# Deng Chao

Deng Chao (simplified Chinese: 邓超; traditional Chinese: 鄧超; pinyin: Dèng Chāo, born 8 February 1979) is a Chinese actor and director. Deng received recognition for the television series The Young Emperor (2003) and Happiness as Flowers (2005). He later shifted his focus to films, starring in the box office hits Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame (2010), American Dreams in China (2013), The Dead End (2015), for which he won the Golden Rooster Award for Best Actor, The Mermaid (2016), Duckweed (2017), and Shadow (2018). He also directed and starred in The Breakup Guru (2014), Devil and Angel (2015) and Looking Up (2019). He was a cast member of variety show Keep Running from 2014 to 2019. He has been a cast member of web show HAHAHAHAHA since 2020.

## Early life

Deng was born into a second marriage family in Nanchang, Jiangxi, on 8 February 1979. His father was a museum secretary, and his mother was a factory cadre. His father has a son and a daughter, and His mother has a daughter. After they got married, they had Deng Chao. Since 1995, Deng studied in the theater program at the Jiangxi Vocational Academy of Art for three years. In 1998, he entered the Central Academy of Drama in Beijing.

## Career
### 2000–2006: Early work and breakthrough

During his junior year at college, Deng was cast in the hit play Cuihua Shang Suancai, a student production presented by the Central Academy of Drama, through which he knew script-writer Yu Baimei, who would be his long-time professional partner. After graduation, he started filming dramas. He rose to fame with the 2003 historical drama The Young Emperor and further gained popularity with director Gao Xixi's military drama romance Happiness as Flowers, co-starring Sun Li.

### 2007–2012: Increasing recognition

Due to his rising popularity, Deng scored a role in Feng Xiaogang's war film Assembly. For the film, Deng won the Best Supporting Actor at the Hundred Flowers Awards, successfully making his crossover to the big screen. The same year, he co-starred in Cao Baoping's romantic thriller The Equation of Love and Death and was awarded the Society award at the Golden Phoenix Awards for his performance.
In 2010, he starred in Tsui Hark's action-mystery film Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame, playing an albino detective named Bei Dong Lai. He earned a Best Supporting Actor nomination at the Hong Kong Film Awards. Deng next starred in fantasy film Mural (2011), directed by Gordon Chan and adapted from the renowned ghost novel "Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio". In 2012, he played Cold Blood in the wuxia film The Four, based on Woon Swee Oan's novel series Si Da Ming Bu (The Four Great Constables).

### 2013–2015: Directorial works and Keep Running

In 2013, Deng starred as one of the three male leads in Peter Chan's film American Dreams in China, about three young men from poor backgrounds who achieved success by establishing an English teaching school. The film was a commercial success and earned positive reviews. Taipei Times called the movie a "a well-executed work of entertainment that preaches about China's growing power" and praised Deng for "delivering a focused performance as an idealist with a defeated ego".
Deng made his directorial debut with The Breakup Guru (2014), a romantic comedy co-created by him and Yu Baimei. Though it faced stiff competition from Hollywood blockbusters, the film grossed 180 million yuan in its opening week and ended up as one of the highest-grossing films in China that year. The same year, he joined Keep Running, a remake of the South Korean variety program Running Man. Keep Running enjoyed explosive popularity in China. That year, Deng was chosen as the Most Valuable Chinese Actor.
Deng then starred in crime film The Dead End directed by acclaimed director Cao Baoping, and was praised by critics for "breathing life into the role with riveting performances", as well as his chemistry with co-star Duan Yihong. He shared the Best Actor award with co-stars Duan and Guo Tao at the 18th Shanghai International Film Festival, and won another Best Actor trophy at the Golden Rooster Awards. Deng teamed up again with Yu Baimei for the comedy film Devil and Angel, following the success of The Breakup Guru. However, unlike its predecessor, the film was voted the Most Disappointing Film of 2015 and received criticism for its poor approach to comedy.

### 2016–present: Success on the big screen

In 2016, Deng starred in Stephen Chow's film The Mermaid, where he plays a playboy businessman who falls in love with a mermaid that had been sent to assassinate him. The film broke numerous box office records, including biggest opening day and biggest single-day gross through its seventh day of release. Due to his success on the big screen, CBN Weekly named him the 3rd most commercially valuable celebrity in China; and the most lucrative actor on China's big screen that year.
In 2017, Deng starred in Han Han's sleeper hit Duckweed, playing a rebellious car racer who thinks that his parents misunderstood him. He next starred in the suspense crime film, The Liquidator, based on the bestselling crime novel series Evil Minds: City Light and directed by acclaimed TV director Xu Jizhou.
In 2018, Deng starred in Zhang Yimou's historical film, Shadow.
In 2019, Deng starred in the family drama film Looking Up, which he co-directed.

