# Wayne Lai

Lai Yiu-cheung (Chinese: 黎耀祥; born 4 May 1964), better known as Wayne Lai, is a Hong Kong actor. He became one of Hong Kong's most successful television actors after starring in TVB hit drama series Rosy Business. Lai won three TVB Anniversary Awards for Best Actor, making him only one of three actors who have three wins in that category.
After graduating from TVB artistes' training program, he made his acting debut in 1986, playing supporting roles. He first rose to popularity for his role as Zhu Bajie in the 1996 fantasy drama Journey to the West. In 2008, he won Best Supporting Actor at the TVB Anniversary Awards for his role in The Gentle Crackdown II. His performance as Chai Kau in the period drama Rosy Business received critical acclaim and earned him the TVB Anniversary Award for Best Actor. Lai again won Best Actor at the TVB Anniversary Awards for starring in No Regrets (2010) and The Confidant (2012).

## Life and career

Lai was born in Hong Kong and the youngest in his family. His father was a firefighter. When Lai's father retired, his family moved to Kowloon's Shun Lee Estate.
Lai began working at television network TVB in 1983 as a clerk in the administration department. In 1985, he resigned from the position and enrolled in TVB's artistes training program. After completing the program, he joined TVB as an actor. He appeared in various Educational Television programs, in which he played supporting roles. He made his television series debut in the 1986 docu-drama Price of A Green Card (Chinese: 綠卡何價). From 1986 to 1989, Lai played various roles and made appearances as an extra in over 50 drama series.
Lai portrayed Zhou Botong in four Jin Yong television adaptations, including Rage And Passion (1992), The Condor Heroes Return (1993), The Legend of the Condor Heroes 1994, and The Condor Heroes 95.
Lai gained popularity as Zhu Bajie in the commercial success Journey to the West. After starring in Anti-Crime Squad in 1999, he left TVB to pursue opportunities in the film industry. He appeared in the films Bio-Zombie (1998) and Happy Go Lucky (2003), and starred in a few ATV productions after joining the network for a year.
In 2002, unable to earn a steady source of income from film projects, Lai returned to TVB. He starred in the television series Greed Mask, in which Lai portrays a transgender man.
Lai won Best Supporting Actor at the 2008 TVB Anniversary Awards for his role in The Gentle Crackdown II. In 2008, Lai starred in Pages of Treasures, marking his first role as the male lead along with Paul Chun. His breakthrough year was 2009 when Lai portrayed Chai Kau in the critically acclaimed period drama Rosy Business, starring opposite Sheren Tang. His performance was met with overwhelming critical acclaim. Chai Kau became a Hong Kong pop culture icon and spawned the catchphrase "How many decades are in a lifetime?" (Chinese: 人生有幾多個十年?). At the 2009 TVB Anniversary Awards, Lai won Best Actor, My Favourite Male Character, and the TVB.com Popularity Award.
In 2010, Lai once again won Best Actor at the TVB Anniversary Awards for his role Lau Sing in the second installment of Rosy Business, No Regrets, becoming the second actor to win consecutive awards in this category after Gallen Lo who won in 1997 and 1998. Over the years, Lai continues to call the role of Lau Sing as his favourite among all the characters he has played and considers it his representative work. He has stated that No Regrets deeply affected him due to its patriotic theme and that the series is the best drama he has worked on. In 2011, Lai starred in the police procedural Forensic Heroes III as Pro Sir. In 2012, Lai starred as Li Lianying in the palace drama The Confidant. He won Best Actor for the third time at the 2012 TVB Anniversary Awards.
