# Li Chen (actor)

Li Chen (Chinese: 李晨, 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, in 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.

## 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 | |
| 2001 | | 玫瑰黑客 | Yao Xiaolei | |
| 2003 | Sky of Love | 情牵一线 | Student | Cameo |
| 2003 | | 危险少女 | Guan Xiaoyang | |
| 2004 | | 花烛错 | Yan Jun | Television film |
| 2004 | | 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 | |
| 2006 | Boy Rush Out | 男孩向前冲 | He Xiaofeng | |
| 2006 | 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 |
| 2008 | Desires of the Heart | 桃花运 | Guan Xiang | |
| 2008 | | 立正 | Xiao Le | |
| 2008 | The Shaft | 地下的天空 | Song Daming | |
| 2009 | Six Sisters in the War | 沂蒙六姐妹 | Han Dazhuang | |
| 2010 | Aftershock | 唐山大地震 | Fang Da | |
| 2010 | Watch Out for the Bear | 熊出没注意 | Sha Li | |
| 2010 | Love on Lushan Mountain | 庐山恋 | Ma Jiang | |
| 2010 | If You Are the One 2 | 非诚勿扰2 | Celebrity | Cameo |
| 2010 | Struggle | 奋斗 | Lu Tao | |
| 2011 | Yang Shan-zhou | 杨善洲 | Zhou Bo | |
| 2011 | The Founding of a Party | 建党伟业 | Zhang Guotao | |
| 2011 | Love is Not Blind | 失戀33天 | | Cameo |
| 2013 | Saving General Yang | 忠烈楊家將 | Yang Yanhui | |
| 2014 | Breakup Buddies | 心花路放 | Rich Playboy | Cameo |
| 2015 | Running Man | 奔跑吧！兄弟 | Himself | |
| 2015 | Let's Get Married | 咱们结婚吧 | Li Xiang | |
| 2015 | Chronicles of the Ghostly Tribe | 九层妖塔 | President Wang | |
| 2016 | MBA Partners | 梦想合伙人 | Jun Cheng | |
| 2016 | When Larry Met Mary | 垚知马俐 | | Cameo |
| 2016 | I Am Not Madame Bovary | 我不是潘金莲 | Police | Cameo |
| 2017 | Sky 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 | |
| 2020 | My People, My Homeland | 我和我的家乡 | Jiang Wenhao | |
| 2020 | 749 Bureau | 749局 | | |
| 2021 | Never Stop | 超越 | Niu Tieju | |
| 2021 | 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 | |
| 2023 | Never Say Never | 谢理事 | Director Xie | |
| 2024 | A Legend | 傳奇 | Lei Zhen | |
| 2025 | Operation Hadal | 蛟龙行动 | Zhou Peilin |

