Lin Gengxin

Lin Gengxin
Lin Gengxin
林更新
Born	February 13, 1988 (age 37); Shenyang, Liaoning, China
Other names	Kenny Lin
Alma mater	Shanghai Theatre Academy
Occupation	actor
Years active	2009–present
Agents	Tangren Media (2010–2012); Lin Gengxin Studio (2013–present);
Chinese name
Chinese	林更新
Hanyu Pinyin
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyin	Lín Gēngxīn
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyin	Lín Gēngxīn
	Show more

Lin Gengxin (Chinese: 林更新; pinyin: Lín Gēngxīn, born on February 13, 1988), also known as Kenny Lin, is a Chinese actor.^[1] Lin rose to fame for his role in Scarlet Heart (2011), and has starred in movies such as Young Detective Dee: Rise of the Sea Dragon (2013), My Old Classmate (2014), The Taking of Tiger Mountain (2014) and Journey to the West: The Demons Strike Back (2017) as well as television series Princess Agents (2017) and The Legend of Shen Li (2024).

Lin ranked 77th on Forbes China Celebrity 100 list in 2015,^[2] 43rd in 2017,^[3] and 84th in 2019.^[4]

Early life

Lin was born in Shenyang, Liaoning, China. He enrolled in the Shanghai Theatre Academy in 2007. During his college years, Lin appeared in low-budget films, television shows, short films and advertisements.^[5]

Career

2011–2013: Rising popularity

In 2011, Lin rose to fame with the hit drama Scarlet Heart, playing the role of 14th Prince Yinti.^[6] In 2012, Lin co-starred in xianxia drama Xuan-Yuan Sword: Scar of Sky,^[7] which was extremely popular during its run and raised his profile.^[8] In 2013, Lin successfully made his crossover to film with his role in Tsui Hark's Young Detective Dee: Rise of the Sea Dragon.^[9] He was nominated for the Best New Actor award at the 33rd Hong Kong Film Awards.^[10]

2014–present: Commercial success

In 2014, Lin starred in youth romance film My Old Classmate with Zhou Dongyu.^[11] The film was a commercial success, and won the Jury Prize at the 21st Beijing College Student Film Festival.^[12] The same year, he starred in crime action film Black & White: The Dawn of Justice;^[13] and reunited with Tsui Hark in the period action film The Taking of Tiger Mountain.^[14] The Taking of Tiger Mountain was a success, becoming one of the highest-grossing films of all time in China with US$150 million.^[15]

In 2015, Lin was cast in Chinese historical drama God of War, Zhao Yun, based on the Chinese novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms. He plays General Zhao Yun, who falls in love with a girl named Xiahou Qingyi (played by Girls' Generation's Im Yoona).^[16] The drama premiered in April 2016, and reached viewership ratings as high as 2%, and recorded more than 10 billion hits through various Chinese online videos sites.^[17]^[18] The same year, Lin headlined action comedy For a Few Bullets and martial arts film Sword Master.^[19]^[20] He also featured in Zhang Yimou's historical fantasy epic The Great Wall.^[21]

In 2017, Lin starred in Stephen Chow's Journey to the West: The Demons Strike Back, playing Sun Wukong.^[22] The film grossed $239.5 million,^[23] becoming the highest-grossing film among the Journey to the West novel adaptations.^[24] The same year, he starred in historical action drama Princess Agents.^[25] The drama was a massive hit, and Lin gained renewed recognition for his portrayal of the male lead, Yuwen Yue.^[26]

In 2018, Lin reprised his role as Shatuo Zhong in Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings, the third installment of the Detective Dee film series by Tsui Hark.^[27]

In 2019, Lin was cast in the crime suspense drama Lost and Love as a policeman.^[28]

In 2022, Lin starred in the romance and fantasy drama The Legend of Shen Li, which was aired on March 18, 2024, on Hunan Television, Tencent Video, and Mango TV.^[29] This drama was also Lin and Zhao Liying's second collaboration after their first drama Princess Agents in 2017.^[30]