## Personal life

Deng dated Nie Ning since they were both students at the Jiangxi Vocational Academy of Art. Nie was later admitted to the Central Academy of Drama, a year junior to Deng. They broke up after four years of relationship.
From 2002 to 2005, Deng dated his The Young Emperor co-star Hao Lei.
Deng has been married to actress Sun Li since 2010. They have two children, a son named Deng Han Zhi and a daughter named Deng Han Yi.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | English title | Chinese title | Role | Notes |
| 2003 | When Love Loses Its Memory | 当爱情失去记忆 | Li Buxiao | |
| 2007 | Assembly | 集结号 | Zhao Erdou | |
| 2008 | The Equation of Love and Death | 李米的猜想 | Fang Wen | |
| 2008 | Fit Lover | 爱情呼叫转移2 | Yuan Jia | |
| 2009 | The Founding of a Republic | 建国大业 | Xu Beihong | Cameo |
| 2010 | Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame | 狄仁杰与通天帝国 | Bei Donglai | |
| 2011 | Perfect Baby | 巴黎宝贝 | Ma Xiaoshun | |
| 2011 | The Founding of a Party | 建党伟业 | Chen Yi | |
| 2011 | Mural | 画壁 | Zhu Xiaolian | |
| 2012 | The Four | 四大名捕 | Leng Xie | |
| 2013 | American Dreams in China | 中国合伙人 | Meng Xiaojun | |
| 2013 | The Four II | 四大名捕2 | Leng Xie | |
| 2014 | The Breakup Guru | 分手大师 | Mei Yuangui | Directional debut |
| 2014 | The Four III | 四大名捕3 | Leng Xie | |
| 2015 | Jian Bing Man | 煎饼侠 | Deng Chao | Cameo |
| 2015 | The Dead End | 烈日灼心 | Xin Xiaofeng | |
| 2015 | Hundred Regiments Offensive | 百团大战 | Zhang Zizhong | Cameo |
| 2015 | Devil and Angel | 恶棍天使 | Mo Feili | Also director and producer |
| 2016 | The Mermaid | 美人鱼 | Liu Xuan | |
| 2016 | I Belonged to You | 从你的全世界路过 | Chen Mo | |
| 2017 | Duckweed | 乘风破浪 | Xu Tailang | |
| 2017 | The Liquidator | 心理罪：城市之光 | Fang Mu | |
| 2017 | Sky Hunter | 空天猎 | Soldier | Cameo |
| 2018 | Shadow | 影 | Zihu / Jingzhou | |
| 2019 | Looking Up | 银河补习班 | Ma Haowen | Also director |
| 2019 | Midnight Diner | 深夜食堂 | Ah Xin | Cameo |
| 2020 | My People, My Homeland | 我和我的家乡 | Qiao Sulin | |
| 2020 | The Sacrifice | 金刚川 | Gao Fulai | |
| 2023 | Ping Pong: The Triumph | 中国乒乓之绝地反击 | Dai Minjia | Also director |

### Television series

| Year | English title | Chinese title | Role | Notes |
| 2001 | The Joy of Spring | 换了青春 | Liang Dawei | |
| 2003 | The following is the fertile soil of sand | 黄沙下面是沃土 | Wang Heiyuan | |
| 2003 | The Young Emperor | 少年天子 | Shunzhi Emperor | |
| 2004 | Beijing Holiday | 北京假日 | Liu Xiaodong | |
| 2004 | | 谍战之特殊较量 | Zhao Zhiqiang | |
| 2005 | The Royal Swordsmen | 天下第一 | Zheng De | |
| 2005 | Happiness as Flowers | 幸福像花儿一样 | Bai Yang | |
| 2005 | Young Kangxi | 少年康熙 | Kangxi Emperor | |
| 2005 | | 明末风云 | Chongzhen Emperor | |
| 2005 | | 风流才子翻转天 | Kuang Nanhai | |
| 2006 | | 爱了散了 | Chen Feng | |
| 2006 | Young Justice Bao III | 少年包青天3 | Bao Zheng | |
| 2006 | New Stars in the Night | 新昨夜星辰 | Zhou Xinbang | |
| 2007 | Silent Tears | 女人不哭 | Zhao Jian | |
| 2008 | Romantic West St. | 浪漫的西街 | Hu Dawei | |
| 2008 | | 甜蜜蜜 | Lei Lei | |
| 2008 | Rich Man Poor Love | 钻石王老五的艰难爱情 | Meng Hao | |
| 2009 | Human Love | 人间情缘 | Li Xiaojun | |
| 2009 | Medic | 军医 | Lin Bingkun | |
| 2009 | The Heavenly Sword and Dragon Saber | 倚天屠龙记 | Zhang Wuji | |
| 2010 | You're My Brother | 你是我兄弟 | Ma Xuejun | |
| 2011 | Love of Yan'an | 延安爱情 | Peng Chengdou | |
| 2014 | Ten Years of Love | 相爱十年 | Xiao Ran | |
| 2017 | Master Healing | 复合大师 | Mei Yangui | Special appearance |

