Simu Liu

Simu Liu ( ; ; born 19 April 1989) is a Chinese-born Canadian actor. He rose to prominence by starring as Shang-Chi in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, a role which he will reprise in Avengers: Doomsday (2026), Avengers: Secret Wars (2027) and in the untitled Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings sequel.

Liu was born in Harbin, China, and raised in Mississauga, Ontario. He has also played Paul Xie in the Omni Television crime drama series Blood and Water—for which he was nominated for a Canadian Screen Award and an ACTRA Award—Jung Kim in the CBC Television sitcom Kim's Convenience (2016–2021), and one of the Ken dolls in the fantasy comedy film Barbie (2023). and was named one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people in the world.

Early life Liu was born in Harbin, China, on 19 April 1989, son of Zhenning and Zheng Liu. His parents met while attending university in Beijing, where they both studied engineering. His father, Zhenning, went to the United States to study for a PhD while his mother worked in Beijing, and Liu was raised until age 5 by his grandparents in Harbin "in a small apartment, without running water for much of the day", in circumstances he recalled as "idyllic and happy". Liu later emigrated to rejoin his parents in Canada, who supplemented their scholarships with dish-washing jobs and eventually became successful aerospace engineers. He first arrived in Kingston, Ontario, where his father was fulfilling his doctoral studies at Queen's University. Liu's parents "hothoused him in maths at the age of five and set 'homework' that included reading biographies of scientists and studying algebra".

Liu initially worked as an accountant at Deloitte, but was laid off in April 2012 after nine months. He began to explore other career options and decided to pursue a career as an actor and stuntman. Familial relations worsened after Liu chose to pursue acting, with his parents excluding him from visiting other family members in China. In 2016, Liu and his parents began a successful reconciliation process, and he returned to China for a family visit 9 years later, marking the first instance of such a visit since 2010.

Career

2012–2018: Early work and television roles Liu got his start in acting working as an extra and stuntman, appearing in movies and music videos such as Guillermo del Toro's Pacific Rim

Later in 2015, Liu was cast in his first main role as Jung Kim in the CBC Television sitcom Kim's Convenience, a TV adaptation of the play of the same name. It remains his most notable television success to date, with the series being nominated for and winning multiple awards internationally, including Best Comedy Series at the 2018 Canadian Screen Awards and "Most Popular Foreign Drama" at the 2019 Seoul International Drama Awards. Liu starred in the series until its conclusion in 2021.

In 2016, Liu was cast in a recurring role as the ex-CIA analyst Faaron, loosely modeled on real-life ex-analyst Rodney Faraon, in the NBC prequel series Taken based on the film franchise starring Liam Neeson. Even as he was cast in main and recurring roles, Liu continued to appear as an extra on several television shows, appearing in an episode of the hit BBC-Space series Orphan Black as well as in the Canadian science fiction series Dark Matter. In 2017, Liu appeared in the second season of Slasher as well as the CityTV miniseries Bad Blood, both as recurring characters. In 2018, he appeared in the science fiction television series The Expanse and Wong Fu Productions' YouTube series Yappie.

2019–present: Recent work and Marvel Cinematic Universe

In early 2019, Liu guest-starred in the 100th episode of ABC's Fresh Off the Boat as a noodle vendor named Willie. He also guest-starred in an episode of the TV series Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens as Garbage Boy.

At Comic-Con 2019, Disney announced that Liu would play the titular superhero Shang-Chi in the film Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, which is set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is Marvel's first film with an Asian-led cast. Liu had asked about playing the role on Twitter in December 2018 when the movie was revealed to be in development. After several production and release delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the film was released in theaters on 3 September 2021, garnering positive critical reception and achieving commercial success. A sequel is planned. He reprised his role as the titular character in season three of the Disney+ series What If...? (2024) and the television series Marvel Zombies (2025). He’s set to return to the role in the upcoming MCU films Avengers: Doomsday (2026) and Avengers: Secret Wars (2027).

In September 2021, it was revealed that Liu will lead the English-language voice cast of Bright: Samurai Soul, a Netflix anime film which premiered on 12 October. In February 2022, Liu joined the cast of Greta Gerwig's Barbie film, as well as the thriller film Hello Stranger directed by April Mullen, which eventually became Simulant. Both films were released in 2023, with the former garnering acclaim and breaking box office records.

