Joe Cheng

Joe Cheng
Chinese name 鄭元暢 (traditional)
Chinese name 郑元畅 (simplified)
Pinyin Zhèng Yuánchàng (Mandarin)
Origin Republic of China (Taiwan)
Born (1982-06-19) 19 June 1982
Beitun, Taichung, Taiwan
Other name(s) Bryan Cheng
Occupation model, actor, singer,
Genre(s) Mandopop
Label(s) Avex Taiwan (2009–present)
Years active 2003–present
Official website http://www.joesfamily.com.tw

Joe Cheng, (traditional Chinese: 鄭元暢; simplified Chinese: 郑元畅; pinyin: Zhèng Yuánchàng) (June 19, 1982) is a Taiwanese model, actor and singer. Although he started his career as a model, Cheng is well known for his role as Jiang Zhishu in Taiwanese drama serial version of Japanese manga Itazura Na Kiss, It Started with a Kiss. Cheng has gained much recognition as an actor in most parts of Asia, particularly Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Philippines and Japan. Cheng released his debut EP, Sing a Song, in October 2009. The title of the EP as well as its title track is a play on the third word in his name, Chang (暢) as a homophone of the word “Sing” (唱) in Chinese.

Early life

Joe Cheng, who was previously (prior to 2005) known as Bryan Cheng, grew up in Beitun District, Taichung, Taiwan. Since his parents' divorce when he was in primary school, he has lived with his father. He also has an elder sister, who lives with their mother.

Acting career

Cheng began his career in the entertainment industry with Catwalk Modelling Agency. He reportedly achieved success as a model within one year of signing on and is currently still under the management of the company. Cheng is based in Taiwan and also counts China, Hong Kong and Japan as his main target markets.

As a model, Cheng was featured in several music videos, including one of Heavenly King Jacky Cheung's. In 2003, he took on the role of the second male lead in The Rose, a Taiwanese drama serial which also starred Taiwanese girl band S.H.E. and renowned actress Cecilia Yip. It was this role that kick-started his acting career. Following his rising popularity and the success of his first acting role, Cheng was asked to make a guest appearance as Lucifer in Taiwanese boyband Energy’s first-ever idol drama, Dance with Michael, in the same year. Cheng starred as the main lead in two dramas, Nine-ball and Magic Ring in 2004. Although these two serials achieved lukewarm success, Cheng took the role of the main lead in It Started with a Kiss in the following year. This serial achieved high ratings in Taiwan and was popular with audiences throughout Asia. Cheng’s popularity rose tremendously as a result. It Started with a Kiss was also Cheng’s first collaboration with actress Ariel Lin. The two, who are often touted as one of Taiwan’s most compatible on-screen couples, paired up again in the 2007 sequel to It Started with a Kiss, They Kiss Again; as well as Love or Bread (2008) which is unrelated to the Kiss series. Cheng has starred in numerous drama serials produced in Taiwan,China and Japan, but remains most well known for his roles in The Rose and the Kiss series.

As a model, Cheng has modelled for several big-name brands including Puma AG (2003–2005) and adidas (2006–present). He has starred in numerous runway shows for brands such as Marc Jacob’s (2003), Timberland, Levi’s and Christian Dior (2007) He often also appears at flagship store openings including Hugo Boss (2009). Cheng also endorses several food, jewellery and clothing brands; the most recent being Chinese green tea brand Kang Shifu (for which Cheng starred and recorded a song with Mike He and Taiwanese actress Joe Chen) as well as casual wear brand N+a (with Taiwanese singer-actress Cyndi Wang). He also worked as a spokesperson for Shiatzy Chen.

Excluding drama serial memorabilia, Cheng has released three pictorial books in addition to four calendars and one mini pictorial in conjunction with the release of his EP in 2009. He has also authored two books and co-authored another on his hometown Taichung. He was also featured in a 2006 book on Catwalk Modelling Agency. Cheng has won multiple awards as a model and as a performing artiste. The most notable include one at the Asia Model Festival Awards 2009, in which he won the Asia Special Award. Cheng, together with Sylvia Chang and Mike He, was appointed as an ambassador for World Vision in December 2009.

