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Winston Chao
View on Wikipediafrom Wikipedia
Winston Chao Wen-hsuan (born 9 June 1960) is a Taiwanese actor, film director, and voice artist . He came to international attention for his performance in the 1993 film The Wedding Banquet. He is also known for his roles in Red Rose White Rose (1994), which was screened at the 45th Berlin International Film Festival,[1] and Eat Drink Man Woman, and for his five portrayals of Sun Yat-sen, notably in the films The Soong Sisters (1997), Road to Dawn (2007) and 1911 (2011). His notable television roles include the adaptation of Cao Yu's play Thunderstorm (1997), a double role in the historical drama Palace of Desire, the biographical mini-series The Legend of Eileen Chang (2004), the historical drama Da Tang Fu Rong Yuan (2007), the adaptation of Ba Jin's novel Cold Nights (Han ye, 2009), and the portrayal of Confucius (2011). He acted in the Indian Tamil film, Kabali (2016), in a villainous role opposite Rajinikanth. He has also appeared in the English-language films Skiptrace (2016) and The Meg (2018).
Key Information
Filmography
[edit]Feature films
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | The Wedding Banquet 喜宴 |
Wei-Tong Gao / 高偉同 | |
| 1993 | Top Cool 想飛 ~ 傲空神鷹 |
||
| 1994 | In Between 新同居時代 |
Wong Man Fai / 黃文輝 | a.k.a. Conjugal Affairs, The New Age of Living Together |
| 1994 | Eat Drink Man Woman 飲食男女 |
Li Kai / 李凱 | |
| 1994 | Red Rose White Rose 紅玫瑰白玫瑰 |
Tong Zhen-bao / 佟振保 | |
| 1995 | Xiu Xiu 繡繡和她的男人 |
Dr. Li Zhao | |
| 1995 | I Want to Go on Living 我要活下去 |
Go Chun | |
| 1996 | Your Black Hair and My Hand 談情說愛 |
Wenshan / 文山 | a.k.a. Crazy Little Thing Called Love |
| 1996 | Tonight Nobody Goes Home 今天不回家 |
Chen Siming / 陳斯明 | |
| 1996 | Thunder Cop 新喋血雙雄 |
Chiu Kwok-ho / 趙國豪 | |
| 1996 | In a Strange City 在陌生的城市 |
Hsiang Kuo-chien / 向國前 | |
| 1997 | The Island of Greed 黑金 |
Minister of legal department | |
| 1997 | Intimates 自梳 |
Wah / 華 | |
| 1997 | Destination: 9th Heaven 衝上九重天 |
Chin Cheng / 錢程 | |
| 1997 | The Soong Sisters 宋家皇朝 |
Sun Yat-sen / 孫中山 | |
| 1998 | A Little Life-Opera 一生一台戲 |
Sanpeng / 三朋 | |
| 1998 | Burning Harbor 燃烧的港湾 |
Sato / 佐藤 | |
| 2002 | The Touch 天脈傳奇 |
Yin's father / 嫣父 | |
| 2005 | Those Were the Days 随风而去 |
Hu Weichen / 胡维臣 | television film Lily Award for Best Actor |
| 2007 | Road to Dawn 夜·明 |
Sun Yat-sen / 孙中山 | SIFF Press Prize for Most Attractive Actor Guangzhou Student Film Festival Award for Most Popular Actor |
| 2011 | 1911 辛亥革命 |
Sun Yat-sen / 孙中山 | Nominated – Hundred Flowers Award for Best Actor |
| 2012 | Great Rescue 非常营救 |
Chu Fucheng / 褚辅成 | |
| 2013 | The Palace 宫锁沉香 |
Emperor Kang Xi | |
| 2015 | Zhong Kui: Snow Girl and the Dark Crystal 钟馗伏魔：雪妖魔灵 |
Zhang Dao Xian | |
| 2015 | Nezha | ||
| 2015 | Surprise 萬萬沒想到 |
Murong Hao | |
| 2016 | Chinese Wine 国酒 |
Boss Hua | |
| 2016 | Xuanzang
大唐玄奘 |
Emperor Taizong of Tang | A Chinese-Indian movie. |
| 2016 | Kabali கபாலி |
Tony Lee | A Tamil-language Indian production. |
| 2016 | Skiptrace |
Victor Wong | |
| 2018 | The Meg |
Dr. Minway Zhang | |
| 2019 | Pegasus | Wan He Ping | |