In 2015, Lai made a guest appearance in the drama Master of Destiny, and starred in the period fantasy drama Under the Veil. He portrays Kung Siu San in Lord of Shanghai, starring alongside Anthony Wong and Kent Tong. Lai then starred in the period comedy Short End of the Stick, a series about the lives of eunuchs after the fall of the Qing dynasty. Lai starred in the sitcom Come Home Love: Dinner at 8. In 2016, he starred in a dual role portraying twins in the third installment of the Rosy Business franchise, No Reserve. In 2020, Lai starred in the action drama Death by Zero, portraying the role of an assassin.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
| 1988 | The Final Verdict | Paralegal | Cameo |
| 1994 | Mary's Choice | | TV movie |
| 1994 | The Final Option | Traffic officer | |
| 1997 | Killing Me Tenderly | | |
| 1997 | Troublesome Night 2 | Bobby | |
| 1997 | Intruder | Chan Kai-ming | |
| 1997 | Haunted Karaoke | Chicken Wings | |
| 1997 | Armageddon | | |
| 1997 | Those Were the Days | | – Legends of the Condor Heros (1998 film) |
| 1998 | A Long and Forgotten Ghost Story | Sze Fu-kwai | |
| 1998 | Bio Zombie | Cavity Kui (Kui Gor) | |
| 1998 | The Storm Riders | Mud Buddha | |
| 1998 | F***/Off | | |
| 1998 | A Killer's Expiry Date | Cheung Sai-din | |
| 1998 | Nightmare Zone | | |
| 1999 | Gen-X Cops | Inspector Tang | |
| 1999 | Fourteen Days Before Suicide | Richard | |
| 1999 | The Victim | | |
| 2000 | Sound from the Dark | | |
| 2000 | Queen of Kowloon | | |
| 2001 | Visible Secret | | |
| 2001 | Strangers Meet on the Way | Man in suit | |
| 2001 | The Young Ones | | |
| 2001 | Vampire Controller | Professor Mo | |
| 2001 | Cheung Ngoi Sim Chan Dik Yam Fu | | |
| 2002 | Frugal Game | Lai Siu-cheung | |
| 2002 | Headlines | | |
| 2002 | The Untold Story: Sudden Vanished | Sam Ko Sam-yeung | |
| 2002 | The Untold Story: The Lost World | Sam Ko Sam-yeung | |
| 2002 | Money Suckers | | |
| 2002 | Modern Cinderella | Wu Ah-kau | |
| 2002 | Dizzy Date | Sam | |
| 2003 | Man in Blues | Jackie Lai | |
| 2003 | Looking for Mister Perfect | Grace's Superior Officer | |
| 2003 | Happy Go Lucky | Chu Kwok-cheung (Kid Cheung) | |
| 2003 | The Assailant | | |
| 2004 | Escape from Hong Kong Island | police officer | |
| 2005 | The House | Kam Kwok-keung | |
| 2006 | Dog Bite Dog | Cheung | |
| 2006 | Confession of Pain | Chan Wai-keung | |
| 2006 | Heavenly Mission | Crazy | |
| 2006 | McDull, the Alumni | God of Cooking | |
| 2006 | My Name is Fame | Wai | |
| 2006 | Love Undercover 3 | Gangster Bro | |
| 2006 | A Chinese Tall Story | Lizard King | |
| 2007 | Hooked on You | Porky | (voice) |
| 2007 | Eye in the Sky | thief | |
| 2007 | The Detective | Kwan Sai-wing | |
| 2007 | House of the Invisibles | Chung | |
| 2007 | Loving You Is Wrong | | |
| 2009 | 愛情三結義 | department store owner | |
| 2009 | Turning Point | Mo | |
| 2009 | Up | Dug | Cantonese voice-over |
| 2010 | 72 Tenants of Prosperity | Astro | Cameo |
| 2010 | Despicable Me | Gru | Cantonese voice-over |
| 2010 | Forget Me Not | | |
| 2011 | The Road Less Traveled | | |
| 2011 | I Love Hong Kong | Wayne Lai | Cameo |
| 2014 | The Beggar Hero | Chan Tai-lik | |
| 2016 | Sky on Fire | | |

