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Wu Kang-ren

Wu Kang-ren
吳慷仁
Wu for ELLE Taiwan in December 2023
Born (1982-11-24) 24 November 1982 (age 41)
Other namesWu Kang-jen
Alma materKaohsiung Municipal Chung-Cheng Industrial High School
Occupation(s)Actor, model
Years active2007–present
AgentEasy Entertainment (2024–)
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese
Simplified Chinese
Hanyu PinyinWú Kāng-rén
Wade–GilesWu K'ang-jên
Hokkien POJNgô͘ Khóng-jîn

Wu Kang-ren[1] (Chinese: 吳慷仁; Wade–Giles: Wu K'ang-jen; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Ngô͘ Khóng-jîn; born 24 November 1982), is a Taiwanese actor. He debuted in the short film Fragile in Love: Poetry in Motion in 2007, and first came to attention for his role in the 2009 television series Autumn's Concerto. He received the Asian Television Award for Best Actor, his first acting award, at the 18th Asian Television Awards for his performance in the 2012 TV series Emerging Light. In 2023, he won the Golden Horse Award for Best Leading Actor for his performance in Abang Adik.

Early life

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Wu was born on November 24, 1982, in a military dependents' village in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, with his family roots in Anhui. His parents divorced when he was young, after which he lived with his mother. He began working at 14, after graduating from junior high school, to support his family. Initially, he tried his hand as an on-site construction welder despite his lack of experience, which resulted in eye burns. He later worked in various jobs, including restaurants, stalls, and supermarkets and enrolled into the Kaohsiung Municipal Chung-Cheng Industrial High School, where he balanced work with studies. He enlisted in Taiwan’s mandatory military service immediately after graduation.[2] After completing his conscription at the age of 24, he moved from Kaohsiung to Taipei, where he worked as a bartender for three years. At 27, he was discovered by director Li Qiyuan, who helped him break into the entertainment industry.[3][4]

Career

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2007–2009: Beginnings

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He started his career as an ad model.[3] Later, he enrolled into an acting program at National Taiwan University of Arts and moved to being an actor. He made his debut performance in Fragile in Love: Poetry in Motion (沿海岸线徵友). Directed by Mickey Chen and Chi Chen Jun, the short film was featured at The LGBT Civil Rights Movement Film Festival[5] and at the Tokyo International Lesbian & Gay Film Festival among others.[6] His first television miniseries came the afterwards in Talking With You Boyfriend's Ex-Girlfriend (與男友的前女友密談). The mini-series was awarded the Best Mini-series Screenplay Award and the Best Editing Award at the 43rd Golden Bell Awards in 2008.[7] The same year, he was cast in Hong Kong film Miao Miao with actors Ko Chia-yen and Wing Fan. The film was selected at the 2009 Melbourne International Film Festival, but it was later pulled out due to controversies about China's boycott against the film festival,[8][9] as well as premiering at the 59th Berlin International Film Festival.[10] The film was also screened at the 11th Taipei Film Festival.[11]

In 2009, Talking With You Boyfriend's Ex-Girlfriend's director Chen Hui Jing cast him once again in his first idol drama Autumn's Concerto starring Vanness Wu and Ady An, where he played the role of Hua Tuoye.[12] In later years, he stated that he was often reprimanded by Li Qiyuan as he had difficulties delivering his lines well in shootings.[3] The series was received favorably by viewers.[13][11]

2010–2015: Recognition

[edit]

Wu started to receive more television and film projects. In TTV's Zhong Wu Yan, he played the character of Howard, a blind man who finds love in Wu Yen, played by Cheryl Yang.[11] He also starred in When Love Comes which garnered multiple nominations from different award-giving ceremonies.[11][14][15]

During the press conference of TTV's Local Hero in 2011, Wu stated that he accidentally injured his left hand while shooting.[16] He still participated in their scheduled charity event game that requires peeling fruits despite his hand injury, nevertheless, because he stated that he wanted the kids to enjoy.[citation needed] A year later, he was cast in four more television series. Among them is TTV's What Is Love co starring Jade Chou.[17]