| 2021 | I Dreamed a Dream | Li Shi Hao | |
| 2021 | Be Somebody | Photo studio owner | |
| 2024 | Daughter's Daughter | Old Johnny | |
| TBA | Love War |
Television series
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Thunderstorm 雷雨 |
Zhou Ping / 周萍 | |
| 1997 | The Voyage Home 歸航 |
Gu Li / 顧力 | a.k.a. Daoguang mi shi (道光秘史) |
| 1997 | Bonds of Blood 千秋家國夢 |
Xu Baiting (许拜庭) / Xu Chongzhi (许崇智) | |
| 1998 | Haihai de rensheng 海海的人生 |
Ho Wei / 何偉 | |
| 1999 | Huanxi renjia 歡喜人家 |
a.k.a. Happy Together | |
| 1999 | Maid in Green 綠衣紅娘 |
Yang Shaohui / 杨绍辉 | |
| 2000 | Jiayuan 家園 |
Lin Huaizhong / 林怀中 | |
| 2000 | Palace of Desire 大明宮詞 |
Xue Shao (薛绍) / Zhang Yizhi (张易之) | |
| 2001 | Fame 星夢戀人 |
Huo Da / 霍达 | |
| 2001 | A War Diary 战争日记 |
||
| 2001 | Sun Zhongshan 孙中山 |
Sun Yat-sen / 孙中山 | |
| 2002 | Hu xiao cangqiong 虎嘯蒼穹 |
Xiao Taiping / 萧太平 | a.k.a. Yuan yu (原獄) |
| 2002 | The Merchant 錢王 |
Wang Chi / 王炽 | |
| 2003 | Yuxue nan'er 浴血男兒 |
Chen Hai / 陈海 | |
| 2004 | Guo bao 國寶 |
Fan Sicheng / 范思成 | |
| 2004 | The Legend of Eileen Chang 她從海上來 ~ 張愛玲傳奇 |
Hu Lancheng / 胡蘭成 | a.k.a. Shanghai wangshi (上海往事) |
| 2004 | Xiangqi miren 香氣迷人 |
Li Chun'en / 李纯恩 | |
| 2006 | Harmony 天和局 |
Wang Hongtu / 王鸿图 | a.k.a. Ma dian (马店) |
| 2006 | The Big Blast 大爆炸 |
Wu Gang / 吴刚 | a.k.a. Tufa shijian (突發事件) |
| 2007 | Da Tang Fu Rong Yuan 大唐芙蓉園 |
Emperor Xuanzong of Tang / 唐玄宗 | |
| 2008 | Great Porcelain Merchant 大瓷商 |
Tao Shengren | |
| 2009 | Han ye 寒夜 |
Wang Wenxuan / 汪文宣 | |
| 2009 | Da guo yi 大國醫 |
Guo Yishan | |
| 2009 | Archrivals 對手 |
Wen Weijun | |
| 2009 | Once Upon a Time on the Strait 海峽往事 |
Lin Wenxuan | |
| 2009 | Maid in the Big House 大屋下的丫鬟 |
Chen Tianheng | a.k.a. Bai De Tang (百德堂) |
| 2009 | Tie jian dan daoyi 鐵肩擔道義 |
Sun Yat-sen / 孙中山 | |
| 2010 | Xiao Xiang Road 1 潇湘路1号 |
Tong Shuangwei | a.k.a. Country in Chaos (沧海横流) |
| 2010 | Chuang tianxia 闖天下 |
Zhao Tianfu | |
| 2011 | The Legend of Incorruptible Stone 廉石傳奇 |
Zhang Zhao (Zibu) | |
| 2011 | Confucius 孔子 |
Confucius / 孔子 | |
| 2011 | Wu Zetian mishi 武则天秘史 |
Emperor Gaozong of Tang / 唐高宗 | |
| 2011 | Family Reunion 團圓 |
Liu Yu | |
| 2011 | Defend Army Soul 护国军魂传奇 |
Liang Qichao / 梁启超 | |
| 2012 | Shouwang de tiankong 守望的天空 |
Yuan Weiguo | |
| 2012 | Sui Tang yingxiong 隋唐英雄 |
Emperor Yang of Sui / 杨广 | |
| 2013 | Daughter's Return 千金归来 |
Pan Weilin /潘伟森 | |
| 2013 | The Legend of Dancing Prince 舞乐传奇 |
异牟寻 | |
| 2014 | The Last Emperor 末代皇帝传奇 |
Puyi / 溥仪 | |
| 2015 | Lonely Gourmet 孤独的美食家 |
伍郎 | |
| 2015 | 大舜 | Emperor Yao / 尧 | |
| 2015 | The Legend of Mi Yue 芈月传 |
King Wei of Chu / 楚威王 | |
| TBA | Tian xing jian 天行健 |
Zhou Zixuan | filmed in 2010 |
| 2017 | Xuan-Yuan Sword Legend: The Clouds of Han | Zhuge Liang | |
| 2018 | Negotiator | Xie Tianyou | |
| 2019 | Poetry of the Song Dynasty 大宋宫词 |
Zhao Tingmei | [2] |
Awards and nominations
[edit]| Year | Award | Category | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Lily Awards (百合奖) | Best Actor shared with Zhou Xiaobin[5] | Those Were the Days | Won |
| 2007 | Shanghai International Film Festival | Press Prize for Most Attractive Actor[6] | Road to Dawn | Won |
