# Fan Wei (actor)

Fan Wei (born 2 September 1962) is a Chinese actor known for his roles in Chinese sketch comedies, sitcoms, and films. He gained fame through performances with Zhao Benshan and Gao Xiumin in CCTV New Year's Galas since 1995. He has been featured in films such as Cell Phone (2003), A World Without Thieves (2004), If You Are the One (2008), and City of Life and Death (2009). He has also acted in several television series produced in mainland China such as Ma Dashuai (2003-2006) and The Long Season (2023).

## Early life

Fan was born in Dadong District of Shenyang, Liaoning, on 2 September 1962. His father was a publicity officer in a factory and his mother was a salesperson. He has an elder sister and a younger brother. In 1978, by age 16, Fan studied xiangsheng under mentor Chen Lianzhong (陈连仲), a xiangsheng actor of Shenyang Ballad Singers Troupe, which Fan officially joined five years later. In 1986, he participated in the National Xiangsheng Competition, which led to widespread recognition among audiences in northeast China.

## Acting career

In 1999, Fan made his film debut with a minor role in Male Sorority Director. His first main role in a movie came with the Spring Subway, alongside Xu Jinglei, Geng Le, Zhang Yang and Wang Ning.
In 2003, Fan's performance in the comedy film The Parking Attendant in July which earned him Best Actor at the 28th Montreal World Film Festival and 11th Beijing College Student Film Festival and was nominated for Best Actor at the Golden Rooster Awards. That same year, he got a small role in Feng Xiaogang's comedy-drama film Cell Phone.
Fan had key supporting role in the 2004 A World Without Thieves, an action drama film starring Andy Lau, Rene Liu, Ge You, Li Bingbing, and Wang Baoqiang.
In 2007, he appeared in the comedy film Lucky Dog, which earned hi a Best Actor at the 9th Chinese Film Media Awards and received nomination at the 23rd Golden Rooster Awards. That same year, he co-starred with Liu Ye, Gao Yuanyuan, and Qin Lan in Lu Chuan's drama film City of Life and Death.
In 2008, Fan was cast in romantic comedy film If You Are the One, opposite Ge You, Shu Qi, Alex Fong Chung-Sun, Feng Yuanzheng and Vivian Hsu. He won the Students' Choice Award for Favorite Actor at the 16th Beijing College Student Film Festival for his performance in Set Off.
Fan had a small role in the 2009 historical drama The Founding of a Republic.
In 2010, for his role in Brothers' Happiness, Fan won the Audience Favorite TV Actor at the 25th Golden Eagle Awards and Most Charismatic Actor at the 16th Magnolia Awards.
In 2011, Fan portrayed politician Li Yuanhong in the propaganda film The Founding of a Party. He played the title role in the comedy film Crazy Dinner Party, co-starring Huang Bo, Monica Mok, and Liu Hua. He played a lead role as Priest in the comedy film Guns and Roses, alongside Lei Jiayin, Guo Tao and Tao Hong. He played the role of Kong Lingxue in Tracks Kong Lingxue, for which he earned Most Brilliant Actor at the 3rd China Image Film Festival in London.
In 2012, he played Lao Ma, the lead role in Feng Xiaogang's Back to 1942, costarring Zhang Guoli, Chen Daoming, Li Xuejian, Zhang Hanyu, Feng Yuanzheng and Xu Fan.
In 2013, Fan was cast as a lead role in the Huayi Brothers's production Personal Tailor, costarring Ge You, Bai Baihe, Li Xiaolu and Zheng Kai.
Fan was cast in the fantasy-adventure-comedy film Monk Comes Down the Mountain (2014), playing the teacher of Wang Baoqiang's character.
In 2016, he landed a guest starring role in the comedy film I Am Not Madame Bovary, a film adaptation based on the novel I Did Not Kill My Husband by novelist Liu Zhenyun. He took the lead role in the drama film Someone to Talk To, which also adapted from Liu Zhenyun's novel.
In 2017, Fan earned critical acclaim for his performance in the black-and-white film Mr. No Problem, for which he earned Best Leading Actor at the 53rd Golden Horse Awards, Best Actor at the 7th Beijing International Film Festival, and received Best Actor nominations at the 11th Asian Film Awards, 25th Beijing College Student Film Festival, and 9th China Film Director's Guild Awards.
In 2019, he was cast in the crime film Hunt Down, playing the father of Jiao Junyan's and husband of Chen Shu's characters. He was nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the 12th Macau International Movie Festival.
Fan starred opposite Liu Haocun and Zhang Yi in Zhang Yimou's drama film One Second. He also appeared in Love You Forever, opposite Li Yitong and Lee Hong-chi.
In 2021, he starred in the war film Railway Heroes with Zhang Hanyu, Vision Wei, Zhou Ye and Yu Haoming.
In 2023, Fan starred in The Long Season, which earned him the International Competition: Best Actor at the 18th Seoul International Drama Awards and Best Actor at the 32nd China Television Golden Eagle Awards.

