Jimmy Lin

Jimmy Lin Chih-ying (born 15 October 1974) is a Taiwanese singer, actor and professional race car driver.

Early life

Born in Taipei, Taiwan, on the 15 October 1974, Lin was the second child in a family of five children. He graduated from Zhong Xiao Primary School and Huai Sheng Secondary School. At the age of 16, while he was studying Drama and Photography in Hwa Gang, Lin was discovered during a performance in school. During this time, he was the star of the campus. At first, he declined his first manager's offer to enter the entertainment industry but later took up the offer. In 1992, at the age of 17, he became a superstar overnight at the release of his debut album, "Not Every Love Song has Fond Memories" (不是每個戀曲都有美好回憶). His sweeping fame across Asia and even the United States gained him the nickname "Little Whirlwind". In San Francisco, the government officially regulates Oct 17th as the day of Lin Chih Ying (林志穎日) He was also known as one of the "Little Four Heavenly Kings"（四小天王）in Taiwan. Lin became the youngest singer ever to hold a concert at the Hong Kong Coliseum(香港红馆), being only 18 years old and the first singer to hold a concert within the Suntec City Fountain of Wealth, Singapore, in 1999. He went on to release 13 albums, including special editions and compilations, and has since filmed many movies and series, as well as endorsed many products. Throughout his singing career, he also received many awards for his hit songs and albums.

Lin enjoyed great popularity until 1994, when he had to serve compulsory military service. Despite knowing it would affect his career tremendously, he did not seek special treatment from the government. In October that year, he entered the military like any other ordinary male of his age. Despite his fame, Lin did not have an easy life in the military. In a 2005 talk show, Jimmy revealed that in addition to the arduous training, he was bullied by seniors, and was expected to perform better than other soldiers. Although he did not expect star treatment, Jimmy was shocked to be treated badly for being a celebrity. In spite of all these, Lin performed well as a soldier, and received awards for excellent performance. He served primarily in the entertainment section of the military. After 2 years in the military, he returned to acting and singing career in 1996.

Career

Lin's career as an actor and singer was momentarily postponed by his compulsory military service and upon his return, he was overshadowed by many newcomers. Despite the difficulties he faced in re-entering showbiz, he worked hard and even set up his own company, Jimmy Creative, which produced his recent 5 albums under the music label "Forward". The most noteworthy album was "Scarecrow" (稻草人)(1999), which contained a song of the same title.

In 1997, Lin decided to realize his dream of car racing. In one of the races that year, he encountered a crash which nearly cost him his life. Seconds after limping out of the wreck, the car exploded. The only reminder of the accident now is a few metal plates in the foot that was crushed. Despite the accident, Lin did not give up on racing, and constantly strove to better himself. With regard to this, he often says, "When I race, I am not racing against others, but against myself." Today, Lin is one of the top 10 rally racers in Mainland China. In 2005, he signed a contract with Hong He, the top team in China, as a racer. He trained under top racing coach Ma Jun Kun. Lin hopes to become a Formula 3 racer someday, and become a full-time professional racer. In 2005 he and two friends founded the Ping Tzuo Racing Advisory Company at the ZhuHai International Circuit. On 23 October 2005, Lin hosted the first "Jimmy Cup", a racing event where mainly male celebrities race. The event's aim was to increase the awareness of traffic safety to the masses and to promote the love of car racing. In 2006 he formed the Jimmy Lin Rally Team to compete in the China Rally Championship. His team won Overall 3rd place in the 2006 China Rally Championship. On 26 October 2008 he was formally inducted into the China F1 TianRong Powerboat Racing team in ShenZhen, China. He will train with the team in 2009/2010 in order to get his F1 powerboat racing license.

While being a racer, Lin has not neglected his showbiz career. Lin concentrated on filming after his last album "Going for a Walk" in 2000. The grandest production in recent years was Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils (天龙八部), where he took the role of the Dali crown-prince Duan Yu.

