Zhao Benshan

Zhao was born in Lianhua Village, Kaiyuan, Liaoning province, to a peasant family.{{cite book | title=《东方笑神赵本山》 | publisher=山东友谊出版社 | series=赵本山传记系列 | year=2023 | isbn=978-7-80642-631-9 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Z9emEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA357 | language=zh | access-date=2024-02-20 | page=357}} He was orphaned at the age of 6.{{cite book | author=赵永才张小春 | title=小品入门学习指南 | publisher=南文博雅 | year=2015 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rt4NCAAAQBAJ&pg=PT101 | language=zh | access-date=2024-02-20 | page=101}} Apprenticed to his uncle, he learned many local traditional performance arts, including erhu, a traditional Chinese musical instrument, and Errenzhuan, a traditional style of stand-up comedy that involves two people talking to each other on the stage which is popular in northeastern China.{{Cite web|url=http://datalib.ent.qq.com/star/1441/starinfo.shtml|title=Zhao Benshan|publisher=News.qq.com|access-date=2019-03-16}}{{cite book | author=China. 群众文化司 | title=文化月刊 | publisher=《文化月刊》社 | issue=nos. 1-3 | year=2008 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XSnkAAAAMAAJ | language=zh | access-date=2024-02-20 | page=85}}

Jiang Kun, a nationally renowned xiangsheng artist, recommend Zhao to appear at the 1990 CCTV New Year's Gala, a TV program broadcast all over China to celebrate Chinese New Year. After his first appearance, he had appeared in each Gala show every year from 1995 to 2011.{{cite web|title=Comedian Zhao Benshan quits Spring Festival Gala|url=http://www.china.org.cn/arts/2012-01/20/content_24452946.htm|publisher=China.org.cn|access-date=18 February 2012}} Zhao's skits focus on social issues, including wealth disparity, the urban-rural divide, family and relationships, trust in society, and social changes in the era of economic reform. His works often drew inspiration from his own life in rural northeastern China.{{cite news |title=CCTV Spring Festival Gala's biggest star - China.org.cn |url=http://www.china.org.cn/arts/2010-02/12/content_19417255.htm |access-date=20 February 2024 |work=www.china.org.cn}}

Zhao's most memorable performances have included "Yesterday, today and tomorrow" and "Fixing up the house" with Song Dandan, "Bainian" with Fan Wei and Gao Xiumin, a reprisal of "Yesterday, today, and tomorrow" with Song Dandan and Cui Yongyuan in 2006, and "Don't need money" in 2009 with Bi Fujian and Xiaoshenyang. Zhao became a household name in China since he began appearing at the Gala. His performances have generally received critical acclaim, earning the 'top-grade' prize ({{lang|zh|一等奖}}) for the "skits" category for thirteen years in a row between 1999 and 2011. Zhao's skit was almost always one of the most anticipated and talked-about events of the Gala.{{cite news|title=人民日报批赵本山：脱离主流文化，无异进入牢笼|url=http://www.guancha.cn/Media/2014_12_29_304723_s.shtml|publisher=Guancha.cn (citing People's Daily)}}

Despite his inevitably propagandist works, Zhao’s gala performances represented the zenith of the “country bumpkin” character type, who, quite similar to the court fools in medieval Europe, were licensed to speak truth to and make fun of power with immunity. By assuming a distinct persona of a peasant jester, Zhao was able to cathartically satirize the hypocrisy, greed, and corruption of the elite and the state in reform-era China.{{cite journal |last1=Wang |first1=Hongjian |title=From Court Fools to Stage Puppets: Country Bumpkins in the Skits on CCTV's Spring Festival Gala (1983–2022) |journal=China Quarterly |date=31 March 2022 |volume=250 |page=552 |doi=10.1017/S0305741022000091|doi-access=free }}

Zhao has appeared as an actor in many films, including Zhang Yimou's Happy Times (2000) where he played an aging bachelor who really wanted to get married.

Zhao was also active in producing and directing several successful television series. He acted as the title character in the series Liu Laogen and Ma Dashuai, as well as a secondary character in Xiangcun Aiqing ("Country Love") and their sequels.

Zhao was nominated for the Best Actor Award for his performance in Getting Home at the 2007 Golden Horse Awards, held in Taipei on 8 December 2007. He lost to Tony Leung for his work in Lust, Caution.{{cite news |title=《色·戒》狂揽金马奖七项大奖 |url=http://www.chinaqw.com/news/200712/09/98301.shtml |access-date=20 February 2024 |work=www.chinaqw.com}}{{cite news |title=赵本山与梁朝伟、郭富城争台湾金马奖影帝 |url=http://www.chinanews.com.cn/yl/yrfc/news/2007/10-29/1061682.shtml |access-date=20 February 2024 |work=www.chinanews.com.cn}}

