62-year-old actor Li Hongtao used to be a factory worker, struggled with acting opportunities early on, but stuck to his craft, now has solid roles and a stable happy life.
62-year-old actor Li Hongtao has recently had his past brought to light by netizens,and many have remarked that it’s hard to connect this familiar face with his early life story—audiences’ impressions of him stem mostly from his portrayal of the dignified and generous Bai Yingyuan in *The Grand Mansion* and the stern and stubborn Gu Yankai in *Knowing Whether*,and behind these deeply memorable characters lies a career spanning most of his life.
In his early years, Li Hongtao worked as a factory worker assigned to a specific task; it wasn’t until he was 23 that he was admitted to the Class of ’87 acting program at the Central Academy of Drama, where he was the oldest among his classmates, including Hu Jun and Xu Fan. No one could have predicted that for a full decade after graduation, he would struggle to land even a decent bit part.
When they got married, he couldn’t afford a dowry, nor could he afford a proper wedding. The family of three lived crammed into a 10-square-meter basement, where his wife took care of their child while doing odd jobs to make ends meet.He once spent half the night crouched by the basement door, smoking. With reddened eyes, he brought up divorce, hoping only that she could find a better future for herself, but his wife simply replied, “I married you for who you are.”After she said that, he never brought up the idea of separating again. Instead, he settled down and threw himself into his scripts, honing his acting skills.
Later, as acting offers gradually increased, he handed over every penny of his earnings to his family; the farces of fame and fortune in the entertainment industry never had anything to do with him.As of this past August, he and his wife have been together for thirty-five years; their son has been admitted to the Academy of Arts & Design at Tsinghua University; the roles he has played have become increasingly substantial; and his life has been stable and content—free from scandal and sensationalism—making him a rare example of a down-to-earth person in the entertainment industry.
After struggling through most of my life, I’ve come to realize that staying true to myself is what brings the greatest sense of peace.