Despite having not released an album since 2006, which his last album was titled "擋不住我", Lin continues to sing theme songs for television series and films, and give regular live performances for various events including mini concerts, fund-raising events, festivals and even state events. He was one of the celebrity performers at the Third "Beijing 2008" Olympic Cultural Festival (2005), where the theme motto "One World, One Dream" was officially announced. In 2007, he starred in his first Taiwanese idol series, My Lucky Star, which got the #1 rating for 13 weeks in a row. In 2010, he starred in his first Chinese modern series, Hunan TV's "Single Princess and Blind Dates".

On 17 October 2008, Lin held his first concert in Shanghai, China after 14 years. It was a stunning success in front of 25,000 screaming fans who sang Happy Birthday to celebrate his 34th birthday. On 21 November 2009, he held his 2nd concert in Shanghai in front of 10,000 fans. It was a family event where his parents and siblings attended, and he sang a duet with his younger brother Jason Lin.

In addition to his entertainment and racing career, Lin is also a very successful businessman. In 2000 he started an IT company with friends that specialize in writing software for surveillance and banking. He himself became the youngest director in the Taiwan Network Association. His own house in Taipei has the latest hightech surveillance equipments manufactured by his own company. He can remotely control more than 100 home appliances from his PDA. He talked about this in talk shows in 2006. He also set up a business on the internet with his brother, naming his own brand "JR" (Jimmy Racing). The online venture sells goods ranging from sunglasses to bikinis. It has since grown in scale from operating solely on auction sites to selling his goods on shopping sites. In 2004 he opened Roadstar, a car dealership in Taipei that sells high-end sports cars. In 2005 he founded the PingTzuo International Racing Sports Advisory Company in Zhuhai, China with his best friend Chen Wei Liang. Lin is also on the PingTzuo racing team. In 2006 he opened a restaurant, The Dream Family Cafe in the Jing Hua Cheng shopping mall in Taipei, Taiwan. In 2009 he became a part-time wedding photographer for the Shanghai CHUECH studio. He also owns real estates in Taiwan, Shanghai, and Beijing.

Lin also contributed to the society by becoming an ambassador for many youth and government campaigns in Taiwan and other places. On 17 October 2003, Jimmy was presented with the "International Outstanding Youth Award" by the mayor of San Francisco. He was the first Chinese in history to receive this award. The award was mainly to commend him for starting a series of fund-raisers for schools, for being an anti-drug ambassador, and for participation in public community events.

On 16 April 2011, Jimmy Lin interviewed the F1 racing driver Michael Schumacher for the international magazine GQ (May 2011 issue). Jimmy did his homework before he met with Schumacher and did the entire interview in English. He asked more than 20 questions in different areas: life, racing experiences and charity. Jimmy said, “Schumacher is my most admired F1 racer. Besides his remarkable racing records, I also highly respect his charity works. He donated money to help the refugees rebuild their homes after the 2004 tsunami." Schumacher gave Jimmy a pair of limited edition shoes that he designed and invited him to a private dinner the following day.

Love Life

This was the first time Jimmy and Ruby Lin attended a variety show after their rumored break-up. When asked the reason for breaking up, both parties admitted that it was due to the distance and fading of feeling that cause the breakup. After the breakup, it was Ruby who called Jimmy, saving their friendship. Ruby admitted magnanimously that they did not break up because of a big quarrel, so it was okay that she initiated. Compared to her nonchalant attitude, Jimmy looked uneasy.

Jimmy attended "Kang Yong Dang Jia" filming. When asked how they have met, Ruby laughed, " My first movie was with Jimmy and Takeshi Kaneshiro. After filming, we became friends." The host asked Ruby immediately, who was more handsome then? As expected, she admitted that Jimmy was more handsome as Takaeshi had not slim down then and did not have the 'aura' he has now.

Jimmy and Ruby's relationship lasted for 2–3 years, and Ruby is the only girlfriend he has ever taken home to see his dad.

Jimmy and Ruby's secret relationship was still a mystery to the media now. Jimmy clarified that in the past, he had to film in China frequently, leading to the distance between both of them. But there's another version of the breakup: It was rumored that the breakup is due to Ruby filming in Huan Zhu Ge Ge (Princess Returning Pearl), and there was a rumor that Alec Su was actively pursuing Ruby. This let Jimmy to fax a copy of then News Articles to Ruby who was filming HZGG at the time. Though she denied any spark between herself and Alec, Jimmy called for a breakup. Whilst Alec and Jimmy later collaborated in a series together 'The Legendary Siblings' it was reported that the two did not get along.