### Television dramas

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1986 | Dharma – Founder of Shaolin | | Minor Role/Extra |
| 1986 | New Heavenly Sword and Dragon Sabre | Mongol General | Minor Role/Extra |
| 1986 | Turn Around and Die | | Minor Role/Extra |
| 1986 | The Legend of Wong Tai Sin | eunuch | Minor Role/Extra |
| 1986 | The Twin Heirs | | Minor Role/Extra |
| 1986 | Heir to the Throne Is... | Imperial chef | Minor Role/Extra |
| 1986 | The Feud of Two Brothers | | Minor Role/Extra |
| 1986 | The Ordeal Before the Revolution | Yip Man | Minor Role/Extra |
| 1986 | Siblings of Vice and Virtue | | Minor Role/Extra |
| 1986 | Movie Maze | | Minor Role/Extra |
| 1987 | Beastly Beings | | Minor Role/Extra |
| 1987 | The Making of a Gentleman | | Minor Role/Extra |
| 1987 | The Legend of the Book and the Sword | Mang Kin-hung | Minor Role/Extra |
| 1987 | The Seasons | | Minor Role/Extra |
| 1987 | Fate Cast in the Wind | Chuen Fuk | Minor Role/Extra |
| 1987 | Born to be a King | | Minor Role/Extra |
| 1987 | The Greenhorns | | Minor Role/Extra |
| 1987 | The Dragon Sword | | Minor Role/Extra |
| 1987 | The Price of Growing Up | | Minor Role/Extra |
| 1988 | Two Most Honorable Knights | | Minor Role/Extra |
| 1988 | Twilight of a Nation | | Minor Role/Extra |
| 1988 | Everybody's Somebody's Favourite | Lam Wai Keung | Minor Role/Extra |
| 1988 | The Final Verdict | Raymond | Minor Role/Extra |
| 1988 | A Friend in Need | | Minor Role/Extra |
| 1988 | The In-between | | Minor Role/Extra |
| 1988 | The Tribulation of Life | | Minor Role/Extra |
| 1989 | I Love Amy | | Minor Role/Extra |
| 1989 | The Black Sabre | Drink Seller in Episode 12 | Minor Role/Extra |
| 1989 | The Shanghai conspiracy | | Minor Role/Extra |
| 1989 | The Reincarnated of Wai | | Minor Role/Extra |
| 1989 | The Vixen's Tale | | Minor Role/Extra |
| 1989 | Mut Toi Tin Sze | | Minor Role/Extra |
| 1989 | Greed | | Minor Role/Extra |
| 1989 | Flying Squads | | Minor Role/Extra |
| 1989 | The Justice of Life | Chung | Minor Role/Extra |
| 1989 | Song Bird | Chuk Kwok-ho | Minor Role/Extra |
| 1989–90 | Ode to Gallantry | | Minor Role/Extra |
| 1990 | Three in a Family | Ching Chi-nam | Minor Role/Extra |
| 1990 | Blood of Good and Evil | Tai Ha | Minor Role/Extra |
| 1990 | A Time of Taste | Choi | Minor Role/Extra |
| 1990 | Silken Hands | Hung Ngau-kan | Minor Role/Extra |
| 1990–91 | Challenge of Life | Cockroach | Minor Role/Extra |
| 1991 | Wong To Yan Ching | Kat Cheung | Minor Role/Extra |
| 1991 | Mystery of the Parchment | Beggar in ep 11 | Minor Role/Extra |
| 1991 | The Black Sabre | | Minor Role/Extra |
| 1991 | Rainbow | Big D | Minor Role/Extra |
| 1991 | Live for Life | | |
| 1991 | Land of Glory | Kong Kwan-loi | |
| 1991 | The Big Family | Chan Foon-yan | |
| 1991–92 | Police on the Road | Man | |
| 1991–92 | The Survivor | Shek Chi-kei | |
| 1992 | The File of Justice | Lee Chi-lap | |
| 1992 | Rage and Passion | Chow Pak-tung | |
| 1992 | All Men are Brothers | Yeung Siu-chat | |
| 1992 | Tales From Beyond | | Minor Role |
| 1993 | The Vampire Returns | Cheung Nam-king | |
| 1993 | The File of Justice II | Andy Hung Chun-tung | |
| 1993 | Man of Wisdom | Lee Lin-ying | |
| 1993 | All About Tin | Luk Yeh-yin | |
| 1993–1994 | The Edge of Righteousness | Peter | Minor Role |
| 1994 | The Condor Heroes Return | Chow Pak-tung | |
| 1994 | The Last Conquest | Cheung Kei | |
| 1994 | Remembrance | Chow Kwok-cheung | |
| 1994 | Crime and Passion | Wong Pak-yeung | |
| 1994 | The Legend of the Condor Heroes | Chow Pak-tung | |
