# Richie Jen

Richie Jen Hsien-chi (Chinese: 任賢齊; pinyin: Rén Xiánqí; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Jîm Hiân-chê, born 23 June 1966), also known as Richie Ren, is a Taiwanese singer and actor. He graduated from the Chinese Culture University's physical education department.
Jen debuted in December 1990 with the studio album Ask Again under Synco Cultural Corporation. In 1996, he signed a contract with Rock Records and released the album I Feel Good!, which sold over 160,000 copies in Taiwan. His breakthrough came at the end of 1996 with his fifth studio album, Too Softhearted, which sold over 1,000,000 copies in China and over 2,300,000 copies across Asia.
His seventh album, Love Like Pacific Ocean (1998), became one of the best-selling albums of all time in Taiwan with over 1,200,000 copies sold. The record spawned the single "Hey Girl Look Over Here" (對面的女孩看過來), which was named the most popular song of 1998 by Hit FM in Taiwan.

## Early life

Jen was born and grew up in Tianzhong Township, Changhua County, Taiwan. He attended Changhua County Tianzhong Senior High School and at the age of 21 he entered the physical education department of Chinese Culture University. He also started to work at a musical instrument store while learning how to play guitar.

## Career

In 1990, while a senior at CCU, Richie Jen signed a contract with Synco Cultural Corporation [zh] and released a compilation album named Towards the Rainbow (奔向彩虹). In December of that year, he released his first solo album Ask Again (再問一次). He released two more albums in 1991, Cold & Tender (冷漠與温柔), and Fly to My Own Sky (飛向自己的天空), before enlisting in the military.
In 1996, he joined Rock Records, and released the album I Feel Good! (依靠), which sold 160,000 copies in Taiwan and was multi-platinum certified. His breakthrough came when the album Too Softhearted (心太軟) was released in December of that year, which sold over 1,000,000 copies in mainland China and 600,000 copies in Taiwan. The title track became largely popular in China and Taiwan.
In August 1998, Jen's album Love Like Pacific Ocean (愛像太平洋) was released. The tracks "Unknown Pleasures" (任逍遥) "The Sad Pacific" (傷心太平洋) from the album were the opening and closing theme songs of the 1998 series The Return of the Condor Heroes, respectively. The record peaked at number one on the IFPI Taiwan album chart and sold over 1,200,000 copies in Taiwan, making it one of the best-selling albums of all time in the country. Jen also starred in the Condor Heroes, playing Yang Guo. In 2005, Jen joined EMI, and his first album from EMI Old Place (老地方) was released a year later. In 2008, Jen signed a contract with East Asia Records (東亞唱片).

## Philanthropy

In July 2001, prior to his concert in Shenyang, Jen donated ¥30,000 to a family who was unable to afford heart surgery for their one-year old daughter after learning about their situation through a news report. In May 2023, the same girl and her mother attended Jen's concert in Shenyang and publicly thanked him for his life-saving donation. The woman's expression of gratitude was captured on video and quickly became viral on Weibo.

## Personal life

In 2002, Richie Jen married former fashion designer Tina Chen (陳則妤). They have two children together, a daughter and a son. They live in Hong Kong.

## Discography

* Ask Again (1990)
* Cold & Tender (1991)
* Fly to My Own Sky (1991)
* I Feel Good! (1996)
* Too Softhearted (1996)
* Hurt Badly (1997)
* Love Like Pacific Ocean (1998)
* Desperate With Love (2000)
* Angel Brother and Hunk (2000)
* A Flying Bird (2001)
* One Richie (2002)
* So Far So Close (2004)
* Old Place (2006)
* If Life's Goin' Without You (2007)
* R.S.V.P (2009)
* Daredevil Spirit (2011)
* On My Way (2023)

## Filmography
### Film

* Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In (TBD)
* Rob N Roll (2024)
* Man on the Edge (2022)
* Where All Roads End (2019)
* Fagara (2019)
* Bodies at Rest (2019)
* 11th Day and One Night 星语心愿2 (2015)
* Trivisa 树大招风 (2015)
* All You Need Is Love (2015)
* The Wonderful Wedding (2015) – Cameo
* First of May 五月一号 (2015)
* Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow? 明天記得愛上我 (2013)
* Scheme With Me 雙城計中計 (2012)
* The Allure Of Tears 傾城之淚 (2011)
* Legendary Amazons 楊門女將之軍令如山 (2011)
* Life Without Principle 奪命金 (2011)
* Mayday 3DNA 五月天追夢3DNA (2011)
* Punished 報應 (2011)
* Adventure of the King 龍鳳店 (2010)
* Flirting Scholar 2 唐伯虎點秋香2 (2010)
* Fire of Conscience 火龍對決 (2010)
* Accident 意外 (2009)
* The Sniper 神槍手 (2009)
* Lady Cop & Papa Crook 大搜查 (2008)
* Contract Lover 合約情人 (2007)
* Happy Birthday 生日快樂 (2007)
* Exiled 放-逐 (2006)
* 2 Become 1 天生一對 (2006)
* Seoul Raiders 韓城攻略 (2005)
* Breaking News 大事件 (2004)
* 20 30 40 20 30 40 (2004)
* Elixir of Love 花好月圓 (2004)
* Silver Hawk 飛鷹 (2004)
* 6th Floor Rear Flat 六樓後座 (2003)
* Honesty 絕種好男人 (2003)
* Summer I Love You 好心相愛 (2002)
* Marry a Rich Man 嫁個有錢人 (2002)
* Life Express 生死速遞 (2001)
* Summer Holiday 夏日的麽麽茶 (2000)
* Fly Me to Polaris 星願 (1999)
* A Beautiful New World 美麗新世界 (1999)
* Gorgeous 玻璃樽 (1999)
* No Sir 3 報告班長3 (1994)
* Top Cool 傲空神鷹-想飛 (1993)
* Cops & Robbers 官兵捉強盜 (1991)

### Television series

* Midnight Diner 深夜食堂 (2017)
* Infernal Affairs 无间道 (2016)
* Top Gear China 巅峰拍档 (2014–2015)
* Chinese Idol 中国梦之声 (2013–2014)
* Supreme Fate 富豪海灣至尊家緣 (2004)
* The New Adventures of Chor Lau Heung 新楚留香 (2001)
* State of Divinity 笑傲江湖 (2000)
* The Return of the Condor Heroes 神雕俠侶 (1998)
* Taipei Love Story 台北愛情故事 (1996)
* Master Huang 黃飛鴻與十三姨 (1994)
* Dreams Awakening 夢醒時分 (1994)
* Hard To Forget 意難忘 (1992)
* The Orphans 人海孤鴻 (1989)

### Variety and reality show

* Call Me by Fire (season 2) 披荊斬棘 (2022)