| Lai Lok-yi | |||||||||||
| Birth Name: | Lai Yat-sing 黎日昇 (Traditional) 黎日升 (Simplified) Lai4 Jat6 Sing1 (Cantonese) Lí Rìshēng / Li2 Jih4-sheng1 (Mandarin) | ||||||||||
| Birth Date: | 15 June 1980 | ||||||||||
| Birth Place: | Hong Kong | ||||||||||
| Occupation: | Actor, host | ||||||||||
| Years Active: | 2003–present | ||||||||||
| Children: | 2 sons | ||||||||||
| Notable Works: | Come Home Love Who Wants a Baby? | ||||||||||
| Module: |
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| Height: | 1.82m | ||||||||||
Chris Lai Lok-yi (born 15 June 1980) is a Hong Kong actor, host and producer contracted to TVB.
Lai is best known for playing John Ma in the TVB sitcom Come Home Love from 2012 to 2015. In 2018, he was nominated for TVB Anniversary Award for Best Actor for his performance as Elvis Yip in the family drama Who Wants a Baby?.
Lai Lok-yi was born on 15 June 1980 in Hong Kong in a very poor family with 5 members including himself, his parents, an elder brother and a younger brother; he is the middle child. He grew up living in a small flat in Hong Kong. Lai’s father worked very hard to buy a truck for delivery, which helped improve the life of his family. However, at 11 years old, his father died from cancer. After his death, his and his family's lives worsened. His mother worked 2 jobs, an office cleaner and a street vendor, while raising her children. In high school, he started working various part-time jobs in hopes to support his family. He even worked as a docker in 2 big supermarkets in Hong Kong and taught children to earn money.[1]
After graduating from Tung Wah Group of Hospitals Yau Tze Tin Memorial College, Lai worked in a bank. After much pressure, he resigned. Lai signed up for TVB's Artiste Training School in 2001. After 3 unsuccessful interviews, he was eventually chosen due a close resemblance of the late music star Danny Chan.[1]
Actor career of Lai Lok-yi is a long way from his early rise to success and long plateau. After making cameo appearances in several dramas, Lai took on his first major supporting role in the sports drama Aqua Heroes while he was still a trainee. He graduated from the school in 2002.[2] In 2003, he starred in the idol drama Hearts of Fencing, leading a cast consisting entirely of rookies. Back then, when he debuted, he was grouped with fellow actors Raymond Lam, Ron Ng, Bosco Wong, Sammul Chan and Kenneth Ma to make up the “Olympic Six”. While the other five in the group have already reached male lead status, Lai was still hovering in second and third line roles. People said that TVB did not intend to make his name although Lai Lok-yi had all the fundamentals to become a successful actor with his tall stature and handsome good looks.[3]
Until 2012, sitcom drama Come Home Love gained a big success, and Lai played the main role as John Ma, which rose him to popularity. In the next few years, Lai also starred in several popular TVB dramas such as: My Unfair Lady, Daddy Cool, Presumed Accidents and The Tofu War . In 2018, Lai starred in the family drama Who Wants a Baby? as the first male lead. The drama earned critical acclaim and garnered him nominations for Best Actor and Most Popular Male Character at the 2018 TVB Anniversary Awards.[3]
His real name is Lai Yat-sing, which was named by his late father. The stage name "Lai Lok Yi" was named by his teacher. He chose his name while filling the form of attending the training artiste class. He believed that this name would bring him the durability in the career.[1]
Lai dated actress Tavia Yeung from 2008 to 2011.[4] From 2011 to 2014, Lai dated Nicole Lee, a former Miss Hong Kong contestant and heiress to a Hong Kong-based beauty corporation. They got married in November 2014.[5] Their son was born in 2017. Their second son was born in early 2022.
