Li Chen (, born 24 November 1978), also known as Jerry Li, is a Chinese actor and director. He is a cast member and leader of the popular variety program, Keep Running. Li is also known for his roles in the television series Beijing Love Story (2012), Beijing Youth (2012) and The Good Fellas (2016); as well as films Ultimate Rescue (2008), which won him the China Movie Channel Media Awards and Aftershock (2010). Li made his directorial debut in 2017 with Sky Hunter.
Career Li made his acting debut in the 1997 television series, Seventeen Year-Olds Don't Cry, and was remembered for his role as a young, energetic and pure boy. Li's career went quiet for several years, during which time he embarked on several unsuccessful business ventures and flirted with the idea of becoming a racing car driver. In 2002, under the recommendation of his mentor Lü Liping, Li got the role of Qi Beile in the palace romance drama 13th Princess and started to re-gain attention. Though the drama wasn't a huge success, Li got attention for his performance and was subsequently cast in several productions. In 2006, he rose to fame again for his performance in the 2006 drama Soldiers Sortie, and was signed onto Huayi Brothers. Li was then cast in the film Assembly (2007) by Feng Xiaogang.
In 2008, Li starred in the television film Ultimate Rescue where played a rough-edged taxi driver who is caught in the thick of a spontaneous rescue mission, and was widely praised for his realistic portrayal. Li was nominated at the International Emmy Awards for Best Actor, and won the Best Newcomer award at the China Movie Channel Media Awards. He continued his upward trajectory with several high profile films and television series including My Chief and My Regiment (2009) and Aftershock (2010); his performance in the latter resonated with the audience and earned him a nomination for Best Supporting Actor at the Hundred Flowers Awards.
Li then co-starred in the romantic drama Beijing Love Story (2012), which he also acts as producer. The series was popular during its run, recording 1 billion views and had a cult following online. The same year, he starred in Beijing Youth, the third installment of Zhao Baogang's Youth trilogy. The drama won positive reviews all-round for its realistic portrayal of youth. Li experienced a surge in popularity, and was named 'Artist of the Year' at the China TV Drama Awards.
In 2014, Li became a cast member of the variety program Keep Running, which had explosive popularity in China and launched Li into a household name.
Li then co-starred in war drama The Good Fellas, which he also acts as the creator cum executive producer. The series was filmed back in 2013, but only got its release in 2016. Li's efforts paid off, and The Good Fellas won the Best Television Series award at the Shanghai Television Festival.
In 2017, Li starred in the historical drama The Advisors Alliance, playing Cao Pi. The same year, he launched his directorial debut, Sky Hunter, which is China's first aerial warfare film.
In 2018, Li was cast in the action thriller drama Seven Days.
Personal life On 16 September 2017, Li and actress Fan Bingbing were engaged after Li proposed to Fan at her birthday party. The couple announced their separation on 27 June 2019.
In January 2021, Li opened a high-end bar in Sanya, China. Oriental Sunday. 2021-01-15
Filmography Films Year English title Chinese title Role Notes/ 1997 花季·雨季 Wang Xiaotian 1998 岁岁平安 Zhao Gen 2000 从冰点到沸点Yang Tao 2001青春子弹 Qing Tong 玫瑰黑客 Yao Xiaolei 2003 Sky of Love情牵一线Student Cameo 危险少女Guan Xiaoyang 2004 花烛错 Yan Jun Television film珍珠衫Jiang Xingge 2005 终极游戏Qiao Ran 2006 On the Wings of an Angel 天使的翅膀 Li Xiaoyao Boy Rush Out男孩向前冲 He Xiaofeng Assembly 集结号 Liu Cameo 2007 沉默的较量 Lei Xiaoyu 2008 Ultimate Rescue 极限救援 Liu Wu Television film Desires of the Heart 桃花运Guan Xiang 立正 Xiao Le The Shaft 地下的天空Song Daming2009 Six Sisters in the War 沂蒙六姐妹 Han Dazhuang 2010 Aftershock 唐山大地震Fang Da Watch Out for the Bear 熊出没注意 Sha Li Love on Lushan Mountain 庐山恋 Ma Jiang If You Are the One 2非诚勿扰2Celebrity Cameo Struggle奋斗Lu Tao2011 Yang Shan-zhou 杨善洲Zhou Bo The Founding of a Party 建党伟业 Zhang Guotao Love is Not Blind 失戀33天 Cameo2013 Saving General Yang 忠烈楊家將 Yang Yanhui 2014Breakup Buddies心花路放Rich PlayboyCameo 2015 Running Man 奔跑吧！