Tong Dawei
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Template:Infobox Chinese-language singer and actor Template:Contains Chinese text Template:Chinese name Tong Dawei (born 3 February 1979) is a Chinese actor and singer. Tong is best known for starring in the TV series Jade Guan-yin and Struggle, and the film Lost in Beijing.
In 2004, Tong won the Favorite Actor award of Golden Eagle Awards by playing Yang Rui in Jade Guan-yin. In 2007, he was nominated for Best New Actor in the Busan Film Critics Awards for the film Lost in Beijing.
In 2008, Tong starred in the film Red Cliff: Part II directed by John Woo. In 2011, he starred in director Zhang Yimou's The Flowers of War, alongside Oscar-winner Christian Bale.
Early life and career
Tong Dawei was born in 1979 in Fushun, Liaoning Province. His parents were both part of the police force and as a young child, Tong also wished to join the police force. But at six years old, his father was injured and fell into a coma. After graduating from high school, Tong joined the Shanghai Theater Academy in 1997 and graduated in 2001 with a Bachelor of Arts in Acting. During his studies, Tong joined his first TV series Brother’s wife, playing the role Yun Dong. Before graduating from the Academy, Tong would be a part of many TV series including Green Wedding and Life of a Century. In 2001, with his graduation from Shanghai Theater Academy his first film, One Thousand Thieves was released.
In 2002, one year after graduation, Tong first gained mainstream popularity in the movie I Love You. He starred, Wang Yi, a character in an unhealthy marriage dealing with the struggles of love. Directed by internationally acclaimed director Zhang Yuan, the movie premiered in many international film festivals including Sundance. In China, the film was a huge success, grossing 10.2 million Yuan (1.2 million dollars) at the box office and becoming Yuan’s highest grossing film yet.
At the same time, Tong also starred in the TV show in Jade Guan Yin. Adapted from a novel, the show gained popularity for being an exciting adventure about crime, and was a huge hit with Mainland Chinese audiences. Unfortunately, Tong’s subsequent TV shows between 2003 and 2006 failed to find a target audience.
Tong’s popularity rose back to mainstream in 2007 with his most successful TV show yet; Struggle. Based on the popular novel by Shi Kang, Struggle gained unexpected acclaim due to its cast. Taking place in most 1980s modern China, the show was seen as a breakthrough in Chinese TV production as it broke from the usual Chinese TV series focusing in traditional legends and series. Tong’s character, Lu Tao, reflected the rise in a new social class in modern China. In the same year, Tong’s controversial film, Lost in Beijing, gained international fame for being banned in China for its honesty portrayals of class struggles and sexuality. Directed by awarding winning director Li Yu, the film starred a top Chinese cast including Chinese actress Fan Bingbing, and Hong Kong actor Tony Leung Ka-Fai. The film held its international premiere in Berlin film festival, where it gained strong reviews and acclaim. Like many films dealing with problems in modern Chinese society, the film was officially banned in China in 2008.
In 2008, Tong starred in John Woo’s epic Red Cliff II. At time of production, the film had the highest budget ever released for an Asian film at 80 million USD. Based on the historical battle occurring during the Han Dynasty, the movie filmed huge expansive battles unlike anything seen before in China. The movie was seen by many critics as Director John Woo’s return to form. Also in 2008, Tong joined the Chinese ensemble in the movie The Founding of a Republic, a movie marking the 60th Anniversary of the People’s Republic of China. The film was well received with Chinese audiences and critics, earning 62.5 million USD in box office. At the same time, Tong continued collaborating with prominent leaders of the Chinese entertainment industry, and played vital roles in different Chinese TV series.
In 2010, Tong collaborated with award winning director Zhang Yimou for the film The Flowers of War. Dealing with the sensitive issue of the Rape of Nanjing, Tong plays Major Lee, a man on a mission to save his lost friend. The movie was released in December 2011, and was China’s entry for the Best Foreign Film in the 84th Academy Awards.
Personal life
On 17 April 2008, Tong married Guan Yue (born 1979), a movie and TV series actress. The wedding was held in the Hotel Sofitel Wanda, Beijing. On 26 August 2008, Guan Yue gave birth to their daughter.
Musical career
Tong released a vocal album titled Da Shi Jie Xiao Zuo Wei (Being Little in A Big World) in 2007.
