李默然

简介

Li Moran, originally named Li Shaocheng, was born on December 21, 1927 in Zhuhe, with his ancestral home in Acheng, Heilongjiang. He was a renowned Chinese performing artist. Born into a poor family as the seventh of eight children, he suffered from diphtheria in childhood and only began school at age 10, dropping out after three years due to poverty. After leaving school, he sold cigarettes, worked as a postman and laborer, while reading wuxia novels and classical masterpieces, and took advantage of his postman work to watch plays for free. In October 1947, he applied to the Harbin Literary and Art Association's cultural troupe. After failing the music audition due to being tone-deaf, he switched to drama and passed on his first attempt. Upon entering the troupe, he felt his cultural foundation was weak and spent 1947 to 1953 reading extensively. After 1953, he created dozens of stage characters in plays, including Julius Fučík in "Julius Fučik," Li Shiqing in "Sunrise," Li Yan in "Li Chuang Wang," and Dimitrov in "The First Blow." In 1960, he made his film debut, playing the lead role of Deng Shichang in "The Naval Battle of 1894" produced by Changchun Film Studio, which took two years to film, and this role made him widely known. He also performed in plays such as "August 1st Storm," "The Sword of Courage," "The Second Spring," "Yershov Brothers," and "Taking Tiger Mountain by Strategy," and starred in 8 films. After the Cultural Revolution, in 1979 he played Li Jian in the play "Spring Blossoms Report," which participated in the 30th National Day performance and won him a First-Class Performance Award. In 1986, he was awarded the title "Stage Performance Artist" and "Lifetime Honor Award" by the Chinese Dramatists Association, and in 2007 received the 17th Magnolia Stage Arts Award "Lifetime Achievement Award." He also served as Honorary President of the Liaoning People's Art Theatre. In the late 1980s to early 1990s, he endorsed the product "Sanjiu Weitai," becoming the first celebrity in mainland China to do commercial advertising after reform and opening up. On November 8, 2012, Li Moran passed away in Beijing Hospital at the age of 85.