## Personal life

In 1988, Fan was introduced by a friend to Yang Baoling (杨宝玲), a nurse of Shenyang Children's Hospital. They got married on 10 April 1990. Their son Fan Xiwen (范曦文) was born at the end of 1992.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | English title | Chinese title | Role | Notes |
| 1999 | Male Sorority Director | 男妇女主任 | Secretary | |
| 2000 | | 称心如意 | Gao Yuhang | |
| 2001 | Spring Subway | 开往春天的地铁 | Wang Yao | |
| 2003 | The Parking Attendant in July | 看车人的七月 | Du Hongjun | |
| 2003 | Cell Phone | 手机 | Zhuantou | |
| 2004 | | 求求你表扬我 | Yang Hongqi | |
| 2004 | A World Without Thieves | 天下无贼 | A robber | |
| 2005 | The Road | 芳香之旅 | Lao Cui | |
| 2006 | Cars | 赛车总动员 | Mater | dub |
| 2007 | City of Life and Death | 南京！南京！ | Tang Tian | |
| 2007 | Ticket | 车票 | Father Ding | |
| 2007 | Lucky Dog | 耳朵大有福 | Wang Kangmei | |
| 2008 | Set Off | 即日启程 | Lao Cui | |
| 2008 | Fit Lover | 爱情呼叫转移2 | Fan Zhongju | |
| 2008 | If You Are the One | 非诚勿扰 | Mr. Fan | |
| 2009 | The Founding of a Republic | 建国大业 | Guo Bencai | |
| 2011 | Crazy Dinner Party | 饭局也疯狂 | Master Tan | |
| 2011 | Tracks Kong Lingxue | 跟踪孔令学 | Kong Lingxue | |
| 2011 | Guns and Roses | 黄金大劫案 | Priest | |
| 2011 | The Founding of a Party | 建党伟业 | Li Yuanhong | |
| 2011 | Angry Kid | 愤怒的小孩 | Sun Zhongmou | |
| 2011 | Legend of A Rabbit | 兔侠传奇 | Rabbit | dub |
| 2011 | Cars 2 | 赛车总动员2 | Mater | dub |
| 2012 | Back to 1942 | 一九四二 | Lao Ma | |
| 2013 | Personal Tailor | 私人订制 | Driver | |
| 2014 | Monk Comes Down the Mountain | 道士下山 | Cui Daoning | |
| 2016 | I Am Not Madame Bovary | 我不是潘金莲 | Guo Nong | |
| 2016 | Someone to Talk To | 一句顶一万句 | Song Jiefang | |
| 2017 | Mr. No Problem | 不成问题的问题 | Ding Wuyuan | |
| 2017 | The One | 绝世高手 | Huang Jierui | |
| 2017 | What A Day ! | 有完没完 | Lao Fan | |
| 2017 | Father and Son | 父子雄兵 | Fan Yingxiong | |
| 2017 | City of Rock | 缝纫机乐队 | Chairman Fan | |
| 2019 | Hunt Down | 长安道 | Wan Zhenggang | |
| 2019 | Two Tigers | 两只老虎 | Fan Zhigang | |
| 2020 | Love You Forever | 我在时间尽头等你 | Lin Liguo | |
| 2020 | One Second | 一秒钟 | Fan Dianying | |
| 2020 | My People, My Homeland | 我和我的家乡 | Lao Fan | Last Lesson |
| 2021 | | 勇敢的你 | Fu Yangyue | |
| 2021 | Knock Knock | 不速来客 | Lao Li | |
| 2021 | Railway Heroes | 铁道英雄 | Lao Wang | |
| 2021 | Love After Love | 第一炉香 | Situ Xie | |
| 2021 | | 来锻炼了 | | |
| 2021 | The Fallen Bridge | 断桥 | | |
| 2023 | If You are the One 3 | 非诚勿扰3 | Lao Fan | |
| 2024 | Strangers when We Meet | 朝云暮雨 | Lao Qin | |

### Television

| Year | English title | Chinese title | Role |
| 1992 | Head of a Village | 一村之长 | |
| 1996 | | 夜深人不静 | Miser |
| 2002 | Liu Laogen | 刘老根 | Li Baoku |
| 2003 | Ma Dashuai | 马大帅 | Fan Debiao |
| 2003 | | 将装修进行到底 | Yang Xiaodong |
| 2003 | | 讨个媳妇过新年 | Businessman Wu |
| 2003 | Jade Guanyin | 玉观音 | Prisoner |
| 2004 | | 压岁钱 | |
| 2004 | | 快乐能活100年 | Wu Ahren |
| 2005 | The Criminal Officer of the Song Dynasty | 大宋提刑官 | Tan Lizheng |
| 2006 | Country Love | 乡村爱情 | Wang Musheng |
| 2008 | | 关东大先生 | Han Tingyu |
| 2008 | Seven Days Shaking the world | 震撼世界的七日 | Zhuang Xiwei |
| 2010 | | 雷哥老范 | Fan Chunlei |
| 2010 | Brothers' Happiness | 老大的幸福 | Fu Jixiang |
| 2011 | Married Love First | 先结婚后恋爱 | Teng Fei |
| 2013 | | 上阵父子兵 | Qiao Richeng |
| 2013 | | 老家门口唱大戏 | Sunda Mingbai |
| 2014 | Xiaobao and Laocai | 小宝和老财 | Zhou Laocai |
| 2017 | Star-spangled | 星光灿烂 | Geng Xingguang |
| 2019 | Villagers love | 乡亲乡爱 | Zhuang Xingyuan |
| 2019 | New Fortress Besieged | 热爱 | Mei Ranguang |
| 2020 | Liu Laogen 3 | 刘老根3 | Li Baoku |
| 2021 | Liu Laogen 4 | 刘老根4 | Li Baoku |
| 2023 | The Long Season | 漫长的季节 | Wang Xiang |

