Niu Ben

NIU Ben (1935- ), original name ZHANG Xuejing (Chinese 张学景), born in Tianjin, lives in Shanghai currently, one of the earlier generation of Chinese actors, with the reputation of "Ever green in Chinese filmdom".

Biography

He lost both of his parents at the age of six, then lived with his oldest brother, who worked as a driver at the third film factory in Beijing. In 1946, 11 year old Ben was chosen to act as a village boy "little ox" and became a child star. His stage name NIU Ben is composed of the Chinese character of "牛" (ox). He later played child roles in old Chinese films, and went to Hongkong.

After the foundation of People's Republic of China, he returned to mainland China and became an actor of the Shanghai Film Studio, and one of the members of the 5th China Film Association. In his 60 year career, he has been in hundreds of films and TV plays, and is still active in Chinese film.

Personal Awards

• Golden Rooster Awards = Best Supporting Actor
  1983 The Herdsman
• Hundred Flowers Awards = Best Supporting Actor
  1983
  1997
  1999

Representative Works

• Red Detachment of Women (1961)
• The Herdsman (1983)
• To Live (film) (1994)
• The Longest Night in Shanghai (2007)

See also

• Cinema of China