Yan Kuan (; born 24 January 1979), stage name Yan YiKuan (), is a Chinese actor and singer. He is best known for his roles in the television series Taiji Prodigy (2002), The Prince of Qin, Li Shimin (2005), The Last Princess (2008), All Men Are Brothers and The Glamorous Imperial Concubine (2011), Mazu (2012), Heroes in Sui and Tang Dynasties (2013), The Three Heroes and Five Gallants (2016) and Treasure Raiders (2016).
Career Yan graduated from the acting department of Shanghai Theatre Academy in 2001 and joined National Theatre Company of China. He made his debut in the film First Opium War (1997), where he had a minor role. However due to his appearance not fitting the role, his scenes were later cut.
Yan first gained attention with his appearance in wuxia drama Taiji Prodigy and later historical drama The Prince of Qin, Li Shimin. Thereafter, he starred in a series of well-received period dramas, such as Big Shot and Golden Years, which gained him considerable recognition and earned him the title of "Most Handsome Ancient Man" in China. He also starred in The Last Princess which yield high audience following during its run and led to a surge in popularity for Yan.
Yan achieved breakthrough in 2011; his performance in the television adaptation of Water Margin, All Men Are Brothers and historical palace drama The Glamorous Imperial Concubine garnered much attention for Yan, who later won the Acting Idol award at the China TV Drama Awards. Yan also starred alongside Liu Tao in mythology drama Mazu, which was a hit in China.
Yan then headlined historical drama Heroes in Sui and Tang Dynasties (2013), which marked the turning point of his career. The series earned both positive reviews and high ratings. After the series was broadcast in Taiwan, Yan experienced a surge in popularity in the region. His other notable appearances were in The Three Heroes and Five Gallants (based on The Seven Heroes and Five Gallants) and Treasure Raiders (based on Gu Long's novel of the same name). In 2016, Yan starred alongside an ensemble cast in Guo Jingming's epic fantasy film L.O.R.D: Legend of Ravaging Dynasties. In 2017, Yan co-starred in the fantasy romance film Once Upon a Time, portraying Demon Lord Qing Cang. He has also been cast in the historical drama The Legend of Ba Qing co-starring Fan Bingbing.
Personal life Yan and his girlfriend of five years, actress Sunny Du held their long-awaited wedding in Bali, Indonesia on the evening of 22 March 2014. The couple were engaged for four months before registering for marriage.
Filmography
Film Year English title Chinese title Role Notes 2004 Fairy Tale in Beijing北京童话 Liu Xiaofeng 2005 One Stone Two Birds 2 一石二鸟II 2007 Momentary Beauty瞬间的美丽 Du Peng 2010 The Love of Three Smile Scholar and the Beauty三笑之才子佳人 Scholar Cameo 2014 Forever Young怒放之青春再见 Zhang Wu Cameo 2014 The White Haired Witch of Lunar Kingdom白发魔女传之明月天国 Hong Taiji 2016 L.O.R.D: Legend of Ravaging Dynasties爵迹 Guishan Fenghun 2017 The Chinese Widow营救飞虎队 Village head Once Upon a Time 三生三世十里桃花Qing Cang 2019 Whisper of Silent Body 秦明·生死语者 Qin Ming Ocean Rescue 深海危机
