Li Nanxing

Li Nanxing
Li in August 2017
Born
Jonathan Lee Nam Heng

(1964-11-07) 7 November 1964 (age 60)
NationalitySingaporean
Occupations
  • Actor
  • businessman
  • host
  • filmmaker
Years active1986–present
Spouse
(m. 1994; div. 2004)
AwardsFull list
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese李南星
Simplified Chinese李南星
Hanyu PinyinLǐ Nánxīng
Wade–GilesLi2 Nan2 Hsing1
JyutpingLei5 Naam4 Sing1
Hokkien POJLí Lâm-seng
Tâi-lôLí Lâm-sing
Websitelinanxing.com

Li Nanxing (born Jonathan Lee Nam Heng on 7 November 1964) is a Singaporean actor who has been referred to as "Ah-Ge" (阿哥, "big brother") of Caldecott Hill. He is also a businessman and filmmaker.

Li has acted in many Chinese-language television dramas produced by MediaCorp Channel 8. He has won the Best Actor awards three times in the Star Awards, an annual acting awards in Singapore.

Career

Li attended Singapore Broadcasting Corporation's drama training course before debuting in 1986 with Crossroads (红绿灯 之《红灯》).[1] Li gradually rose to stardom in the 1990s. In 1993, he rose to prominence when starring in The Unbeatables I, the first ever gambling drama series produced in Singapore, alongside Zoe Tay. For most of the 1990s, he, Tay and Chew Chor Meng were MediaCorp's three most popular actors and he was voted the Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes ten years in a row and also won several Malaysia and Taiwan popularity polls at the Star Awards. In 2004 he was awarded the All-Time Favourite Artiste award.

During the late 2000s, his career hit a rocky phase due to personal issues.[2] After a two-year hiatus, Li made his comeback in On the Fringe 2011 and also directed his first film, The Ultimate Winner.[3] He also produced the film, Imperfect, which he co-starred with Ian Fang and Kimberly Chia.[4]

Some of his more famous shows include The Unbeatables trilogy and The Magnate; Li has also acted in 6 telemovies to date, and even sang the theme song of several of his shows. He mostly played in anti-hero roles such in The Vagrant, for which he won the Best Actor award at the Star Awards 2002 and On the Fringe 2011. In September 2012 it was announced that he will be cast in C.L.I.F. II as a police officer, which will be one of the few times he plays a protagonist.[5]

In 2019, Li signed to Zhao Wei's management agency to manage his presence in China.[6] He was then cast in Zhao's web drama series, Everyone Wants To Meet You (谁都渴望遇见你), which was filmed in China, in the same year.[7] The series was released in February 2020 on IQIYI.[8]

Business and ventures

In the 2000s, Li bought a fish farm and managed it with his uncle.[9]

In 2004, Li founded his own talent management agency, LNX Global, named after his initials.[10] Constance Song was LNX's first artiste to be managed by LNX in 2015.[10][11]

Li also co-owns the Chinese dessert shop Tian Wang Desserts at Jalan Besar, which opened in March 2021.[12] In addition, he has collaborated with other brands to sell his Curry Chicken and Dried Scallop Hae Bee Hiam Croissant at Bakers & Co in Holland Village, as well as launching his Dried Scallop Hae Bee Hiam Ramen with Japanese ramen chain Ippudo.[13]

Personal life

Li married actress Yang Libing in 1994 after co-starring together in several drama series. They divorced in 2004 citing irreconcilable personality differences. They have no children from the marriage.[14]

Li battled with gambling addiction and had to work as a Hollywood ‘calefare’ to pay off his debts in the 1990s.[15] During this period, he became a Christian, having credited a "miraculous" experience he had while on a karaoke trip with a friend in Thailand.[16]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1994 Wounded Tracks (伤城记) Xu Le Telemovie
1995 Thorny Love (浪子的童话) Hao Telemovie
Somewhere In Time (再世情缘) Li Xiong Telemovie
What A Wonderful World (奇异旅程之真心爱生命)
1996 Life On the Line (魂断四面佛) Gu Yuming Telemovie
1997 Courage Of Fire (炽火豪情) Peng Jianxing Telemovie
The Test Of Time (三年零八个月) Luo Wenfeng Telemovie
2011 The Ultimate Winner Shi Tiancai Directorial debut[3][17]
2012 Imperfect (我们都不完美) Zhihua Also as producer[4]
2017 The Fortune Handbook Ren Haoxing

