Lin Gengxin (Chinese: 林更新; pinyin: Lín Gēngxīn, born on February 13, 1988), also known as Kenny Lin, is a Chinese actor.[1] Lin rose to fame for his role in Scarlet Heart (2011), and has starred in movies such as Young Detective Dee: Rise of the Sea Dragon (2013), My Old Classmate (2014), The Taking of Tiger Mountain (2014) and Journey to the West: The Demons Strike Back (2017) as well as television series Princess Agents (2017) and The Legend of Shen Li (2024).

Lin Gengxin
林更新
Born (1988-02-13) February 13, 1988 (age 36)
Other namesKenny Lin
Alma materShanghai Theatre Academy
Occupationactor
Years active2009–present
Agents
Chinese name
Chinese林更新
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinLín Gēngxīn

Lin ranked 77th on Forbes China Celebrity 100 list in 2015,[2] 43rd in 2017,[3] and 84th in 2019.[4]

Early life

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Lin was born in Shenyang, Liaoning, China. He enrolled in the Shanghai Theatre Academy in 2007. During his college years, Lin appeared in low-budget films, television shows, short films and advertisements.[5]

Career

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2011–2013: Rising popularity

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In 2011, Lin rose to fame with the hit drama Scarlet Heart, playing the role of 14th Prince Yinti.[6] In 2012, Lin co-starred in xianxia drama Xuan-Yuan Sword: Scar of Sky,[7] which was extremely popular during its run and raised his profile.[8] In 2013, Lin successfully made his crossover to film with his role in Tsui Hark's Young Detective Dee: Rise of the Sea Dragon.[9] He was nominated for the Best New Actor award at the 33rd Hong Kong Film Awards.[10]

2014–present: Commercial success

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In 2014, Lin starred in youth romance film My Old Classmate with Zhou Dongyu.[11] The film was a commercial success, and won the Jury Prize at the 21st Beijing College Student Film Festival.[12] The same year, he starred in crime action film Black & White: The Dawn of Justice;[13] and reunited with Tsui Hark in the period action film The Taking of Tiger Mountain.[14] The Taking of Tiger Mountain was a success, becoming one of the highest-grossing films of all time in China with US$150 million.[15]

In 2015, Lin was cast in Chinese historical drama God of War, Zhao Yun, based on the Chinese novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms. He plays General Zhao Yun, who falls in love with a girl named Xiahou Qingyi (played by Girls' Generation's Im Yoona).[16] The drama premiered in April 2016, and reached viewership ratings as high as 2%, and recorded more than 10 billion hits through various Chinese online videos sites.[17][18] The same year, Lin headlined action comedy For a Few Bullets and martial arts film Sword Master.[19][20] He also featured in Zhang Yimou's historical fantasy epic The Great Wall.[21]

In 2017, Lin starred in Stephen Chow's Journey to the West: The Demons Strike Back, playing Sun Wukong.[22] The film grossed $239.5 million,[23] becoming the highest-grossing film among the Journey to the West novel adaptations.[24] The same year, he starred in historical action drama Princess Agents.[25] The drama was a massive hit, and Lin gained renewed recognition for his portrayal of the male lead, Yuwen Yue.[26]

In 2018, Lin reprised his role as Shatuo Zhong in Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings, the third installment of the Detective Dee film series by Tsui Hark.[27]

In 2019, Lin was cast in the crime suspense drama Lost and Love as a policeman.[28]

In 2022, Lin starred in the romance and fantasy drama The Legend of Shen Li, which was aired on March 18, 2024, on Hunan Television, Tencent Video, and Mango TV.[29] This drama was also Lin and Zhao Liying's second collaboration after their first drama Princess Agents in 2017.[30]

Filmography

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Film

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Year English title Chinese title Role Notes Ref.
2009 The Immemorial Magic 玩命魔术 Tong Xing
2011 The Blue Cornflower 蓝色矢车菊 Nan Haitian
2013 Young Detective Dee: Rise of the Sea Dragon 狄仁杰之神都龙王 Shatuo Zhong [9]
2014 Just Another Margin 大话天仙 Lin Chong Cameo [31]
My Old Classmate 同桌的你 Lin Yi [11]
Black & White: The Dawn of Justice 痞子英雄2 Chen Zhen [13]
The Taking of Tiger Mountain 智取威虎山 Shao Jianbo [14]
2015 Jian Bing Man 煎饼侠 Himself Cameo [32]
2016 For a Few Bullets 快手枪手快枪手 Xiao Zhuang [19]
Sword Master 三少爺的劍 Hsieh Shaofeng / Ah Chi [20]
The Great Wall 長城 General Chen [21]
2017 Journey to the West: The Demons Strike Back 西游伏妖篇 Sun Wukong [22]
What A Day! 有完没完 Xiao Xin Cameo [33]
2018 Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings 狄仁杰之四大天王 Shatuo Zhong [27]