## CCTV New Year's Gala

| Year | English title | Chinese title | Cast |
| 1995 | | 牛大叔"提干 | Zhao Benshan, Zhang Yuping |
| 1996 | | 三鞭子 | Zhao Benshan, Li Hai |
| 1997 | Red Sorghum Model Team | 红高粱模特队 | Zhao Benshan |
| 1998 | New Year Greetings | 拜年 | Zhao Benshan, Gao Xiumin |
| 1999 | Feel for Others | 将心比心 | Gao Xiumin, Heimei |
| 2001 | Selling a Cane | 卖拐 | Zhao Benshan, Gao Xiumin |
| 2002 | Selling a Bike | 卖车 | Zhao Benshan, Gao Xiumin |
| 2003 | Anxiety | 心病 | Zhao Benshan, Gao Xiumin |
| 2004 | Water Delivery Worker | 送水工 | Zhao Benshan, Gao Xiumin |
| 2005 | Kungfu | 功夫 | Zhao Benshan, Cai Weili, Wang Xiaohu |

## Awards and nominations
### Film awards

| Year | Nominated work | Award | Result |
| Montreal World Film Festival |||||
| 2004 (28th) | The Parking Attendant in July | Best Actor | Won |
| Cairo International Film Festival |||||
| 2006 (30th) | The Road | Special Mention Award | Won |
| China Image Film Festival |||||
| 2011 (3rd) | Tracks Kong Lingxue | Most Brilliant Actor | Won |
| Beijing International Film Festival |||||
| 2017 (7th) | Mr. No Problem | Best Actor | Won |
| 2024 (14th) | Strangers When We Meet | Best Actor | Won |
| Golden Rooster Awards |||||
| 2003 (23rd) | The Parking Attendant in July | Best Actor | Nominated |
| 2009 (27th) | Lucky Dog | Best Actor | Nominated |
| 2021 (34th) | One Second | Best Supporting Actor | Won |
| Golden Horse Film Festival and Awards |||||
| 2016 (53rd) | Mr. No Problem | Best Actor | Won |
| Asian Film Awards |||||
| 2017 (11th) | Mr. No Problem | Best Actor | Nominated |
| Beijing College Student Film Festival |||||
| 2004 (11th) | The Parking Attendant in July | Best Actor | Won |
| 2009 (16th) | Set Off | Favorite Actor | Won |
| 2018 (25th) | Mr. No Problem | Best Actor | Nominated |
| Chinese Film Media Awards |||||
| 2009 (9th) | Lucky Dog | Best Actor | Won |
| Chinese Film Media Awards |||||
| 2017 (8th) | Someone to Talk To | Actor of the Year | Nominated |
| 2018 (9th) | Mr. No Problem | Actor of the Year | Nominated |
| Macau International Movie Festival |||||
| 2019 (11th) | Hunt Down | Best Actor | Nominated |
| 2020 (12th) | Two Tigers | Best Supporting Actor | Nominated |
| Huading Awards |||||
| 2021 (31st) | One Second | Best Supporting Actor | Won |
| Golden Phoenix Awards |||||
| 2005 (10th) | The Parking Attendant in July | | Won |

### Television series awards

| Year | Nominated work | Award | Result |
| Asia Contents Awards & Global OTT Awards |||||
| 2023 (5th) | The Long Season | Best Lead Actor | Nominated |
| Seoul International Drama Awards |||||
| 2023 (18th) | The Long Season | Best Actor | Won |
| Magnolia Awards |||||
| 2010 (16th) | Brothers' Happiness | Best Actor | Nominated |
| 2010 (16th) | Brothers' Happiness | Most Charismatic Actor | Won |
| 2024 (29th) | The Long Season | Best Actor | Nominated |
| Golden Eagle Awards |||||
| 2003 (21st) | Liu Laogen 2 | Audience's Choice for Actor | Nominated |
| 2010 (25th) | Brothers' Happiness | Audience's Choice for Actor | Won |
| 2024 (32nd) | The Long Season | Best Actor | Won |
| Flying Apsaras Awards |||||
| 2003 (23rd) | Liu Laogen 2 | Outstanding Actor | Nominated |