In 2012, Wu was cast in the role of Rong Guang, a farmer raising his son as a single parent, in the film The Third Wish.[18] In preparation for the role, who is a skinny farmer to be diagnosed of Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Wu started running 5-kilometer races in the hot sun, and ate only boiled eggs and guava. He lost 8 kilograms of weight in 10 days.[19] He also started acting as a father to child actor Chen Yu-cheng a week before filming began to study the father-and-son's lifestyle.[20]

I was not born an actor... These experiences (doing manual labor jobs at a young age) made me aware of how money is earned that I try my best to be a hardworking actor. — Wu Kang-jen[3]

In January, Wu was cast in TTV's King Flower co-starring James Wen and Nikki Hsieh. He played the character role of Ouyang Tai, the GM of Shen Da Realty who was engaged to Du Liang Yan, but was later killed by accident. The series consistently topped the viewers' ratings during its timeslot, garnering a 1.57 total average by the end of the series.[21] Before the year ended, his performance in the 2012 TV series Emerging Light (愛在旭日升起時) earned him the Best Actor in a Leading Role award at the 18th Asian Television Awards on December 5, 2013, held in Singapore.[22]

In 2014, he played the role of Zhou Shu Yu and David in Rock N' Road and Winnie the Boob (小胸維妮的幸福旅程), respectively. He was once again paired with Judy Chou, his co-star in What Is Love, in the latter series.[23] He also acted alongside Ella Chen in The Lying Game (謊言遊戲) towards the end of the year.[24]

2016–present: Acclaim

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From late 2015 to early 2016, he starred in the period drama A Touch of Green as a young fighter pilot, for which he won the Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role at the Golden Bell Awards 2016.[25] In 2023, he won the Golden Horse Award for Best Leading Actor for his performance in Abang Adik. In 2024, Wu signed with Easy Entertainment, marking his first agency partnership in ten years and expanding his career into mainland China.[26]

Personal life

[edit]

Wu was in a relationship with White Ant co-star Aviis Zhong from 2015 to 2017.[27] Since 2018, he has an on-and-off relationship with The Perfect Match co-star Ivy Shao. On November 11, 2020, Shao went public with their relationship.

Filmography

[edit]

Television

[edit]
Year English title Original title Role Notes
2007 Talking With You Boyfriend's Ex-Girlfriend 與男友的前女友密談 Film
Fragile in Love: Poetry in Motion 沿海岸線徵友 Hsiao-hai Film
2008 Taipei 24H: Save the Lover 台北異想:舊.情人 Rookie
2009 Autumn's Concerto 下一站,幸福 Hua Tuoye
2010 Zhong Wu Yen 鍾無艷 Howard
Days We Stared at the Sun 他們在畢業的前一天爆炸 Police officer
2011 The Local Hero 田庄英雄 Ma Shanghong
2012 I Love You So Much 粉愛粉愛你 Bu Haowen Cameo
Inborn Pair 真愛找麻煩 Zhao Dongyang
What Is Love 花是愛 Bai Zongyou
Emerging Light 愛在旭日升起時 Zhang Tingxu
2013 King Flower 金大花的華麗冒險 Ouyang Tai
The Sea Reflects the Blue Sky 碧海映藍天 Chien Chunyi
The Day Mom Came to Visit 那天媽媽來看我 Ho Xuan Film
2014 Rock N' Road A咖的路 Zhou Shuyu
My Antenna Is Broken 搆不到的訊號 Antenna man Film
Winnie The Boob 小胸維妮的幸福旅程 David Film
The Lying Game 謊言遊戲 Wei Youliang
Mr. Right Wanted 徵婚啟事 Xu Lei Cameo
Love by the River 河畔卿卿 Passerby Cameo
2015 Heart Of Steel 鋼鐵之心 Dance instructor Cameo
Wake Up 麻醉風暴 Yeh Chien-te
Long Day's Journey into Light 出境事務所 Zhao Shengwei
The Crossing Hero 超級大英雄 Sun Yen-chun
A Touch of Green 一把青 Kao Jen
2016 Q Series: Love of Sandstorm 植劇場-戀愛沙塵暴 Lin Yi-de
In Love - Love 滾石愛情故事-愛情 Chang Ching-yeh
Where the River Flows 鮮肉老爸 Chiu Min-hui Film
Lost? Me Too 迷徒Chloe Wang Shih-chi Webseries
Code CODE浮士德遊戲 Alex Chen Webseries
2017 The Perfect Match 極品絕配 Huo Ting-en
The Masked Lover 我的愛情不平凡 Huo Ting-en Cameo
My Gifts 我的禮物 Chao Yi-chung Film
We Are One 望月 Chou Ta-lung Film
Ping Pong 乒乓 Fang Yi Film
Wake Up 2 麻醉風暴2 Yeh Chien-te
2018
Your Children Are Not Your Children 你的孩子不是你的孩子
2019 The World Between Us 我們與惡的距離 Wang She
2020 The Ghost Bride 彼岸之嫁 Er Lang Webseries
2021 Light the Night 華燈初上 Liu Pao-lung
2022 Mom, Don't Do That! 媽,別鬧了! Chen Ru-rong
Shards of Her 她和她的她 Tu Chun-ju
2023 Copycat Killer 模仿犯 Guo Xiao-qi Netflix series
Living 有生之年 Gao Jia-yue
TBA Friend Begin 吳慷仁 Chi Hei-ye

