Tong Dawei

Tong Dawei (, born 3 February 1979) is a Chinese actor and singer. Tong is best known for starring in the television series Jade Goddess of Mercy, Struggle (2007), and Tiger Mom (2015); as well as the films Lost in Beijing (2007), The Flowers of War (2011) and American Dreams in China (2013).

Tong ranked 97th on Forbes China Celebrity 100 list in 2013, 84th in 2014, and 51st in 2015.

Early life and career Tong Dawei was born in 1979 in Fushun, Liaoning. He joined the Shanghai Theater Academy in 1997 and graduated in 2001 with a Bachelor of Arts in Acting.

Tong first gained attention for his role in the romantic film I Love You (2002) by acclaimed director Zhang Yuan. He then starred in Jade Goddess of Mercy (2003), which was a huge hit with the audience in China and launched Tong into a household name. After the success of Jade Goddess of Mercy, none of Tong's performance struck a chord in the audience, till he starred in the youth drama Romantic Life (2006). His powerful performance in the series left a deep impression on the audiences, and Tong returned to the limelight once again. Based on the popular novel by Shi Kang, Struggle gained unexpected acclaim and was seen as a breakthrough in Chinese TV production as it broke from the usual Chinese TV series focusing in traditional legends and series. Tong's character, Lu Tao, reflected the rise in a new social class in modern China. The same year, he starred in Lost in Beijing which premiered at the Berlin Film Festival and earned Tong a Best New Actor nomination at the Busan Film Critics Awards.

In 2008, Tong starred in war epic Red Cliff: Part II, directed by John Woo. The film was also shown at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival, bringing Tong onto the international platform for the first time.

In 2011, Tong starred in award-winning director Zhang Yimou's film The Flowers of War. Dealing with the sensitive issue of the Rape of Nanjing, Tong plays Major Lee, who died as a hero to save his lost friend during China's anti-Japanese war. To better portray the role, Tong underwent military-like training and lost 16 pounds. Zhang praised Tong's performance, saying that he added an "intellectual temperament to his character" and said he continues to "break through and impress the audience."

Tong received acclaim for his role as an artistic youth in Peter Chan's American Dreams in China (2013), and he won the Best Supporting Actor awards at the Changchun Film Festival and Hundred Flowers Award. This was followed by another role in Peter Chan film, the critically acclaimed Dearest (2014), based on a true story about child abduction. He also co-starred in John Woo's romantic epic The Crossing (2014), based on the true story of the Taiping steamer collision and follows six characters and their intertwining love stories in Taiwan and Shanghai during the 1930s.

Tong reunited with Dearest co-star Zhao Wei in the television series Tiger Mom (2015), which focuses on parenting and children education. Tong won Best Actor at the 17th Huading Awards for his performance.

In 2016, Tong was appointed goodwill ambassador of National Committees for UN Women.

Personal life On 17 April 2008, Tong married Guan Yue (born 1979), a film and television actress and the niece of Rosamund Kwan. The wedding was held in the Hotel Sofitel Wanda, Beijing. They have two daughters and one son.

Filmography Film Year English title Chinese title Role Notes/2001 One Hundred Thieves Shi Gang 2003 Double Dating Xiao Chun I Love You Wang Yi Sky of Love Wen Tao Fall in Love at First Sight Zhao Benxuan 2007 Lost in Beijing An Kun 2008 Volunteer Xiao Ran Fit Lover Zhang Ting 2009 Red Cliff: Part II Sun Shucai On His Majesty's Secret Service Royal Tiger The Founding of a Republic Kong Lingkan Mars Baby Bank Staff Cameo 2011 Treasure Inn Wen Wenqie Great Wall My Love Fang Mingdi The Flowers of War Major Li 2012 To My Wife Lin Juemin The Zodiac Mystery Chen Wei All for Love Dong Bei's brother Cameo 2013 Better and Better Geng Zhi American Dreams in China Wang Yang Switch Toshio Badges of Fury Real Estate Manager Cameo 2014 Dearest Gao Xia But Always Teacher Cameo The Crossing Tong Daqing Meet Miss Anxiety Yuan Xiao'ou Love on the Cloud Security guardCameo 2015 You Are My Sunshine Ying Hui Hollywood Adventures Fang Dawei The Crossing 2 Tong Daqing 2016 Lost in White Wang Hao Scandal Maker He Zhiwu 2018 Goddesses in the Flames of War Teacher Bao Cameo Dream Breaker Jiang Shan Cameo Kill Mobile Jia Di 2019 My People, My Country Luo Lang Fatal Visit Sun Ning 2021 1921 1921 Zhang Renjie 2023 Nation General 1955 Chen Yi (young)

