robby’s interest in acting was sparked after designing costumes for the Teater Koma theater troupe, in which he later played a small role. However, the long training sessions put Robby off acting, at least until he joined the comedy series Lenong Rumpi in 1990.
Veteran actress Ingrid Widjanarko, who starred alongside Robby in Lenong Rumpi, posted a black and white photo of the series’ cast on her Instagram account @ingridwidjanarko along with a short eulogy for Robby.
“He, the source of all blessings, has called you to His eternal glory. He will complete and strengthen you, after you have suffered for so long. Your laughs and your love for me will always be forever etched in my heart. Farewell, Kak Obby, God be with you. RIP Robby Tumewu,” Ingrid wrote.
Robby played numerous roles on the small screen, mostly in comedy series such as Keluarga Van Danoe and Flamboyan 108 in the 1990s and early 2000s.
He also starred in several feature-length films, most notably in the 2005 biopic of Chinese-Indonesian student activist Soe Hok Gie titled Gie, in which he played Soe Hok Gie’s father Soe Lie Piet (Salam Sutrawan).
Actress and close friend Becky Tumewu (no relation) remembered Robby for his kindness and vivaciousness, saying on her Instagram account @becktum that Robby could brighten long shoots with his stories.
“Now Robby is gone and all that’s left are memories, but Bi, you’ll always be in my heart, you’ll always be in so many people’s hearts. Farewell dear, rest in peace, rest in love, until we meet again someday,” Becky wrote alongside a photo of the duo from 2013.
Robby suffered complications from a stroke in 2010 and another in 2013. In 2010, he was reportedly found unconscious during a live segment at a TV station. He underwent therapy and medical treatment ever since.
His remains will be transferred to the Oasis Lestari Funeral Home in Tangerang, Banten, and will be cremated on Thursday.
Other celebrities and public figures have continued to post their condolences on social media, including presenter Erwin Parengkuan, who uploaded on his Instagram a caricature drawing of Robby that he had purchased at a fundraising event for the late actor’s medical expenses.
Actor and politician Krisna Mukti remembered Robby as a supportive mentor, saying Robby was both his teacher and friend during his early days in the entertainment industry.
“One of the kindest men in the world with a heart of gold, the one and only Robby Tumewu, has left us. All of the pain he suffered throughout the years are now over. May he be granted eternal happiness at God’s side. RIP Robby Tumewu, I already miss you,” Krisna wrote on his Instagram account.