Although they were good friends after breaking up, interestingly enough, Jimmy has never given Ruby his album as a present. Using this chance, Jimmy finally gave her his new album personally. And Ruby made use of this chance saying, "But I'm more interested in the watch you're wearing leh" Immediately Jimmy took off his watch and even help her put it on. One of the guest even teased," These 2 people seems to be engross in their own world" After that, Ruby said, "Treat this present as your gift for me this year." As Jimmy will always give her a birthday presently for her birthday every year. Ruby smiled, " His presents are mostly female stuff like handbags.

On 15 October 2009, Jimmy announced at his 35th Birthday Bash that he was officially engaged to the model Kelly Chen. The couple got engaged in 2008 and had dated for the past five years. Lin also announced the birth of his son born on 15 September 2009. 15 October was his baby boy's one month birthday.

On 15 September 2010, Jimmy announced that he and Kelly got married 5 months after their son was born. The wedding will be sometime next year.

Discography

• Color (Sept 2010 Theme songs of Single Princesses)(Oct 2011 Theme songs of Rainbow Sweetheart)
• You Are The One (Sept 2010 Theme songs of Single Princesses)(Oct 2011 Theme songs of Rainbow Sweetheart)
• Celebrate Youth (2010 The 16th Asian Games youth camp theme song with Zhang Li)
• Black (2010 single with Wallace Chung)
• My Lucky Star (2007)
• Jimmy F1ght (2006)
• Best of Jimmy Lin (2004)
• Go for a walk (2000)
• Scarecrow (1999)
• Before dawn breaks (1998)
• I am still myself (1997)
• Men are easily deceived (1997)
• Expect (1996)
• Dream is ahead ā1995)
• Saying goodbye to yesterday (1994)
• Goodbye my friend (1994)
• Fiery Heart (1994)
• Thinking of You (1993)
• Why am i always hurt (1992)
• Summer Of '92 (1992)
• Not every love song has fond memories (1992)

Filmography

Year	Title	Role	More Information
2012	Flying With You	Xu Yifan	Film - China
	If I Were You		Film - China
2011	Speed Angels		Film - China
	Rainbow Sweetheart	Shao Feng	Television series - Taiwan / Jiangsu TV
2010	Single Princesses and Blind Dates	Ji Fan	Hunan TV
2009	Shao Lin Si Chuan Qi 2	Li Shi Min	Henan TV
2008	Live With Chivalry	Jon	Musical by Chivas
2007	My Lucky Star (Fang Yang De Xing Xing)	"Vernon" Zhong Tian Qi	Television series by SETTV (Taiwan)
2004	Liao Zhai: Xiao Cui	Wang Yuan Feng	Television series
	Shu Jian Qing Xia Liu San Bian	Liu San Bian	Television series
	Wolf	Assassin	Film - Taiwan
	The Love Winner		Film - Hong Kong
2003	Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils (Tian Long Ba Bu)	Duan Yu	Television series
	Boxing Hero (Long Hu Ying Xiong)	Dragon	Film - Hong Kong
2002	Secretly Loving You		Television series - guest appearance (in episodes 27, 28 and 29)
2002	The Monkey King: Quest for the Sutra (Qi Tian Da Sheng Sun Wu Kong)	Na Ja	Television series
2002	The Legendary Siblings 2 (Jue Shi Shuang Jiao)	Jiang Fei Yu / Jiang Xiao Yu	Television series
2001	Feng Chen Wu Die	Journalist	Television series
2001	My Heart Will Go On	Bao Yi	Film - China
2000	Lotus Lantern (Bao Lian Deng)	Liu Chen Xiang	Television series
	Master Swordsman Lu Xiaofeng	Lu Xiaofeng	Television series
1999	The Legendary Siblings (Jue Dai Shuang Jiao)	Jiang Xiao Yu	Television series
	Red Word	Ah Hu	Film - Thailand
	Ang Yee: Luuk chaai phan mangkawn		Film - Thailand
1998	Chirvalous Legend	Liao Tian Ding	Film - Taiwan
	Heavenly Legend	The Monkey King / Sun Wu Kong	Film - Hong Kong
1995	Forever Friends	Wizard	Film - Hong Kong
1995	School Days (Xue xiao ba wang)	Xu Zhi Hao / Xiao Zhi	Film - Hong Kong/Taiwan
1994	Grandpa's Love (侄孙情)	Jiang Xing Jian	Film - Hong Kong
	No Sir 3 (Bao gao ban zhang 3)	Lin Xiao Ying	Film - Hong Kong
1993	Shaolin Popeye (Xiao lin xiao zi)	Pi Shi Ting / "Spinach"	Film - Hong Kong
	Vampire Family (Yi wu shao ya gui)	David Jen	Film - Hong Kong
	Boys are Easy (Zhui nan zi)	Ching Siu Pei / Xiao Bei	Film - Hong Kong
	End of the Road (Yi yu zhi mo lu ying xiong)	Ah Ding	Film - Taiwan
1992	Flying Dagger (Shen Jing Dao yu Fei Tian Mao)	Han Lin / Little Dagger	Film - Hong Kong
	Butterfly and Sword (Xin liu xing hu die jian)	Prince Cha	Film - Hong Kong/Taiwan
	To Miss With Love (Tao xue wai zhuan)	Lin Chi Yin	Film - Hong Kong