Television series Year English title Chinese title Role Notes/1999 Brother's Wife Yun Dong Difficult Lover Tan Yonglin Cameo 2000 Life of a Century Da Ming Green Wedding Xiao Yong 2001 Young Justice Bao II Emperor Song All the Misfortunes Caused by the Angel Xiong Feng 2002 Date at the Aquarium Mai Di 2003 Network Love Story Zhou Wei Jade Goddess of Mercy Yang Rui 2004 First Intimate Contact Pizi Cai Water Lilies Gao Chu Butterfly Fantasy Lan Dongchen Crimson Romance Yu Shuicun Heaven Has Eyes Wu Yu Taste of Summer Zhu Cheng Family on a Diet Tang Manjin 2005 The Vinegar Tribe Xiao Bai 2006 Give the Definite Word Ximen Hong Romantic Life Fang Yan 2007 We Have Nowhere to Place Youth Li Ran Struggle Lu Tao Special Police Liu Chun 2008 The So-called Marriage Wu De How Far Is It to My Happiness Wang Xiaomao 2009 The Perfect Happiness Worker Cameo Sniper Long Shaoqin 2010 Marriage Battle Guo Yang 2011 All Men Are Brothers Su Dongpo Cameo To Southeast Asia Jian Zhaoqing Waiting For Our Happiness Lin Ziyang 2013 Wonder Lady Cameo Matched For Marriage He Chunsheng Longmen Express Tong Chengchou Cameo Little Daddy Boss Cameo 2014 May December Love Cheng Wu Cameo My Son is Unique Chu Hanmin 10 Rides of Red Army Zhang Erguang 2015 Think Before You Marry Long Xia Tiger Mom Luo Su My Baby Yuan Xiaofan 2017 Love Actually Ding Renjian 2019 If I Can Love You So Geng Mochi The Galloped Era Chang Hanqing 2020 The Centimeter of Love Zhuge Qingfeng 2021 New Generation: Emergency Rescue Cao Chong A Love for Dilemma Xia Junshan Medal of the Republic Sun Jiadong 2022 Modern Marriage Sheng Jiangchuan The Disappearing Child Yang Yuan 2023 Prosecution Elites He Luyuan 2024 The Tale of Rose Huang Zhenhua Interlaced Scenes Gu Jiming Once Again Peng Haodong The Top Speed Zhang Chi 2025 Love Again Shen Qing 2026 The Glamorous Night Li Dongming Inseparable Han Dong The Lost Scrolls Lan Yi Mind the Gap Su Ming G.A.E.A. Love Without a Trace Tong Tianqing

Awards and nominations Year Award Category Nominated work Result 2003 9th Huabiao Film Awards Best Newcomer I Love You 2004 24th Flying Apsaras Award Best Actor Jade Goddess of Mercy 22nd China TV Golden Eagle Award 2005 5th Top Ten China TV Arts 2006 11th Busan Film Critics Awards Best Newcomer Lost in Beijing 2007 57th Berlin International Film Festival Best Actor 2012 12th Chinese Film Media Awards Most Popular Actor The Flowers of War 2013 5th China Image Film Festival Best Actor American Dreams in China Most Popular Actor 50th Golden Horse Awards Best Supporting Actor 10th Guangzhou Student Film FestivalMost Popular Actor 56th Asia-Pacific Film Festival Best Supporting Actor 2014 33rd Hong Kong Film Awards 12th Changchun Film Festival 10th Chinese American Film Festival 2015 16th Huading Awards Best Supporting ActorThe Crossing17th Huading Awards Best Actor Tiger Mom 2019 Golden Bud – The Fourth Network Film And Television Festival Best ActorIf I Can Love You So, The Galloped Age 20207th The Actors of China Award CeremonyBest Actor (Sapphire)