Huang Lei

Huang Lei was born in 1977 in Jiujiang, Jiangxi Province, into a family with an artistic background. His father, Huang Xiaoli, was an actor at the Central Experimental Drama Theatre, engaged in stage drama. Huang Lei grew up in the Jiangxi Drama Theatre and began performing on stage at age five, showing early talent for acting.

Education: Huang applied to the Shanghai Theatre Academy but was unsuccessful. In 1990 he was admitted to the Acting Department of the Beijing Film Academy, where he was classmates with Wang Jinsong and Jiang Wu. In 1994 he entered the graduate program of the Beijing Film Academy’s Acting Department, specializing in film acting creation and teaching, and worked as a teaching assistant. After graduating in 1997, he stayed at the academy to teach, becoming a teaching assistant for the Acting Department’s class of ’97; his students included Hai Qing and Huang Haibo.

Career: Huang’s performing career began in 1990. He starred in the film Bian Zou Bian Chang (边走边唱; often translated as "Walking and Singing"), directed by Chen Kaige; the film was shortlisted at the Cannes Film Festival and brought him early recognition. He then appeared in the stage play Three Sisters (三姐妹), and in 1994 he wrote and directed the stage play The Gadfly (牛虻). In film, he appeared in the 1995 Hong Kong movie Ye Ban Ge Sheng (夜半歌声; literal translation "Midnight Song"), directed by Yu Rentai, and won the Best Supporting Actor Award at the Changchun Film Festival for that role. Moving into music, he released his first solo album Walking and Singing (边走边唱) in 1997 and a second album, I Think I Am the Sea (我想我是海), in 1998.

On screen Huang has played a variety of roles, including Xu Zhimo in Renjian Siyue Tian (人间四月天; commonly rendered as "April Days in the Human World") and Wen in Sishui Nianhua (似水年华; "Years Like Water"). In 2000 he starred in the TV series Juzi Hong Le (橘子红了; "The Oranges Have Turned Red") as the fiancé Rong Yaohui, demonstrating his acting strength. From 2009 onward, Huang expanded into directing and screenwriting, creating and directing multiple television and stage works such as Sishui Nianhua (似水年华) and Tian Yi Sheng Shui (天一生水). His works often focus on family and emotional themes, and some have received industry recognition.

Besides acting, Huang is also a well-known host and producer and is active in public welfare. Since 2015 he and his family participated in Hunan TV’s reality show Dad, Where Are We Going? (爸爸去哪儿), attracting wide attention. In recent years he has continued to explore film, television and theater, directing a short film titled The Old Man’s Adventure (老男人历险记) and serving as producer or executive producer on several projects.

Personal life: Huang married Sun Li in 2004; they have three children, including a daughter, Huang Yici. He has maintained a low-key lifestyle, focusing on artistic creation and family life. He has received multiple awards in performance and public service, including the title of "Honorary Actor" from the China National Drama Theatre, and has been listed among China’s top 500 brand figures.

Huang Lei has influence within the entertainment industry and has earned public respect for his modest way of life, representing a diversified development across multiple fields.