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

Yan Shunkai
Yan Shunkai.
Born(1937-06-06)June 6, 1937
Died16 October 2017(2017-10-16) (aged 80)
Alma materCentral Academy of Drama
Occupation(s)Director, actor
Years active1980-2010
AwardsHundred Flowers AwardsBest Actor
1983 The True Story of Ah Q

Chinese name
Traditional Chinese嚴順開
Simplified Chinese严顺开
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinYán Shùnkāi

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

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Early life and education

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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 (上海滑稽剧团).

Career

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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

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

Filmography

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Film

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

TV series

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

CCTV New Year's Gala

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

Film and TV Awards

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Year Nominated work Award Result Notes
1982 The True Story of Ah Q Second International Comedy Film Festival of Vevey, Switzerland - Best Actor Won
1983 6th Hundred Flowers Awards for Best Actor Won

References

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  1. ^ "Chinese comedian Yan Shunkai dies at 80". Chinadaily. 18 October 2017. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  2. ^ a b Yan Shunkai: a Well-Known Comedian, chinaculture.org, 17 January 2008.
  3. ^ "著名艺术家严顺开去世,享年80岁". Wenhui Bao. 16 October 2017. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
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