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Christopher Lee (Malaysian actor)

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Christopher Lee
Lee in July 2023
Born (1971-07-23) 23 July 1971 (age 53)
Occupations
  • Actor
  • host
  • singer
  • businessman
Years active1994–present
Agent
  • Catwalk Production House
Spouse
(m. 2009)
Children1
AwardsFull list
Birth name
Traditional Chinese李銘順
Simplified Chinese李铭顺
Hanyu PinyinLǐ Míngshùn
JyutpingLei5 Ming4 Seon6
Hokkien POJLí Bêng-sūn
Former stage name
Traditional Chinese李名順
Simplified Chinese李名顺
Hanyu PinyinLǐ Míngshùn

Christopher Lee Meng Soon (born 23 July 1971) is a Singaporean actor, host and businessman, known for starring in many Chinese-language television dramas and films in Singapore, Taiwan and mainland China. At the age of 26, Lee rose to prominence after winning the Star Awards for Best Actor for his role in The Price of Peace, becoming the youngest ever recipient of the award.[1]

Lee is widely regarded as an "Ah-Ge" (阿哥, "big brother") of Caldecott Hill for being one of the most successful actors in Singapore's Chinese-language entertainment industry.[2] He is the only Singapore-based actor to have won multiple Best Actor accolades at both Singapore's Star Awards and Taiwan's Golden Bell Awards.[3]

Early life

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Lee studied up to Form 5 in Sekolah Menengah Seri Kota, Air Leleh, Malacca, Malaysia. He was an active student in school, serving as a prefect and representing his school in rugby competitions. He has an older sister and two younger brothers, the youngest being Frederick Lee Meng Chong, who is also an actor and model in Malaysia.[4]

Career

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Lee joined TCS on a contract in 1995 after emerging as 1st runner-up in the male category of the Star Search programme in 1995. He worked as a factory worker, salesman and part-time model before joining star search in 1995. Lee first started acting in Chinese-language television dramas produced by Channel 8.

Rise to prominence

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Lee rose to prominence after winning the Best Actor award at the Star Awards 1997 for his role as a hanjian in the television drama The Price of Peace, set in Japanese-occupied Singapore during World War II. He was voted in as one of the Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes that same year.

In 1998, he starred as Yang Guo in The Return of the Condor Heroes, an adaptation of Louis Cha's novel of the same title. The drama achieved high ratings in Taiwan, and Lee was voted in as Taiwan's Most Popular MediaCorp Male Artiste at the Star Awards 1998 for his performance.

Since then, Lee has acted in many television series jointly produced by Singapore and other countries in the Asia-Pacific region, co-starring with actors from Hong Kong and Taiwan, such as Nadia Chan, Vincent Chiao, Jimmy Lin and Jordan Chan.

Apart from acting, Lee also recorded the theme songs of MediaCorp's television dramas. He released his first solo album in 1999 and another one in 2002.

Apart from acting, Lee has also ventured into hosting and has hosted several travel and food programmes. He was nominated for the Best Info-Ed Show Host award at the Star Awards 2012.

At the Star Awards 2013, Lee won his second Star Awards for Best Actor for his role in Show Hand.

Regional acclaim

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For his role as a depressed workaholic in A Good Wife, Lee won his first Golden Bell Award for Best Leading Actor in a Television Series at the 2014 Golden Bell Awards, Taiwan's equivalent of the Emmy Awards.[5]

Lee would go on to win the Golden Bell Award for Best Leading Actor in a Miniseries or Television Film at the 2021 Golden Bell Awards for his role as a construction worker obsessed with money in the HBO comedy Workers.

In 2022, Lee won the Golden Bell Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Television Series in the iQiyi crime thriller Danger Zone.[6]

In 2023, Lee ended veteran host Quan Yi Fong's five-year winning streak when he won the Star Awards for Best Programme Host at the 2023 Star Awards.[7]

Ventures

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On 9 November 2021, Lee launched a golf clothing brand, eponymously named LMS, the initials of his Chinese name in pinyin.[8]

Personal life

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Lee in December 2021

After an eight-year courtship, Lee married Fann Wong, his co-star in several television series, on 16 May 2009. The wedding ceremony was held at Shangri-La Hotel Singapore, with many of Lee's colleagues from the entertainment industry attending their wedding. The couple have a son Zed, who was born on 9 August 2014.

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On 8 October 2006, Lee was involved in a hit-and-run road accident. He had allegedly knocked down a motorcyclist due to suspected drunk driving, causing the motorcyclist and his pillion rider to suffer superficial injuries on their faces and legs. He failed the breathalyser test and was more than twice the legal limit.[9] He was arrested and released later on bail.