| Guangzhou Student Film Festival (广州大学生电影节) | Most Popular Actor[7] | Won | ||
| 2012 | Hundred Flowers Awards | Best Actor[8] | 1911 | Nominated |
References
[edit]- ^ "Berlinale: 1995 Programme". Retrieved 9 February 2026.
- ^ "《大宋宫词》再曝仿古海报 刘涛珍珠妆惊艳别致" ["Da Song Gong Ci" re-exposed antique posters Liu Tao pearl makeup stunning and chic]. People's Daily (in Chinese). Beijing. 19 November 2018.
- ^ "Winston Chao". Hong Kong Movie DataBase. Retrieved 23 September 2021.[unreliable source?]
- ^ "Winston Chao". chinesemov.com.[unreliable source?]
- ^ 数字电影风光无限 2005年电影频道百合奖揭晓 [Unlimited Digital Film Scenery 2005 Film Channel Lily Awards Announced]. Sina Corporation (in Chinese). 14 May 2006. Retrieved 1 October 2012.
- ^ "Shanghai International Film Festival (2007)". IMDb. Retrieved 1 October 2012.
- ^ 第五届广州大学生电影节闭幕 赵文瑄加冕影帝 [The 5th Guangzhou University Student Film Festival closes Zhao Wen's crowned most popular actor]. Sina Corporation (in Chinese). 2 January 2008. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
- ^ 百花奖入围者获表彰 李雪健感谢杨善洲 [Hundred Flowers Award finalists are commended]. Sina Corporation (in Chinese). 28 September 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
External links
[edit]
- Winston Chao at IMDb
- Winston Chao at the Encyclopedia Asian Stars
- Winston Chao on Weibo (in Chinese)
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
Winston Chao
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Winston Chao Wen-hsuan (born 9 June 1960) is a Taiwanese actor renowned for his versatile performances in both Chinese-language cinema and international films, gaining global acclaim through his debut lead role as Wai-Tung Gao in Ang Lee's The Wedding Banquet (1993).[1][2]
Before entering acting, Chao pursued a career in aviation, working as ground staff for Northwest Airlines and later as an in-flight attendant for China Airlines for eight years following his graduation from Ming Chih Industrial Junior College in mechanical engineering and studies in foreign languages and literatures at National Taiwan University.[3] His transition to entertainment came abruptly at age 32 when he was cast in The Wedding Banquet, marking his first acting role without prior experience.[4]
Over a career spanning more than three decades, Chao has amassed over 70 credits in film and television, often portraying historical figures and complex family dynamics.[2] He is especially noted for his five portrayals of Sun Yat-sen, the founding father of the Republic of China, including in The Soong Sisters (1997), Road to Dawn (2007), and 1911 (2011).[5] Other key film roles include the airline executive Li Kai in Eat Drink Man Woman (1994) and the oceanographer Dr. Minway Zhang in the Hollywood blockbuster The Meg (2018).[6] On television, he has starred in acclaimed Chinese historical dramas such as Secret History of Empress Wu (2011) as Emperor Gaozong and Legend of Mi Yue (2015).[3]
Chao's TV roles often overlapped with his film portrayals of historical figures, such as revolutionaries and emperors, but emphasized serialized narratives in epic formats distinct from standalone movies.