Awards received

• 2011 Most Charismatic TV Actor Award 安徽衛視國劇盛典最具號召力演員獎
• 2011 The Best Actor of Inspiring Idols 2011华鼎励志偶像最佳男演员奖
• 2008 Taiwan Hwa Gang School of Performing Arts Most Successful Alumnus 台灣華岡藝校華藝星光十傑第一名
• 2006 Top Ten Golden Song "Show Me Your License" and The Most Versatile Entertainer from The 4th Chinese Music Awards 2006 @ Fuzhou
• 2003 International Outstanding Youth Award
• 1999 Most Talented Male Artiste
• 1996 Top Ten Idols Award
• 1994 Best Album Award
• 1993 Metro Radio Top Ten Handsome People Award
• 1993 FM Select Bronze Award
• 1993 HK Top Ten Children Gold Song "Wild Chrysanthemum"
• 1993 HK Hottest Mandarin Singer Gold Award
• 1993 HK Most Popular New Artiste Gold Solid Award
• 1993 HK Top Ten Chinese Songs With The Brightest Future New Artiste Award
• 1993 HK-CR Gold Award
• 1993 HK Spreading Mandarin Award
• 1993 HK Jade Solid Gold First Place Song
• 1992 Taiwan Top Ten Idols Award
• 1992 Taiwanese Superstar New Artist Award
• 1992 Taiwan's Most Brightess Future New Artiste Award
• 1992 HK Hottest Mandarin Award

Racing Records

• Teams raced for: Renault Tire Racing Team, HongHe Rally Team, 香港代纳10方程式车队, Mitsubishi Lancer ManYu Rally Racing Team, Guangxi Speedone Rally Team
• Team owned: ESSO Jimmy Racing Team, Jimmy Lin Rally Team
• Team racing for now: PingTzuo Racing Team
• Team owns now: PingTzuo Racing Team

In 2011, he announced that he'll quit rally racing due to the death of one of his racing buddy and will devote more time to showbiz.

1997

• September Super Car Challenge, Ferrari 348, 3rd place

1998

• February 555 Taiwan Rally Race
• March Super Car Challenge Cup, BMW M3, 3nd place
• August Impreza Challenge Cup
• November World Rally Championship Australia Hyundai Rally Car, got FIA International Class A

1999

• February went to Japan to study racing under a famous Japanese racer
• June Super Car Challenge, BMW M3, 3rd place
• August Super Car Challenge, BMW M3, 3rd place