Zhao took part in the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics torch relay by being a torchbearer in the Liaoning leg of the relay in Shenyang, capital of Liaoning Province.{{cite news |title=赵本山将在奥运开幕式上表演扭秧歌 出场一分钟 |url=http://www.chinanews.com.cn/yl/zyxw/news/2008/08-04/1334661.shtml |work=www.chinanews.com.cn}} In 2008, the theme of this year's Spring Festival Gala was "Hand in Hand for the Olympics", and Zhao Benshan's skit "Torchbearer" expressed every Chinese person's expectation for the Olympics in CCTV CMG New Year's Gala.{{cite news |title=央视春晚赵本山宋丹丹"点火" 白云黑土将PK火炬手_其他_2008奥运站_新浪网 |url=http://2008.sina.com.cn/hd/other/2008-02-01/102847610.shtml |access-date=20 February 2024 |work=2008.sina.com.cn}}

In 2009, Zhao was studying in the 4th intake CEO class at Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business.{{cite news |title=曝赵本山曾是长江商学院班长|url=http://finance.people.com.cn/money/n/2012/1106/c218900-19511067.html |access-date=20 February 2024 |work=finance.people.com.cn}}{{cite news |title=赵本山入读李嘉诚长江商学院 55万学做CEO——中新网 |url=http://www.chinanews.com.cn/cj/cfgs/news/2009/05-04/1674779.shtml |access-date=20 February 2024 |work=www.chinanews.com.cn}} In September 2009, Zhao was in the news again following a cerebral aneurysm rupture.{{cite news |title=从赵本山住院谈起：剧烈头痛当心蛛网膜下腔出血——中新网 |url=https://www.chinanews.com.cn/jk/news/2009/10-01/1897046.shtml |access-date=20 February 2024 |work=www.chinanews.com.cn}} He was said to be in a stable condition after an operation, although close associates have mentioned that he often felt unwell in recent years when he is exhausted on the set.{{cite news |title=Comedian in stable condition |url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2009-10/01/content_8758622.htm |access-date=20 February 2024 |work=www.chinadaily.com.cn}}

Zhao's apprentice, Xiaoshenyang, performed in the 2009 and 2010 CCTV New Year's Galas. Zhao has not performed at the CCTV New Year's Gala since 2012, which has led to public speculation about his health and his conflict with 2012 gala director Ha Wen. 2012 was the first time since 1994 that he did not perform at the annual event.{{cite news |title=Comedian Zhao Benshan quits Spring Festival Gala - China.org.cn |url=http://www.china.org.cn/arts/2012-01/20/content_24452946.htm |access-date=20 February 2024 |work=www.china.org.cn}}

In the afternoon of January 25, 2016, the 8th general meeting of the Liaoning Provincial Association of Songwriters was held in Liaoning Hall in Shenyang; Zhao Benshan was elected to become the Vice-chairman.{{cite news |title=赵本山当选辽宁省曲协副主席，近日频繁现身_人事风向_澎湃新闻-The Paper |url=https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_1425222 |access-date=20 February 2024 |work=www.thepaper.cn}}

File:Liu Laogen Grand Stage 2023002.jpg

Zhao is an entrepreneur and has led many business ventures. Zhao Benshan performs at the residency show at the "Liulaogen Guild Hall" ({{lang|zh-Hans|刘老根大舞台}}).{{cite news |title=从综艺节目布局，看赵本山下新棋_有戏_澎湃新闻-The Paper |url=https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_1359351 |access-date=20 February 2024 |work=www.thepaper.cn}} The Hall is located in the Qianmen area of Beijing, just south of Tiananmen Square and is immersed in part in building compounds with a history of some 280 years.{{cite news|title=Expert says renovations of Liulaogen Guild Hall inflicted damage on cultural artifact|url=http://www.ebeijing.gov.cn/BeijingInformation/BeijingNewsUpdate/t1193277.htm|access-date=2 November 2013|work=ebeijing.gov.cn|date=2 November 2013}} Zhao's show also tours in Shenyang, Changchun, Harbin and Jilin. Reportedly, these shows grossed over 100 million yuan (about US$14.64 million) in 2008.{{cite news |title=一学术沙龙研讨赵本山作品：喜剧难有突破，农村戏丢弃了底蕴_文化课_澎湃新闻-The Paper |url=https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_1344700 |access-date=20 February 2024 |work=www.thepaper.cn}}

In 2004, Zhao Benshan co-founded the Benshan Art Academy at Liaoning University, to nurture new Errenzhuan players.{{cite news |title=赵本山与辽宁大学合同到期 本山艺术学院更名-新华网 |url=http://www.xinhuanet.com//politics/2015-06/09/c_127892964.htm |access-date=20 February 2024 |work=www.xinhuanet.com}} In 2005, he established Benshan Media Group, the parent company of Liaoning Folk Art Troupe, Benshan Production, Ruidong Culture Development Co. Ltd and Benshan Arts Academy.