Television series Year English title Chinese title Role NotesRef 1999 Love Letter情书 Jin Pengcheng 1999 The Blessed Family and The Sun, Moon and star 情牵日月星 Liu Dehua Cameo 2000 Love Web心网 Bi Chenggong 2000 碧血情仇 Kuang Xianneng 2000 奇人奇案 Ye Yushu 2001 Two People Is Better Than Being Alone一个人不如两个人 Wang Dong 2002 Chasing Dream追梦 Sun Benli 2002 Taiji Prodigy少年张三丰 Yi Jifeng 2002 秋潮向晚天 Zhuang Zili 2003 梦里花开 Lin Hui 2003 The Ming Dynasty大明王朝惊变录 Zhengtong Emperor 2005 起跑天堂 Wen Cheng 2005 The Prince of Qin, Li Shimin秦王李世民 Li Jiancheng 2005 Wu Dang武当 Zhu Yuanzhang 2005 Young People of Border Town飞天潜龙 Liu Yushu 2005 Wind Warrior风中战士 Yan Kuan 2005 六女当铺 Qin Chi 2006 Golden Years金色年华 Fang Guowei 2006 The Life and Death Love生死绝恋 Tao Jin 2006 春天后母心 Huzi Cameo 2007 The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng陆小凤传奇之决战前后 Ye Gucheng 2007 Justice Department青天衙门 Yu Huanchun 2007 Loving Insurance情爱保险 Huang Jianyuan 2007 Liaozhai 2聊斋志异2 E Zichuan 2007 Good Morning Shanghai纯白之恋 Wang Mingwei 2007 Big Shot大人物 Qin Ge 2008 Bicheonmu飞天舞 Liu Zhangyu Special appearance 2008 The Last Princess最后的格格 Fang Tianyu 2009 犯罪启示录 Lee Dalin 2009 大案组 Sha Cheng 2009 冷枪 Xiang Jianfeng 2009 Love in Trouble Time乱世艳阳天 Qiu Zheng 2010 烽火长城 Xiao Yunfei broadcast 2020 2010 Indanthrene阴丹士林 Li Zhaocun 2010 Ghost Catcher – Legend of Beauty Zhongkui天师钟馗之钟馗嫁妹 Du Ping 2010 Beauty's Rival in Palace美人心计 Liu Shaokang Special appearance 2010 The Legend of Crazy Monk活佛济公 Sheng De 2010 生死迷局 Wu Fei 2011 All Men Are Brothers水浒传 Yan Qing 2011 Palace宫 Lin Feifan Cameo 2011 大唐儒将开漳圣王 Chen Yuanguang 2011 The Glamorous Imperial Concubine倾世皇妃 Meng Qiyou 2012 媳妇是怎样炼成的 Tang Lei Cameo2012 Happiness By Your Side身边的幸福 Yang Qing 2012 铁血男儿夏明翰Xia Minghan 2012 Lord of Legal Advisors刑名师爷 Emperor Cameo2012 Mystery of the Blue Butterfly蓝蝶之谜Zhuo Lixuan Cameo 2012 Mazu妈祖 Wu Zonglun 2013 Heroes in Sui and Tang Dynasties隋唐演义 Qin Shubao 2013 Love Love恋了爱了 Jiang Haotian 2013 Girlfriend's Lover闺中密友 Li Qiuyang 2013 Blood Oath血誓 Ao Zi Cameo 2013 Longmen Express龙门镖局 Shangguan Jingyu Cameo 2013 春天的绞刑架 Du Kurong 2014 Modern Father岳父太囧 Yuan Dong 2014 Dating Hunter约会专家 Gu Yi Cameo2014 God of War战神 Qin Jinwen 2014 The Romance of the Condor Heroes神雕侠侣 Wang Chongyang Special appearance2015 Legend of the Seaways海上絲路Emperor Xuanzongnot broadcast2016 Sisters姐妹姐妹 Cha Zhachai 2016 Treasure Raider新萧十一郎 Xiao Shi Yi Lang 2016 The Three Heroes and Five Gallants五鼠闹东京Zhan Zhao 2016 God of War, Zhao Yun武神赵子龙 Liu Bei Special appearance 2016 Ice Fantasy幻城 Yuan Ji Special appearance2016 Ares Ensanguined Youth战神之血染的青春 Zhuang Zian 2016 The Legend of Flying Daggers飞刀又见飞刀 Li Xunhuan Special appearance 2016 Maritime Silk Road 海上丝路 A Man / Li Long Ji not broadcast2018 Love in Hanyuan 小楼又东风 Gao Chen2018 The Legend of Jasmine苏茉儿传奇 Duo Ergun 2019 The Eyas 飞行少年 Kong Xin 2021 Silk Road Treasure 昆仑·丝路宝藏 Mu Wenshan TBABlood River暗河传TBA The Legend of Ba Qing 巴清传 Crown Prince Dan TBA Love and Passion 万水千山总是情Yuan Tingshen TBA The Justice 宣判 2026Pursuit of Jade逐玉Wei YanMain Role
Discography Albums Year English titleChinese titleNotes2008 The Next Heavenly King 下一站天王
Singles Year English titleChinese titleAlbumNotes 2000 "Waiting for Love" 等爱 Qiren Qi'an OST 2001 "Don't Be Afraid, There's Me" 别怕有我 Two People Is Better Than Being Alone OST 2006 "Only Have Love"只有爱Golden Years OST 2007 "Rely"依赖 The Last Princess OST "Breaking Fragments" 断章 2009 "Falling Leaves"落叶 Qiuchao Xiang Wantian OST 2013 "The You I Love"我爱的你 Love Love OST "Love Love恋了爱了 "Say I Love You Again"再一次说爱你
Awards and nominations Year Award Category Nominated work ResultRef. 2011 China TV Drama Awards Acting Idol Award Best Supporting Actor All Men Are Brothers 2013 Most Popular Couple (with Sunny Du)Girlfriend's Lover 2016 New Zealand Asia Pacific Film FestivalMost Popular Actor China TV Drama Awards Most Popular Couple (with Sunny Du)Sisters 2017 Huading Awards Best Actor (Ancient Drama) Treasure Raiders
References
External links Yan Yikuan's official weibo