Early life and education
Early life
Winston Chao was born on June 9, 1960, in Taipei, Taiwan, to parents who originated from Laiyang in Shandong Province, China.[1] His family had relocated to Taiwan amid the broader migration of mainland Chinese following the Chinese Civil War.[7] Chao's father was a teacher and renowned scholar of Sun Yat-sen, having graduated from the Huangpu Military Academy, which Sun founded in 1924.[5] As an expert on the revolutionary leader, his father authored books on Sun and filled their home with literature about Chinese history and nationalism.[5] This environment exposed young Chao to profound historical narratives from an early age, shaping his deep familiarity with Sun Yat-sen's legacy, which later influenced his acting career.[5] Chao spent his childhood in Taiwan during a time of significant political and cultural transition, as the island served as the base for the Republic of China government after the Nationalist retreat in 1949. Growing up in this context, he was immersed in a blend of mainland Chinese heritage and emerging Taiwanese identity, with his family's scholarly focus providing a strong foundation in literature and history.[5]Education
Chao graduated from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Ming Chih Industrial Junior College in Taiwan in the early 1980s.[8] His technical education equipped him with practical skills that initially directed him toward engineering-related fields, including aviation, where he later pursued a career as a flight attendant.[9] During his time at the junior college, Chao developed a strong interest in English, which sparked his creative inclinations and influenced his academic aspirations beyond engineering.[10] This passion for language led him to plan further studies in Western literature, intending to enroll in the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures at National Taiwan University as preparation for relocating to the United States.[3] His family's roots in Shandong, China, where his father emphasized rigorous education, further motivated Chao's ambition to study abroad and broaden his horizons through humanities.[7]Career
Early career
After completing his education in mechanical engineering, Winston Chao began his professional life by transitioning into the aviation sector, first serving as ground staff for Northwest Airlines before joining China Airlines as a flight attendant, a position he held for approximately seven to eight years. His mechanical engineering education from Ming Chih Industrial Junior College contributed to his adaptability in these structured, service-oriented roles. During a 1990 flight, Chao encountered director Ang Lee, who was impressed by his presence and later offered him the lead role in an upcoming film after reviewing photographs from his portfolio.[11][3] The shift from aviation to the performing arts in the early 1990s presented notable challenges for Chao amid Taiwan's evolving media landscape, marked by democratization and the rise of independent cinema but limited opportunities for newcomers without industry connections or training. His entry relied heavily on personal serendipity, such as the pivotal meeting with Lee, highlighting the barriers for outsiders in a field dominated by established networks.[11]Breakthrough roles
Chao's breakthrough came with his casting as Wai-Tung Gao in Ang Lee's 1993 film The Wedding Banquet, marking his feature film debut and international introduction as a gay Taiwanese immigrant navigating cultural expectations and personal identity in New York City.[1] Previously working as a flight attendant, Chao was discovered by Lee during a flight, leading to this pivotal role that showcased his nuanced portrayal of internal conflict and familial duty.[12] The film received widespread critical acclaim for its blend of comedy and drama, with Chao's performance praised for its authenticity and emotional depth, contributing to the movie's success as a landmark in queer cinema.