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Benny Chan (actor)
Benny Chan (actor)
from Wikipedia

Benny Chan Ho-man (born 7 October 1969) is a Hong Kong actor and singer.

Key Information

Education

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Chan attended Raimondi College. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in social science from Lingnan University.

Acting career

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Chan's career in the entertainment industry began in 1994 when he appeared in a television commercial for Vitasoy. He later joined TVB and acted in many television dramas produced by the company. Some of his best-known roles include Duen Yu in Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils (1997), Sun Wukong in Journey to the West II (1998), and Na-tsa in Gods of Honour (2001).

Since the early 2000s, he has become less active in Hong Kong, and has switched to working on mainland Chinese and Taiwanese television series. One of which is a series drama, The Legend of Crazy Monk, as the main protagonist Ji Gong. The drama became popular in various countries.[1][2][3]

Music career

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Chan is also a singer. He has released a number of albums. His best-known song is the theme song of Journey to the West II (1998). He also sang the theme songs for Dragon Love (1999), Gods of Honour (2001), Silver Mouse (2002), Qianlong Xia Jiangnan (2003) and A Pillow Case of Mystery (2006) and the subthemes for Journey to the West II, Anti-Crime Squad (1999), Silver Mouse, Vigilante Force (2003) and Qianlong Xia Jiangnan. His rendition of Chinese versions of two Pokémon songs has won him several awards.

Personal life

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In 2011 Chan married Lisa Jiang Lisha (蒋丽莎), a mainland Chinese model from Hunan.[4] Their daughter, Ya Ru Chan (陳雅薷), was born on 30 November 2011.[5]

Filmography

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Film

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  • Love and the City (1995)
  • Made in Heaven (1996)
  • Last Ghost Standing (1999)
  • The Final Winner (2001)
  • Salon Beauty (2002)
  • Love is a Butterfly (2002)
  • Tai Ji Soldier (2005)
  • Tragic Hero (2008)
  • Iceman (2014)
  • Kung Fu Boys (2016)
  • Funny Soccer (2016)
  • Through the Eye (2017)
  • Winning Buddha (2017)
  • Monster Hunt Bao Man (2017)
  • Monster Hunt Bao Man 2 (2018)
  • The Incredible Monk (2018)
  • Million Demons City (2018)
  • The Incredible Monk - Dragon Return (2018)
  • Crazy Dragon (2018)
  • Fake Partner (2018)
  • She's a Man. He's a Woman (2019)
  • Deception of the Novelist (2019)
  • Kaifeng Demon (2019)
  • Flirting Scholar from the Future (2019)
  • Monkey King - The Volcano (2019)
  • The Incredible Monk 3 (2019)
  • My Kickass Wife (2019)
  • Zhong Kui (2019)
  • Star Master (2019)
  • Master Dragon (2019)
  • The Sword Legend (2019)
  • Jiang Ziya (2019)
  • Dragon Hunter 1 (2020)
  • Monkey King (2020)
  • God Erlang (2020)
  • God Erlang 2 (2020)

Television

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[6] [7]

References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Benny Chan Ho-man (Chinese: 陳浩民; born 7 October 1969) is a Hong Kong actor and singer best known for his prominent roles in Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB) dramas during the late 1990s and early 2000s. His breakthrough came with the portrayal of the scholarly martial artist Duan Yu in the 1997 TVB adaptation of Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils, which propelled him to stardom among audiences in Hong Kong and greater China. Chan followed this success with iconic performances as the mischievous Sun Wukong (the Monkey King) in Journey to the West II (1998) and the young deity Nezha in Gods of Honour (2001), roles that showcased his versatility in wuxia and mythological genres. Chan's entry into the entertainment industry began in 1994 with a television commercial for , after which he joined as an actor trainee. Educated at Raimondi College and holding a in social sciences from , he debuted on screen in the 1997 film . Throughout his career, Chan has appeared in over 20 films and numerous television series, transitioning from productions to opportunities in and , including recent works like the 2023 film Da Li Feng Yun Zhi Xue Hu Die and the 2024 drama Justice Sung Begins. As a singer, he has released albums tied to his TV roles, such as the theme for . Chan maintains a presence in the industry through family-oriented relocations, such as moving to around 2020.

