Neil Cao (Cao Jun)

Biography

Cao Jun is a Chinese actor born in Shanghai in 1988 who began his acting career at age eight when he was selected for the role in the series "The Little Monk" in 1996 thanks to his martial arts talent. He gained early fame and won the Best Newcomer Award at the 2nd Asian Television Festival in 1997 at the age of nine, becoming the youngest winner of the award in Asia. During his time as a prominent child actor, he starred in classic works such as "Lotus Boy Nezha" and "The Nine-Year-Old County Magistrate," and in 2005 he played the role of "Chen Xiang" in the CCTV mythological drama "Lotus Lantern," which achieved a viewership rating of 9.1%. After 2005, Cao Jun chose to step away from acting to focus on his academic studies in the Acting Department of Shanghai Visual Arts College, but faced difficulties upon his return due to changes in the entertainment market and his transition from leading to supporting roles. He returned to the spotlight through his participation in the television shows "I Am an Actor" and "Actor Please Take Your Place" in 2018, where he received widespread praise for his acting skills. In recent years, he has successfully evolved his career through mature roles in the series "In the Fields of Hope" and the period drama "Wu Yu Du" in 2025.