Filmography

Film

Year	English title	Chinese title	Role	Notes	Ref.
2009	The Immemorial Magic	玩命魔术	Tong Xing
2011	The Blue Cornflower	蓝色矢车菊	Nan Haitian
2013	Young Detective Dee: Rise of the Sea Dragon	狄仁杰之神都龙王	Shatuo Zhong		^[9]
2014	Just Another Margin	大话天仙	Lin Chong	Cameo	^[31]
	My Old Classmate	同桌的你	Lin Yi		^[11]
	Black & White: The Dawn of Justice	痞子英雄2	Chen Zhen		^[13]
	The Taking of Tiger Mountain	智取威虎山	Shao Jianbo		^[14]
2015	Jian Bing Man	煎饼侠	Himself	Cameo	^[32]
2016	For a Few Bullets	快手枪手快枪手	Xiao Zhuang		^[19]
	Sword Master	三少爺的劍	Hsieh Shaofeng / Ah Chi		^[20]
	The Great Wall	長城	General Chen		^[21]
2017	Journey to the West: The Demons Strike Back	西游伏妖篇	Sun Wukong		^[22]
2017	What A Day!	有完没完	Xiao Xin	Cameo	^[33]
2018	Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings	狄仁杰之四大天王	Shatuo Zhong		^[27]

Television series

Year	English title	Chinese title	Role	Network	Ref.
2011	Scarlet Heart	步步惊心	Yinti	Hunan TV	^[6]
2012	Xuan-Yuan Sword: Scar of Sky	轩辕剑:天之痕	Zhang Lie		^[7]
2012	Drama Go! Go! Go!	姐姐立正向前走	Tong Shaotian		^[34]
2013	Dancing Legend	舞乐传奇	Burmese Prince Shu Nanda	CCTV	^[35]
2016	God of War, Zhao Yun	武神赵子龙	Zhao Zilong	Hunan TV	^[16]
2017	Princess Agents	楚乔传	Yuwen Yue	Hunan TV	^[25]
2020	Lost and Love	最初的相遇，最后的别离	Yan Jin	Youku	^[28]
2021	My Bargain Queen	我的砍价女王	Sheng Zhening		^[36]
2022	Master of My Own	请叫我总监	Lu Jiming	Youku Dragon TV
2024	The Legend of Shen Li	与凤行	Xing Zhi / Xing Yun	Tencent	^[37]

Variety show

Year	English title	Chinese title	Role	Ref.
2015	Challenger Alliance	挑戰者聯盟	Cast member	^[38]
2017	Baby, Let me go	放开我北鼻第二季		^[39]
2017	Three Yard	三个院子		^[40]
2018	Clash Bots	机器人争霸		^[41]
2022	The New Journey	新游记		^[42]
2024	Mystery in the Box	盒子里的猫		^[43]
2024	Natural High	现在就出发	Recurring member	^[44]

Discography

Year	English title	Chinese title	Album	Notes	Ref.
2017	"Love In A Life Time"	一生所爱	Journey to the West: The Demons Strike Back OST	with Yao Chen	^[45]

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Category	Nominated work	Results	Ref.
2011	Sohu Internet TV Festival	Best New Actor	Scarlet Heart	Won	^[46]
2012	Sohu TV Drama Awards	Best Newcomer		Won	^[47]
	6th Tencent Video Star Awards	Newcomer of the Year		Won	^[48]
	8th Huading Awards	Best New Actor		Nominated	^[49]
	1st iQiyi Award Ceremony	Best Newcomer		Won	^[50]
	1st iQiyi Award Ceremony	Most Popular Actor		Won	^[50]
2014	12th Huading Awards	Best Supporting Actor	Young Detective Dee: Rise of the Sea Dragon	Nominated
	33rd Hong Kong Film Awards	Best Newcomer		Nominated
	14th Chinese Film Media Awards	Most Anticipated Performance		Nominated
	9th Chinese Young Generation Film Forum Awards	Best New Actor	My Old Classmate	Won	^[51]
	11th Guangzhou Student Film Festival	Most Popular Actor		Won	^[52]
2015	15th Chinese Film Media Awards	Most Anticipated Actor		Nominated
2017	11th Tencent Video Star Awards	Most Popular Actor	Princess Agents	Won	^[53]
2018	10th Macau International Movie Festival	Best Supporting Actor	Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings	Nominated