Music career

2009 was a quiet year for the television star, who spent the year busy with his theatre debut, Design for Living, starring opposite stage veterans Sylvia Chang and David Wang, under the directorship of Hong Kong stage director Edward Lam. The troupe made several sell-out shows in Hong Kong, China, Taiwan and Singapore. Cheng said that it has always been one of his goals to star in a stage play and was very honoured to have been able to star in the same production as Sylvia Chang. In the same year he also released his first EP, Sing a Song. Cheng is known by his friends in the industry as one who loves to sing. Album sales were fair and the EP topped certain charts in Taiwan but Cheng failed to convince music critics of the industry. Much to the dismay of his fans, Cheng did not star in any drama series in 2009.

In addition to his entertainment career, Cheng is completing his part-time university studies in tourism management at Hsing Wu College. As all males in Taiwan have to enlist for National Service, Cheng is due to enlist as soon as he completes his education. In 2010 Cheng represented Taiwan and performed at the 7th Asia Song Festival, organised by Korea Foundation for International Culture Exchange, at the Seoul Olympic Stadium.[1]

Personal life

Joe Cheng is now discharged from military service in the second regiment of the Taiwan Coast Guard.[2]

Filmography

Films

Television series

Year Chinese Title English Title Role Notes
2003 蔷薇之戀 The Rose Han Kui (韓葵)
米迦勒之舞 Dance With Michael Lu Xi Fu / Lucifer
2004 愛情魔戒 Magic Ring Du Jing Hang (杜競航)
2005 撞球小子 Nine-Ball Kuai Da
惡作劇之吻 It Started With a Kiss Jiang Zhi Shu (江直樹) [Irie Naoki] Michael
2006 第一桶金 Di Yi Tong Jin Ah Sheng
庚子風雲 War and Destiny Chen Ran
2007 熱情仲夏 Summer x Summer Ouyang Lei (歐陽累)
惡作劇2吻 They Kiss Again Jiang Zhi Shu (江直樹) [Irie Naoki] Michael
2008 蜂蜜幸運草 Honey and Clover Den Zhen Shan (鄧真山) [Mayama Takumi]
我的億萬麵包 Love or Bread Cai Jing Lai (蔡進來) / Frank
2010 欢迎爱光临 That Love Comes Xia Tian (夏天)
國民英雄 Channel-X An Zai Yong (安在勇)
2012 愛的蜜方 Love Actually Hao Feng
2014 你照亮我星球 You Light Up My Star Liu Cheng Wei (劉城偉)
2015 只因單身在一起 Singles Villa Qiao Sheng Yu

[3] [4]

Awards and Nominations

Year Awards Category Nominated Work Result
2004 China Fashion Awards New Figure None Won
2007 Enlight Entertainment Awards New Fashion Artist None Won
2009 Hong Kong Yahoo Popular Search Awards Hong Kong Most Popular Taiwanese Artist They Kiss Again Won
International Male Actor Won
Enlight Entertainment Awards Most Influential Fashion Actor Won
New Artist Awards Best All-Around Artist Won
2010 China Original Music Chart Favorite Idol Sing a SongWon
Outstanding New Singer Won

Music videos

Discography

Album Info Tracklisting
Sing a Song

Chang Yi Shou Ge (暢一首歌)

  • Format: Extended Play (EP)
  • Released: 2 October 2009
  1. "不死心" (Unwilling to Give Up)
  2. "王子復仇記" (Prince's Revenge Record)
  3. "暢一首歌" (Chang Yi Shou Ge)
  4. "彩色 Party" (Colorful Party)
  5. "麵包的滋味" (The Taste of Bread)
  6. "My Song, Your Sun"

Books

References

  1. ↑ KOFICE 7th Asia Song Festival 23 October 2010; retrieved 12 October 2011.
  2. ↑ Joseph Cheng Investigates Smugglers, Lock and Loaded and Ready to Protect, Apple Daily
  3. ↑ "Joe Cheng". imdb.com. Retrieved June 17, 2010.
  4. ↑ "Joe Cheng". chinesemov.com. Retrieved June 17, 2010.

External links

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