# Tang Guoqiang

Tang Guoqiang (born 4 May 1952) is the highest ranking actor in China. He is best known for portraying historical figures in several films and television series. Some of his more notable roles include: various Chinese emperors (e.g. Emperor Taizong of Tang, Yongle Emperor, Yongzheng Emperor), Zhuge Liang, Yan Zhenqing and Mao Zedong. Tang started his acting career when he first joined a performance troupe in 1970 after graduating from middle school. He made his film debut in 1975 as the male lead in Storm over the South China Sea. He is also a member of the Chinese Calligraphy Society. He has starred in over 30 movies and over 40 TV dramas, and is the most influential super stars of all time in the Chinese mainland.

## Early life and education

Tang was born in Qingdao, Shandong, on 4 May 1952, while his ancestral home in Yantai. After graduating from Qingdao No.39 High School, he joined the Qingdao Drama Troupe in 1970 and then the August First Film Studio in 1975.

## Acting career

Tang rise to fame started in 1979, with his role in the military-themed film Little Flower, becoming something of a pop idol after his appearance in the mythological romance flick, Peacock Princess, in 1982. In 1990, Tang played the ancient politician and strategist Zhuge Liang in the epic TV drama Romance of Three Kingdoms, and through the years he would become a specialist interpreting historic figures, such as Li Shimin and Yongzheng.
He is also well known for his performances of Mao Zedong, starting in 1996, when Tang starred with Li Lin and Ma Xiaowei in Zhai Junjie's war film The Long March. Since then, he has represented the “Great Helmsman” in over 40 television dramas and movies.