References

^ You Lei (尤蕾) (2022). 更新，林更新 [Update, Lin Gengxin]. New Weekly (in Chinese). 615. Haizhu District, Guangzhou, Guangdong: Southern Publishing Media Co., Ltd: 95–99. ISSN 1007-7006.
^ "2015 Forbes China Celebrity List (Full List)". Forbes. May 13, 2015.
^ "Actress Fan Bingbing Tops New Forbes China Celebrity List". Forbes. September 22, 2017.
^ "福布斯中国发布100名人榜吴京黄渤胡歌位列前三". Sina (in Chinese). August 20, 2019.
^ "资料：电影《蓝色矢车菊》新人介绍-林更新". Sina (in Chinese). November 3, 2009.
^ ^a ^b "林更新袁弘《步步》五大王爷恋情PK". Sina (in Chinese). May 26, 2015.
^ ^a ^b "图文：《轩辕剑》曝剧照-林更新饰张烈". Sina (in Chinese). August 9, 2012.
^ "《轩辕剑》大结局完美收官开创周播剧新纪元". Tencent (in Chinese). September 5, 2012.
^ ^a ^b "《狄仁杰》发海报预告神都龙王露狰狞". Sina (in Chinese). July 28, 2013.
^ "18:37 提名新人林更新红色西装喜庆亮相". NetEase (in Chinese). April 13, 2014.
^ ^a ^b "电影《同桌的你》开拍高晓松监制". Sina (in Chinese). July 9, 2013.
^ "《同桌的妳》票房破四亿北京大学生电影节获奖". NetEase (in Chinese). May 13, 2014.
^ ^a ^b "黄渤赵又廷《痞子英雄2》再合作林更新加盟". NetEase (in Chinese). September 8, 2013.
^ ^a ^b "徐克"智取威虎山3D"首发剧照张涵予杨子荣造型曝光". Mtime (in Chinese). January 14, 2014.
^ Patrick Frater. "China Box Office: 'Wolf Warrior' and 'Kingsman' Dominate $100 Million Weekend". Variety.
^ ^a ^b "Yoona, Lin Gengxin to star in drama "Zhao Zilong"". Sina English. February 26, 2015.
^ Jung Eun-jin (April 17, 2016). "SNSD Yoona making waves in China". The Korea Herald. Herald Corporation.
^ "China 'God of War, Zhao Yun' 10 billion views, an incredible feat" 윤아 "中 '무신조자룡' 100억뷰, 정말 어마어마한 일". Xportsnews (in Korean). XportsMedia. July 6, 2016.
^ ^a ^b ""For A Few Bullets", Compared to New Journey to The West". China Radio International. April 17, 2016. Archived from the original on April 24, 2016.
^ ^a ^b "Derek Yee, Hark Tusi team up for martial arts epic". China Radio International. December 1, 2016. Archived from the original on March 8, 2017.
^ ^a ^b "Zhang Yimou's new film reveals star-studded cast". Sina. March 12, 2015.
^ ^a ^b "《西游2》阵容独家曝光唐僧吴亦凡沙僧巴特尔". Tencent. August 6, 2015.
^ "'Journey To The West: The Demons Strike Back' summary page". Box Office Mojo. February 16, 2017.
^ "《西游伏妖篇》破13亿周星驰路演称为了观众我会越做越好". China Youth Daily (in Chinese). February 5, 2017.^{[permanent dead link]}
^ ^a ^b "《楚乔传》曝定档海报赵丽颖变特工少". Sina (in Chinese). May 22, 2017.