2000

• May 17 Super Car Challenge, BMW using new M3 race car, 2nd place, broke Taiwan LungTam BMW M3 single lap record
• July Super Car Challenge, BMW M3, 2nd place, broke Taiwan LungTam BMW M3 single lap record
• August 7 formed ESSO Jimmy Racing Team and Racing Company, became spokesman for ESSO
• August 28 ZhuHai International Circuit Renault Spider Challenge, 4th round 1st place, 6th round, 2nd place
• December 4 Super Car Challenge, broke Taiwan's single lap record in Taiwan LungTam Super Car

2001

• March 11 Impreza race, group A, first round, 3rd place
• April 1 Super Car, 1st round, used M3 race car, 1st place
• June 3 Super Car, 2nd round, used M3 race car, 1st place
• August China Formula International Race, 1st place
• August Super Car, 3rd round, used M3 race car, 1st place
• September China Formula International Race, 1st place
• October Super Car, 4th round, used M3 race car, 1st place.
• October China Renault Formula, 5th round, Group A, 1st place.
• October China Renault Formula, 6th round, Group A, 1st place.
• December 31 Taiwan Oil year end Challenge, competing with the best 36 races in Taiwan, 4th overall. This established Jimmy's status in Taiwan's racing circle
• won 9 winner cups: seven 1st place, one 2nd place, one 3rd place. Became Champion of the Year for winning all 4 rounds of the Taiwan Super Car Race. He still holds this record.

2002

• March 10 China Renault Formula
• March 2 China Rally Championship, Shanghai representing Radial Tire Rally Racing Team
• April 7 Taiwan Super Car Race, used BMW M3, 2nd place
• May 4–5 Asian Formula
• June 16 China Renault Formula, 7th place
• June 2 Taiwan Super Car Race, used BMW M3, 1st place
• July 2 China Renault Formula, 3rd place
• August 4 Taiwan Super Car Race, used BMW M3
• October 1 Taiwan Super Car Race, used BMW M3, 2nd place

2003

• Contracted to race for Radial Tire Racing Team for 2 years.
• March 20 Shanghai Rally Race
• April 12 China Renault Formula Race, Zhuhai, 2nd place
• June 8 Malaysia PORSCHE GT3 CUP
• July 17 ChangChun Rally Race, 8th place
• August 19 China Rally Championship, Beijing
• September 13 China Rally Championship, Beijing
• October 25 Porsche Carrera Cup Asia, PORSCHE 911 GT3 CUP, Beijing
• November 12 Macau Grand Prix, Renault Formula Race, 17th place out of 25

2004

• March Shanghai Rally Race, 9th place
• May 30 Beijing Rally Race, dropped out at 10th place
• June 6 Shanghai Renault Formula Race, dropped out after collision at 7th place
• June 27 Asia Renault Formula Race, Shanghai, 6th place out of 30
• September 26 Asia Renault Formula Race, Shanghai, 10th place out of 30

2005

• Contracted to race for Honghe Rally Team, the largest racing team in China, for the reported sum of TW$10 mil
• March China Rally Championship, Shanghai 9th place
• April China Rally Championship, Zhejiang 9th place
• May 8 Asia Renault Formula F2000, Zhuhai 5th place out of 31
• August China Rally Championship, Guizhou
• September China Rally Championship, Yunan, 8th place
• September Coach for Jackie Chan Charity Race
• October Held the 1st Jimmy Lin Charity Stars Race at Zhuhai International Circuit
• November China Rally Championship, Shaoguan, Guangdong, eighth place。
• December ranked 8th overall in China Rally Championship 2005

2006

• 3/22/06 Formed Jimmy Racing Team and became his own boss. He signed British racer, Alister McRae, who ranked 3rd in 2003 and 26th in 2006 in the world. The other 2 racers in his team are Jimmy himself and the 7th ranked Chinese racer. Jimmy ranked 8th in China in 2005. McRae was paid US$50,000 per race, 5 races a year.
• 3/24/2006 Jimmy Lin Racing Team won both team 1st place and racer 1st place in Shanghai Rally Race.
• June Became Zhuhai Super Car Club Honorary President
• July China Rally Championship, Guizhou
• July Jimmy Lin Racing Team 3rd place at China Rally Championship, Guizhou
• August Celebrity Charity Race, team 1st place, men 1st place
• September China Rally Championship, Kaiyang, Guizhou, Jimmy Lin Racing Team, 1st place
• October Ford Celebrity Race, professional group 1st place
• November China Rally Championship, Longyou, Zhejiang
• November 27 Jimmy Racing Team won Overall 3rd place in 2006 China Rally Championship.