Film

[edit]
Year English title Original title Role Notes
2008 Miao Miao 渺渺 Bei Jiaxin
In the Coming of Surprise 意外之前 Short film
2009 The End Of Love 愛情的盡頭 A-kai Short film
2010 When Love Comes 當愛來的時候 Mu Zongfu
2011 Blowfish 河豚
2012 The Third Wish 第三個願望 Ho Rong-guang
Dive In 這一刻,愛吧! Shuai Yiqiang Short film
Economical Man 經濟適用男 A-han Short film
Xiao Yuan San Kuai Ke 校園三快客 Wu Shihan Short film
Love in Kyushu 九州 向愛走 Lin Bai Short film
Life in Tokyo 東京 不見不散 A-zhi Short film
2013 Star of Bethlehem 微光閃亮 第一個清晨 A Sheng
2014 42 Minutes 42分鐘 Husband Short film[28]
2015 The Bride 屍憶 Yeh Cheng-hao
2016 White Ant 白蟻─慾望謎網 Bai Yide
Beyond All Doubt 我們都不應該討論愛情 Ming-lung Short film
2017 Portrait Coffee Shop 寫真咖啡館 Lin Wen-lung Short film
Solo 獨奏 Short film
Father with Dark Circles 我的黑眼圈爸爸 Short film
2018 High Flash 引爆點
The Scoundrels 刁民
Xiao Mei
2019 The Lady Improper
2023 Abang Adik 富都青年 Abang
2024 Fly Me to the Moon 但願人長久 Lam Kok Man [29]

Music video appearances

[edit]
Year Song title Artist
2007 "Breathless" (缺氧) Rainie Yang
2008 "Too Bad" (殘念) Jeff Chang
"Unable To Guess" (猜不透) Della Ding
2012 "It Can Hurt More" (再痛也沒關係) Andrew Tan
2014 "The Real Me" (真的我) Ella Chen
2015 " A Million Butterflies" (一百萬隻蝴蝶) We Save Strawberries
"Travel" (放心去旅行) Wing Lo
"As It Is" (看淡) Hebe Tien
"Men Over Clouds and Women on Earth" (天上的男人 地上的女人) Yoga Lin
"You Are Nothing" (什麼東西) Kris Kuan
2016 "Truth Be Told" (說實話) Lee Chien-na
"Tough" (頑固) Mayday
2017 "Beginning of the End" (終於結束的起點) Mayday

[30] [31]

Discography

[edit]