Early life and education

Early life

Benny Chan was born on 7 October 1969 in . He grew up in a middle-class , where both parents were working professionals; his father was employed at the airport with irregular shifts, while his mother worked as an and rarely cooked due to her demanding schedule. He has a younger sister. The resided on [Lantau Island](/page/Lantau Island) during his early years, and with his parents often away for work, Chan was primarily cared for by his grandmother and great-grandmother starting from . Chan's childhood in 1970s and 1980s was marked by independence from a young age; by six, he learned to wake up early and prepare simple meals like fish egg noodles for himself, reflecting the limited home-cooked meals available amid his parents' busy lives. A memorable experience included a family outing to Ocean Park with his grandmother and great-grandmother, where he felt comforted by their embrace and prayers during a cable car malfunction, fostering a deep sense of toward elders. He developed an early passion for , which he pursued actively and which hinted at his future performance inclinations.

Education

Benny Chan received his primary education at local schools in and attended Raimondi College for during the 1970s and 1980s. Demonstrating strong academic performance, he excelled in his studies and gained admission to through the competitive . At , Chan enrolled in the social sciences program, earning a in 1992. His university education focused on social and communicative disciplines, laying a groundwork for his subsequent entry into the entertainment industry.

Professional career

Acting career

Benny Chan entered the entertainment industry in 1994 through a television commercial for , which led to his recruitment as an actor by . He quickly gained prominence in Hong Kong television during the and early , portraying youthful and charismatic characters in popular series. Following his breakthrough debut as Duan Yu in the 1997 TVB adaptation of , Chan gained further acclaim in 1998 when he took on the iconic role of Sun Wukong, the Monkey King, in the TVB production , succeeding and earning acclaim for his energetic and acrobatic performance. During the early 2000s, Chan expanded into film, appearing in supporting roles in cinema such as The Final Winner (2001) and Salon Beauty (2002), marking a shift toward diverse on-screen personas beyond television. His career trajectory evolved from heartthrob leads in romantic and fantasy dramas to more versatile supporting parts, reflecting his maturation as an actor. By the mid-2000s, opportunities in waned, prompting a focus on productions. From around 2008 to 2023, Chan largely stepped away from entertainment, instead building a steady presence in and Taiwanese television series, where he took on mature, often authoritative roles in historical and genres, including the 2025 film The Descent Curse of Di Renjie, in which he played the lead role of . This period solidified his adaptability across markets, though it distanced him from his TVB roots. In 2024, Chan made a highly anticipated return to TVB after 16 years, portraying the cunning lawyer Chan Mong Gu in the legal drama Justice Sung Begins. His performance, appearing in key episodes, was noted for its consistency with his earlier style, drawing positive reactions from fans for bridging his past and present career phases. This comeback underscored his enduring appeal and evolution toward complex, seasoned characters.

Music career

Benny Chan entered the music industry in the mid-1990s alongside his burgeoning acting career, signing with TVB's music division shortly after joining the broadcaster in 1994. His debut release was the EP 完全自我手冊 in , featuring four tracks that introduced his vocal style to audiences. Throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s, Chan released several albums and singles, including the 2004 album 愛海滔滔 under labels such as Universal Music , blending melodic pop with emotional lyrics typical of the genre. A significant portion of Chan's music output consisted of theme songs for series, showcasing his versatility in crossover projects that integrated his singing with on-screen roles. Notable examples include the opening theme "取一念" for in 1998 and tracks for Dragon Love (1999), Gods of Honour (2001), and A Pillow Case of Mystery (2006), which highlighted his clear tenor and ability to convey dramatic narratives through song. In 1999, he collaborated with on the EP 寵物小精靈 Pocket Monsters 主題曲原聲, providing Cantonese dubs of anime themes such as "數數小精靈," which became popular among younger listeners and earned him music industry recognitions for vocal performances in children's entertainment. Chan's musical style primarily revolved around pop ballads and upbeat arrangements, evolving from straightforward romantic tunes in his early EPs to more thematic compositions tied to television soundtracks by the early . This shift emphasized elements that complemented his persona, with releases like the 2004 album focusing on heartfelt ballads about and perseverance. Following a period of reduced musical activity in the late amid his commitments and a move to , Chan's output became sporadic post-2010, with releases under labels like Avex . Key later works included the 2012 mini-album I Am / You Are and the 2014 single "還是你最好," reflecting a continued interest in pop ballads but with less frequency due to his primary focus on projects in the region.