Television series

Year Title Role Notes Ref
1986 Neighbours (芝麻绿豆)
Under One Roof (家和万事兴) Lixin
Crossroads (红绿灯 之 红灯) Lu Rihua
1987 Sunshine After Rain (雨过天晴) Wu Jingtang
Paint a Rainbow (调色板) Wu Qifan [18]
Moving On (变迁) Gao Xiaosheng
1988 Airforce Li Zhengting [19]
On the Fringe Chen Yong [18]
Teahouse in Chinatown (牛车水人家) Chen Dejian
My Fair Ladies (窈窕淑女) Ding Lei
Song Of Youth (生活歌手) Wei Jiahao
1989 Good Morning, Sir! Zhou Wenjie
Splash to Victory Li Jiajun
A Mother's Love (亲心唤我心) Ye Jianhui [18]
1990 Finishing Line Xia Dejian
Happy Family (开心家族) Situ Zhengting
Happy World (多多富贵多多情) Wang Baiwan
1991 Private Eyes (妙探智多星) Chen Ya Jin
Black Phoenix (黑凤凰) Wu Yunkai
1992 Modern Romance (男欢女爱) Li Junhao
My Buddies (浪漫战场)
Mystery II (迷离夜II) Yang Tianwei / Wen Yufei
Breaking Point (暴风边缘) Bai Yufeng
1993 Smouldering Heat (赤道谜情) Lu Haojie
Angel of Vengeance (暴雨狂花) Qiao Kang
The Great Conspiracy (莲花争霸) Shen Cong [18]
The Unbeatables I Li Jianfei / Yan Fei [18]
1994 Dreams Come True (美梦成真) Lu Wenyang
Twin Bliss (龙凤呈祥) You Long
The Magnate (叱咤风云) Song Zhigao
1995 The Shadow Mission (地下猎人) Chen Zhixin
1996 The Unbeatables II Yan Fei [18]
Dairy of a Teacher (老师日记) Yu Mingxing
1997 Rising Expectations (长河) Shi Guoying / Stone
Crime and Tribulations (狮城奇案录) Chen Zhenwen
My Wife, Your Wife, Their Wives (101老婆) Jian Qiang
1998 The New Adventures of Wisely Guo Zeqing [4]
The Return of the Condor Heroes Lu Liding
1999 Coup de Scorpion (天蝎行动) Zheng Nanshun
Bright Future (同一片蓝天) Haisheng
2000 Dare to Strike (扫冰者) Wang Shen
2001 The Hotel Cloudy
Heroes in Black Song Dou / Wolaiye
In Pursuit of Peace Sakagami Ichiro
2002 The Unbeatables III Yan Fei
The Vagrant Ah Bao / Liu Xiaoming [4]
2003 Home in Toa Payoh Li Baomei
Baby Boom Tim
Romance De Amour Huang Weide
2004 A Child's Hope II Hu Yiming
2006 A Million Treasures Ma Da [20]
Through It All Guo Xianghai
The Undisclosed Chen Musheng
2007 The Homecoming Dong Weihong
The Golden Path Ah Jin / Jin Long [21]
2009 Daddy at Home Liu Bang
The Ultimatum Zhang Feng / Zhou Zhida
2011 On The Fringe 2011 Tian Yibang
2012 Beyond Jiang Wei
2013 C.L.I.F. 2 Wei Lantian [22]
The Journey: A Voyage Zhang Tianpeng [18]
2014 The Journey: Tumultuous Times Cameo
C.L.I.F. 3 Wei Lantian [22]
Justice Heroes (廉政英雄) Xia Junhong / Chen Xueliang 14 episodes
2015 Dowry (嫁妝) Sun Wenhua
The Dream Makers II Lin Tao [9]
A Blessed Life Ye Daji
2016 C.L.I.F. 4 Wei Lantian [9]
2017 My Teacher Is a Thug Jia Tianxiong [20]
2018 Everyone Wants To Meet You (谁都渴望遇见你) Zhang Jingzhong [23]
2021 The Peculiar Pawnbroker (人心鉴定师) Cheng Huochang
2022 I Want to be a Towkay (亲家冤家做头家) Hou Xili