Despite the incident, Lee managed to win a position among the Top 10 Male Artistes in the Star Awards 2006. In his acceptance speech, Lee said in Mandarin that he had been feeling terrible over the incident during the previous two months, and that he would be responsible for what he did. Speaking to reporters later, he mentioned that he had been unable to sleep at times, adding that he was very grateful to his fans for their support.[10]

On 10 May 2007, Lee was fined S$4,500 and disqualified from driving for three years on charges of drunk driving and other traffic offences, as well as being sentenced to a prison term of four weeks after he admitted to drink driving, inconsiderate driving, failing to render aid to the injured motorcyclist and his injured pillion rider and removing his car from the scene without police permission.[9] Lee appealed against his jail sentence but withdrew his appeal later on 28 May. He began serving his sentence at Queenstown Remand Prison on the same day.[11] On 15 June, the prosecution succeeded in appealing against Lee's four-week jail sentence and the court decided to overturn an earlier sentence of a S$3,000 fine for his drunk driving offence. Lee was sentenced to an additional two weeks in prison, making his total prison term six weeks long.[12] On 21 June, the prosecution dropped the last of five charges against Lee for failing to stop after an accident, letting him off with a stern warning instead.[13] Lee was released on 25 June, after receiving a reduction in his prison sentence due to good behavior.[14]

Due to his conviction, Lee was dropped from playing the lead role in the 2007 Channel 8 television series Metamorphosis. He was replaced by actor Thomas Ong.[15]

On 12 July 2007, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) completed its review on Lee's case and decided to allow him to retain his Singapore Permanent Resident status. However, Lee will be under close observation and the ICA would revoke its decision if Lee violates the law again.[16] After the conviction, he made his comeback in the 2008 television drama Rhythm of Life.

Filmography

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Television series

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Year Title Role Notes Ref
1996 Kungfu Master Liu Nianrong
Of Cops and Man Liu Jiashun
Brave New World Jiale
1997 The Choice Partner Zheng Fangsheng
My Wife, Your Wife, Their Wives Mai Jiawei
The Price of Peace Xie Guomin
The Guest People Zhang Chongzhi
1998 The Return of the Condor Heroes Yang Guo
Myths and Legends of Singapore Zhu Heyi / Zhu Gutou
1999 Coup de Scorpio Xie Tingzhang
Riding the Storm Zhong Qingtang
2000 Master Swordsman Lu Xiaofeng Ximen Chuixue
Looking for Stars Henry
2001 Madam White Snake Xu Xian / Xu Shilin
Master Swordsman Lu Xiaofeng 2 Ximen Chuixue
The Hotel Shaun
2002 Brotherhood He Ping
Palm of Rulai Lu Xiaoyu
2003 Moon Fairy Houyi
True Heroes Chen Junhao
Always on My Mind Tang Xinyang
2004 Timeless Gift Wang Jie
To Mum with Love Yang Yijie
2005 A New Life Zhang Youfu
Fairy of the Chalice Cao Jing
The Dragon Heroes Yan Cheng
You Are the One Simon
2006 The Lucky Stars Wu Fuqi
Rhapsody in Blue Lan Ziyuan
Through It All Guo Yihai
The Peak Fang Hong'an
2007 A Mobile Love Story Lin Lizhong
The Shaolin Warriors Qi Jiguang
2008 Rhythm of Life Li Junjie
Beach.Ball.Babes (球爱大战) Ma Tianwu
2009 My Buddy Zeng Youquan
2010 Breakout Situ Dongcheng
2011 Secrets for Sale Zheng Renyi
The Oath Wu Guo'en
2012 Show Hand Zhang Qiming Won Best Actor at Star Awards 2013
Game Plan Zeng Haoren
2013 A Good Wife Li Shaowen Won Best Leading Actor at Golden Bell Awards [17]
2014 Against The Tide Di Shen
The Romance of the Condor Heroes Huang Yaoshi
Mr. Right Wanted Lun Zheming
2015 Crescendo Yang Yiwei
2016 Nie Xiaoqian Yan Qi
Yan Chi Xia
2018 Memories of Love Xin Kai Yu
Doppelganger Yang Liwei
Li Ruiming
2019 My Girlfriend is an Alien Fang Shida
After The Stars (攻星计) Le Jun
Dive Ming Ke
2020 Workers Lin Mingqi [18]
2021 Danger Zone Tan Chonghui Won Best Supporting Actor at Golden Bell Awards [19]
2023 Port of Lies Tong Baoju
2024 Kill Sera Sera [20]
Q18 Professor Ko