^ "林更新《楚乔传》边疆归来细腻演技感情动人". Tencent (in Chinese). July 5, 2017.
^ ^a ^b "New Detective Dee film set to thrill mystery fans". China Daily. May 10, 2017.
^ ^a ^b "林更新《最初的相遇，最后的别离》开机首次演绎都市爱情悬疑". Tencent (in Chinese). May 17, 2019.
^ Xu, Meilin (March 18, 2024). "赵丽颖、林更新主演剧集《与凤行》发布首周追剧日历". www.bjnews.com.cn. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
^ ""The Legend of Shen Li" Off to a Strong Start – JayneStars.com". Retrieved May 9, 2024.
^ "《大话天仙》曝林更新剧照演绎"最二"林冲". Netease (in Chinese). January 10, 2014.
^ "陈赫、郑恺、林更新集体"拒演"《煎饼侠》". Netease (in Chinese). April 2, 2015.
^ "《有完没完》林更新教范伟俘获女神心". Sina (in Chinese). February 14, 2016.
^ "《姐姐立正向前走》林心如林更新汪东城多角恋". Sina (in Chinese). December 27, 2011.
^ "《舞乐传奇》土豪林更新成百变王子(图)". Sina (in Chinese). January 7, 2014.
^ 《我的砍价女王》开机林更新吴谨言巧结欢喜冤家. 1905 (in Chinese). July 13, 2020.
^ Yangzi, Wanbao (March 7, 2024). "《与凤行》今晚见！赵丽颖林更新二搭携手护三界" [I'll see you tonight for "The Line with Phoenix"! Zhao Liying and Lin Renewal Join Hands to Protect the Three Realms]. Baidu (in Chinese). Retrieved April 17, 2024.
^ "挑战者林更新智斗导演组游戏黑洞变机智". Sina (in Chinese). November 20, 2015.
^ "《放开我北鼻2》林更新于小彤拉易烊千玺组"新团"". Sina (in Chinese). April 24, 2017.
^ "《三个院子》正式官宣林更新陈赫朱桢加盟". Sina (in Chinese). October 28, 2017.
^ "林更新加盟《机器人争霸》能否逆袭引关注". Sina (in Chinese). January 26, 2018.
^ 顾馨. "Popular show inspired from 16th-century novel 'tests' celebrities". global.chinadaily.com.cn. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
^ "《盒子里的猫》阵容官宣，全员梗王爆笑闯关，好友局综艺搞笑来袭". ent.ifeng.com (in Chinese). Retrieved May 9, 2024.
^ "《现在就出发2》收官，第三季你期待的常驻嘉宾有哪些？_沈腾_节目_游戏". m.sohu.com. Retrieved April 9, 2025.
^ "《西游2》破12亿曝姚晨林更新《一生所爱》". Netease (in Chinese). February 4, 2017.
^ "2011秋季搜狐视频电视剧盛典揭晓《番号》获最佳剧". Sohu (in Chinese). October 26, 2011.
^ "电视剧年度盛典落幕有话题明星出席不"要"奖". Sohu (in Chinese). January 18, 2012.
^ "林更新获星光大典年度电视新人被赞未来潜力股". Tencent (in Chinese). January 12, 2012.
^ "2012华鼎奖中国百强电视剧提名名单". Netease (in Chinese). November 9, 2012.
^ "奇艺年度盛典群星熠熠吴奇隆踩冯绍峰获视帝(图)". Sina (in Chinese). January 5, 2012.
^ "第9届华语青年影像论坛闭幕韩寒等获颁年度新锐影人". People's Daily (in Chinese). November 6, 2014.
^ "《同桌的你》获11届广州大学生电影节最受欢迎电影". ifeng (in Chinese). December 29, 2014.
^ "林更新朋克皮衣帅气亮相获封"最具人气电视剧男演员"" (in Chinese). December 4, 2017.

