Edmund Chen

Edmund Chen
Chinese name 陳之財 (traditional)
Chinese name 陈之财 (simplified)
Pinyin Chén Zhīcái (Mandarin)
Born (1961-02-04) 4 February 1961
Singapore
Other name(s) Credited as 陈志财
Occupation Actor
singer
TV host
Years active 1987–2009
Spouse(s) Xiang Yun (1989 – present)
Children 1 son and 1 daughter
Ancestry Fujian, China
This is a Chinese name; the family name is Chen.

Edmund Chen (Chinese: 陈之财; pinyin: Chén Zhīcái; Wade–Giles: Ch'en2 Chih1 Ts'ai2, born 4 February 1961) is a Chinese Singaporean film actor, singer, television actor and host. Since leaving full-time acting during the 2000s, he has been an illustrator and designer.

Career

Chen entered the entertainment industry after completing the SBC (predecessor of MediaCorp) 7th drama training course in 1987.[1] He starred in several high-profile dramas such as sci-fi drama series Star Maiden, Air Force and police thriller Patrol, where he first met and later married co-star Xiang Yun. During the late 1990s he temporarily left showbiz for several years to concentrate on other projects. After returning to MediaCorp his popularity soared and he won the Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes award seven consecutive times. During the Star Awards 2007 25th anniversary special, he and Ivy Lee, who played his on-screen partner many times, were named the Top 5 Favourite On-screen Couples for their roles as husband and wife in Double Happiness. He left MediaCorp at the end of 2007 for family reasons but made a brief return to the screens as a guest star in Channel 5 comedy Calefare and the second season of Channel U production Perfect Cut. Besides acting, he has also presented and hosted shows ranging from sports events to variety shows to charity galas.

Chen is one of the few Singaporeans to have successfully ventured into Hollywood and has starred in a film produced by Warner Brothers (Turn Left, Turn Right), as well as more recently in Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li distributed by Fox Pictures, as Xiang, father of Chun Li.[2][3]

Chen directed his first feature film Echoing Love (爱情六重奏), which consists of six shorts directed by six different people and the cast includes Erica Lee, Alaric Tay, Vincent Ng, Nathaniel Ho and his wife Xiang Yun. It was screened at the 24th Singapore International Film Festival in 2011, where it won a Special Achievement Award at the Silver Screen Awards.[4]

Other work

After leaving the television industry, Chen began writing and illustrating Chinese language children's books. Two of his titles Dino Rulez! (欢迎来到我们的世界) and Little Otters To The Rescue! (水獭宝宝救爸爸) have been selected by the National Arts Council for its yearly catalogue.[5] He designs stationery, stamp and T-shirts, which are sold through Panda Goods online store.

Endorsements

Chen functions as a brand ambassador and spokesman for many firms and products, including Beijing 101 Hair Consultants (www.beijing101hair.com), Mitsubishi Electric, Chien Chi Tow, G- Spa, Donut Empire and KKC Property in Singapore and throughout the Asian region.

Personal life

Chen married fellow MediaCorp actress Xiang Yun in 1989 after meeting on the set of Patrol and they have two children.[6] Their son Yixi made his acting debut in the web drama series i.Rock in early 2012.[1]

Chen is the eldest of three children. His younger sister is theatre director and entrepreneur Loretta Chen.[7]

Filmography

Films

Year Title Role Notes
1998 Yellow Wedding
Eternal Love
Super Cop
1999 Where Got Problem
Ghostories
2002 Sharpened Pencil
The Eye Dr Lo
2003 Turn Left, Turn Right Dr Wu
2007 Saigon Eclipse
2008 Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li Xiang
2009 Liliang

TV series

Year Title Role Notes
1987 Sunshine After Rain 雨过天晴
1988 Star Maiden 飞越银河
Airforce 空军 Gan Qifeng
Mystery 迷离夜1
Fortune Hunters 钻石人生
When Hearts Touch 似水柔情
1989 Patrol 铁警雄风
Turn of the Tide 浮沉
1990 Finishing Line 出人头地 Zhong Chongguang
Happy Family 开心家族
1991 Crime and Passion 执法先锋
The Darkest Hour 列血青春
1992 Fiery Passion 烈焰焚情
1993 Hidden Truth 未了缘
Switch 妙鬼临门
1994 The Blazing Trail 兰桂坊血案 Telemovie
Those Were the Days 生命擂台
1995 The Teochew Family 潮州家族
The Rangers 铁血雄心 Telemovie
Heartbeat 医胆仁心
Pointed Triangle 杀之恋 Telemovie
It's My World 还我半天边
A Different Life 妈姐情缘
1996 Ace Cops 妙警点三八 Telemovie
新加坡故事
Life on the Line 魂断四面佛 Telemovie
1997 Immortal Love 不老的传说 Su Youming
Crimes and Tribulations 狮城奇案录 Liang Bing
2000 Catherine Listening to the Rain
2001 The Invincible Squad 迷幻特警
The Hotel 大酒店 Emil Qin
The Stratagem 世纪攻略 Zhou Jingxue
Beyond the Axis of Truth 法医X档案 Chen Xueming Nominated – Best Actor award at Star Awards 2001
2002 First Touch Dr Charles Yong Channel 5 production
The Vagrant 豹子胆 Guest appearance
Brotherhood 有情有义 Co-production
The Wing of Desire 天使的诱惑 Qin Kailang
Law 2002 法内情2002 Qiu Zhishao
First Touch II Dr Charles Yong Channel 5 production
Nominated – Best Actor, 2003 Asian Television Awards
Innocently Guilty 法内有情天 Co-production
2003 My Love, My Home 同一屋檐下
A Toast of Love 吃吃面包谈谈情 Guest appearance
2004 When the Time Comes 一线之间 Jieren
Double Happiness 喜临门 Luo Jiaqi
The Crime Hunters 心网追凶 Lan Tinghui
Man at Forty 跑吧!男人 Chen Longwei Nominated – Best Actor award at Star Awards 2004
Timeless Gift 遗情未了
2005 Lady of Leisure 贤妻靓母 Chen Guoqing
Zero to Hero 阴差阳错 Xie Jizu
Beyond the Axis of Truth II 法医X档案II Chen Xueming
2006 Women of Times 至尊红颜 Jia Zengtu
House of Joy 欢乐满屋 Xu Zhiguo
2007 Live Again 天堂鸟 Chen Haiming
The Golden Path 黄金路 Cheng-Ge
2008 Calefare Champion Zhang Channel 5 production
Guest appearance
2009 Perfect Cut 2 一切完美2 Win Cheong
2013 Serangoon Road

References

  1. 1 2 "Celeb couple's son makes acting debut". AsiaOne. 27 February 2012.
  2. "Edmund Chen almost missed out on 'Street Fighter' role". Channelnewsasia. 10 March 2009. Retrieved 19 March 2009.
  3. "http://www.edmundchen.com". 10 March 2009. Retrieved 19 October 2010. External link in |title= (help)
  4. Echoing Love
  5. "Once Upon A Garden City: A SELECTION OF CHILDREN’S AND YOUNG ADULT BOOKS FROM SINGAPORE" (PDF). National Arts Council.
  6. "向云离开新视". 14 March 2000. Archived from the original on 8 August 2002.
  7. "The Dramatic Duo" (PDF). Simply Her (SPH). March 2011. pp. 102–103.

External links

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