In 2007, Zhao led his performing troupe to tour North America. They performed Errenzhuan in six cities including New York, Los Angeles and Vancouver.{{cite news|date=2007-02-25|title=Zhao Benshan Brings Dongbei Comedy to U.S. (From archive.org)|work=english.cri.cn|url=http://english.cri.cn/3086/2007/02/25/272@199245.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190221112411/http://english.cri.cn/3086/2007/02/25/272@199245.htm|access-date=2007-02-25|url-status=dead|archive-date=2019-02-21}}

Zhao married Ge Shuzhen ({{lang|zh|葛淑珍}}) in 1979. Ge, a farmer from a village near Kaiyuan, was 19 at the time of their wedding. The two had a daughter, Yufang, and son, Tiedan, who had osteomalacia and emphysema as well as heart problems. Zhao and Ge divorced in 1992;{{cite news |title=赵本山19岁结婚 揭离婚内幕 财产全归前妻_cctv.com提供 |url=https://news.cctv.com/performance/20080327/105882.shtml |access-date=20 February 2024 |work=news.cctv.com}} Ge took custody of the children. Ge Shuzhen worked a series of menial labour jobs after their divorce before becoming an entrepreneur. His son Tiedan died in 1994 at the age of 12. His daughter Yufang and her husband are reportedly local restaurateurs.{{cite news|title=赵本山前妻葛淑珍照片曝光 自创业变百万富婆|url=http://news.ifeng.com/gundong/detail_2011_10/27/10198498_0.shtml?_from_ralated|publisher=Ifeng|date=October 27, 2011}}

In 1992, Zhao married his second wife, Ma Lijuan ({{lang|zh-Hans|马丽娟}}), a Hui Chinese woman from Chifeng, Inner Mongolia. In 1997 the couple had fraternal twins named Zhao Yinan and Zhao Jiaxuan.{{cite news |title=赵本山女儿赵珈萱官宣结婚！92年老公大7岁！ |url=https://www.163.com/dy/article/HTIITQO105561HH8.html |access-date=20 February 2024 |work=www.163.com |date=14 February 2023}}

On September 30, 2009, it was reported Zhao had suffered a cerebral hemorrhage and was sent to hospital in Shanghai.{{cite news |title=谁在"瓜分"赵本山？_澎湃号·湃客_澎湃新闻-The Paper |url=https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_17377354 |access-date=20 February 2024 |work=www.thepaper.cn}}{{cite news|title=Comedian Zhao Benshan rushed to hospital|url=http://english.sina.com/entertainment/p/2009/0930/274314.html|access-date=September 30, 2009|work=english.sina.com|date=September 30, 2009}} In December 2009, Zhao purchased a Bombardier Challenger 850 at a cost of 200 million yuan (US$30 million). He later stated that he was thinking of replacing the Challenger 850 with a newer Boeing or Gulfstream jet.{{cite news|title=The 10 Chinese Celebrities Who Own Private Jets|url=http://www.chinawhisper.com/the-10-chinese-celebrities-who-own-private-jets/|access-date=June 21, 2013|work=chinawhisper.com|date=June 21, 2013}}{{cite news |title=拥有私人飞机的明星:赵本山花两亿买一架17座客机_新闻频道_中华网 |url=https://news.china.com/zh_cn/socialgd/10000169/20161214/30079628.html |access-date=20 February 2024 |work=news.china.com}}

• Don't Kidding Me (1987)
• Xian Shi Huo Bao (1990)
• Whoever Comes Is a Guest (1990)
• Keep Cool (1997) - Poet reader
• The Emperor and the Assassin (1999) - Gao Jianli
• Happy Times (2000) - Zhao
• Getting Home (2007)
• A Simple Noodle Story (2009)
• Just Call Me Nobody (2010)
• The Founding of a Party (2011) - Duan Qirui
• The Lion Roars 2 (2012)
• Accidental Hero (2012)
• The Grandmaster (film) (2013)
• The New Year's Eve of Old Lee (2016)

{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0955482/ |title=Zhao Benshan |access-date=February 1, 2010 |website=imdb.com}}

{{Cite web|url=http://chinesemov.com/actors/Zhao%20Benshan.html |title=Zhao Benshan |access-date=February 1, 2010 |publisher=chinesemov.com}}

• Liu Laogen - (2002), title character
• Ma Dashuai - (2004), title character
• Xiangcun Aiqing (2006−2019), recurring character{{cite news |title=《乡村爱情4》放弃央视 赵本山：怕伤剧情 - 时尚中国 |url=http://ent.chinadaily.com.cn/2011-04/27/content_13751413.htm |access-date=20 February 2024 |work=ent.chinadaily.com.cn}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{Official website|http://www.zhaobenshan.org/}}{{in lang|zh}}
• {{IMDb name|name=Benshan Zhao|id=0955482}}

{{Clear}}

{{Huabiao Award Outstanding Actor}}

{{Hundred Flowers Award Best Actor}}

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Category:1957 births

Category:Living people

Category:Chinese company founders

Category:Chinese entertainment industry businesspeople

Category:Chinese male comedians

Category:Chinese male film actors

Category:Chinese male television actors

Category:Chinese television directors

Category:Male actors from Liaoning

Category:Delegates to the 10th National People's Congress

Category:Members of the 12th Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference

Category:People from Tieling

Category:Chinese male stage actors