Filmography
| Year | English title | Original title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Brother's Wife | 嫂娘 | Yun Dong | TV Series |
| 1999 | Green Wedding | 綠色婚禮 | Xiao Yong | TV Series |
| Life of a Century | 世紀人生 | Da Ming | TV Series | |
| 2000 | Angels Are to Blame | 都是天使惹的禍 | Xiong Feng | TV Series |
| Network Love Story | 一網情深 | Zhou Wei | TV Series | |
| 2001 | One Hundred Thieves | 一百個小偷 | Shi Gang | |
| Meeting Aquarium | 海洋館的約會 | Mai Di | TV Series | |
| Young Justice Bao II | 少年包青天II | Emperor Song Ren Zong | TV Series | |
| 2002 | I Love You | 我愛你 | Wang Yi | |
| Jade Guan-yin | 玉觀音 | Yang Rui | TV Series | |
| Family on a Diet | 瘦身家族 | Tang Manjin | TV Series | |
| Waterlilies | 出水芙蓉 | Gao Chu | TV Series | |
| 2003 | Sky of Love | 情牽一線 | Wen Tao | |
| Double Dating | 非常浪漫 | Xiao Chun | ||
| Fall in Love at First Sight | 一見鍾情 | Zhao Benxuan | ||
| Taste of Summer | 夏天的味道 | Zhu Cheng | TV Series | |
| A Pink Family | 紅粉世家 | Yu Shuicun | TV Series | |
| 2004 | The Vinegar Tribe | 醋溜族 | Xiao Bai | TV Series |
| First Intimate Contact | 第一次親密接觸 | Pizi Cai | TV Series | |
| Heaven Has Eyes | 蒼天有眼 | Wu Yu | TV Series | |
| Butterfly Fantasy | 蝴蝶飛飛 | Lan Dongchen | TV Series | |
| 2005 | Give the Definite Word | 一言為定 | Ximen Hong | TV Series |
| Romantic Life | 與青春有關的日子 | Fang Yan | TV Series | |
| We Have Nowhere to Place Youth | 我們無處安放的青春 | Li Ran | TV Series | |
| 2007 | Lost in Beijing | 蘋果 | An Kun | |
| Struggle | 奮鬥 | Lu Tao | TV Series | |
| Special Police | 女特警 | Liu Chun | TV Series | |
| The So-called Marriage | 所謂婚姻 | Wu De | TV Series | |
| How Far Is It to My Happiness | 幸福還有多遠 | Wang Xiaomao | TV Series | |
| 2008 | Fit Lover | 愛情呼叫轉移2 愛情左右 | Zhang Ting | |
| Red Cliff: Part II | 赤壁-下 | Sun Shucai | ||
| Volunteer | 志願者 | Xiao Ran | ||
| Sniper | 狙擊手 | Long Shaoqin | TV Series | |
| 2009 | On His Majesty's Secret Service | 大內密探靈靈狗 | Royal Tiger | |
| The Founding of a Republic | 建國大業 | Kong Lingkan | ||
| Outside the Great Wall Is My Hometown | 長城外面是故鄉 | Ming Di | ||
| Mars Baby | 火星沒事 | Bank Staff | ||
| 2010 | Waiting for Our Happiness | 守候我們的幸福 | Lin Ziyang | TV Series |
| Marriage Battle | 婚姻保衛戰 | Guo Yang | TV Series | |
| 2011 | To Southeast Asia | 下南洋 | Jian Zhaoqing | TV Series |
| Energy Behind the Heart | 用心跳 | |||
| Treasure Inn | 財神客棧 | Wen Wenqie | ||
| Great Wall My Love | 追愛 | |||
| The Flowers of War | 金陵十三釵 | Major Li | ||
| 2012 | To My Wife | 與妻書 | Lin Juemin | |
| The Zodiac Mystery | 十二星座離奇事件 | |||
| All for Love | 三個未婚媽媽 | |||
| 2013 | Better and Better | 越來越好之村晚 | ||
| American Dreams in China | 中國合伙人 | |||
| Switch | 天機：富春山居圖 | Toshio | ||
| Badges of Fury | 不二神探 | Real Estate Manager | cameo | |
| Longmen Express | 龙门镖局 | TV series | ||
| 2014 | But Always | 一生一世 | ||
| Dearest | 亲爱的 | |||
| The Crossing | 太平轮 | Tong Daqing | ||
| Meet Miss Anxiety | 我的早更女友 | |||
| Love on the Cloud | 微爱之渐入佳境 | |||
| 2015 | You Are My Sunshine | 何以笙箫默 | ||
| Tiger Mom | 虎妈猫爸 | TV series | ||
| Hollywood Adventures | 横冲直撞好莱坞 | |||
| The Crossing 2 | ||||
| 2016 | Lost in White | 冰河追凶 | ||
| Scandal Maker | 外公芳龄38 |
Awards and nominations
List of awards and award nominations
| Year | Award | Award category | Title of work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Golden Eagle Awards | Favorite Actor | Jade Guan-yin | Won |
| 2007 | Busan Film Critics Awards | Best New Actor | Lost in Beijing | Nominated |
References and external links
- Use dmy dates from August 2010
- Male actors from Liaoning
- People from Fushun
- 1979 births
- Living people
- Chinese male singers
- Singers from Liaoning
- 20th-century Chinese male actors
- 21st-century Chinese male actors
- Shanghai Theatre Academy alumni
- Chinese male stage actors
- Chinese male film actors
- Chinese male television actors
- Manchu people