Film

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Year Title Role Notes Ref
1995 Love Knows No Bounds Hong Jie Television film
2004 The Best Bet Lee Yong Shun
2009 The Wedding Game Jack Fang
2010 Kidnapper Ah Huat [21]
2012 Forgotten Luo Pin-Chung Television film [17]
Sweetheart Chocolate
2014 Black and White Episode 2: The Dawn of Justice
Filial Party Peh Ah Beng
When a Peking Family Meets Aupair Reporter
Who Is Undercover
2017 The Fortune Handbook Soh Hock
All My Goddess Gary
The Long Goodbye Lee Yu Cheng
Who Killed Cock Robin?
2019 Wet Season Andrew
Fall in Love at First Kiss Mr Jiang
If Thoughts Can Kill
2021 The Soul Wan Yufan
2023 Workers The Movie Lin Mingqi

Variety show hosting

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Year Title Notes Ref
2001 Travel Hunt
2006 Insiders' Australia
2008 Life Transformers
2010 Life Transformers 2
2011 The Adventures of Chris
2019 Star Search (season 11) Mentor
2022 Dishing With Chris Lee

Music video appearances

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Year Artiste Song title Notes
2019 JJ Lin "The Right Time"
2021 Stefanie Sun "What Remains"

Discography

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Studio albums

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  • Christopher Lee Story (1999)
  • Love, No Boundaries (2002)

Singles

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Year Title Notes
1997 错爱今生 Theme song from The Choice Partner
和平的代价 Theme song from The Price of Peace
流浪之歌 Theme song from The Guest People
1998 一生太短暂 Insert song from The Return of the Condor Heroes
1999 逃避 Opening theme song from Coup de Scorpio
不告而别 Ending theme song from Coup de Scorpio
2000 Ending theme song from Master Swordsman Lu Xiaofeng
2002 平凡 Theme song from Brotherhood
爱,无国界
2003 英雄好汉 Opening theme song from True Heroes
每一天的思念 Insert song from True Heroes
在你左右 Ending theme song from True Heroes
2004 非一般烦恼 Theme song from To Mum with Love
2005 相信 Theme song from You Are the One
福禄寿 Theme song from My Lucky Stars; performed together with Fann Wong
? 万年红 Chinese New Year song - performed together with Fann Wong
2007 恭喜恭喜07 Chinese New Year song - performed together with Qi Yuwu, Ann Kok and Dawn Yeoh
2008 事如意08 Chinese New Year song
? 运气-阳光系列3
? 谈何容易

Compilation albums

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Year English title Mandarin title
2007 Mediacorp Lunar New Year Album 07 群星贺岁金猪庆丰圆
2008 Mediacorp Lunar New Year Album Compilation 08 群星贺岁福牛迎瑞年
2012 MediaCorp Music Lunar New Year Album 12 新传媒群星金龙接财神

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Nominated work Result Ref
1996 Star Awards Best Newcomer Nominated
1997 Star Awards Best Actor The Price of Peace (as Xie Guomin) Won
Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes Top 10
1998 Star Awards Best Actor The Return of the Condor Heroes (as Yang Guo) Nominated
Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes Top 10
1999 Star Awards Best Actor Riding The Storm (as Zhong Qingtang) Nominated
Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes Top 20
2000 Star Awards Best Actor Coup de Scorpio (as Xie Tingzhang) Nominated
Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes Top 10
2001 Star Awards Best Actor Looking for Stars (as Henry) Nominated
Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes Top 20
2002 Star Awards Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes Top 10
2003 Star Awards Best Actor True Heroes (as Chen Junhao) Nominated
Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes Top 10
2004 Star Awards Best Actor Timeless Gift (as Wang Jie) Nominated
Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes Top 10
2005 Star Awards Best Actor A New Life (as Zhang Youfu) Nominated
Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes Top 10
2006 Star Awards Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes Top 10
2007 Star Awards Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes Top 10
2009 Star Awards Best Variety Show Host Life Transformers Nominated
Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes Top 10
2010 Star Awards All-Time Favourite Artiste Won
2011 Star Awards Best Actor Breakout (as Situ Dongcheng) Nominated
Favourite Onscreen Couple (Drama) Situ Dongcheng with Jeanette Aw Won
Favourite Onscreen Partner (Variety) Won
Asian Television Awards Best Actor in a Leading Role Breakout (as Situ Dongcheng) Nominated
2012 Star Awards Best Actor The Oath (as Wu Guo'en) Nominated
Best Info-Ed Programme Host The Adventures of Chris Nominated
Favourite Male Character Nominated
Favourite Onscreen Couple (Drama) Nominated
Golden Bell Awards Best Leading Actor in a Television Series Forgotten (as Luo Pin-Chung) Nominated [17]
2013 Star Awards Best Actor Show Hand (as Zhang Qiming) Won
Favourite Male Character Nominated
Favourite Onscreen Couple (Drama) Nominated
2014 Star Awards Most Popular Regional Artiste (China) Nominated
Most Popular Regional Artiste (Cambodia) Nominated
Golden Bell Awards Best Leading Actor in a Television Series A Good Wife Won [19]
2015 Star Awards Best Actor Against The Tide (as Di Shen) Nominated
Most Popular Regional Artiste (China) Won
Asian Television Awards Best Actor in a Leading Role Against The Tide (as Di Shen) Nominated
2016 Star Awards Best Actor Crescendo (as Yang Yiwei) Nominated
Favourite Male Character Nominated
Asian Television Awards Best Actor in a Leading Role Crescendo (as Yang Yiwei) Nominated
2017 Golden Bell Awards Best Leading Actor in a Miniseries or Television Film The Long Goodbye Nominated
2019 Star Awards Best Actor Doppelganger (as Yang Liwei)/(Li Ruiming) Nominated
2021 Golden Bell Awards Best Leading Actor in a Miniseries or Television Film Workers Won [19]
2022 Golden Bell Awards Best Supporting Actor in a Television Series Danger Zone Won [19]
2023 Star Awards Best Programme Host Dishing With Chris Lee Won

