Bai Yu

Biography

Bai Yu was born on April 8, 1990, in Wubu County, Yulin City, Shaanxi Province. He is a mainland Chinese actor who graduated from the Central Academy of Drama, Class of 2009, Department of Acting. Raised in a family where his father was a self-made entrepreneur from a rural background, Bai Yu spent his childhood in a cave dwelling and studied in schools in Yulin and Xi'an. In high school he was a member of the school fencing team and initially wished to enter university as a sports student, but his mother advised him to pursue art exams. He studied broadcasting and hosting for over a month before a teacher recognized his suitability for acting, prompting him to travel to Beijing for pre-exam training. He chose to apply only to the Central Academy of Drama because of the ivy covering its walls. Although he was admitted with the second-to-last score, a sophomore performance assignment sparked his talent, earning praise from his teachers and igniting a deep passion for acting; he received a scholarship in his junior year. During his four years of study he frequently performed as older characters in university stage plays. After graduating, he joined One Entertainment after co-founder Chen Jie remembered him for his initiative in calling classmates back for auditions for the film Wolf Totem. He officially entered the entertainment industry in 2014 through the web diary Diary of a Low-Rider, recommended by fellow scooter enthusiasts. He gradually became known through roles in Growing Up, Love O2O, Young Marshal, and The Founding of an Army. He achieved notable success in 2016 with the series Memory Lost, then further elevated his career in 2018 with Suddenly This Summer and Guardian. His career reached a new peak in 2020 with The Long Night, which earned widespread acclaim. In 2026 he starred in the historical drama Taiping Year, which sparked a wave of interest in historical accuracy, and earned a Best Actor nomination at the 31st Shanghai Television Festival Magnolia Awards.