### Television series

| Year | English title | Chinese title | Role | Notes |
| 1997 | Seventeen Year-Olds Don't Cry | 十七岁不哭 | Jian Ning | |
| 1998 | Working Diary | 打工日记 | Qing Miao | |
| 1998 | | 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 | |
| 2003 | | 歌唱 | Cao Huoxing | |
| 2003 | | 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 Jin | |
| 2005 | The Vinegar Tribe | 醋溜族 | Ah Hua | Cameo |
| 2005 | | 离婚官司 | Wang Ziyi | Cameo |
| 2005 | The Phantom Lover | 夜半歌声 | Zhuo Nan | Cameo |
| 2006 | | 一针见血 | Fan Dong | |
| 2006 | May Flower | 五月的鲜花 | Zhou Beiji | |
| 2006 | Soldiers Sortie | 士兵突击 | Wu Zhe | |
| 2007 | | 有多少爱可以重来 | Jiang Bei | |
| 2008 | Top-secret Escort | 绝密押运 | Lu Tao | |
| 2009 | My Chief and My Regiment | 我的团长我的团 | Zhang Lixian | |
| 2009 | The Line | 生死线 | Long Wenzhang | |
| 2010 | | 孽缘 | Li Baoquan | |
| 2010 | Shrimp Preach | 虾球传 | Xia Qiu | |
| 2011 | Windmill | 风车 | Liang Chen | |
| 2011 | Barber | 理发师 | Lu Pingsheng | |
| 2012 | Beijing Love Story | 北京爱情故事 | Wu Di | also producer |
| 2012 | Beautiful Day | 风和日丽 | Liu Shijun | |
| 2012 | My Best Sidekick | 我的非常闺密 | Qiao Ni | Cameo |
| 2012 | Beijing Youth | 北京青年 | He Dong | |
| 2012 | Hot Girls | 麻辣女兵 | Chen Xiong | Cameo |
| 2013 | Marry to Love | 嫁给爱情 | Ma Mingyu | |
| 2013 | Angel is Coming | 今夜天使降临 | | Sun Jiacheng |
| 2013 | The Distance to Love | 到爱的距离 | Li Rui | also producer |
| 2014 | Divorce Lawyers | 离婚律师 | Lu Chen | Cameo |
| 2014 | All Quiet in Peking | 北平无战事 | Qi Mutang | Special appearance |
| 2014 | Cosmetology High | 美人制造 | Yuan Tiangang | Cameo |
| 2014 | Mr. Goodman – A Story of Emotion Care | 好男儿之情感护理 | Ye Shilong | Cameo |
| 2014 | The Empress of China | 武媚娘传奇 | Li Mu | Special appearance |
| 2015 | My Sunshine | 何以笙簫默 | Barber | Cameo |
| 2015 | Strawhat Police | 草帽警察 | Liu Wusi | |
| 2015 | City of Angels | 天使的城 | Li Feixiang | |
| 2015 | Xiucai Encountered Soldiers | 春江英雄之秀才遇到兵 | Long Qianyan | |
| 2015 | Three Dads | 三个奶爸 | Yu Zheng | |
| 2015 | Boys to Men | 爸爸快长大 | Cui Zheng | |
| 2016 | The Good Fellas | 好家伙 | Shi Guang | also producer |
| 2017 | The Advisors Alliance | 军师联盟 | Cao Pi | |
| 2019 | Seven 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 member |

## 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 | |
| 2011 | "I Do" | 我愿意 | Struggle OST | |
| 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 |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result |
| 2008 | 5th China Movie Channel Media Awards | Best New Actor | Ultimate Rescue | Won |
| 2009 | 47th International Emmy Awards | Best Performance by an Actor | Ultimate Rescue | Nominated |
| 2010 | 5th Huading Awards | Newcomer Award | — | Won |
| 2011 | 4th China Student Television Festival | Most Popular Actor | — | Won |
| 2012 | 31st Hundred Flowers Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Aftershock | Nominated |
| 2012 | 5th China Image Film Festival | Best Supporting Actor | Saving General Yang | Nominated |
| 2012 | 8th Huading Awards | Best Actor (Youth) | Beijing Youth | Won |
| 2014 | 2nd Asia Rainbow TV Awards | Outstanding Actor | Beijing Youth | Won |
| 2014 | 10th National Top-Notch Television Production Ceremony | Top 10 Actors | Angel is Coming | Won |
| 2016 | 18th Huading Awards | Best TV Actor | — | Won |
| 2016 | 23rd Beijing Student Film Festival | Most Popular Actor | MBA Partners | Won |
| 2018 | 9th China Film Director's Guild Awards | Best Director | Sky Hunter | Nominated |
| 2018 | 23rd Huading Awards | Best Director | Sky Hunter | Nominated |
| 2018 | 23rd Huading Awards | Best New Director | Sky Hunter | Won |
| 2018 | 25th Beijing College Student Film Festival | Students' Choice Award for Favorite Director | Sky Hunter | Won |
| 2019 | 6th The Actors of China Award | Best Actor (Sapphire Category) | Seven Days | Nominated |

### Forbes China Celebrity 100

| Year | Rank |
| 2013 | 35th |
| 2014 | 83rd |
| 2015 | 19th |
| 2017 | 55th |
| 2020 | 89th |