| 1994 | The File of Justice III | Yeung Ping | |
| 1994 | Instinct | Lawyer Poon | Minor role |
| 1994 | Eternity | Ah Tung | Minor role |
| 1994–95 | Filthy Rich | Mo Hak-kan | |
| 1995 | To Love with Love | Tang Nai-keung | |
| 1995 | From Act to Act | Ho Kwok-po | |
| 1995 | The Return of the Condor Heroes | Chow Pak-tung | |
| 1995 | The File of Justice IV | Anthony Yau Wing-kin | |
| 1995 | Justice Pao II | Wan Hiu-fung | |
| 1995–96 | Detective Investigation Files II | Ho Sing-choi | |
| 1996 | State of Divinity | Lau Ching-fung | |
| 1996 | Nothing to Declare | So Tung | |
| 1996 | Journey to the West | Chu Bat-gai | |
| 1996–97 | In the Name of Love | Cheung | |
| 1997 | Show Time Blues | Lo Chi-choi | |
| 1997 | The File of Justice V | Anthony Yau Wing-kin | |
| 1997 | A Road and a Will | Ng Kin-ngai | |
| 1997 | A Recipe for the Heart | Snake | |
| 1998 | A Measure of Love | Lam Wing-ching | |
| 1998 | Journey to the West II | Chu Bat-gai | |
| 1999 | Anti-Crime Squad | Hoh Fei-fan | |
| 2000 | Battlefield Network | Fong Siu-keung | |
| 2000 | Showbiz Tycoon | Hoh Chi-cheung | |
| 2000 | Hong Kong Yat Ga Yan | | |
| 2001 | New Legend of Chu Liuxiang | Hu Tiehua | |
| 2001 | Su Dong Po | Chan Kwai-sheung | |
| 2002 | Law 2002 | Lawyer Poon | |
| 2003 | Seed of Hope | Liu Chi-kan | |
| 2003 | The Driving Power | Lok Kui-kei | |
| 2003 | To Love With No Regrets | Yue Koo | |
| 2004 | The Conqueror's Story | Hon Shun | |
| 2004 | ICAC Investigators 2004 | | |
| 2005 | Bizarre Files | | |
| 2005 | Scavengers' Paradise | Tse Kwan-min | Nominated – TVB Awards for Best Supporting Actor (Top 5) |
| 2005 | The Gentle Crackdown | Sze Kei-wong | |
| 2005 | Fantasy Hotel | Hon Shan | |
| 2005 | Hidden Treasures | Kwan Bing-hung | |
| 2005–06 | When Rules Turn Loose | Hung Chi-tat | |
| 2006 | Greed Mask | Au Man-wai | |
| 2006 | Safe Guards | Sheung Chung | Nominated – TVB Anniversary Award for Best Supporting Actor (Top 5) Nominated – TVB Anniversary Award for My Favourite Male Character (Top 20) Astro Drama Awards for My Favourite Show Stealer Cast Astro Drama Award for My Favourite Unforgettable Scene |
| 2006 | Trimming Success | Ho Cho-sing | |
| 2007 | Best Bet | Tsang Tak-sing | |
| 2007 | Devil's Disciples | Tungfong Mo-ngai | |
| 2007 | Steps | Lee Lik-keung | Nominated – TVB Anniversary Award for Best Actor (Top 20) Nominated – TVB Anniversary Award for My Favourite Male Character (Top 24) |
| 2007–08 | Best Selling Secrets | Yuen Man-cheung | Recurring Role |
| 2008 | The Gentle Crackdown II | Tai Chung-man / Tai Chung-mo | TVB Anniversary Award for Best Supporting Actor |
| 2008 | Moonlight Resonance | Nin Chi-yung | |
| 2008–09 | Pages of Treasures | Fong Sam-ming | |
| 2008–10 | Off Pedder | Yue Ka-sing | Sitcom regular Nominated – Ming Pao 42nd Anniversary Award for Outstanding Actor in Television nominated – Nam Fong Sing Din 2011 Annual Television Awards for Most Popular Actor |
| 2009 | Rosy Business | Chai Kau | TVB Anniversary Award for Best Actor TVB Anniversary Award for My Favourite Male Character TVB Anniversary Award for TVB.com's Popularity Award Mingpao Magazine Entertainment Award for Most Outstanding Male Artiste Yahoo! Asia Buzz Award for Most Popular Actor Next Magazine Award Top 10 Television Artistes |
| 2010 | In the Eye of the Beholder | Wong Tai-bak | Guest |
| 2010 | Some Day | Simon Ming Sai-on | Sitcom regular |