兄弟HimselfLet's Get Married咱们结婚吧Li XiangChronicles of the Ghostly Tribe九层妖塔President Wang 2016 MBA Partners 梦想合伙人Jun Cheng When Larry Met Mary垚知马俐 Cameo I Am Not Madame Bovary 我不是潘金莲PoliceCameo2017Sky Hunter空天猎Wu Di Also director 2018 The Faces of My Gene祖宗十九代 Zhang Baishun 2020 The Eight Hundred 八佰 Shandong Soldier My People, My Homeland 我和我的家乡 Jiang Wenhao 749 Bureau 749局 2021 Never Stop 超越 Niu Tieju The Battle at Lake Changjin 长津湖 Yu Congrong 2022 The Battle at Lake Changjin II 长津湖之水门桥 Yu Congrong 2023Never Say Never谢理事Director XieThe Third SquadYang Jiantao2024A Legend傳奇Lei Zhen2025Operation Hadal蛟龙行动Zhou Peilin2026Vanishing Point消失的人Lin Wenzhao Crossing 四渡Wu Qiwei
Television series Year English title Chinese title Role Notes/1997 Seventeen Year-Olds Don't Cry 十七岁不哭 Jian Ning1998Working Diary 打工日记 Qing Miao 你在哪里逗留 Hu Ke 1999 刑警本色Mei Ying 2002 Only You非你不可Da Zhong 2003 13th Princess十三格格 Qi Beile 歌唱 Cao Huoxing 生命因你而美丽Du Yuan 2004 Suddenly Turn Hostile变脸 Shen Han 2005 The Clock is Ticking危情24小时Fang JinThe Vinegar Tribe 醋溜族Ah Hua Cameo 离婚官司Wang ZiyiCameo The Phantom Lover夜半歌声 Zhuo Nan Cameo2006 一针见血Fan Dong May Flower五月的鲜花Zhou BeijiSoldiers Sortie士兵突击Wu Zhe 2007 有多少爱可以重来 Jiang Bei2008 Top-secret Escort 绝密押运 Lu Tao2009My Chief and My Regiment我的团长我的团Zhang LixianThe Line生死线 Long Wenzhang2010孽缘Li BaoquanShrimp Preach 虾球传 Xia Qiu2011Windmill 风车Liang ChenBarber理发师Lu Pingsheng 2012Beijing Love Story北京爱情故事Wu Di also producer Beautiful Day风和日丽Liu ShijunMy Best Sidekick我的非常闺密Qiao NiCameoBeijing Youth北京青年He Dong Hot Girls麻辣女兵Chen XiongCameo 2013 Marry to Love嫁给爱情 Ma Mingyu Angel is Coming 今夜天使降临Sun JiachengThe Distance to Love 到爱的距离 Li Ruialso producer2014 Divorce Lawyers离婚律师Lu Chen Cameo All Quiet in Peking北平无战事Qi MutangSpecial appearanceCosmetology High 美人制造Yuan Tiangang CameoMr. Goodman – A Story of Emotion Care好男儿之情感护理Ye ShilongCameoThe Empress of China 武媚娘传奇 Li Mu Special appearance2015My Sunshine何以笙簫默 Barber Cameo Strawhat Police草帽警察 Liu Wusi City of Angels天使的城Li FeixiangXiucai Encountered Soldiers春江英雄之秀才遇到兵Long Qianyan Three Dads三个奶爸Yu ZhengBoys to Men爸爸快长大Cui Zheng2016 The Good Fellas好家伙Shi Guang also producer2017The Advisors Alliance 军师联盟Cao Pi 2019Seven Days 七日生Lee 2020 Beijing Xicheng Story 幸福里的春天Li Qiang
Variety show Year English title Chinese title Role Notes/ 2013 Singing All Over the World 唱游天下第二季Host Season 2 2014–present Keep Running 奔跑吧 Cast member and leader 2015–2016 Challenger's Alliance 挑战者联盟 Cast member2019Super Penguin League 超级企鹅联盟super3Player***2020Super Penguin League
Discography Singles Year English title Chinese title Album Notes 2008 "Decision"决定The Line OST 2011"By Your Side"在你身边Struggle OST"I Do"我愿意 2012"Living"活着Beijing Youth OST 2015 "Teenage Dream"少年梦Xiucai Encountered Soldiers OST 2019 "造亿万吨光芒" Keep Running theme song With Angelababy, Zheng Kai, Zhu Yawen, Wang Yanlin, Lucas Wong and Song Yuqi
Accolades Awards and nominations Year Award Category Nominated work Result 20085th China Movie Channel Media AwardsBest New Actor Ultimate Rescue200947th International Emmy AwardsBest Performance by an Actor 20105th Huading AwardsNewcomer Award 20114th China Student Television FestivalMost Popular Actor2012 31st Hundred Flowers AwardsBest Supporting Actor Aftershock5th China Image Film FestivalBest Supporting ActorSaving General Yang 8th Huading AwardsBest Actor (Youth)Beijing Youth20142nd Asia Rainbow TV AwardsOutstanding Actor Beijing Youth 10th National Top-Notch Television Production Ceremony Top 10 Actors Angel is Coming 201618th Huading Awards Best TV Actor 23rd Beijing Student Film FestivalMost Popular Actor MBA Partners2018 9th China Film Director's Guild AwardsBest DirectorSky Hunter 23rd Huading Awards Best New Director 25th Beijing College Student Film Festival Students' Choice Award for Favorite Director 20196th The Actors of China Award Best Actor (Sapphire Category)Seven Days
Forbes China Celebrity 100 YearRank 2013 35th201483rd201519th201755th202089th
References
External links
Li Chen on Sina Weibo