- Zhao Benshan
Zhao Benshan (zh-cp|c=赵本山|p=Zhào Běnshān; born October 1958) is a Chinese
skit andsitcom actor, and recently turned director. Having initially gained immense popularity from performances on theCCTV New Year's Gala , Zhao is now a household-name comedy actor onMainland China .Born in Shizui Cottage in
Lianhua County inTieling ,Liaoning , in a peasant family, he was orphaned when he was only 6. Apprenticed to his uncle, he learned many local traditional performance arts, includingEr hu ,Er Ren Zhuan etc.He gained some popularity in local areas, which caught attention of
Jiang Kun , a famous ChineseXiangsheng artist, who recommend him to the 1987 CCTV New Year's Gala, a TV program broadcast all around China. After his first appearance, he had appeared in each Gala show every year. Some of his highlights included "Yesterday, today and Tomorrow", and "Fixing up the house".Since the turn of the century, Zhao had also turned attention towards acting and directing sitcoms, appearing as the main character in
Liu Laogen andMa Dashuai , and their sequels. Some of his associates in acting areGao Xiumin Song Dan Dan andFan Wei . In 2007 Zhao went on a tour in the United States, making a stop inNew York City . After his return, he attended the2007 National People's Congress as a delegate fromLiaoning .Filmography
* "Keep Cool" (1997) - Poet reader
* "The Emperor and the Assassin " (1999) - Gao Jianli
* "Happy Times " (2000) - Zhao
* "Getting Home " (2007)
* "Liu Laogen " - (2002) Title character
* "Ma DaShuai " - Title characterExternal links
* [http://www.zhaobenshan.org/ Official site (Chinese)]
*
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