Personal life

Family and relationships

Chan married mainland Chinese model Lisa Jiang Lisha, from Hunan province, in July 2011 after dating for two years; the couple registered their marriage in Changsha. The couple welcomed four children in quick succession: their first daughter, Elizabeth (陳雅薷), born on November 30, 2011; son Cyrus (陳璟軒), born on September 23, 2013; second daughter Isabella (陳若嫣), born on December 13, 2014; and third daughter Victoria, born on March 30, 2016. In 2020, Chan and his family relocated from to , where they resided for several years to support his mainland career opportunities while raising their children; during this period, Chan actively shared glimpses of their family dynamics on , emphasizing responsibilities and the joys of daily life together. The family returned to in early 2024. Chan frequently expressed in interviews his prioritization of , stating that his relationship with Jiang provided emotional support during career transitions and that fatherhood brought him profound fulfillment, influencing decisions like expanding their family rapidly despite professional demands. This familial focus occasionally led to brief career pauses to attend to roles.

Health and recent activities

In March 2024, Benny Chan sustained a foot fracture. The injury temporarily sidelined Chan from demanding physical activities, though he persisted with lighter work obligations, such as event appearances. Despite this setback, he marked a significant career return with a supporting role in the 2024 TVB drama Justice Sung Begins, his first series with the network in 16 years. In May 2024, amid his ongoing rehabilitation, Chan traveled to in to pray for blessings and good fortune, sharing footage of himself bowing and navigating the site. Still relying on a for support, he demonstrated progress by climbing stairs unaided at times, but drew public backlash for his outfit—featuring a S$2,200 baseball shirt, matching cap, sunglasses, and other luxury items—which netizens criticized as flashy and disrespectful to the temple's solemn atmosphere. By late 2025, Chan had fully recovered from the fracture and showcased his resilience through active involvement in new endeavors, including starring as the lead detective in the 2025 The Descent Curse of .

Filmography and discography

Film roles

Benny Chan began his film career in the late with supporting roles in cinema, transitioning to more prominent parts in fantasy and historical productions in later years. His cinematic output, while not as extensive as his television work, showcases versatility across genres such as romance, horror-comedy, action, and thriller. In (1997), Chan portrayed Alan, a key in this exploring heavenly matchmaking and earthly love. He followed with a minor role as a pot-smoking punk in the horror-comedy Last Ghost Standing (1999), a film centered on events in a cinema during the millennium celebrations. Chan's early 2000s roles included in The Final Winner (2001), a comedic sports drama about underdog athletes striving for victory. In 2002, he appeared as North in Love Is Butterfly, a romantic drama depicting intertwined love stories amid urban life. That same year, he had a supporting part in Salon Beauty, a lighthearted tale of industry antics. Tai Chi Warrior (2005) featured Chan in an action-oriented role, contributing to the film's narrative inspired by traditional . After a period focused on television, Chan returned to films with a cameo as "Star undressed by He Ying" in the 3D action fantasy Iceman 3D (2013), a revival of a classic tale involving and ancient rivalries. In Kungfu Boys (2016), he played Mr. Lin, a mentor figure in this adventure following young protagonists learning kung fu. A highlight came in The Monkey King: Demon City (2018), where Chan reprised his iconic portrayal of Sun Wukong, the mischievous Monkey King, in a fantasy epic battling demonic forces to protect ancient . Chan took on the supporting role of Superintendent So, a police investigator, in the thriller Deception of the Novelist (2019), which delves into a mystery blurring lines between and . More recently, in Blood Butterfly: The Storm Over Dali (2023), Chan led as Duan Heyu, the emperor of the , in a based on real events of political intrigue and national defense during the 12th century. In 2025, Chan starred as the legendary detective Di Renjie in The Descent Curse of Di Renjie, a fantasy mystery film investigating supernatural incidents caused by a curse that summons the dead.

