Richie Jen

Richie Jen Hsien-chi (, born 23 June 1966), also known as Richie Ren, is a Taiwanese singer and actor. Jen debuted in December 1990 with the studio album Ask Again (再問一次). In 1996, he signed with Rock Records and released the album I Feel Good!. His breakthrough came at the end of 1996 with his fifth studio album, Too Softhearted, which sold over 1,000,000 copies in China and over 2,300,000 copies across Asia. His seventh album, Love Like Pacific Ocean, became one of the best-selling albums of all time in Taiwan with over 1,200,000 copies sold. The record spawned the single "Hey Girl Look Over Here" (對面的女孩看過來), which was named the most popular song of 1998 by Hit FM in Taiwan.

Early life Jen was born and grew up in Tianzhong Township, Changhua County, Taiwan. He attended Changhua County Tianzhong Senior High School and at the age of 21 he entered Chinese Culture University, majoring in physical education. He also started to work at a musical instrument store while learning how to play guitar.

Career In 1990, while a senior at CCU, Richie Jen signed a contract with and released a compilation album named Towards the Rainbow (奔向彩虹). In December of that year, he released his first solo album Ask Again (再問一次). He released two more albums in 1991, Cold & Tender (冷漠與温柔), and Fly to My Own Sky (飛向自己的天空), before enlisting in the military.

In 1996, he joined Rock Records, and released the album I Feel Good! , which sold 160,000 copies in Taiwan and was multi-platinum certified. His breakthrough came when the album Too Softhearted (心太軟) was released in December of that year, which sold over 1,000,000 copies in mainland China and 600,000 copies in Taiwan. The title track became largely popular in China and Taiwan.

In August 1998, Jen's album Love Like Pacific Ocean (愛像太平洋) was released. The tracks "Unknown Pleasures" (任逍遥) "The Sad Pacific" (傷心太平洋) from the album were the opening and closing theme songs of the 1998 series The Return of the Condor Heroes, respectively. The record peaked at number one on the IFPI Taiwan album chart and sold over 1,200,000 copies in Taiwan, making it one of the best-selling albums of all time in the country. Jen also starred in the Condor Heroes, playing Yang Guo. In 2005, Jen joined EMI, and his first album from EMI Old Place (老地方) was released a year later. In 2008, Jen signed a contract with East Asia Records (東亞唱片).

Philanthropy In July 2001, prior to his concert in Shenyang, Jen donated ¥30,000 to a family who was unable to afford heart surgery for their one-year old daughter after learning about their situation through a news report. In May 2023, the same girl and her mother attended Jen's concert in Shenyang and publicly thanked him for his life-saving donation. The woman's expression of gratitude was captured on video and quickly became viral on Weibo.

Personal life In 2002, Jen married former fashion designer Tina Chen (陳則妤). They have two children together, a daughter and a son. They live in Hong Kong.

Discography

Ask Again (1990) Cold & Tender (1991) Fly to My Own Sky (1991) I Feel Good! (1996) Too Softhearted (1996) Hurt Badly (1997) Love Like Pacific Ocean (1998) Desperate With Love (2000) Angel Brother and Hunk (2000) A Flying Bird (2001) One Richie (2002) So Far So Close (2004) Old Place (2006) If Life's Goin' Without You (2007) R.S.V.P (2009) Daredevil Spirit (2011) On My Way (2023)

Filmography

Film Year English title Chinese title Role Notes 1991 Cops & Robbers 官兵捉強盜 1993 Top Cool 傲空神鷹-想飛 1994 No Sir 3 報告班長3 Oi Tak Wah 1999 Gorgeous 玻璃樽 Long Yi A Beautiful New World 美麗新世界 Xiaobai Fly Me to Polaris 星願 Onion 2000 Summer Holiday 夏日的麽麽茶 Mo Mo Cha 2001 Life Express 生死速遞 2002 Marry a Rich Man 嫁個有錢人 Christmas Yan Summer I Love You 好心相愛 Lek 2003 Honesty 絕種好男人 Moses Tang 6th Floor Rear Flat 六樓後座 Policeman 2004 Silver Hawk 飛鷹 Rich Man Elixir of Love 花好月圓 Kai 20 30 40 20 30 40 Wang Breaking News 大事件 Chan Yat Yuen 2005 Seoul Raiders 韓城攻略 Owen Lee 2006 2 Become 1 天生一對 Dr. Vincent Cheung Exiled 放-逐 Sergeant Chen 2007 Happy Birthday 生日快樂 Himself Contract Lover 合約情人 Fok Kai Fat 2008 Lady Cop & Papa Crook 大搜查 Gogo 2009 The Sniper 神槍手 Hartman Fong / Ming Accident 意外 Fong Chau 2010 Fire of Conscience 火龍對決 Inspector Kee Flirting Scholar 2 唐伯虎點秋香2 Adventure of the King 龍鳳店 Zhengde Emperor 2011 Punished 報應 Chor Mayday 3DNA 五月天追夢3DNA Life Without Principle 奪命金 Inspector Cheung Legendary Amazons 楊門女將之軍令如山 Yang Zongbao The Allure Of Tears 傾城之淚 2012 Scheme With Me 雙城計中計 2013 Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow? 明天記得愛上我 Weichung 2015 The Wonderful Wedding 大囍臨門 Cameo First of May 五月一号 Lin Ke Ming All You Need Is Love 落跑吧愛情 Wu 2016 Trivisa 树大招风 Yip Kwok Foon 2019 Bodies at Rest 沉默的證人 Santa Fagara 花椒之味 Choi Ho-shan Where All Roads End 殊途衕歸 2022 Man on the Edge 邊緣行者 Lok Chi-ming 2024 Rob N Roll 臨時劫案 Mo Yung Fai Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In 九龍城寨之圍城 Chau TBA 11th Day and One Night 十一天零一夜

Television series Midnight Diner 深夜食堂 (2017) Infernal Affairs 无间道 (2016) Top Gear China 巅峰拍档 (2014–2015) Chinese Idol 中国梦之声 (2013–2014) Supreme Fate 富豪海灣至尊家緣 (2004) The New Adventures of Chor Lau Heung 新楚留香 (2001) State of Divinity 笑傲江湖 (2000) The Return of the Condor Heroes 神雕俠侶 (1998) Taipei Love Story 台北愛情故事 (1996) Master Huang 黃飛鴻與十三姨 (1994) Dreams Awakening 夢醒時分 (1994) Hard To Forget 意難忘 (1992) The Orphans 人海孤鴻 (1989)

Variety and reality show Call Me by Fire (season 2) 披荊斬棘 (2022)