Yan Huaili

In this Chinese name, the family name is Yan.
Yan Huaili
闫怀礼
Born(1936-07-24)July 24, 1936
Fengnan, Tangshan, Hebei, China
DiedApril 12, 2009(2009-04-12) (aged 72)
Beijing, China
Alma materBeijing People's Art Theatre
OccupationActor
Years active1982–2002
Notable workJourney to the West
Political partyRevolutionary Committee of the Kuomintang

Yan Huaili (simplified Chinese: 闫怀礼; traditional Chinese: 閆懷禮; pinyin: Yán Huaílǐ; 24 July 1936 – 12 April 2009) was a Chinese actor best known for his role as Sha Wujing in the 1986 television series Journey to the West.[1][2][3][4] Yan was a member of the Revolutionary Committee of the Kuomintang.[5]

Early life

Yan was born in Fengnan District of Tangshan city, Hebei province, on July 24, 1936, during the Republic of China.

After the founding of the Communist State, Yan worked as an accountant in China Construction Bank in Qinhuangdao.

Career

In 1958, Yan entered in the Beijing People's Art Theatre, majoring in acting.

In the 1960s, Yan acted in Taking Tiger Mountain by Strategy, Red Crag and The Big Fisherman. During the Cultural Revolution, Yan acted in Cai Wenji, Wang Zhaojun and Aesop.

Yan rose to fame after portraying Sha Wujing in Journey to the West, a historical television series starring Xu Shaohua, Chi Zhongrui, Zhang Jinlai, Ma Dehua, Wang Yue, Cui Jingfu and Liu Dagang.[6][7] The series was one of the most watched ones in mainland China in that year.

In 1991, Yan played the character Cheng Pu in Romance of the Three Kingdoms, adapted from Luo Guanzhong's classical novel of the same title.

In 1993, Yan made his film debut in Wong Jing's Kung Fu Cult Master, playing a monk in Shaolin Temple, a film starring Jet Li, Sharla Cheung, Chingmy Yau and Gigi Lai.

In 2000, Yan appeared as Pei Yan, an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang dynasty, in Palace of Desire.

In 2002, Yan participated in The Eloquent Ji Xiaolan as Chen Huizu, an ancient costume comedy television series starring Zhang Guoli, Zhang Tielin, Wang Gang and Yuan Li.

On April 12, 2009, Yan died of interstitial lung disease at Beijing Shijitan Hospital.[8][9][10]

Filmography

Film

Year English title Chinese title Role Notes
1993 Kung Fu Cult Master 倚天屠龙记之魔教教主 a monk

Television

Year English title Chinese title Role Notes
1982 Journey to the West 西游记 Sha Wujing/Bull Demon King/Dragon King/Daode Tianzun/Qianliyan/Monk in Guanyin Temple/Juanlian Dajaing
1991 Romance of the Three Kingdoms 三国演义 Cheng Pu
1996 东周列国春秋篇 Duke Zhuang II of Qi
2000 Palace of Desire 大明宫词 Pei Yan
2002 The Eloquent Ji Xiaolan 铁齿铜牙纪晓岚 Chen Huizu

References

  1. ^ "'Journey to West' Actor Dies of Lung Infection". cri.cn. 2009-04-13. Archived from the original on April 15, 2009. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
  2. ^ "Funeral Held for Late Actor Yan Huaili". dbw.cn. 2009-04-16. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
  3. ^ Wang Xiaoyi (王晓易) (16 April 2009). 《西游》师徒泪别闫怀礼 望其修成金身罗汉. 163.com (in Chinese). Retrieved 12 June 2021.
  4. ^ Pan Xingzhi (潘幸知) (13 April 2009). 沙僧闫怀礼因病去世 临终见“师兄”流泪三次. Sohu (in Chinese). Retrieved 12 June 2021.
  5. ^ 基本资料：闫怀礼. Tencent (in Chinese).
  6. ^ Chen Yin (陈茵); Shao Jing (邵靖); Liu Jia (刘佳) (13 April 2009). 82版《西游记》》沙僧扮演者闫怀礼去世(图). Sohu (in Chinese). Retrieved 12 June 2021.
  7. ^ 众明星缅怀闫怀礼老师 “沙僧”一路走好(图). sina (in Chinese). 16 April 2009. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
  8. ^ 唐僧迟重瑞送别沙僧闫怀礼：师傅来看你了(图). sina (in Chinese). 12 April 2009. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
  9. ^ Zhang Nan (张楠) (13 April 2016). 六小龄童发文怀念沙师弟闫怀礼：我们想您. 163.com (in Chinese). Retrieved 12 June 2021.
  10. ^ 闫怀礼追悼会北京举行 《西游记》师徒送别. 163.com (in Chinese). 16 April 2009. Retrieved 10 March 2014.