### Variety show

| Year | English title | Chinese title | Role | Notes |
| 2014–2018 | Keep Running | 奔跑吧 | Cast member/Leader | |
| 2021 | Produce Camp 2021 | 创造营2021 | Mentor | |

## Discography

| Year | English title | Chinese title | Album | Notes |
| 2002 | "Forever Farewell" | 永相别 | The Young Emperor OST | |
| 2005 | "Only Need You" | 只要有你 | Young Justice Bao III OST | with Jin Minjia |
| 2006 | "Tian Mi Mi" | 甜蜜蜜 | Tian Mi Mi OST | with Sun Li |
| 2006 | "The Moon Represents My Heart" | 月亮代表我的心 | Tian Mi Mi OST | with Sun Li |
| 2008 | "Brothers" | 兄弟 | Assembly OST | |
| 2008 | "I Will Grow Up Today" | 今天就长大 | — | Theme song of Jiayou, 2008! |
| 2009 | "Hua Xia Hero" | 华夏英雄 | The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber OST | |
| 2009 | "Bloom" | 绽放 | — | Theme song of 18th Golden Rooster Awards |
| 2010 | "A Bright Moon is Born on the Sea" | 海上生明月 | — | Promotional song for the Shanghai World Expo |
| 2010 | "Promise" | 诺言 | You're My Brother OST | |
| 2011 | Xuan Yuan Legend | 轩辕传奇 | — | Theme song for Xuan Yuan Legend game |
| 2011 | Mural | 画壁 | Mural OST | with Sun Li |
| 2012 | "Dreams Won't Die" | 梦不死 | The Four OST | |
| 2013 | "The Proverb of Love" | 爱的箴言 | Ten Years of Love OST | |
| 2013 | "The Story of Time" | 光阴的故事 | American Dreams in China OST | with Huang Xiaoming & Tong Dawei |
| 2014 | "Hello World" | — | The Breakup Guru OST | |
| 2014 | "The Echoes of the Mountain Valley" | 山谷里的回声 | The Breakup Guru OST | |
| 2014 | "Sweet Chocolate" | — | The Breakup Guru OST | |
| 2014 | "Super Hero" | 超级英雄 | — | Theme song of Keep Running |
| 2014 | "Brahmas Lullaby" | 摇篮曲 | — | |
| 2015 | "The Song of Little Tail" | 小尾巴之歌 | The Dead End OST | |
| 2015 | "Your Majesty, I Am Wrong" | 娘娘我错了 | Devil and Angel OST | |
| 2015 | "Alphabet Song" | 字母歌 | Devil and Angel OST | |
| 2015 | "Love in the World" | 有情世间 | Devil and Angel OST | |
| 2016 | "Undefeatable" | 无敌 | The Mermaid OST | |
| 2016 | "Love Song of Broadcast Station" | 电台情歌 | I Belonged to You OST | |
| 2017 | "Luan Mu's Wood Guitar" | 乱炖的木吉他 | Buddies in India OST | |
| 2017 | "Ride the Winds, Break the Waves" | 乘风破浪歌 | Duckweed OST | |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result |
| 2008 | 29th Hundred Flowers Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Assembly | Won |
| 2009 | 27th Golden Rooster Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Assembly | Nominated |
| 2009 | Golden Phoenix Awards | Male Actor in a Motion Picture | Assembly | Won |
| 2011 | 30th Hong Kong Film Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame | Nominated |
| 2013 | 10th Guangzhou Student Film Festival | Most Popular Actor | American Dreams in China | Won |
| 2015 | 18th Shanghai International Film Festival | Best Actor | The Dead End | Won |
| 2015 | 52nd Golden Horse Film Awards | Best Actor | The Dead End | Nominated |
| 2016 | 7th China Film Director's Guild Awards | Best Actor | The Dead End | Nominated |
| 2016 | 33rd Hundred Flowers Awards | Best Actor | The Dead End | Nominated |
| 2017 | 31st Golden Rooster Awards | Best Actor | The Dead End | Won |
| 2018 | 9th China Film Director's Guild Awards | Best Actor | Duckweed | Nominated |
| 2018 | 55th Golden Horse Film Festival and Awards | Best Leading Actor | Shadow | Nominated |
| 2019 | 25th Huading Awards | Best Actor | Shadow | Nominated |
| 2019 | 11th Macau International Movie Festival | Best Actor | Looking Up | Nominated |

### Forbes China Celebrity 100

| Year | Rank |
| 2014 | 85th |
| 2015 | 27th |
| 2017 | 12th |
| 2019 | 18th |
| 2020 | 97th |