Yan Shunkai Explained

Yan Shunkai
Birth Date:6 June 1937
Birth Place:Shanghai, Republic of China
Death Place:Shanghai, People's Republic of China
Alma Mater:Central Academy of Drama
Occupation:Director, actor
Years Active:1980-2010
Module:
Child:yes
T:嚴順開
S:严顺开
P:Yán Shùnkāi

Yan Shunkai (; 6 June 1937 – 16 October 2017) was a Chinese comedian, actor and film director.

Yan rose to fame after portraying Ah Q in The True Story of Ah Q, which was based on an episodic novella by Lu Xun, one of the pioneers of modern Chinese literature. He was awarded the Best Actor at the 6th Hundred Flowers Awards and earned "The Gold Stick Prize" at the Second International Comedy Film Festival of Vevey, Switzerland in 1982.[1]

Biography

Early life and education

Born in Shanghai on June 6, 1937, Yan enrolled in the Central Academy of Drama in 1959, graduating in 1963.[2] After graduation, he joined the Shanghai Farce Troupe .

Career

Yan first garnered recognition for his acting in 1980, when his performance in The True Story of Ah Q earned him a Best Actor award at the 6th Hundred Flowers Awards, the Chinese equivalent of the Golden Globes, and received "The Gold Stick Prize" at the Second International Comedy Film Festival of Vevey, Switzerland in 1982.[2] The film is his film debut.

Yan co-starred with Liu Falu, Jin Kangmin, Niu Hong, Chen Qi and Fang Qingzhuo in the 1983 film Spring in the Hometown as a lame person.

In 1984, Yan starred as Du Xiaoxi in Wang Weiyi's drama film The New Stories Of Du Xiaoxi.

Yan appeared in the romance film The Female Director's Boyfriend (1986), in which he played Cui Hailong.

In 1988, Yan made his directorial debut The Story of Ah Tan, and he also starred as Ah Tan in the film.

In 1996, Yan starred with Lu Yanfang in the comedy film The Harmonious Gouple.

Yan appeared in Huang Jianzhong's Girls in the Red Chamber (2002), based on Cao Xueqin's classical novel Dream of the Red Chamber, as Jia She, one of the heads of the Jia family.

In 2003, he was cast in the romance television series Dear Angle with Chang Yue and Li Xiaolu.

Yan filmed in Legend of the Book's Tower, a wuxia television series starring Sharla Cheung, Nicky Wu, Allen Lin, and Tiffany Tang.

In 2006, Yan had a minor role in Pretty Girls in Jianghu. The drama stars Christy Chung, Du Chun, and Liang Guanhua.

In 2010, when he was 72, he starred as Wang Mugen, reuniting him with co-star Yvonne Yung, who played his daughter-in-law, in the television series My Ugly Dad.

Death

Yan died on 16 October 2017, aged 80, in Shanghai.[3]

Filmography

Film

Year English title Chinese title Role Notes
1981 The True Story of Ah Q Chinese: 阿Q正传 Ah Q
1983 Spring in the Hometown Chinese: 鼓乡春晓 A lame person who named Zhu
1984 The New Stories Of Du Xiaoxi Chinese: 阿混新传 Du Xiaoxi
1986 The Female Director's Boyfriend Chinese: 女局长的男朋友 Cui Hailong
1988 The Story of Ah Tan Chinese: 阿谭内传 Ah Tan also director
1996 The Harmonious Gouple Chinese: 夫唱妻和 Mu Ahman
2000 A Widow's Romance Chinese: 好女不愁嫁 Lao Wogua
2005 Silver Ornaments Chinese: 银饰 The old craftsman

TV series

Year English title Chinese title Role Notes
1994 Mr. Wang and Xiao Chen Chinese: 王先生和小陈 Mr. Wang
1997 Chinese: 新72家客房 Shui Gen
2001 Chinese: 小皮匠登基 The old craftsman
2002 Girls in the Red Chamber Chinese: 红楼丫头
2003 Dear Angle Chinese: 我的淘气天使 Cheng Dongming
2004 Our Story Chinese: 我们的故事 Yan Fugen
Legend of the Book's Tower Chinese: 风满楼 Master Ao
Chinese: 王保长后传 specialist
2005 Dead Men Do Tell Tales Chinese: 大宋提刑官 Censor Feng
2006 Pretty Girls in Jianghu Chinese: 江湖俏佳人 His Royal Highness Zhu
2010 My Ugly Dad Chinese: 我的丑爹 Wang Mugen

CCTV New Year's Gala

Year English title Chinese title Cast members Notes
1983 A Monologue of Ah Q Chinese: 阿Q的独白
Playing the Piano Chinese: 弹钢琴
Visiting the Factory Chinese: 逛厂甸
1990 Fellow Sufferers Chinese: 难兄难弟
1992 Stars Chinese: 今夜星辰 Sun Qixin, Liang Guyin, Chen Xu and Da Shichang
1993 Zhang San Chinese: 张三其人 Zhao Lingqi, Yang Xinming, Xu Xiaofan and Ju Bo
1998 Road Chinese: 我在马路边 Du Ninglin, Zhao Lingqi and Jiang Xiaohan
1999 Father and Son Chinese: 爱父如爱子 Zhang Kaili, L Ding and Wang Xinyue
2004 Storytelling Chinese: 讲故事 Hong Jiantao and Xiao Dingdang
2007 Chinese: 假话真情 Lin Yongjian, Liu Xiaomei and Liu Guijuan

Film and TV Awards

Year Nominated work Award Result Notes
1982The True Story of Ah Q Second International Comedy Film Festival of Vevey, Switzerland - Best Actor
19836th Hundred Flowers Awards for Best Actor

Notes and References

  1. News: Chinese comedian Yan Shunkai dies at 80. 10 April 2018. Chinadaily. 18 October 2017.
  2. http://www1.chinaculture.org/library/2008-01/17/content_79527.htm Yan Shunkai: a Well-Known Comedian
  3. Web site: 著名艺术家严顺开去世,享年80岁. Wenhui Bao. 16 October 2017. 16 October 2017.