Soundtrack contributions

[edit]
Year Song title TV series/Film
2012 "Sleep" (睡吧) The Third Wish
2014 "In The Spring" (春天裡) Rock N' Road
"Onion" (洋蔥)
"Friends" (朋友)
2016 "Wild Fires of Youth" (野性的青春) Where the River Flows

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2013 18th Asian Television Awards Best Actor in a Leading Role Emerging Light Won [32]
2015 50th Golden Bell Awards Best Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Television Film Wake Up Won [33]
[34]
Best Leading Actor in a Television Series Long Day's Journey into Light Nominated
2016 51st Golden Bell Awards Best Leading Actor in a Television Series A Touch of Green Won [35]
2017 19th Taipei Film Awards Best Actor White Ant Won [36]
52nd Golden Bell Awards Best Leading Actor in a Television Series Love of Sandstorm Nominated [37]
Best Leading Actor in a Miniseries or Television Film We Are One Nominated
22nd Asian Television Awards Best Actor in a Leading Role Nominated [38]
12th Asia-Pacific Producers Network Awards Best Actor Won [39]
2019 54th Golden Bell Awards Best Leading Actor in a Television Series The World Between Us Nominated [40]
2nd Asian Academy Creative Awards Best Actor in a Leading Role – Taiwan Won [41]
2021 23rd Taipei Film Awards Best Actor I Missed You Nominated [42]
2022 57th Golden Bell Awards Best Supporting Actor in a Television Series Seqalu: Formosa 1867 Nominated [43]
5th Asian Academy Creative Awards Best Actor in a Supporting Role Light the Night Won [44]
2023 17th FIRST International Film Festival Best Performance Abang Adik Won [45]
58th Golden Bell Awards Best Leading Actor in a Television Series Copycat Killer Nominated [46]
60th Golden Horse Awards Best Leading Actor Abang Adik Won [47]
2024 17th Asian Film Awards Best Actor Nominated [48]
30th Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards Best Actor Fly Me to the Moon Won [49]
42nd Hong Kong Film Awards Best Supporting Actor Nominated [50]
2nd Da Nang Asian Film Festival Best Lead Actor (Asian in Competition Films) Won [51]
6th Asia Contents Awards & Global OTT Awards Best Lead Actor Living Nominated [52][53]
59th Golden Bell Awards Best Leading Actor in a Television Series Won [54]

References

[edit]
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  2. ^ "《下一站》吳慷仁當粗工 搶中年男頭路". Apple Daily Entertainment (in Chinese). Retrieved February 17, 2015.
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  4. ^ Zhang, Shida. "吳慷仁睡書店學調酒 床戲成精倒穿衣服". Yahoo Taiwan (in Chinese). 中時電子報. Retrieved February 17, 2015.
  5. ^ Yi, Ho. "LGBT Film Festival targets the general public". Taipei Times. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
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  28. ^ 2015Festival-Cannes 2015Festival Cannes Short Film Catalog
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  45. ^ "《富都青年》感人金句盤點:「你們都過得很好,我也想和你們一樣,但我沒辦法。」". Vogue Taiwan (in Chinese). August 28, 2023. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  46. ^ "【2023金鐘獎】金鐘58「戲劇類」得獎名單一覽!薛仕凌、蔡淑臻成金鐘獎最佳男女主角". Vogue Taiwan (in Chinese). September 14, 2023. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
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  49. ^ "吳慷仁新作《但願人長久》!從真摯父愛看見小人物的動人生活剪影". Vogue Taiwan (in Chinese). March 20, 2024. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  50. ^ "2024 金像獎|《白日之下》入圍16項大獎成最大贏家,林保怡、黃子華首度入圍同梁朝偉爭影帝". Vogue Hong Kong (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). February 6, 2024. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
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  54. ^ "金鐘59/導演代吳慷仁領獎死守「黑色側背包」他曝背後真相藏洋蔥" [Golden Bell 59/Director accepted the award on behalf of Wu Kangren and stuck to the "black side backpack". He revealed the truth behind the onion.]. Yahoo! News Taiwan (in Chinese). October 20, 2024.
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