Christopher "Chris" Lee Meng Soon (born 23 July 1971) is a Singaporean actor, host and businessman, known for starring in many Chinese-language television dramas and films in Singapore, Taiwan and mainland China. At the age of 26, Lee rose to prominence after winning the Star Awards for Best Actor for his role in The Price of Peace, becoming the youngest ever recipient of the award.[1]
Christopher Lee | |
|---|---|
 Lee in July 2023 | |
| Born | 23 July 1971 |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1994–present |
| Agent |
|
| Spouse | |
| Children | 1 |
| Awards | Full list |
| Birth name | |
| Traditional Chinese | 李銘順 |
| Simplified Chinese | 李铭顺 |
| Hanyu Pinyin | Lǐ Míngshùn |
| Jyutping | Lei5 Ming4 Seon6 |
| Hokkien POJ | Lí Bêng-sūn |
| Former stage name | |
| Traditional Chinese | 李名順 |
| Simplified Chinese | 李名顺 |
| Hanyu Pinyin | Lǐ Míngshùn |
Lee is widely regarded as an "Ah-Ge" (阿哥, "big brother") of Caldecott Hill for being one of the most successful actors in Singapore's Chinese-language entertainment industry.[2] He is the only Singapore-based actor to have won multiple Best Actor accolades at both Singapore's Star Awards and Taiwan's Golden Bell Awards.[3]
Early life
editLee studied up to Form 5 in Sekolah Menengah Seri Kota, Air Leleh, Malacca, Malaysia. He was an active student in school, serving as a prefect and representing his school in rugby competitions. He has an older sister and two younger brothers, the youngest being Frederick Lee Meng Chong, who is also an actor and model in Malaysia.[4]
Career
editLee joined TCS on a contract in 1995 after emerging as 1st runner-up in the male category of the Star Search programme in 1995. He worked as a factory worker, salesman and part-time model before joining star search in 1995. Lee first started acting in Chinese-language television dramas produced by Channel 8.
Rise to prominence
editLee rose to prominence after winning the Best Actor award at the Star Awards 1997 for his role as a hanjian in the television drama The Price of Peace, set in Japanese-occupied Singapore during World War II. He was voted in as one of the Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes that same year.
In 1998, he starred as Yang Guo in The Return of the Condor Heroes, an adaptation of Louis Cha's novel of the same title. The drama achieved high ratings in Taiwan, and Lee was voted in as Taiwan's Most Popular MediaCorp Male Artiste at the Star Awards 1998 for his performance.
Since then, Lee has acted in many television series jointly produced by Singapore and other countries in the Asia-Pacific region, co-starring with actors from Hong Kong and Taiwan, such as Nadia Chan, Vincent Chiao, Jimmy Lin and Jordan Chan.
Apart from acting, Lee also recorded the theme songs of MediaCorp's television dramas. He released his first solo album in 1999 and another one in 2002.
Apart from acting, Lee has also ventured into hosting and has hosted several travel and food programmes. He was nominated for the Best Info-Ed Show Host award at the Star Awards 2012.
At the Star Awards 2013, Lee won his second Star Awards for Best Actor for his role in Show Hand.
Regional acclaim
editFor his role as a depressed workaholic in A Good Wife, Lee won his first Golden Bell Award for Best Leading Actor in a Television Series at the 2014 Golden Bell Awards, Taiwan's equivalent of the Emmy Awards.[5]
Lee would go on to win the Golden Bell Award for Best Leading Actor in a Miniseries or Television Film at the 2021 Golden Bell Awards for his role as a construction worker obsessed with money in the HBO comedy Workers.
In 2022, Lee won the Golden Bell Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Television Series in the iQiyi crime thriller Danger Zone.[6]
In 2023, Lee ended veteran host Quan Yi Fong's five-year winning streak when he won the Star Awards for Best Programme Host at the 2023 Star Awards.[7]
Ventures
editOn 9 November 2021, Lee launched a golf clothing brand, eponymously named LMS, the initials of his Chinese name in pinyin.[8]
Personal life
edit
After an eight-year courtship, Lee married Fann Wong, his co-star in several television series, on 16 May 2009. The wedding ceremony was held at Shangri-La Hotel Singapore, with many of Lee's colleagues from the entertainment industry attending their wedding. The couple have a son Zed, who was born on 9 August 2014.