2007

• May Formed WSCC PingTzuo Racing Team with International Supercar Club at Zhuhai International Circuit. Jimmy will represent PingTzuo in the 2007 China Open Formula.
• May China Open Formula Renault Formula, Zhuhai 15th place
• 6/15/07 to 6/17/07 Raced for Mitsubishi Lancer Wan Yu Rally Team in the China Rally Championship in Beijing. His team won the race and Mitsubishi won the Sponsor's Cup. Jimmy placed 10th overall among 71 international and 5th among Chinese racers.
• July Jet Li Celebrity Charity Race, 2nd place
• 11/12/07 The Mitsubishi Lancer Rally Team won the grand championship of the 2007 China Rally Championship. Jimmy only participated in the Beijing Rally Race in June. He is not ranked this yr because he missed most of the races due to filming and showbiz conflicts but did contribute points to the team for completing the race in Beijing.
• November World Drifting Championship, Hangzhou, guest of honor

2008

• 1/27/08 Test drove the new British Radical Race car。
• 3/15/08 to 3/16/08 Drove a Radical SR3 at the Frestech Pan Delta Super Racing Festival - Spring Race at ZhuHai International Circuit.

Round 1: 1st place
Round 2: 2nd place

• 6/21/08 to 6/22/08 Tian Si Light Weight Sports Car Challenge Race - Summer Race at ZhuHai International Circuit. Drove a Radical SR3 and achieved double win.

Round 1: 1st place, Time 1:44.978
Round 2: 1st place, Time 17:41.700

• On October 26, 2008 he was formally inducted into the China F1 TianRong Powerboat Racing team in ShenZhen, China. He will train in 2009 in order to get his F1 racing license before he can race for the team.

2009

• On March 1, 2009 he signed with the Guangxi Speedone Rally Racing Team and will race in 3 rally races in 2009. His 1M yuan Mitsubishi EVO-10 race car was unveiled at the signing ceremony.
• June 13–14, 2009 China Rally Championship at Naning, Nanking. 12th place in Group N4 (International) out of 87 international racers, 7th place out of all Chinese racers. Earned 1 point for Speedone.
• July 9–10, 2009 China Rally Championship at Shanghai. 6th place out of all Chinese racers in group N4 (International). Won 6th place cup for Speedone, its first cup.
• August 28–30, 2009 China Rally Championship at Fugang, Guangzhou. Withdrew from the race after his EVO-9 race car had mechanical problems during the 1st day of the race.
• November 2, 2009 Race of Champions at The Bird's Nest in Beijing. 2nd place in the Celebrity Race.
• November 15, 2009 His PingTzuo Racing Team won the championship in the Asian category of the 2009 Asian AFR Championship.

2010

• April 22, 2010 PingTzuo racer Zhang Shanqi won 3rd place in the 2010 Asian Renault Formula Race at Zhuhai
• May 23, 2010 PingTzuo racers Zhang Shan Qi & Li Zhi Cong Respectively won Champion in Race 1 & 2 in the AFR Championship!
• August 14, 2010 AFR International Formula Renault at Shanghai F1 International Circuit. Got 1st place IFC trophy.
• October 5–7, 2010 PingTzuo won 1st place in the International Le Mans Cup (ILMC) 1000 km Zhuhai FLM division

2011

• November 13, 2011 PingTzuo won 1st place in the International Le Mans Cup (ILMC) 1000 km Zhuhai FLM division

External links

• 林志颖台北吉米工作室 Jimmy Creatives Studio
• 林志颖 新浪微博 Jimmy Lin Weibo
• PingTzuo International Racing Sports Advisory Company
• Jimmy Lin at IMDb
• Jimmy Lin Profile, Pictures, and Filmography - www.spcnet.tv