Edmund Chen

Edmund Chen (Chinese: 陈之财; pinyin: Chén Zhīcái, (陈志财 Chen Zhi Cai previous name) born 4 February 1961 is a Singaporean actor and artist. He began his career in 1987 and rose to become one of Singapore's most prominent and popular actors during the 1990s and early 2000s. He left MediaCorp at the end of 2007 for family reasons.

Edmund Chen
陈之财
Born (1961-02-04) 4 February 1961
NationalitySingaporean
OccupationActor
Years active1987–present
Spouse(s)
Xiang Yun (m. 1989)
Children
  • Chen Yixi (son)
  • Chen Yixin (daughter)
FamilyEric Chen (brother)
Loretta Chen (sister)
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese陳之財
Simplified Chinese陈之财

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

Chen left the entertainment industry in 2007 and he 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
1998Yellow Wedding
Eternal Love
Super Cop
1999Where Got Problem
Ghostories
2002Sharpened Pencil
The EyeDr Lo
2003Turn Left, Turn RightDr Wu
2007Saigon Eclipse
2008Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-LiXiang
2009Liliang

TV series

Year Title Role
1987Sunshine After Rain 雨过天晴Chen Junjie
Moving On 变迁Ah Wen
1988Star Maiden 飞越银河Jin Guixiang
Airforce 空军Gan Qifeng
The Last Applause 舞榭歌台Guo Xiaoting (Qihua)
Mystery – Piano 迷离夜 之《琴》Tan Jialun
1989When Hearts Touch 似水柔情Xu Daimei
Fortune Hunters 钻石人生
Patrol 铁警雄风Luo Yifeng
Turn of the Tide 浮沉Zhou Guodong
1990Finishing Line 出人头地Zhong Chongguang
Happy Family 开心家族Song Kecheng
1991The Darkest Hour 列血青春Ma Zhongyuan
1992Fiery Passion 烈焰焚情Mingliang
Crime and Passion 执法先锋
1993Hidden Truth 法网晴天Zhou Xiaoping
Switch 妙鬼临门
1994The Blazing Trail 兰桂坊血案
Those Were the Days 生命擂台Yan Kaicong
1995The Teochew Family 潮州家族
The Rangers 铁血雄心
Heartbeat 医胆仁心
Pointed Triangle 杀之恋
It's My World 还我半天边
A Different Life 妈姐情缘Shen Tianle
1996Ace Cops 妙警点三八
新加坡故事
Life on the Line 魂断四面佛
1997Immortal Love 不老的传说Su Youming
Crimes and Tribulations 狮城奇案录Liang Shui
2000Catherine Listening to the Rain
2001The 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
2002First TouchDr Charles Yong
The Vagrant 豹子胆
Brotherhood 有情有义
The Wing of Desire 天使的诱惑Qin Kailang
Law 2002 法内情2002Qiu Zhishao
First Touch IIDr Charles Yong
Innocently Guilty 法内有情天
2003My Love, My Home 同一屋檐下
A Toast of Love 吃吃面包谈谈情
Year Title Role Notes
2004When the Time Comes 一线之间Jieren
  • 1st Male Lead 第一男主角
Double Happiness 喜临门Luo Jiaqi
  • Siblings with Vivian Lai
  • Supporting Role 男配角
The Crime Hunters 心网追凶Lan Tinghui
  • 1st Male Lead 第一男主角
Man at Forty 跑吧!男人Chen Longwei
Timeless Gift 遗情未了
  • 1st Male Lead 第一男主角
2005Lady of Leisure 贤妻靓母Chen Guoqing
  • 1st Male Lead 第一男主角
Zero to Hero 阴差阳错Xie Jizu
  • 1st Male Lead 第一男主角
  • Pairs up with Chen Liping
Beyond the Axis of Truth II 法医X档案IIChen Xueming
  • 1st Male Lead 第一男主角
  • Pairs up with Ivy Lee
2006Women of Times 至尊红颜Jia Zengtu
  • Pairs up with Fann Wong
  • 1st Male Lead 第一男主角
House of Joy 欢乐满屋Xu Zhiguo
  • Pairs up with Cynthia Koh
  • 2nd Male Lead 第二男主角
2007Live Again 天堂鸟Chen Haiming
  • 2nd Male Lead 第二男主角
  • Pairs up with Ivy Lee
The Golden Path 黄金路Cheng-Ge
  • Supporting Role 男配角
2008CalefareChampion Zhang
  • Channel 5 production
  • Guest appearance
2009Perfect Cut 2 一切完美2Win Cheong
  • 1st Male Lead 第一男主角
  • Siblings with Phyllis Quek
  • Pairs up with Zheng Wanling
2013Serangoon RoadJames Lim
  • Supporting Role
2017–2018Life Less Ordinary
小人物向前冲
Ye Chengda
  • Cameo Appearances 特出演
  • Father of Chen Yixin

Awards and nominations

Asian Television Awards

YearAccoladeAwardWorkResult
2003Asian Television AwardBest ActorFirst Touch II (as Dr Charles Yong)Nominated

Star Awards – Acting/Popularity Awards

YearAccoladeAwardWorkResult
19963rd Star Awards CeremonyTop 10 Most Popular Male ArtistesN/ATop 20
19974th Star Awards CeremonyTop 10 Most Popular Male ArtistesN/ATop 20
20018th Star Awards CeremonyBest ActorBeyond the Axis of Truth (as Chen Xueming)Nominated
8th Star Awards CeremonyTop 10 Most Popular Male ArtistesN/ATop 10
20029th Star Awards CeremonyTop 10 Most Popular Male ArtistesN/ATop 10
200310th Star Awards CeremonyTop 10 Most Popular Male ArtistesN/ATop 10
200412th Star Awards CeremonyBest ActorMan at Forty (as Chen Longwei)Nominated
12th Star Awards CeremonyTop 10 Most Popular Male ArtistesN/ATop 10
200513th Star Awards CeremonyTop 10 Most Popular Male ArtistesN/ATop 10
200614th Star Awards CeremonyTop 10 Most Popular Male ArtistesN/ATop 10
200715th Star Awards CeremonyTop 10 Most Popular Male ArtistesN/ATop 10

References

  1. "Celeb couple's son makes acting debut". AsiaOne. 27 February 2012. Archived from the original on 8 March 2012. Retrieved 19 August 2012.
  2. "Edmund Chen almost missed out on 'Street Fighter' role". Channelnewsasia. 10 March 2009. Archived from the original on 14 March 2009. Retrieved 19 March 2009.
  3. "Edmund Chen". 10 March 2009. Archived from the original on 7 February 2011. Retrieved 19 October 2010.
  4. "Echoing Love". Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 3 September 2012.
  5. "Once Upon A Garden City: A SELECTION OF CHILDREN'S AND YOUNG ADULT BOOKS FROM SINGAPORE" (PDF). National Arts Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 June 2012.
  6. "向云离开新视". 14 March 2000. Archived from the original on 8 August 2002.CS1 maint: unfit url (link)
  7. "The Dramatic Duo" (PDF). Simply Her. SPH. March 2011. pp. 102–103. Archived (PDF) from the original on 19 April 2015. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
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