## Personal life

Tang is married to actress Zhuang Li and they have a son named Tang Yinghan (born in 1995). Tang also has a daughter named Tang Lili (born in 1983) from a previous marriage to Sun Tao.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1975 | Storm Over the South China Sea 南海风云 | Yu Hualong | |
| 1977 | Zouzai Zhanzheng Qianmian 走在战争前面 | Li Tiecheng | |
| 1979 | Little Flower 小花 | Zhao Yongsheng | |
| 1980 | The Stars Are Bright Tonight 今夜星光灿烂 | He Zhanyun | |
| 1981 | Peacock Princess 孔雀公主 | Zhao Shutun | |
| 1983 | A Long Way to Go 路漫漫 | Cheng Kang | |
| 1983 | Sidu Chishui 四渡赤水 | Lu Qingsong | |
| 1984 | Wreaths at the Foot of the Mountain 高山下的花环 | Zhao Mengsheng | |
| 1987 | Gongheguo Buhui Wangji 共和国不会忘记 | Lan Yumeng | |
| 1989 | Anli Xiaojie 安丽小姐 | Lin Yiping | |
| 1989 | Little Emperors 中国的"小皇帝" | Lin Jie | |
| 1989 | Long Yun Yu Jiang Jieshi 龙云与蒋介石 | Long Shengwu | |
| 1996 | The Long March 长征 | Mao Zedong | |
| 2004 | Zhang Side 张思德 | Mao Zedong | |
| 2009 | The Founding of a Republic 建国大业 | Mao Zedong | |
| 2009 | Xunzhao Weichen 尋找微塵 | | guest star |
| 2015 | Hundred Regiments Offensive | Mao Zedong | |
| 2015 | Cairo Declaration | Mao Zedong | |
| 2017 | The Founding of an Army | | |
| 2019 | The Code on the Fingertips | | |
| 2019 | Mao Zedong 1949 决胜时刻 | Mao Zedong | |
| 2021 | I Am Mao | Mao Zedong | Mao's biopic in English |
| 2023 | The Volunteers: To the War | Mao Zedong | |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1982 | Bai Jinbei 白金杯 | Officer | |
| 1983 | Tianxia Diyi Guan 天下第一關 | Xiao Xian | |
| 1989 | Lengxue 冷血 | Shang Wuqiang | |
| 1990 | Mingtian Bushi Meng 明天不是梦 | Zhong Shan | |
| 1990 | Fengxian 奉献 | Technician | |
| 1990 | Changzhenghao Jinye Qifei 长征号今夜起飞 | Hu Yang | |
| 1994 | Romance of the Three Kingdoms 三國演義 | Zhuge Liang | |
| 1996 | Kingdoms of the Spring and Autumn Period of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty 东周列国春秋篇 | Duke Zhuang of Zheng | |
| 1997 | The Water Margin 水浒传 | Su Shi | cameo |
| 1998 | Yongzheng Dynasty 雍正王朝 | Yongzheng Emperor | |
| 1998 | Zheng Banqiao Waizhuan 郑板桥外传 | Qianlong Emperor | |
| 1998 | Zhanguo Hongyan 战国红颜 | King Goujian of Yue | |
| 1999 | Kaiguo Lingxiu Mao Zedong 开国领袖毛泽东 | Mao Zedong | |
| 1999 | Xiaozhangfu 小丈夫 | Gao Yeye | |
| 1999 | Return of Justice Bao 包公出巡 | Cao Hong | |
| 2000 | Zhongguo Zhapian Daan Jishi 中国诈骗大案纪实 | | host |
| 2000 | Li Wei the Magistrate 李卫当官 | Yongzheng Emperor | |
| 2000 | Zheng Chenggong 郑成功 | Zhu Yujian | |
| 2000 | Zhang Wentian Yu Liu Ying 张闻天与刘英 | Mao Zedong | |
| 2000 | Baogong Shengsijie 包公生死劫 | Emperor Renzong of Song | |
| 2000 | The Long March 长征 | Mao Zedong | director |
| 2001 | Love Legend of the Tang Dynasty 大唐情史 | Emperor Taizong of Tang | |
| 2001 | Dajiao Ma Huanghou 大脚马皇后 | Hongwu Emperor | |
| 2002 | Juedui Quanli 绝对权力 | Qi Quansheng | |
| 2002 | Zhengjiu 拯救 | Complainer | |
| 2002 | Nüren Tang 女人汤 | Lin Tianquan | |
| 2002 | Yijiang Chunshui 一江春水 | Wei Zhilin | |
| 2002 | Gongsu 公诉 | | host and artistic director |
| 2002 | Xuebai Xuehong 雪白·血红 | Ma Qi | |
| 2003 | High Flying Songs of Tang Dynasty 大唐歌飞 | Emperor Xuanzong of Tang | |
| 2003 | Li Wei the Magistrate II 李卫当官 II | Yongzheng Emperor | |
| 2003 | Diezhan Zhi Teshu Jiaoliang 谍战之特殊较量 | Liao Peng | |
| 2003 | Wo Shengming Zhong De Ganlan Shu 我生命中的橄榄树 | Xiao Zhenxiong | |
| 2003 | Yongle Ernü Yingxiong Zhuan 永乐儿女英雄传 | Jianwen Emperor | |
| 2003 | Yan'an Song 延安颂 | Mao Zedong | artistic director |
| 2003 | Kangding Qingge 康定情歌 | Muya Qudeng | |
| 2003 | The Affaire in the Swing Age 江山风雨情 | Hong Taiji | alternative title Love Against Kingship |
| 2004 | Xuese Shiyan 血色誓言 | Chu Qi | |
| 2004 | Jiajing Fengyun 嘉靖风云 | Jiajing Emperor | |
| 2004 | Zhang Boling 张伯苓 | Zhang Boling | |
| 2004 | Zhaojun Departs the Frontier 昭君出塞 | Emperor Xuan of Han | |
| 2004 | Dahan Beige 大汉悲歌 | Prince of Jiangxia | |
| 2004 | Chuanqi Huangdi Zhu Yuanzhang 传奇皇帝朱元璋 | Guo Zixing | alternative title Zhu Yuanzhang Huanxiang (朱元璋还乡) |
| 2005 | Carol of Zhenguan 贞观长歌 | Emperor Taizong of Tang | |
| 2005 | Xian Xinghai 冼星海 | Mao Zedong | |
| 2005 | Eighth Route Army 八路军 | Mao Zedong | |
| 2005 | The Great Dunhuang 大敦煌 | Li Yuanhao | |
| 2005 | Chuanguo Yuxi 传国玉玺 | Yongle Emperor | |
| 2005 | Zheng He Xia Xiyang 鄭和下西洋 | Yongle Emperor | artistic director; alternative title Da Hanghai (大航海) |
| 2005 | Xiongguan Mandao 雄關漫道 | Mao Zedong | |
| 2005 | Bishu Shanzhuang Da Chuanqi 避暑山莊大傳奇 | Lei family descendant | |
| 2006 | Wanli Shoufu Zhang Juzheng 万历首辅张居正 | Zhang Juzheng | |
| 2006 | Hujia Hanyue 胡笳汉月 | Tuoba Tao | |
| 2006 | Nanyue Wang 南越王 | Qin Shi Huang | |
| 2006 | Baiqiuen 白求恩 | Mao Zedong | |
| 2006 | Xi'an Shibian 西安事变 | Mao Zedong | |
| 2006 | Chisong Weilong 赤松威龙 | Emperor | |
| 2006 | Huang Feihong Wuda Dizi 黄飞鸿五大弟子 | Boss Jin | |
| 2006 | The Sword and the Chess of Death 魔剑生死棋 | Jianzu | |
| 2007 | Wenzhou Ren Zai Bali 温州人在巴黎 | Wan Zhenguo | |
| 2007 | Zhou Enlai in Chongqing 周恩来在重庆 | Mao Zedong | |
| 2007 | Yingxiong Wuming 英雄无名 | Yan Baohang | |
| 2007 | The Legend and the Hero 封神榜之凤鸣岐山 | Yuanshi Tianzun | guest star |
| 2007 | Su Dongpo 蘇東坡 | Emperor Renzong of Song | guest star |
| 2008 | Datang Shuhun Yan Zhenqing 大唐书魂颜真卿 | Yan Zhenqing | |
| 2008 | The Legend and the Hero 2 封神榜之武王伐纣 | Yuanshi Tianzun | guest star |
| 2008 | Zhentan Chengxu 2: Qiannian Miju 偵探成旭2: 千年謎局 | Police inspector | |
| 2008 | Baowei Yanan 保衛延安 | Mao Zedong | |
| 2008 | Qizhi 奇志 | Qi Tianshun | |
| 2008 | The East Is Red 東方紅 | Mao Zedong | |
| 2008 | Jiefang 解放 | Mao Zedong | director |
| 2009 | Jinfeng Huakai 金鳳花開 | Mao Zedong | |
| 2009 | Tonglingzi 同齡子 | | |
| 2009 | Dongfang 東方 | Mao Zedong | director |
| 2009 | Bao Qingtian Qixia Wuyi 包青天七俠五義 | Emperor Zhenzong of Song | |
| 2010 | Journey to the West 西游记 | Jade Emperor | |
| 2010 | Huang Yanpei 黄炎培 | Mao Zedong | |
| 2011 | Journey to the West 西游记 | Yuanshi Tianzun | |
| 2011 | 1911 Revolution 辛亥革命 | | director |
| 2011 | Secret History of Empress Wu 武则天秘史 | Emperor Taizong of Tang | |
| 2012 | Legend of Yuan Empire Founder 建元風雲 | Genghis Khan | |