Legal issues
editOn 8 October 2006, Lee was involved in a hit-and-run road accident. He had allegedly knocked down a motorcyclist due to suspected drunk driving, causing the motorcyclist and his pillion rider to suffer superficial injuries on their faces and legs. He failed the breathalyser test and was more than twice the legal limit.[9] He was arrested and released later on bail.
Despite the incident, Lee managed to win a position among the Top 10 Male Artistes in the Star Awards 2006. In his acceptance speech, Lee said in Mandarin that he had been feeling terrible over the incident during the previous two months, and that he would be responsible for what he did. Speaking to reporters later, he mentioned that he had been unable to sleep at times, adding that he was very grateful to his fans for their support.[10]
On 10 May 2007, Lee was fined S$4,500 and disqualified from driving for three years on charges of drunk driving and other traffic offences, as well as being sentenced to a prison term of four weeks after he admitted to drink driving, inconsiderate driving, failing to render aid to the injured motorcyclist and his injured pillion rider and removing his car from the scene without police permission.[9] Lee appealed against his jail sentence but withdrew his appeal later on 28 May. He began serving his sentence at Queenstown Remand Prison on the same day.[11] On 15 June, the prosecution succeeded in appealing against Lee's four-week jail sentence and the court decided to overturn an earlier sentence of a S$3,000 fine for his drunk driving offence. Lee was sentenced to an additional two weeks in prison, making his total prison term six weeks long.[12] On 21 June, the prosecution dropped the last of five charges against Lee for failing to stop after an accident, letting him off with a stern warning instead.[13] Lee was released on 25 June, after receiving a reduction in his prison sentence due to good behavior.[14]
Due to his conviction, Lee was dropped from playing the lead role in the 2007 Channel 8 television series Metamorphosis. He was replaced by actor Thomas Ong.[15]
On 12 July 2007, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) completed its review on Lee's case and decided to allow him to retain his Singapore Permanent Resident status. However, Lee will be under close observation and the ICA would revoke its decision if Lee violates the law again.[16] After the conviction, he made his comeback in the 2008 television drama Rhythm of Life.
Filmography
editTelevision series
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Kungfu Master | Liu Nianrong | ||
| Of Cops and Man | Liu Jiashun | |||
| Brave New World | Jiale | |||
| 1997 | The Choice Partner | Zheng Fangsheng | ||
| My Wife, Your Wife, Their Wives | Mai Jiawei | |||
| The Price of Peace | Xie Guomin | |||
| The Guest People | Zhang Chongzhi | |||
| 1998 | The Return of the Condor Heroes | Yang Guo | ||
| Myths and Legends of Singapore | Zhu Heyi / Zhu Gutou | |||
| 1999 | Coup de Scorpio | Xie Tingzhang | ||
| Riding the Storm | Zhong Qingtang | |||
| 2000 | Master Swordsman Lu Xiaofeng | Ximen Chuixue | ||
| Looking for Stars | Henry | |||
| 2001 | Madam White Snake | Xu Xian / Xu Shilin | ||
| Master Swordsman Lu Xiaofeng 2 | Ximen Chuixue | |||
| The Hotel | Shaun | |||
| 2002 | Brotherhood | He Ping | ||
| Palm of Rulai | Lu Xiaoyu | |||
| 2003 | Moon Fairy | Houyi | ||
| True Heroes | Chen Junhao | |||
| Always on My Mind | Tang Xinyang | |||
| 2004 | Timeless Gift | Wang Jie | ||
| To Mum with Love | Yang Yijie | |||
| 2005 | A New Life | Zhang Youfu | ||
| Fairy of the Chalice | Cao Jing | |||
