Deng Chao

2000–2006: Early work and breakthrough

During his junior year at college, Deng was cast in the hit play Cuihua Shang Suancai, a student production presented by the Central Academy of Drama, through which he knew script-writer Yu Baimei, who would be his long-time professional partner. After graduation, he started filming dramas. He rose to fame with the 2003 historical drama The Young Emperor^[3] and further gained popularity with director Gao Xixi's military drama romance Happiness as Flowers, co-starring Sun Li.^[4]

2007–2012: Increasing recognition

Due to his rising popularity, Deng scored a role in Feng Xiaogang's war film Assembly.^[5] For the film, Deng won the Best Supporting Actor at the Hundred Flowers Awards, successfully making his crossover to the big screen.^[6] The same year, he co-starred in Cao Baoping's romantic thriller The Equation of Love and Death^[7][8] and was awarded the Society award at the Golden Phoenix Awards for his performance.^[9]

In 2010, he starred in Tsui Hark's action-mystery film Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame, playing an albino detective named Bei Dong Lai.^[10] He earned a Best Supporting Actor nomination at the Hong Kong Film Awards.^[11] Deng next starred in fantasy film Mural (2011), directed by Gordon Chan and adapted from the renowned ghost novel "Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio".^[12] In 2012, he played Cold Blood in the wuxia film The Four, based on Woon Swee Oan's novel series Si Da Ming Bu (The Four Great Constables).^[13][14]

2013–2015: Directorial works and Keep Running

In 2013, Deng starred as one of the three male leads in Peter Chan's film American Dreams in China, about three young men from poor backgrounds who achieved success by establishing an English teaching school.^[15] The film was a commercial success^[16] and earned positive reviews. Taipei Times called the movie a "a well-executed work of entertainment that preaches about China's growing power" and praised Deng for "delivering a focused performance as an idealist with a defeated ego".^[17]

Deng made his directorial debut with The Breakup Guru (2014), a romantic comedy co-created by him and Yu Baimei.^[18] Though it faced stiff competition from Hollywood blockbusters, the film grossed 180 million yuan in its opening week and ended up as one of the highest-grossing films in China that year.^[19] The same year, he joined Keep Running, a remake of the South Korean variety program Running Man.^[20] Keep Running enjoyed explosive popularity in China.^[21] That year, Deng was chosen as the Most Valuable Chinese Actor.^[22]

Deng then starred in crime film The Dead End directed by acclaimed director Cao Baoping,^[23] and was praised by critics for "breathing life into the role with riveting performances", as well as his chemistry with co-star Duan Yihong. He shared the Best Actor award with co-stars Duan and Guo Tao at the 18th Shanghai International Film Festival,^[24] and won another Best Actor trophy at the Golden Rooster Awards.^{[citation needed]} Deng teamed up again with Yu Baimei for the comedy film Devil and Angel, following the success of The Breakup Guru. However, unlike its predecessor, the film was voted the Most Disappointing Film of 2015 and received criticism for its poor approach to comedy.^[25]

2016–present: Success on the big screen

In 2016, Deng starred in Stephen Chow's film The Mermaid, where he plays a playboy businessman who falls in love with a mermaid that had been sent to assassinate him.^[26] The film broke numerous box office records, including biggest opening day and biggest single-day gross through its seventh day of release. Due to his success on the big screen, CBN Weekly named him the 3rd most commercially valuable celebrity in China;^[27] and the most lucrative actor on China's big screen that year.^[28]

In 2017, Deng starred in Han Han's sleeper hit Duckweed, playing a rebellious car racer who thinks that his parents misunderstood him.^[29] He next starred in the suspense crime film, The Liquidator, based on the bestselling crime novel series Evil Minds: City Light and directed by acclaimed TV director Xu Jizhou.^[30]

In 2018, Deng starred in Zhang Yimou's historical film, Shadow.^[31]

In 2019, Deng starred in the family drama film Looking Up, which he co-directed.^[32]

Film

Television series

Variety show

Forbes China Celebrity 100