External links

Lin Gengxin at IMDb

林更新

[1] You Lei (尤蕾) (2022). 更新，林更新 [Update, Lin Gengxin]. New Weekly (in Chinese). 615. Haizhu District, Guangzhou, Guangdong: Southern Publishing Media Co., Ltd: 95–99. ISSN 1007-7006.

[2] "2015 Forbes China Celebrity List (Full List)". Forbes. May 13, 2015.

[forbes-3] "Actress Fan Bingbing Tops New Forbes China Celebrity List". Forbes. September 22, 2017.

[4] "福布斯中国发布100名人榜吴京黄渤胡歌位列前三". Sina (in Chinese). August 20, 2019.

[5] "资料：电影《蓝色矢车菊》新人介绍-林更新". Sina (in Chinese). November 3, 2009.

[sa-6] "林更新袁弘《步步》五大王爷恋情PK". Sina (in Chinese). May 26, 2015.

[xuan-7] "图文：《轩辕剑》曝剧照-林更新饰张烈". Sina (in Chinese). August 9, 2012.

[8] "《轩辕剑》大结局完美收官开创周播剧新纪元". Tencent (in Chinese). September 5, 2012.

[young-9] "《狄仁杰》发海报预告神都龙王露狰狞". Sina (in Chinese). July 28, 2013.

[10] "18:37 提名新人林更新红色西装喜庆亮相". NetEase (in Chinese). April 13, 2014.

[old-11] "电影《同桌的你》开拍高晓松监制". Sina (in Chinese). July 9, 2013.

[12] "《同桌的妳》票房破四亿北京大学生电影节获奖". NetEase (in Chinese). May 13, 2014.

[black-13] "黄渤赵又廷《痞子英雄2》再合作林更新加盟". NetEase (in Chinese). September 8, 2013.

[tiger-14] "徐克"智取威虎山3D"首发剧照张涵予杨子荣造型曝光". Mtime (in Chinese). January 14, 2014.

[15] Patrick Frater. "China Box Office: 'Wolf Warrior' and 'Kingsman' Dominate $100 Million Weekend". Variety.

[zhao-16] "Yoona, Lin Gengxin to star in drama "Zhao Zilong"". Sina English. February 26, 2015.

[17] Jung Eun-jin (April 17, 2016). "SNSD Yoona making waves in China". The Korea Herald. Herald Corporation.

[18] "China 'God of War, Zhao Yun' 10 billion views, an incredible feat" 윤아 "中 '무신조자룡' 100억뷰, 정말 어마어마한 일". Xportsnews (in Korean). XportsMedia. July 6, 2016.

[few-19] ""For A Few Bullets", Compared to New Journey to The West". China Radio International. April 17, 2016. Archived from the original on April 24, 2016.

[sword-20] "Derek Yee, Hark Tusi team up for martial arts epic". China Radio International. December 1, 2016. Archived from the original on March 8, 2017.

[wall-21] "Zhang Yimou's new film reveals star-studded cast". Sina. March 12, 2015.

[journey-22] "《西游2》阵容独家曝光唐僧吴亦凡沙僧巴特尔". Tencent. August 6, 2015.

[23] "'Journey To The West: The Demons Strike Back' summary page". Box Office Mojo. February 16, 2017.

[24] "《西游伏妖篇》破13亿周星驰路演称为了观众我会越做越好". China Youth Daily (in Chinese). February 5, 2017.^{[permanent dead link]}

[pa-25] "《楚乔传》曝定档海报赵丽颖变特工少". Sina (in Chinese). May 22, 2017.

[26] "林更新《楚乔传》边疆归来细腻演技感情动人". Tencent (in Chinese). July 5, 2017.

[dee-27] "New Detective Dee film set to thrill mystery fans". China Daily. May 10, 2017.

[lost-28] "林更新《最初的相遇，最后的别离》开机首次演绎都市爱情悬疑". Tencent (in Chinese). May 17, 2019.