| The Dragon Heroes | Yan Cheng | |||
| You Are the One | Simon | |||
| 2006 | The Lucky Stars | Wu Fuqi | ||
| Rhapsody in Blue | Lan Ziyuan | |||
| Through It All | Guo Yihai | |||
| The Peak | Fang Hong'an | |||
| 2007 | A Mobile Love Story | Lin Lizhong | ||
| The Shaolin Warriors | Qi Jiguang | |||
| 2008 | Rhythm of Life | Li Junjie | ||
| Beach.Ball.Babes (球爱大战) | Ma Tianwu | |||
| 2009 | My Buddy | Zeng Youquan | ||
| 2010 | Breakout | Situ Dongcheng | ||
| 2011 | Secrets for Sale | Zheng Renyi | ||
| The Oath | Wu Guo'en | |||
| 2012 | Show Hand | Zhang Qiming | Won Best Actor at Star Awards 2013 | |
| Game Plan | Zeng Haoren | |||
| 2013 | A Good Wife | Li Shaowen | Won Best Leading Actor at Golden Bell Awards | [17] |
| 2014 | Against The Tide | Di Shen | ||
| The Romance of the Condor Heroes | Huang Yaoshi | |||
| Mr. Right Wanted | Lun Zheming | |||
| 2015 | Crescendo | Yang Yiwei | ||
| 2016 | Nie Xiaoqian | Yan Qi | ||
| Yan Chi Xia | ||||
| 2018 | Memories of Love | Xin Kai Yu | ||
| Doppelganger | Yang Liwei | |||
| Li Ruiming | ||||
| 2019 | My Girlfriend is an Alien | Fang Shida | ||
| After The Stars (攻星计) | Le Jun | |||
| Dive | Ming Ke | |||
| 2020 | Workers | Lin Mingqi | [18] | |
| 2021 | Danger Zone | Tan Chonghui | Won Best Supporting Actor at Golden Bell Awards | [19] |
| 2023 | Port of Lies | Tong Baoju | ||
| 2024 | Kill Sera Sera | [20] | ||
| Q18 | Professor Ko |
Film
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Love Knows No Bounds | Hong Jie | Television film | |
| 2004 | The Best Bet | Lee Yong Shun | ||
| 2009 | The Wedding Game | Jack Fang | ||
| 2010 | Kidnapper | Ah Huat | [21] | |
| 2012 | Forgotten | Luo Pin-Chung | Television film | [17] |
| Sweetheart Chocolate | ||||
| 2014 | Black and White Episode 2: The Dawn of Justice | |||
| Filial Party | Peh Ah Beng | |||
| When a Peking Family Meets Aupair | Reporter | |||
| Who Is Undercover | ||||
| 2017 | The Fortune Handbook | Soh Hock | ||
| All My Goddess | Gary | |||
| The Long Goodbye | Lee Yu Cheng | |||
| Who Killed Cock Robin? | ||||
| 2019 | Wet Season | Andrew | ||
| Fall in Love at First Kiss | Mr Jiang | |||
| If Thoughts Can Kill | ||||
| 2021 | The Soul | Wan Yufan | ||
| 2023 | Workers The Movie | Lin Mingqi |
Variety show hosting
edit| Year | Title | Notes | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Travel Hunt | ||
| 2006 | Insiders' Australia | ||
| 2008 | Life Transformers | ||
| 2010 | Life Transformers 2 | ||
| 2011 | The Adventures of Chris | ||
| 2019 | Star Search (season 11) | Mentor | |
| 2022 | Dishing With Chris Lee |
Music video appearances
edit| Year | Artiste | Song title | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | JJ Lin | "The Right Time" | |
| 2021 | Stefanie Sun | "What Remains" |
Discography
editStudio albums
edit- Christopher Lee Story (1999)
- Love, No Boundaries (2002)
Singles
edit| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 错爱今生 | Theme song from The Choice Partner |
| 和平的代价 | Theme song from The Price of Peace | |
| 流浪之歌 | Theme song from The Guest People | |
| 1998 | 一生太短暂 | Insert song from The Return of the Condor Heroes |
| 1999 | 逃避 | Opening theme song from Coup de Scorpio |
| 不告而别 | Ending theme song from Coup de Scorpio | |
| 2000 | 义 | Ending theme song from Master Swordsman Lu Xiaofeng |
| 2002 | 平凡 | Theme song from Brotherhood |
| 爱，无国界 | ||
| 2003 | 英雄好汉 | Opening theme song from True Heroes |
| 每一天的思念 | Insert song from True Heroes | |
| 在你左右 | Ending theme song from True Heroes | |
| 2004 | 非一般烦恼 | Theme song from To Mum with Love |
| 2005 | 相信 | Theme song from You Are the One |
| 福禄寿 | Theme song from My Lucky Stars; performed together with Fann Wong | |