Television series

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Year English title Chinese title Role Network Ref.
2011 Scarlet Heart 步步惊心 Yinti Hunan TV [6]
2012 Xuan-Yuan Sword: Scar of Sky 轩辕剑:天之痕 Zhang Lie [7]
Drama Go! Go! Go! 姐姐立正向前走 Tong Shaotian [34]
2013 Dancing Legend 舞乐传奇 Burmese Prince Shu Nanda CCTV [35]
2016 God of War, Zhao Yun 武神赵子龙 Zhao Zilong Hunan TV [16]
2017 Princess Agents 楚乔传 Yuwen Yue [25]
2020 Lost and Love 最初的相遇,最后的别离 Yan Jin Youku [28]
2021 My Bargain Queen 我的砍价女王 Sheng Zhening [36]
2022 Master of My Own 请叫我总监 Lu Jiming Youku
Dragon TV
2024 The Legend of Shen Li 与凤行 Xing Zhi / Xing Yun Tencent [37]

Variety show

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Year English title Chinese title Role Ref.
2015 Challenger Alliance 挑戰者聯盟 Cast member [38]
2017 Baby, Let me go 放开我北鼻第二季 [39]
2017 Three Yard 三个院子 [40]
2018 Clash Bots 机器人争霸 [41]
2022 The New Journey 新游记 [42]
2024 Mystery in the Box 盒子里的猫 [43]

Discography

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Year English title Chinese title Album Notes Ref.
2017 "Love In A Life Time" 一生所爱 Journey to the West: The Demons Strike Back OST with Yao Chen [44]

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Nominated work Results Ref.
2011 Sohu Internet TV Festival Best New Actor Scarlet Heart Won [45]
2012 Sohu TV Drama Awards Best Newcomer Won [46]
6th Tencent Video Star Awards Newcomer of the Year Won [47]
8th Huading Awards Best New Actor Nominated [48]
1st iQiyi Award Ceremony Best Newcomer Won [49]
Most Popular Actor Won
2014 12th Huading Awards Best Supporting Actor Young Detective Dee: Rise of the Sea Dragon Nominated
33rd Hong Kong Film Awards Best Newcomer Nominated
14th Chinese Film Media Awards Most Anticipated Performance Nominated
9th Chinese Young Generation Film Forum Awards Best New Actor My Old Classmate Won [50]
11th Guangzhou Student Film Festival Most Popular Actor Won [51]
2015 15th Chinese Film Media Awards Most Anticipated Actor Nominated
2017 11th Tencent Video Star Awards Most Popular Actor Princess Agents Won [52]
2018 10th Macau International Movie Festival Best Supporting Actor Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings Nominated