Variety show hosting

Year Title Network Notes Ref
2021 LNX x Hawkers (星•料理) Mediacorp Channel 8

Awards and nominations

Year Organisation Category Nominated work Result Ref
1994 Star Awards Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes Won
1995 Star Awards Best Actor Wounded Tracks (as Xu Le) Won
Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes Won
1996 Star Awards Best Actor Somewhere in Time (as Liu Xiong) Nominated
Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes Won
1997 Star Awards Best Actor The Unbeatables II (as Yan Fei) Nominated
Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes Won
1998 Star Awards Best Actor The Adventures Of Wisely (as Zhang Guoqing) Nominated
Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes Won
1999 Star Awards Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes Won
2000 Star Awards Best Actor Coup de Scorpion (as Zheng Nanshen) Nominated
Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes Won
2001 Star Awards Best Actor Dare To Strike (as Wang Shen) Nominated
Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes Won
2002 Star Awards Best Actor The Vagrant (as Bao) Won
Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes Won
2003 Star Awards Best Actor The Unbeatables III (as Yan Fei) Nominated
Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes Won
2004 Star Awards Best Actor A Child's Hope II (as Hu Yiming) Nominated
All-Time Favourite Artiste Won
2006 Star Awards Best Actor The Undisclosed (as Cheng Musheng) Won
2012 Star Awards Favourite Onscreen Couple (with Fann Wong) On the Fringe (as Tian Yibang) Nominated
2014 Star Awards Favourite Onscreen Couple (with Rui En) C.L.I.F. 2 (as Wei Lantian) Nominated [22]

References

  1. ^ "Li Nanxing Needed Richard Low To Give Him 'Tuition' When He Was A Struggling Student In Acting Class". TODAYonline. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  2. ^ "Li Nanxing once racked up S$2m in debt, thought of suicide". Channel News Asia. 8 March 2010.
  3. ^ a b "Li Nanxing's directorial debut may also be the last film he directs". Channel NewsAsia. 20 April 2011.
  4. ^ a b c d "Li Nanxing never stops learning | News & Features | Cinema Online". www.cinema.com.my. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  5. ^ "Actors disappear as police drama CLIF returns". Channel NewsAsia. 28 September 2012.
  6. ^ "Vicki Zhao smitten by local 'Ah Ge' Li Nanxing as a young girl". AsiaOne. 25 September 2019. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  7. ^ celebasia (4 May 2019). "Li Nanxing Signs With Vicki Zhao's Management Agency". CELEB ASIA MAGAZINE. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  8. ^ 陈韵红, 文 / (18 February 2020). "监制偶像剧《谁都渴望遇见你》 赵薇赞李南星:有霸气魅力!". 早报 (in Simplified Chinese). Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  9. ^ a b c "Li Nanxing Once Worked As A Hollywood Calefare To Clear His $2 Million Debt". 8 Days. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  10. ^ a b hermes (5 August 2015). "Local actor Li Nanxing makes Taiwan debut". The Straits Times. Retrieved 26 November 2020.
  11. ^ "Li Nanxing: If you want to be a good actor, try acting in Taiwan first". 8 Days. Retrieved 26 November 2020.
  12. ^ "Li Nanxing Has Been Quietly Helping Out At His Bro's Jln Besar Dessert Shop For 2 Years". 8days. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
  13. ^ "You Can Soon Buy Li Nanxing's Dried Scallop Hae Bee Hiam At Cheers And FairPrice Xpress Outlets". 8days. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
  14. ^ "Top Celeb Divorces: Hollywood vs Local". xin.msn.com. 22 October 2010. Archived from the original on 15 November 2010. Retrieved 24 September 2012.
  15. ^ "Li Nanxing worked as a Hollywood 'calefare' in the 90s to pay off his gambling debts". mothership.sg. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  16. ^ "Celebration of Hope - Li Nanxing Testimony (English)". YouTube. 11 May 2019.
  17. ^ Tan, Raymond. "Review: The Ultimate Winner". Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  18. ^ a b c d e f g "Local actor Li Nanxing signs with Chinese actress Vicki Zhao's management agency".
  19. ^ "每集长75分钟 《空军》六片集 是六部迷你电影". Lianhe Wanbao (in Chinese (Singapore)). 25 February 1988. p. 13. Retrieved 8 November 2023 – via NewspaperSG.
  20. ^ a b Sng, Suzanne (18 February 2021). "Actress Pan Lingling confesses she wanted to kiss Li Nanxing in their first drama | The Straits Times". www.straitstimes.com. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
  21. ^ "Lighter roles for Li Nanxing". TODAY. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  22. ^ a b c "Former ice queen feels happier now". AsiaOne. 3 April 2014. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  23. ^ "Madeline Chu, Sean Say, John Hung: 1991 ad of top 20 popular artistes stirs nostalgia". AsiaOne. 6 April 2023. Retrieved 10 April 2023.