| ? | 万年红 | Chinese New Year song - performed together with Fann Wong |
| 2007 | 恭喜恭喜07 | Chinese New Year song - performed together with Qi Yuwu, Ann Kok and Dawn Yeoh |
| 2008 | 事如意08 | Chinese New Year song |
| ? | 运气-阳光系列3 | |
| ? | 谈何容易 |
Compilation albums
edit| Year | English title | Mandarin title |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Mediacorp Lunar New Year Album 07 | 群星贺岁金猪庆丰圆 |
| 2008 | Mediacorp Lunar New Year Album Compilation 08 | 群星贺岁福牛迎瑞年 |
| 2012 | MediaCorp Music Lunar New Year Album 12 | 新传媒群星金龙接财神 |
Awards and nominations
editReferences
edit- ^ "【红星大奖2023】25年来最年轻视帝出炉！许瑞奇首度入围就摘奖". 8world Entertainment Lifestyle (in Chinese (Singapore)). Archived from the original on 12 April 2023. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
- ^ "Christopher Lee: 12 Facts Everyone Should Know About Beloved Actor And Ah Ge". Her World. 15 September 2023. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
- ^ "ASIA'S MOST INFLUENTIAL MY: Christopher Lee". Tatler. 27 June 2022. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
- ^ "No, I'm not Christopher". AsiaOne. 23 December 2011. Archived from the original on 4 October 2013. Retrieved 19 August 2012.
- ^ "Fann Wong Thanks Herself While Accepting Christopher Lee's Star Awards 2023 Best Host Win". 8days. 9 April 2023. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
- ^ "Malaysian-born Christopher Lee wins Best Supporting Actor at Taiwan's Golden Bell Awards for his role in 'Danger Zone'". The Star. 23 October 2022. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
- ^ "Fann Wong Thanks Herself While Accepting Christopher Lee's Star Awards 2023 Best Host Win". 8days. 9 April 2023. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
- ^ "金钟视帝也斜杠！李铭顺创高球服饰品牌"LMS"". 8 World. 9 November 2021. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
- ^ a b "Jail term for drunk actor in hit-and-run | The Star". www.thestar.com.my. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
- ^ Lee, Sze Yong (12 December 2006). "A solemn teary-eyed Lee at Star Awards". The Straits Times. p. 4.
- ^ Ansley Ng, "Christopher Lee begins jail term", Today, 29 May 2007
- ^ "TV actor Christopher Lee to spend more time in jail". Channel NewsAsia. Retrieved 15 June 2007.
- ^ Carolyn Quek, "Last of five charges against actor dropped", The Straits Times, 22 June 2007
- ^ "Actor Christopher Lee released from jail". Channel NewsAsia. Retrieved 25 June 2007.
- ^ "李铭顺新剧被换角 王沺裁成得益人". Lianhe Zaobao. Archived from the original on 10 February 2013. Retrieved 19 May 2007.
- ^ "Actor Christopher Lee to retain permanent resident status". Channel NewsAsia. Retrieved 12 July 2007.
- ^ a b c Chua, Charlene (27 October 2014). "Best Actor Christopher Lee credits win to 'good luck' family brought him". The New Paper. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
- ^ "Christopher Lee wins second Golden Bell for HBO comedy Workers". sg.style.yahoo.com. 4 October 2021. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
- ^ a b c d "Christopher Lee wins Best Supporting Actor Golden Bell award for role in iQiyi's Danger Zone". CNA Lifestyle. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
- ^ "宣萱、温升豪参演本地剧《谁杀了她》 和李铭顺、徐彬等飙戏". 8world Entertainment Lifestyle (in Chinese (Singapore)). Retrieved 5 April 2023.
- ^ "Stefan Says So: Kidnapper". Sinema.SG. 21 March 2010. Retrieved 23 February 2022.
External links
edit
- Christopher Lee at IMDb
- Mediacorp Singapore
- Christopher Lee at hkmdb.com
- "⓿⓿ Christopher Lee - Actor - Malaysia - Filmography - TV Drama Series - Chinese Movies". chinesemov.com. Retrieved 25 February 2022.