[13] Building on this momentum, Chao appeared in Lee's 1994 film Eat Drink Man Woman as Li Kai, the charming executive who becomes the love interest of the eldest daughter, Jia-Jen, in a story exploring family dynamics and romantic upheaval in Taipei.[14] As the final installment in Lee's "Father" trilogy—following Pushing Hands (1992) and The Wedding Banquet—the film highlighted Chao's versatility in supporting roles amid themes of tradition and modernity. Eat Drink Man Woman garnered significant recognition, including an Academy Award nomination for Best Foreign Language Film and multiple Golden Horse Awards, underscoring the acclaim for the ensemble cast and Chao's contribution to its intimate storytelling.[15] These early collaborations with Ang Lee propelled Chao's career, establishing him as a prominent figure in Taiwanese and global cinema during the 1990s. The Wedding Banquet notably won the Golden Bear at the 1993 Berlin International Film Festival, tying for the top prize and elevating Chao's profile on the international stage through festival circuits and critical discourse on Asian diaspora narratives.[16] This recognition opened doors to further opportunities in Taiwanese media, solidifying his transition from novice actor to acclaimed performer.Portrayals of Sun Yat-sen
Winston Chao first portrayed Sun Yat-sen in the 1997 historical drama The Soong Sisters, directed by Mabel Cheung, where he depicted the revolutionary leader as a central figure in the intertwined lives of the influential Soong family sisters during China's turbulent early 20th century. This role marked the beginning of Chao's recurring association with the character, drawing on Sun's historical significance as the provisional president of the Republic of China and architect of its 1911 revolution. Subsequent portrayals expanded across television and film, including the 2001 mainland Chinese TV series Sun Zhongshan, where Chao embodied the full arc of Sun's revolutionary life, and the 2010 series Tie Jian Dan Dao Yi, focusing on Sun's ideological influence amid broader political narratives. These television adaptations allowed Chao to explore Sun's philosophical and personal dimensions in serialized formats, contributing to his total of five depictions of the figure. Chao's portrayal in the 2007 film Road to Dawn, directed by Derek Chiu, highlighted a young Sun Yat-sen during his exile in Penang, Malaysia, emphasizing themes of exile, romance, and revolutionary resolve; for this performance, he received the Most Popular Actor award (Press Prize) at the 10th Shanghai International Film Festival. The film, based on Sun's real-life connections in Southeast Asia, showcased Chao's ability to convey the leader's charisma and determination, earning acclaim for its emotional depth. His preparation for these roles often involved immersing himself in historical texts and personal anecdotes, particularly those from his father, a teacher and Huangpu Military Academy graduate who was an expert on Sun Yat-sen and filled their home with books and lectures on the revolutionary.[17][5] In 2011, Chao reprised the role in 1911, directed by and starring Jackie Chan, which commemorated the Xinhai Revolution's centenary and portrayed Sun as the intellectual force behind the uprising against the Qing dynasty; this performance earned him a nomination for Best Actor at the 31st Hundred Flowers Awards. These repeated portrayals, spanning intimate biographical moments to epic revolutionary events, have typecast Chao as the go-to actor for Sun Yat-sen but have also cemented his reputation as a leading figure in Chinese historical cinema, praised for capturing the leader's visionary intellect and moral gravitas.[5]International and later work