| 2010 | No Regrets | Lau Sing | TVB Anniversary Award for Best Actor My AOD Favourites Award for My Favourite Drama Character (1 of 10) Ming Pao 43rd Anniversary Award for Outstanding Actor in Television Next Magazine Award Top 10 Television Artistes Nominated – TVB Anniversary Award for My Favourite Male Character (Top 5) Nominated – My AOD Favourites Award for My Favourite Actor in a Leading Role |
| 2011 | Forensic Heroes III | Dr. Jack "Pro Sir" Po Kwok-tung | My AOD Favourites Award for Favourite Drama Character (1 of 15) Nominated – TVB Anniversary Award for Best Actor (Top 5) Nominated – TVB Anniversary Award for My Favourite Male Character (Top 5) |
| 2012 | The Greatness of a Hero | Mo Sing-chi | Previously warehoused; first released overseas in 2009 |
| 2012 | King Maker | Yu Jing | |
| 2012 | The Confidant | Lei Lin-ying | TVB Anniversary Award for Best Actor Nominated – TVB Anniversary Award for My Favourite Male Character (Top 5) |
| 2013 | Bullet Brain | P. Inspector Columbo Ko / Ko Tai-hei | |
| 2013 | Will Power | Yu Ying-wai | Nominated - TVB Anniversary Award for My Favourite Male Character (Top 5) |
| 2014 | Rear Mirror | Sunday Kei Yat-sing | |
| 2014 | Overachievers | Mike Chiang Yuen | Nominated - TVB Anniversary Award for My Favourite Male Character |
| 2015 | Master of Destiny | Cho Wan-hon | Guest star |
| 2015 | Under the Veil | Chu Yi-Dan/Mr. Lui Yat Pan-Heung's husband (aka Dry Thunder) | |
| 2015 | Lord of Shanghai | Kung Siu-san | Nominated - TVB Anniversary Award for Best Actor (Top 5) |
| 2016 | Short End of the Stick | Lee Suk-kung | |
| 2016 | Come Home Love: Dinner at 8 | Koo Hiu-San | Modern Sitcom |
| 2016 | No Reserve | Suzuki Kazuo / Kong Sheung-hung | |
| 2018 | Daddy Cool | Ho Wing-nin | |
| 2019 | Legend of the Phoenix | Lang Kun | First Mainland Chinese Series |
| 2020 | Death By Zero | Yim Mo | Nominated - TVB Anniversary Award for Best Actor (Top 5) |
| 2021 | The Ringmaster | Shek Ngo-shan | Nominated - TVB Anniversary Award for Best Actor (Top 10) Nominated - TVB Anniversary Award for Most Popular Male Character Nominated - TVB Anniversary Award for Most Popular Onscreen Partnership (with Winki Lai) Nominated — TVB Anniversary Award for Favourite TVB Actor in Malaysia |
| 2022 | Go With The Float | Hung Shap-yat | Nominated - TVB Anniversary Award for Best Actor (Top 10) Nominated - TVB Anniversary Award for Most Popular Male Character Nominated — TVB Anniversary Award for Favourite TVB Actor in Malaysia |
| 2024 | No Return | Chai Sap Cat (柴十七) |
| Pre-production | The Father-Son Separation Storm (父離子風暴) | | |

### Variety Shows

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2025 | Underworld Travel (江湖見) | co-host | Martial arts classics travel show |

## Awards

* 2007: Astro Wah Lai Toi "My Favorite Show-Stealer Cast" award for Safe Guards
* 2007: Astro Wah Lai Toi "My Favourite Unforgettable Scene" award for Safe Guards
* 2008: 2008 TVB Anniversary Awards "Best Supporting Actor" award for The Gentle Crackdown II
* 2009: Mingpao Weekly – "Most Outstanding Actor" for Rosy Business
* 2009: TVB 42nd Anniversary "Best Actor" award for Rosy Business
* 2009: TVB 42nd Anniversary "TVB.com Popularity Award"
* 2009: TVB Anniversary Awards "My Favourite Male Character" "Rosy Business"
* 2009: Yahoo! Asia Buzz Awards "TV Actor"
* 2010: Next Magazine Top 10 TV Artiste No. 2
* 2010: TVB Anniversary Awards "Best Actor" award for No Regrets
* 2010: New York Television Festival "Best Performance – Talent Credits" for Rosy Business (Episode 7)
* 2011: Shanghai Television Festival nominated "Best Actor" for No Regrets
* 2011: Mingpao Weekly – "Most Outstanding Actor" for No Regrets