[29] Xu, Meilin (March 18, 2024). "赵丽颖、林更新主演剧集《与凤行》发布首周追剧日历". www.bjnews.com.cn. Retrieved May 9, 2024.

[30] ""The Legend of Shen Li" Off to a Strong Start – JayneStars.com". Retrieved May 9, 2024.

[31] "《大话天仙》曝林更新剧照演绎"最二"林冲". Netease (in Chinese). January 10, 2014.

[32] "陈赫、郑恺、林更新集体"拒演"《煎饼侠》". Netease (in Chinese). April 2, 2015.

[33] "《有完没完》林更新教范伟俘获女神心". Sina (in Chinese). February 14, 2016.

[34] "《姐姐立正向前走》林心如林更新汪东城多角恋". Sina (in Chinese). December 27, 2011.

[35] "《舞乐传奇》土豪林更新成百变王子(图)". Sina (in Chinese). January 7, 2014.

[36] 《我的砍价女王》开机林更新吴谨言巧结欢喜冤家. 1905 (in Chinese). July 13, 2020.

[37] Yangzi, Wanbao (March 7, 2024). "《与凤行》今晚见！赵丽颖林更新二搭携手护三界" [I'll see you tonight for "The Line with Phoenix"! Zhao Liying and Lin Renewal Join Hands to Protect the Three Realms]. Baidu (in Chinese). Retrieved April 17, 2024.

[38] "挑战者林更新智斗导演组游戏黑洞变机智". Sina (in Chinese). November 20, 2015.

[39] "《放开我北鼻2》林更新于小彤拉易烊千玺组"新团"". Sina (in Chinese). April 24, 2017.

[40] "《三个院子》正式官宣林更新陈赫朱桢加盟". Sina (in Chinese). October 28, 2017.

[41] "林更新加盟《机器人争霸》能否逆袭引关注". Sina (in Chinese). January 26, 2018.

[42] 顾馨. "Popular show inspired from 16th-century novel 'tests' celebrities". global.chinadaily.com.cn. Retrieved May 9, 2024.

[43] "《盒子里的猫》阵容官宣，全员梗王爆笑闯关，好友局综艺搞笑来袭". ent.ifeng.com (in Chinese). Retrieved May 9, 2024.

[44] "《现在就出发2》收官，第三季你期待的常驻嘉宾有哪些？_沈腾_节目_游戏". m.sohu.com. Retrieved April 9, 2025.

[45] "《西游2》破12亿曝姚晨林更新《一生所爱》". Netease (in Chinese). February 4, 2017.

[46] "2011秋季搜狐视频电视剧盛典揭晓《番号》获最佳剧". Sohu (in Chinese). October 26, 2011.

[47] "电视剧年度盛典落幕有话题明星出席不"要"奖". Sohu (in Chinese). January 18, 2012.

[48] "林更新获星光大典年度电视新人被赞未来潜力股". Tencent (in Chinese). January 12, 2012.

[49] "2012华鼎奖中国百强电视剧提名名单". Netease (in Chinese). November 9, 2012.

[50] "奇艺年度盛典群星熠熠吴奇隆踩冯绍峰获视帝(图)". Sina (in Chinese). January 5, 2012.

[51] "第9届华语青年影像论坛闭幕韩寒等获颁年度新锐影人". People's Daily (in Chinese). November 6, 2014.

[52] "《同桌的你》获11届广州大学生电影节最受欢迎电影". ifeng (in Chinese). December 29, 2014.

[53] "林更新朋克皮衣帅气亮相获封"最具人气电视剧男演员"" (in Chinese). December 4, 2017.

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Authority control databases
International	ISNI VIAF WorldCat
National	United States France BnF data
Other	Yale LUX

Lin Gengxin

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Lin Gengxin

Lin Gengxin

Lin Gengxin

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Lin Gengxin

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2011–2013: Rising popularity

2014–present: Commercial success

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