References

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  1. ^ You Lei (尤蕾) (2022). 更新,林更新 [Update, Lin Gengxin]. New Weekly (in Chinese). 615. Haizhu District, Guangzhou, Guangdong: Southern Publishing Media Co., Ltd: 95–99. ISSN 1007-7006.
  2. ^ "2015 Forbes China Celebrity List (Full List)". Forbes. May 13, 2015.
  3. ^ "Actress Fan Bingbing Tops New Forbes China Celebrity List". Forbes. September 22, 2017.
  4. ^ "福布斯中国发布100名人榜 吴京黄渤胡歌位列前三". Sina (in Chinese). August 20, 2019.
  5. ^ "资料:电影《蓝色矢车菊》新人介绍-林更新". Sina (in Chinese). November 3, 2009.
  6. ^ a b "林更新袁弘《步步》五大王爷恋情PK". Sina (in Chinese). May 26, 2015.
  7. ^ a b "图文:《轩辕剑》曝剧照-林更新饰张烈". Sina (in Chinese). August 9, 2012.
  8. ^ "《轩辕剑》大结局完美收官 开创周播剧新纪元". Tencent (in Chinese). September 5, 2012.
  9. ^ a b "《狄仁杰》发海报预告 神都龙王露狰狞". Sina (in Chinese). July 28, 2013.
  10. ^ "18:37 提名新人林更新红色西装喜庆亮相". NetEase (in Chinese). April 13, 2014.
  11. ^ a b "电影《同桌的你》开拍 高晓松监制". Sina (in Chinese). July 9, 2013.
  12. ^ "《同桌的妳》票房破四亿 北京大学生电影节获奖". NetEase (in Chinese). May 13, 2014.
  13. ^ a b "黄渤赵又廷《痞子英雄2》再合作 林更新加盟". NetEase (in Chinese). September 8, 2013.
  14. ^ a b "徐克"智取威虎山3D"首发剧照 张涵予杨子荣造型曝光". Mtime (in Chinese). January 14, 2014.
  15. ^ Patrick Frater. "China Box Office: 'Wolf Warrior' and 'Kingsman' Dominate $100 Million Weekend". Variety.
  16. ^ a b "Yoona, Lin Gengxin to star in drama "Zhao Zilong"". Sina English. February 26, 2015.
  17. ^ Jung Eun-jin (April 17, 2016). "SNSD Yoona making waves in China". The Korea Herald. Herald Corporation.
  18. ^ "China 'God of War, Zhao Yun' 10 billion views, an incredible feat" 윤아 "中 '무신조자룡' 100억뷰, 정말 어마어마한 일". Xportsnews (in Korean). XportsMedia. July 6, 2016.
  19. ^ a b ""For A Few Bullets", Compared to New Journey to The West". China Radio International. April 17, 2016.[dead link]
  20. ^ a b "Derek Yee, Hark Tusi team up for martial arts epic". China Radio International. December 1, 2016.[dead link]
  21. ^ a b "Zhang Yimou's new film reveals star-studded cast". Sina. March 12, 2015.
  22. ^ a b "《西游2》阵容独家曝光 唐僧吴亦凡沙僧巴特尔". Tencent. August 6, 2015.
  23. ^ "'Journey To The West: The Demons Strike Back' summary page". Box Office Mojo. February 16, 2017.
  24. ^ "《西游伏妖篇》 破13亿周星驰路演称为了观众我会越做越好". China Youth Daily (in Chinese). February 5, 2017.[permanent dead link]
  25. ^ a b "《楚乔传》曝定档海报 赵丽颖变特工少". Sina (in Chinese). May 22, 2017.
  26. ^ "林更新《楚乔传》边疆归来 细腻演技感情动人". Tencent (in Chinese). July 5, 2017.
  27. ^ a b "New Detective Dee film set to thrill mystery fans". China Daily. May 10, 2017.
  28. ^ a b "林更新《最初的相遇,最后的别离》开机 首次演绎都市爱情悬疑". Tencent (in Chinese). May 17, 2019.
  29. ^ Xu, Meilin (March 18, 2024). "赵丽颖、林更新主演剧集《与凤行》发布首周追剧日历". www.bjnews.com.cn. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
  30. ^ ""The Legend of Shen Li" Off to a Strong Start – JayneStars.com". Retrieved May 9, 2024.
  31. ^ "《大话天仙》曝林更新剧照 演绎"最二"林冲". Netease (in Chinese). January 10, 2014.
  32. ^ "陈赫、郑恺、林更新集体"拒演"《煎饼侠》". Netease (in Chinese). April 2, 2015.
  33. ^ "《有完没完》林更新教范伟俘获女神心". Sina (in Chinese). February 14, 2016.
  34. ^ "《姐姐立正向前走》林心如林更新汪东城多角恋". Sina (in Chinese). December 27, 2011.
  35. ^ "《舞乐传奇》土豪林更新成百变王子(图)". Sina (in Chinese). January 7, 2014.
  36. ^ 《我的砍价女王》开机 林更新吴谨言巧结欢喜冤家. 1905 (in Chinese). July 13, 2020.
  37. ^ Yangzi, Wanbao (March 7, 2024). "《与凤行》今晚见!赵丽颖林更新二搭携手护三界" [I'll see you tonight for "The Line with Phoenix"! Zhao Liying and Lin Renewal Join Hands to Protect the Three Realms]. Baidu (in Chinese). Retrieved April 17, 2024.
  38. ^ "挑战者林更新智斗导演组 游戏黑洞变机智". Sina (in Chinese). November 20, 2015.
  39. ^ "《放开我北鼻2》林更新于小彤拉易烊千玺组"新团"". Sina (in Chinese). April 24, 2017.
  40. ^ "《三个院子》正式官宣 林更新陈赫朱桢加盟". Sina (in Chinese). October 28, 2017.
  41. ^ "林更新加盟《机器人争霸》 能否逆袭引关注". Sina (in Chinese). January 26, 2018.
  42. ^ 顾馨. "Popular show inspired from 16th-century novel 'tests' celebrities". global.chinadaily.com.cn. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
  43. ^ "《盒子里的猫》阵容官宣,全员梗王爆笑闯关,好友局综艺搞笑来袭". ent.ifeng.com (in Chinese). Retrieved May 9, 2024.
  44. ^ "《西游2》破12亿曝姚晨林更新《一生所爱》". Netease (in Chinese). February 4, 2017.
  45. ^ "2011秋季搜狐视频电视剧盛典揭晓 《番号》获最佳剧". Sohu (in Chinese). October 26, 2011.
  46. ^ "电视剧年度盛典落幕有话题 明星出席不"要"奖". Sohu (in Chinese). January 18, 2012.
  47. ^ "林更新获星光大典年度电视新人 被赞未来潜力股". Tencent (in Chinese). January 12, 2012.
  48. ^ "2012华鼎奖中国百强电视剧提名名单". Netease (in Chinese). November 9, 2012.
  49. ^ "奇艺年度盛典群星熠熠 吴奇隆踩冯绍峰获视帝(图)". Sina (in Chinese). January 5, 2012.
  50. ^ "第9届华语青年影像论坛闭幕 韩寒等获颁年度新锐影人". People's Daily (in Chinese). November 6, 2014.
  51. ^ "《同桌的你》获11届广州大学生电影节最受欢迎电影". ifeng (in Chinese). December 29, 2014.
  52. ^ "林更新朋克皮衣帅气亮相 获封"最具人气电视剧男演员"" (in Chinese). December 4, 2017.
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