Chao expanded his career into international cinema in the mid-2010s, beginning with the role of Victor Wong, a triad boss, in the action-comedy Skiptrace (2016), a Chinese-Hong Kong co-production directed by Renny Harlin and starring Jackie Chan. This English-language film marked his entry into broader Asian and Western markets, showcasing his versatility in multilingual action roles. He followed this with a prominent antagonistic part as Tony Lee, the head of a rival Malaysian gang, in the Indian Tamil-language action drama Kabali (2016), directed by Pa. Ranjith and led by Rajinikanth.[18] In the film, Chao's character serves as the primary foe to the protagonist, contributing to the movie's exploration of gangster life and redemption, which grossed over ₹100 crore worldwide upon release.[19] Chao's Hollywood breakthrough came with The Meg (2018), a Warner Bros. production directed by Jon Turteltaub, where he portrayed Dr. Minway Zhang, a visionary Chinese oceanographer leading a deep-sea research initiative. The blockbuster shark thriller, starring Jason Statham, became a global hit, earning over $530 million at the box office and highlighting Chao's ability to embody authoritative scientific figures in high-stakes English-language narratives. In parallel with his film work, Chao took on significant television roles in Chinese historical dramas during the 2010s. He starred as the titular philosopher in the biographical series Confucius (2011), a 35-episode production that depicted the sage's life and teachings across ancient China, earning praise for his dignified portrayal.[20] Earlier, in the poetic historical drama Palace of Desire (2000), he played dual roles as the historical figures Xue Shao and Zhang Yizhi, navigating court intrigue during the Tang Dynasty in a series noted for its literary dialogue and lavish production. He also portrayed Emperor Gaozong in Secret History of Empress Wu (2011) and appeared in Legend of Mi Yue (2015), further showcasing his range in historical epics.[3] Chao's recent projects underscore his enduring presence in Chinese and Taiwanese cinema. In 2024, he appeared as Old Johnny, a relaxed supporting character tied to the protagonist's past, in Huang Xi's family drama Daughter's Daughter, which premiered at the Tokyo International Film Festival and explores intergenerational mother-daughter bonds through themes of loss and inheritance.[21] As of November 2025, Chao continues to engage in Chinese productions, maintaining a steady output that reflects over three decades of professional longevity across film and television.[22]Personal life
Chao was raised in a polygamous household; his father, a university professor, had two wives, with Chao's mother as the second wife and Chao having an older brother from the same mother. The conflicts he observed between the two wives during his childhood contributed to his lifelong aversion to marriage.[23] Chao has never married and has no children. As of 2025, he lives a reclusive life in an 800-square-meter villa in the countryside near Ningbo, Zhejiang, China, where he keeps various pets including cats, dogs, chickens, ducks, and geese, treating them as his family.[24][25] He has expressed no interest in marriage or having heirs, intending to leave his estate to his nephew.[26]Filmography
Feature films
Winston Chao made his feature film debut in 1993 and has since appeared in over 30 films across Taiwanese, Chinese, Hong Kong, Indian, and Hollywood productions, often portraying complex characters in dramas, historical epics, and action thrillers.[27][3]| Year | Title | Role | Film Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | The Wedding Banquet | Wai-Tung Gao | A gay Taiwanese-American man staging a sham marriage to satisfy his parents' expectations in an Ang Lee-directed family comedy-drama.[28] |
| 1993 | Top Cool | Unknown | A lesser-known Taiwanese drama exploring youth and relationships.[3] |
| 1994 | Eat Drink Man Woman | Li Kai | The love interest of one daughter in a culinary family drama about a widowed chef and his three daughters in Taipei. |
| 1994 | Red Rose White Rose | Tong Zhenbao | A man caught between his wife and a former lover in a poignant adaptation of Zhang Ailing's novel set in 1930s China. |