References

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  1. ^ "【红星大奖2023】25年来最年轻视帝出炉!许瑞奇首度入围就摘奖". 8world Entertainment Lifestyle (in Chinese (Singapore)). Archived from the original on 12 April 2023. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  2. ^ "Christopher Lee: 12 Facts Everyone Should Know About Beloved Actor And Ah Ge". Her World. 15 September 2023. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  3. ^ "ASIA'S MOST INFLUENTIAL MY: Christopher Lee". Tatler. 27 June 2022. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  4. ^ "No, I'm not Christopher". AsiaOne. 23 December 2011. Archived from the original on 4 October 2013. Retrieved 19 August 2012.
  5. ^ "Fann Wong Thanks Herself While Accepting Christopher Lee's Star Awards 2023 Best Host Win". 8days. 9 April 2023. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  6. ^ "Malaysian-born Christopher Lee wins Best Supporting Actor at Taiwan's Golden Bell Awards for his role in 'Danger Zone'". The Star. 23 October 2022. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  7. ^ "Fann Wong Thanks Herself While Accepting Christopher Lee's Star Awards 2023 Best Host Win". 8days. 9 April 2023. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  8. ^ "金钟视帝也斜杠!李铭顺创高球服饰品牌"LMS"". 8 World. 9 November 2021. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
  9. ^ a b "Jail term for drunk actor in hit-and-run | The Star". www.thestar.com.my. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  10. ^ Lee, Sze Yong (12 December 2006). "A solemn teary-eyed Lee at Star Awards". The Straits Times. p. 4.
  11. ^ Ansley Ng, "Christopher Lee begins jail term", Today, 29 May 2007
  12. ^ "TV actor Christopher Lee to spend more time in jail". Channel NewsAsia. Retrieved 15 June 2007.
  13. ^ Carolyn Quek, "Last of five charges against actor dropped", The Straits Times, 22 June 2007
  14. ^ "Actor Christopher Lee released from jail". Channel NewsAsia. Retrieved 25 June 2007.
  15. ^ "李铭顺新剧被换角 王沺裁成得益人". Lianhe Zaobao. Archived from the original on 10 February 2013. Retrieved 19 May 2007.
  16. ^ "Actor Christopher Lee to retain permanent resident status". Channel NewsAsia. Retrieved 12 July 2007.
  17. ^ a b c Chua, Charlene (27 October 2014). "Best Actor Christopher Lee credits win to 'good luck' family brought him". The New Paper. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  18. ^ "Christopher Lee wins second Golden Bell for HBO comedy Workers". sg.style.yahoo.com. 4 October 2021. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  19. ^ a b c d "Christopher Lee wins Best Supporting Actor Golden Bell award for role in iQiyi's Danger Zone". CNA Lifestyle. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  20. ^ "宣萱、温升豪参演本地剧《谁杀了她》 和李铭顺、徐彬等飙戏". 8world Entertainment Lifestyle (in Chinese (Singapore)). Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  21. ^ "Stefan Says So: Kidnapper". Sinema.SG. 21 March 2010. Retrieved 23 February 2022.
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