Zhang Zhiyong

Zhang Zhiyong (; born 1978) is a Chinese actor known for his frequent collaborations with director Geng Jun. He won Best Leading Actor in the 61st Golden Horse Awards for his role in Geng's Bel Ami.

Early life and education Zhang was born in 1978 in Hegang, Heilongjiang, China. He grew up in a mining district and was childhood friends with his neighbor and future film director Geng Jun. Geng noted that these injuries made Zhang reluctant to face the camera while acting in films, and he only regained his confidence after receiving encouragement from Geng. Zhang later attended Qufu Normal University. In 2013, he starred as Brother Yong in Geng's short film , which won Best Live Action Short Film in the 51st Golden Horse Awards. He then appeared as Lao Gao, the village chief, in Tong Wang's 2015 film Time to Die. Boyd van Hoeij of The Hollywood Reporter remarked on his status as a "non-professional actor like everyone else". and appeared as Ma Qianli, a indebted property developer, in Geng Jun's 2022 feature Manchurian Tiger.

In 2024, Zhang took on the male lead role in the drama film also directed by Geng Jun, where he portrayed a homosexual middle-aged man (also named Zhang Zhiyong) with a stable career and family who seeks to come out and pursue sexual freedom. Zhang won Best Leading Actor in the 61st Golden Horse Awards for this role, becoming the first Chinese actor to win a Golden Horse Award since China boycotted the ceremony in 2019. The Golden Horse Film Festival Executive Committee commented that Zhang's performance and decision to use his real name in the film allowed him to embody the character's honesty and sincerity, describing it as "bringing the character to life with authenticity and sincerity". He also made a cameo appearance in the 2024 Taiwanese historical drama film The Embers.

Zhang Zhiyong (张志勇) The Embers Interrogator Cameo

Awards and nominations Year Award Category Work Result 2024 61st Golden Horse Awards Best Leading Actor