| Title | Year | Role | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City of Dream | 2007 | |||
| Bad Blood | 2010 | Jason Lok | ||
| Womb Ghosts | 2010 | Joseph | ||
| I Love Hong Kong | 2011 | FEHD staff | Cameo | |
| I Love Hong Kong 2013 | 2013 |
| Title | Year | Role | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The King of Yesterday and Tomorrow | 2003 | Private Investigator | ||
| Better Halves | 2003 | Constable | ||
| Virtues of Harmony II | 2003 | Jackie | ||
| The 'W' Files | 2003 | Japanese soldier (extra) | ||
| Survivor's Law | 2003 | (extra) | ||
| Aqua Heroes | 2003 | Chi Cho-yam | ||
| Hearts of Fencing | 2003 | Au-yeung Yat | TVB Anniversary Award for My Favourite On-screen Partners – Non-dramas | |
| Triumph in the Skies | 2003 | office worker (extra) / trainee | Episode 24 / Episode 40 (end) | |
| Dream of Colours | 2004 | Koo Lok-man | ||
| Hard Fate | 2004 | shopper (extra) | ||
| To Catch the Uncatchable | 2004 | Lai Lap-chi | ||
| Split Second | 2004 | Dick Au Kin-fung | ||
| ICAC Investigators 2004 | 2004 | Inspector Arthur Kwok Chi-hei | ||
| Always Ready | 2005 | Kelvin Chiang Ka-lok | ||
| Safe Guards | 2006 | Sheung Yee | ||
| Welcome to the House | 2006 | Ma Tak-on | ||
| Land of Wealth | 2006 | Cho King-yin | ||
| Forensic Heroes | 2006 | Chan Man-tik | Episodes 1 - 2 | |
| Glittering Days | 2006 | James Hui Wing-hong | Nominated — TVB Anniversary Award for Most Improved Male Artiste (Top 5) | |
| Ten Brothers | 2007 | Thousand Mile Eye | Nominated — TVB Anniversary Award for Most Improved Male Artiste (Top 5) | |
| Heart of Greed | 2007 | Tong Chi-foon | Nominated — TVB Anniversary Award for Best Supporting Actor (Top 20) Nominated — TVB Anniversary Award for Most Improved Male Artiste (Top 5) | |
| The Green Grass of Home | 2007 | Choi Ka-po | Nominated — TVB Anniversary Award for Most Improved Male Artiste (Top 5) | |
| Fathers and Sons | 2007 | Ben Lui Ka-sing | ||
| The Building Blocks of Life | 2007 | Choi Chi-yin | ||
| Forensic Heroes II | 2008 | Lee Chi-wai | Episodes 20 - 22 | |
| Speech of Silence | 2008 | Cheung Yau | ||
| Moonlight Resonance | 2008 | Kam Wing-yuen | ||
| The Beauty of the Game | 2009-10 | Deacon Chong Tik-kan | ||
| In the Eye of the Beholder | 2010 | Ching-tak Emperor | ||
| Every Move You Make | 2010 | Mak Wing-hei | ||
| Twilight Investigation | 2010 | Yau Sum-kit | ||
| Only You | 2011 | "King" Cheung King-yuen | Nominated — My AOD Favourites Award for My Favourite Promising Actor | |
| The Other Truth | 2011 | Danny Mo King-yip | ||
| The Life and Times of a Sentinel | 2011 | Kei Man-cheong (youth) | Episode 1 | |
| Forensic Heroes III | 2011 | Vic Mak Wing-fu | Episodes 1 - 3 | |
| Daddy Good Deeds | 2012 | Chan Lap-shun | ||
| King Maker | 2012 | Chiu Kwai-wo | ||
| Come Home Love | 2012-15 | John Ma Chong | Main Role | |
| Ruse of Engagement | 2014 | Fu Wang-leung | ||
| ICAC Investigators 2016 | 2016 | Bao Siu-chung | ||
| Presumed Accidents | 2016 | Mantus Cheuk Sing-yeung | ||
| My Unfair Lady | 2017 | Hanson Ho Chi-chiu | ||
| The Tofu War | 2017 | Samuel Wong Siu-ming | ||
| Another Era | 2017 | Chu Kong | ||
| Daddy Cool | 2018 | Gordon Tong Chak-ching | ||
| Who Wants A Baby | 2018 | Elvis Yip Chi-ting | Main Role Nominated -TVB Anniversary Award for Best ActorNominated -TVB Anniversary Award for Most Popular Male Character | |
| My Life As Loan Shark | 2019 | IP Ben Ching Yu-sum | Main Role Nominated -TVB Anniversary Award for Best Actor | |
| Go! Go! Go! Operation C9 | 2020 | B3 | Main Role Nominated -TVB Anniversary Award for Best Actor | |
| Murder Diary | 2021 | CIP Kong Ching-fun | Major Supporting RoleNominated -TVB Anniversary Award for Best Supporting Actor | |
| Happy Ever After? | 2024 | Kam Shing-kwan | Main Role |