Both Liu and NBA player Jeremy Lin had guest appearances as caricaturized versions of themselves in Malaysian comedian Ronny Chieng's Netflix short Ronny Chieng Takes Chinatown (2022). In December 2022, Liu was a guest narrator at Disney's Candlelight Processional. On 7 April 2023, Liu released his debut single, titled "Don't". He was a guest dragon in season 19 of the Canadian reality series Dragons' Den.

In January 2025, Liu announced on Twitter that he was working to make a live action adaptation of Sleeping Dogs after a previous version starring Donnie Yen had been canceled. Shortly afterwards, it was reported that the film had entered pre-production with Liu expected to replace Yen as well as produce.

He’s set to make his Broadway debut from February to April 2026 in Oh, Mary! as Mary’s Teacher replacing Cheyenne Jackson in the role at the Lyceum Theatre.

Other work and public image In 2014, Liu was paid $100 to model for a set of stock photos for FatCamera; the photos appeared in subway stations, advertisements, storefronts, pamphlets, and textbook covers. The photos received widespread media coverage upon Liu's mainstream acting breakthrough in 2021.

Liu is also a filmmaker, producer, and writer. Liu's first work in this area was Open Gym, a short film he wrote, directed, produced, and starred in that debuted at the 2013 Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival. He has directed, produced, and written several other shorts, including Crimson Defender vs. The Slightly Racist Family (2015). In 2016, Liu helped write Blood and Water, during which he helped break the story for the show and wrote an episode for its second season. In 2018, he founded his own film production company, 4:12 Entertainment, and began developing long-form film projects under it.

In December 2017, Liu wrote for Maclean's magazine about his experiences growing up in an immigrant family. The article appeared in the January 2018 issue. His memoir, We Were Dreamers: An Immigrant Superhero Origin Story, was published by HarperCollins on 17 May 2022. In March 2021, Liu published a column in Variety detailing the effects of Asian hate crimes and how "rhetoric like 'the China virus' encourages hate toward all Asian people—not just Chinese."

Liu was included on Time magazine's annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world (in the "Artists" section) in 2022. Liu was named one of 's 50 Most Beautiful Canadians and 25 Hottest Bachelors in 2017 and 2018. In May 2021, Liu became the first East Asian man to cover Men's Health magazine in over a decade since Jet Li in 2010. In November 2021, Liu became the fourth actor of Chinese descent to host Saturday Night Live. He has previously hosted the Juno Awards of 2022 and the Juno Awards of 2023.

In October 2020, Liu became a UNICEF Canada Ambassador and has since appeared in every Youth Advocacy Summit hosted by UNICEF Canada. In 2023, Liu made an appearance despite having torn his Achilles tendon.

In 2023, Liu joined MìLà as its chief content officer. MìLà is a direct-to-consumer soup dumpling company that is based in Bellevue, WA.

Accolades Liu was nominated for a Canadian Screen Award and an ACTRA Award in 2017 for his work in Blood and Water.

On stage, Liu was nominated for a Dora Mavor Moore Award in the Outstanding Ensemble category alongside his castmates in the 2016 Factory Theatre remount of the play Banana Boys.

In January 2023, he was named the winner of the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television's Radius Award at the 11th Canadian Screen Awards. He also won the Canadian Screen Award for Best Host in a Live Entertainment Special for the 2022 Juno Awards.

Personal life In 2022, Liu began dating digital marketing manager Allison Hsu. In May 2025, the couple announced that they were engaged.

Filmography Film +Key Denotes films that have not yet been released Year Title Role Notes 2013 Pacific Rim Pedestrian Uncredited extra 2021 Women Is Losers Gilbert Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings Shaun / Shang-Chi Bright: Samurai Soul Izno (voice) English dub2023 One True Loves Sam Simulant Casey Barbie Rival Ken 2024 Arthur the King Leo Atlas Harlan Shepherd Jackpot! Louis Lewis 2025 Last Breath David Yuasa In Your Dreams Michael Ting (voice) 2026 Shang-Chi Post-production TBA Post-production