| 1996 | Tonight Nobody Goes Home | Chen Mo / Chen Si Ming | A nightclub owner dealing with personal and criminal entanglements in urban Taipei. |
| 1996 | Thunder Cop | Chiu Kwok-ho | An inspector in a high-octane Hong Kong action film involving police corruption.[3] |
| 1997 | The Soong Sisters | Sun Yat-sen | The revolutionary leader in a historical drama chronicling the influential Soong family during China's turbulent era. |
| 1997 | Intimates | Hua | A supportive figure in a story of female friendship and self-discovery set in 1920s-1940s China.[3] |
| 1997 | The Island of Greed | Minister of Legal Affairs | A government official in a political thriller about corruption and triad influence in Hong Kong.[3] |
| 2002 | The Touch | Yin's father | A family patriarch in a martial arts adventure involving ancient relics and mystical powers. |
| 2002 | Double Vision | Huang Huo-tu | An FBI agent investigating bizarre murders in a Taiwan-U.S. collaboration thriller. |
| 2007 | Road to Dawn | Sun Yat-sen | The founding father of modern China in a biographical drama tracing his revolutionary journey.[29] |
| 2009 | Kung Fu Cyborg | K-88 | A cyborg enforcer in a sci-fi action film blending martial arts with futuristic elements in 2080s China. |
| 2011 | 1911 | Sun Yat-sen | The revolutionary leader in an epic recounting the 1911 Xinhai Revolution that overthrew the Qing dynasty.[30] |
| 2013 | The Palace | Emperor Kangxi | The Qing emperor in a romantic historical drama set in the Forbidden City.[3] |
| 2015 | Nezha | Taiyi Zhenren | An immortal mentor in a fantasy adventure based on Chinese mythology.[3] |
| 2015 | Surprise | Murong Hao | A mysterious guest in a comedic heist film with unexpected twists.[3] |
| 2015 | Zhong Kui: Snow Girl and the Dark Crystal | Zhang Daoxian | A scholar aiding a demon hunter in a 3D fantasy battle against supernatural forces. |
| 2016 | Kabali | Tony Lee | A ruthless antagonist in the Tamil gangster action film starring Rajinikanth, marking Chao's entry into Indian cinema. |
| 2016 | Skiptrace | Victor Wong | A Hong Kong crime lord pursued in a buddy action-comedy spanning China and Mongolia. |
| 2016 | Xuan Zang | Emperor Taizong | The Tang dynasty ruler commissioning the monk's journey in a historical adventure epic. |
| 2016 | The Mermaid | Liu Xuan | A wealthy developer targeted by environmental activists in Stephen Chow's ecological comedy. |
| 2016 | Chinese Wine | Boss Hua | A business magnate in a drama exploring corporate intrigue and personal redemption.[3] |
| 2017 | The Great Wall | Strategist Wang | A Chinese military advisor defending against monsters in a Hollywood-Chinese co-production. |
| 2018 | The Meg | Dr. Minway Zhang | A deep-sea researcher aiding in the hunt for a prehistoric shark in the blockbuster thriller, which earned over $530 million worldwide.[6][31] |
| 2018 | Air Strike | Nie Yongquan | An air force commander in a World War II epic depicting China's resistance against Japanese invasion. |
| 2019 | Pegasus | Wan Heping | A former race car driver mentoring a young talent in a high-speed comedy-drama. |
| 2019 | The Climbers | Hao Ding | A mountaineer in a historical adventure about the 1960 Chinese expedition to Mount Everest. |
| 2021 | The Battle at Lake Changjin | Song Shilun | A People's Liberation Army general in the Korean War epic, one of China's highest-grossing films. |
| 2021 | I Dreamed a Dream | Li Shih-hao | A supportive family member in a drama about pursuing aspirations amid challenges.[3] |
| 2021 | Be Somebody | Photo studio owner | A brief role in a coming-of-age story of a young girl's dreams and family bonds.[3] |
| 2024 | Daughter's Daughter | Old Johnny | A grandfather figure in a family drama exploring generational ties and inheritance. |
Television series