Television roles

Benny Chan's television career began with TVB in the mid-1990s, where he quickly rose to prominence through lead roles in wuxia and fantasy adaptations that showcased his martial arts skills and charismatic presence. His breakthrough came in Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils (1997), where he portrayed Duan Yu, the naive and compassionate prince of Dali who reluctantly masters martial arts while entangled in a web of rivalries and romances across ancient China; the series, spanning 45 episodes, earned an 8.0/10 rating on IMDb and remains a benchmark for TVB adaptations of Jin Yong's novels. Building on this success, Chan took on the iconic role of Sun Wukong in (1998), embodying the mischievous Monkey King as a rebellious immortal who protects the monk on their perilous quest for Buddhist scriptures, blending high-energy action with comedic flair across 42 episodes. The production's elaborate and Chan's agile performance contributed to its enduring popularity among audiences, often cited as one of TVB's most ambitious fantasy series. In the early , Chan continued with hits, notably as Na-tsa () in Gods of Honour (2001), depicting the child deity's transformation from a hot-tempered youth to a heroic warrior battling mythical foes in a 40-episode mythological epic that drew 7.1/10 on and topped ratings charts upon release. His portrayal highlighted themes of and divine justice, solidifying his status as a go-to for supernatural roles. Following a gradual shift away from around 2008, Chan focused on productions, often in historical and fantasy dramas. He starred as in The Legend of Crazy Monk (2010–2012), a multi-season series where the eccentric monk uses supernatural abilities and unorthodox wisdom to aid the downtrodden, amassing over 195 episodes and gaining widespread acclaim across for its blend of and moral lessons. The role, based on the legendary figure, marked a high point in his mainland career, with the series broadcast in multiple countries and praised for Chan's versatile depiction of the "mad monk's" irreverent arc from scholar to enlightened savior. Other notable mainland roles included Emperor Hongwu in The Legend of Beggar King and Big Foot Queen (2016), a 66-episode exploring the Ming founder's rise amid palace intrigues, and Huangfu Qi, the skilled physician navigating political turmoil in the Three Kingdoms era in Huangfu Highly Skilled Doctor (2018), a 40-episode series that highlighted Chan's ability to portray intellectual heroes in period settings. These productions, aired on networks like Television, emphasized his transition to more mature, ensemble-driven narratives during his 16-year TVB hiatus. Chan's return to TVB in 2024 came with Justice Sung Begins, an 18-episode legal historical drama where he played the supporting role of Chan Mong Gu, a cunning advisor appearing in the later episodes to aid the Sung On () in courtroom battles against corruption; co-starring Vincent Wong and , the series premiered on Jade Channel and marked his first appearance since 2008, receiving positive buzz for reuniting veteran talent.

Music releases

Benny Chan's discography spans EPs, albums, and singles, often tied to his television roles, with a focus on heartfelt ballads and theme songs. His releases gained prominence in the late through collaborations with and Universal Music, blending operatic vocals with pop arrangements. In 1995, Chan debuted with the EP Wan Quan Zi Wo Shou Ce (完全自我手冊), a four-track release by Music featuring the title track "Wan Quan Zi Wo Shou Ce" and its dance remix, alongside "Cha Bu Duo" and "Xiang Shi ." This EP introduced his smooth to audiences, emphasizing self-empowerment themes. A significant highlight came in 1998 with the Pocket Monsters Theme Song Original Sound EP (寵物小精靈主題曲原聲EP), released by Records, containing six tracks including the Cantonese opening "寵物小精靈" () and ending "Shu Shu Xiao Jing Ling" (Count the Pokémon).) These renditions for the Pokémon anime's dub earned Chan multiple awards, including at the 1999 TVB Solid Gold Best Ten Music Awards for children's songs. Chan's 1999 Dian Shi Ju Zhu Ti Qu Ji (电视剧主题曲集), an eight-track release under Universal Music , showcased hits like "Qu Yi Nian" (取一念) from and "Ren Long Chuen Shuo" (人龙传说) from Dragon Love. The 2001 album A Day With Benny, a 12-track collection by Universal Music Hong Kong, compiled his TV themes such as "Feng Shen" (封神) from Gods of Honour and "Sān Jiǎo Gòng Zhèn" (三角共震), reflecting his rising popularity in dramas. Post-2010, after shifting focus to , Chan released the 2011 self-titled album Chen Hao Min (陳浩民), a 10-track effort by Bee Music, featuring singles like "Wang Bu Liao De Ren" (忘不了的人). In 2012, the EP I Am / You Are (I Am / You Are - 古裝第一小生陳浩民2012最新EP), with six tracks including "Wo Shi / Ni Shi," was issued by the same label. Later singles include Huan Shi Ni Zui Hao (還是你最好) in 2014 (single, four tracks, Bee Music) and Wo Zhen Bu Gai (我真不该), a 2020 single with remixes, released independently via digital platforms. No major releases were noted in 2024 or 2025.

References

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