Television Year Title Role Notes2013 Warehouse 13 Bartender Episode: "Secret Services" Played Gunman Episode: "Made – Daniel" Mayday Narita Air Traffic Controller Episode: "The Final Push" 2014 Beauty and the Beast EMT Episode: "Both Sides Now"2015 Blood and Water Paul Xie Main role Make It Pop! Randy Episode: "Rumors and Roommates" 2016 Taken Faaron Recurring role; season 1 2016–2021 Kim's Convenience Jung Kim Main role2017 Orphan Black Mr. Mitchell Episode: "Clutch of Greed" Dark Matter Technician Episode: "Nowhere To Go" Slasher: Guilty Party Luke 2 episodes Bad Blood Guy 3 episodes2018 The Expanse Lt. Paolo Mayer Episode: "Dandelion Sky" Yappie Tom Main role 2019 Fresh Off the Boat Willie Episode: "Under the Taipei Sun" 2020 Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens Garbage Boy Episode: "Grandma & Chill" 2021 Corner Gas Animated Gerald Mesmerizer (voice) Episode: "The Fresh Prints of Bell Heir" 2021; 2025 Star Wars: Visions Lah Zhima (voice) 2 episodes; English language dub 2021 The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon Himself (guest) Episode: 10 September 2021 Selling Sunset Himself (guest) Episode: "A House For A Hero" Saturday Night Live Himself (host) Episode: "Simu Liu/Saweetie" Marvel Studios: Assembled Himself Episode: The Making of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings2022 Celebrity Jeopardy! Himself (contestant) 2 episodes The Simpsons Adult Hubert Wong (voice) Episode: "When Nelson Met Lisa" Running Wild with Bear Grylls Himself Episode: "Simu Liu"2023 The Other Two Himself Episode: "Cary Gets His Ass Handed to Him" StoryBots: Answer Time Socradamus Episode: "Elements"2024 Dragons' Den Himself Season 19 Laid Philippe Episode: "Sex Cluster" What If...? Shang-Chi (voice) 2 episodes2025 Got to Get Out Himself (host) Main role Rise Up, Sing Out Himself (voice) Episode: "Lunar New Year" Invincible Multi-Paul / Paul Cha Voice; 3 episodes Marvel Zombies Shang-Chi (voice) 3 episodes The Copenhagen Test Alexander Hale Main role; Also; executive producer 2026 Star Wars: Visions Presents – The Ninth Jedi Lah Zhima (voice) English language dub

Music videos Year Title Artist(s) Role 2012 "I Could Be The One" Avicii & Nicky Romero Office Worker 2015 "The Filth" Dream Jefferson Gangster/Stunt Coordinator 2021 "Run It" DJ Snake ft. Rick Ross & Rich Brian Himself

Games Year Title Role 2024 Stormgate Warz

Web series Year Title Role Notes 2014 Out with Dad Waiter 2 episodes

Discography

Extended plays +List of EPs, with selected detailsTitleDetailsAnxious-Avoidant Released: 17 November 2023 Label: Markham Valley Format: Digital download, streaming

Singles +List of singles, showing year released and album nameTitleYearAlbum"Don't"2023Anxious-Avoidant"If It's Time"

Awards and nominations Year Nominated work Award Category Result Ref 2017Blood and Water ACTRA Awards Outstanding Performance – Male Canadian Screen Award Best Supporting Actor in a Dramatic Program or Series Kim's Convenience ACTRA Awards 2017 Outstanding Performance – Ensemble 2018 ACTRA Awards 2018 Outstanding Performance – Ensemble 2021 Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings People's Choice Awards The Male Movie Star of 2021 The Action Movie Star of 2021 Unforgettable Gala – Asian American Awards Breakout Actor on Film 2022 Hollywood Critics Association Film Awards Game Changer Award Critics' Choice Super Awards Best Actor in a Superhero Movie Kim's Convenience Canadian Screen Award Best Lead Actor, Comedy Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings MTV Movie & TV Awards Best Hero Saturn Awards Best Actor in a Film 2023 Himself Canadian Screen Award Radius Award Juno Awards of 2023 (as host) Host, live entertainment special Simu Liu, Luciano Casimiri, Leonard Chan, Julie Kim and Kristeen Von Hagen, Juno Awards of 2022 (as writer) Variety or sketch comedy