Winston Chao's television career spans over three decades, beginning with his debut in the 1996 Taiwanese adaptation of the classic play Thunderstorm (Lei Yu), where he portrayed the lead role of Zhou Ping, a conflicted young man in a dramatic family saga. His early work focused on Taiwanese productions, but by the early 2000s, he shifted toward mainland Chinese historical dramas, taking on prominent roles in serialized epics that highlighted his versatility in portraying emperors, revolutionaries, and intellectuals. This transition marked a significant expansion in his output, with appearances in more than 30 series, often emphasizing longer-form storytelling in palace intrigues, biographical tales, and period pieces. Notable examples include his dual role as Xue Shao and Zhang Yizhi in the 2000 Qing Dynasty drama Palace of Desire (Da Ming Gong Ci), where he depicted scheming courtiers amid political turmoil, and his titular portrayal of the philosopher Confucius in the 2011 biographical series Confucius, exploring the sage's life and teachings during the Spring and Autumn period.[32] The following table provides a chronological overview of his key television series, focusing on major roles and production origins to illustrate his career progression:| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Thunderstorm (Lei Yu) | Zhou Ping (Main Role) | Taiwanese adaptation of Cao Yu's play; debut TV lead in a family tragedy. |
| 1999 | Maid in Green | Yang Shao Hui (Main Role) | Taiwanese romantic comedy series. |
| 2000 | Palace of Desire (Da Ming Gong Ci) | Xue Shao / Zhang Yizhi (Main Role) | Mainland Chinese historical drama; dual role as influential figures in the Tang court. |
| 2000 | Starry Dream Love (Xing Meng Lian Ren) | Huo Da (Main Role) | Taiwanese modern romance. |
| 2002 | The Merchant (Qian Wang) | Wang Chi (Main Role) | Mainland biographical drama on a business magnate. |
| 2005 | Days and a Bureau | Wang Hong Tu (Support Role) | Taiwanese office drama. |
| 2007 | Da Tang Fu Rong Yuan | Li Longji (Main Role) | Mainland Tang Dynasty palace intrigue; later titled Palace of Eternal Youth.[32] |
| 2009 | Cold Nights (Han Ye) | Wang Wen Xuan (Main Role) | Mainland adaptation of Ba Jin's novel; portrays a scholar in Republican-era Shanghai.[32] |
| 2009 | Archrivals | Wen Wei Jun (Main Role) | Mainland political drama. |
| 2009 | Da Guo Yi | Guo Yi Shan (Main Role) | Mainland medical historical series. |
| 2010 | The Legend of Lian Shi | Zhang Zhao (Main Role) | Mainland Three Kingdoms era drama. |
| 2011 | Secret History of Empress Wu (Wu Zetian Mi Shi) | Emperor Gaozong (Main Role) | Mainland Tang Dynasty series; middle-aged portrayal of Li Zhi. |
| 2011 | Confucius | Confucius (Main Role) | Mainland biographical miniseries on the philosopher's life and exile.[32] |
| 2011 | Hu Guo Jun Hun Chuan Qi | Liang Qichao (Main Role) | Mainland Republican-era revolutionary drama. |
| 2012 | Sui Tang Heroes (Sui Tang Ying Xiong) | Yang Guang (Main Role) | Mainland historical epic on Sui Dynasty fall. |
| 2015 | The Last Emperor (Mo Dai Huang Di) | Puyi (Main Role) | Mainland biographical series on China's final emperor. |
| 2015 | Lonely Gourmet: Taipei | Wu Lang (Main Role) | Taiwanese-Japanese food travelogue adaptation.[32] |
| 2017 | Xuan-Yuan Sword: Han Cloud | Gong Yang Shuo (Support Role) | Mainland fantasy historical drama. |
| 2018 | The Legend of Kaifeng | Emperor Zhenzong (Support Role) | Mainland Song Dynasty detective series. |
| 2020 | Good Wife | Lin Guo Dong (Support Role) | Mainland legal drama remake. |
| 2021 | Palace of Devotion (Shen Hua) | Zhao Ting Mei (Guest Role) | Mainland Song Dynasty romance. |
| 2023 | Lost in Baimu | Lin Yong (Support Role) | Mainland suspense drama. |
| 2025 | The Unclouded Soul | Support Role | Upcoming mainland series. |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Sixth China Digital Film Lily Awards | Outstanding Male Lead | Sui Feng Er Qu (Those Were the Days) | Won[33] |
| 2007 | Shanghai International Film Festival | Press Prize for Most Attractive Actor | Road to Dawn | Won[34] |
| 2007 | Guangzhou Student Film Festival | Students' Choice Award for Favorite Actor | Road to Dawn | Won[35] |
| 2012 | Hundred Flowers Awards | Best Actor | 1911 | Nominated[34] |