# Choi Bool-am

Choi Bool-am (Korean: 최불암; born June 15, 1940) is a South Korean retired actor and a professor.

## Biography

Choi was born in the neighborhood of Geumgok-dong [ko], Dong District, Incheon, Korea, Empire of Japan in 1940. He is of the Haeju Choe clan. Choi was the only son to his father Choi Cheol, a business man, and his mother Lee Myeong-suk who was a daughter of a royal pharmacist of the Korean Empire. Choi Cheol suddenly died when Choi was 8 years old and entered Sinheung Elementary School in Incheon. Choi moved to Seoul to attend Jungang Middle School. Choi was drawn to theater as he entered a theater club at Jungang High School. Choi established directing experiences while at Seorabeol Art College (which has since merged into the now Chung-Ang University). He entered Hanyang University in 1960. Before graduation, Choi starred in several plays. Choi was recruited as a KBS TV actor in 1976, and entered stardom with the role of Kim Jong-seo in the drama series, Prince Suyang.
He is also the host for Korean Cuisine and Dining, a food travelogue series on food of Korea and the Korean diaspora.

## Filmography

*Note; the whole list is referenced.

### Film

| Year | Title | Role |
| 1967 | Light and Shadow | |
| 1968 | The Wings of Lee Sang | |
| 1968 | Vega | |
| 1968 | Female Bandits | |
| 1969 | Madam Freedom | |
| 1969 | Eunuch | |
| 1970 | Scamp in Hanyang | |
| 1970 | The Evening Bell | |
| 1970 | Friendship of Hope | |
| 1970 | What's the Use of Crying | |
| 1970 | Nobody Knows | |
| 1970 | The Sun Never Gets Old | |
| 1971 | A Student of Life | |
| 1971 | Say Goodbye Like a Man | |
| 1971 | Burning Revenge | |
| 1971 | I'm Your Family | |
| 1971 | What Happened That Night | |
| 1972 | An Jung-Geun, the Patriot | |
| 1972 | One to One | |
| 1972 | A Wonderful Life | |
| 1972 | Looking for Sons and Daughters | |
| 1973 | Testimony | |
| 1973 | Married on the Bull | |
| 1973 | Father | |
| 1973 | An Age of Maiden | |
| 1973 | Young Ones | |
| 1973 | With My Love, Forever | |
| 1973 | Non Gae, the Kisaeng | |
| 1974 | Blue Jeans | |
| 1974 | The Unforgettables | |
| 1974 | Hwannyeo | |
| 1974 | Transgression | |
| 1974 | Gypsy of the Heart | |
| 1974 | A White Handkerchief | |
| 1975 | The 49th Day After Death | |
| 1975 | End of an Affair | |
| 1975 | Lust | |
| 1975 | Red Shoes | |
| 1975 | A Spy Remaining Behind | |
| 1975 | Yeong-ja's Heydays | |
| 1975 | Chun-Ja's Love Story | |
| 1975 | Chang-Su's Heydays | |
| 1976 | Wang Sib Ri, My Hometown | |
| 1976 | Kan-Nan | |
| 1976 | Graduating Students | |
| 1976 | Family | |
| 1976 | Rocking Horse and a Girl | |
| 1976 | Mother | |
| 1976 | Love of Blood Relations | |
| 1976 | I Really Have a Dream | |
| 1976 | A Byegone Romance | |
| 1976 | Counting Stars in a Night Sky | |
| 1977 | I Really Like You | |
| 1977 | Arirang-A | |
| 1978 | King Sejong, the Great | Hwang Hui |
| 1978 | Unsettling Afternoon | |
| 1978 | The Gate | |
| 1979 | Run Towards Tomorrow | |
| 1979 | Thoughtless Mo-mo | |
| 1979 | Romance Gray | |
| 1980 | Good Windy Day | |
| 1980 | The Last Witness | |
| 1980 | Son of a Man | |
| 1980 | Be Courageous Man-seok | |
| 1981 | Three Times Each for Short and Long Ways | |
| 1981 | Whale Island Escapade | |
| 1982 | Chun-hi | |
| 1986 | Gilsoddeum | |
| 1987 | Our Joyful Young Days | |
| 1988 | Dangerous Scent Married Couple | |
| 1990 | Broken Children | |
| 2004 | Sympathy for Us | Byeok-dol |
| 2005 | She's on Duty | Chief Prosecutor |
| 2013 | Buddha: The Great Departure | Narrator (dubbing) |

### Television series

| Year | Title | Role |
| 1971–89 | Chief Inspector | Lieutenant Park Yeonghan |
| 1981–82 | 1st Republic | Syngman Rhee |
| 1997–98 | You and I | Park Jae-chul |
| 2000 | More Than Love | Kim Han-bong |
| 2002 | Sunlight | Choi Myung-ho |
| 2004–05 | The Age of Heroes | Cameo |
| 2005–06 | Sweet Spy | Choi Beom-gu |
| 2006 | Princess Hours | Emperor Seongjo |
| 2006 | Love Truly | Jang Min-ho |
| 2008 | Gourmet | Oh Seung-gun |
| 2009 | Smile, You | Kang Man-bok |
| 2011–12 | Heaven's Garden | Jung Boo-sik |
| 2012 | Road No. 1 | Tae-ho (older) |
| 2012 | Happy Ending | Doo-soo's father |
| 2014 | Glorious Day | Kim Chul-soo |
| 2018 | Life on Mars | Chief Inspector (cameo) |
| 2018 | Goodbye to Goodbye | Seo Young-hee's father |
| 2024 | Chief Detective 1958 | Old Park Yeonghan |

## Ambassadorship

* Ambassador of Public Relations to Seoul (2023)

## Accolades
### Award and nomination

Award and nomination won by Choi :
| Year | Award ceremony | Category | Nominee / work | Result |
| 1974 | the 10th Baeksang Arts Awards | Best TV Acting | 한백년(MBC) | Won |
| 1975 | the 11th Baeksang Arts Awards | Favorite TV Actor selected by readers | Choi Bool-am | Won |
| 1978 | the 17th Grand Bell Awards | Best Supporting Actor | 세종대왕 | Won |
| 1978, | the 14th Baeksang Arts Awards | Excellent TV Acting | 당신(MBC) | Won |
| 1979 | the 18th Grand Bell Awards | Best Actor | 달려라 만석아 | Won |
| 1980 | the 1st Korean Film Critics Association Awards | Best Actor | 최후의 증인 | Won |
| 2008 | the 3rd Seoul International Drama Awards | Star Hall of Fame | Choi Bool-am | Won |
| 2022 | the 15th Korea Drama Awards | Achievement Award | Choi Bool-am | Won |

### State honors

List of State Honour(s) :
| State | Award Ceremony | Year | Honor | Ref. |
| South Korea | Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards | 2014 | Bogwan Order of Cultural Merit | |

### Listicle

Name of publisher, year listed, name of listicle, and placement :
| Publisher | Year | List | Placement |
| KBS | 2023 | The 50 people who made KBS shine | 45th |
| Sisa Journal | 2015 | Most Influential Person — Broadcasting & Entertainment | 4th |
| Sisa Journal | 2019 | Most Influential Person — Broadcasting & Entertainment | 9th |