Lan Chi Pat

Biography

The theatrical and film actor Lan Chi Pat was born in 1904 in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, China. At age sixteen, he joined the "Huan Qiu Le" troupe under his older brother and quickly rose to become the Third Wusheng. He took his stage name by combining the names of his master and an admired actor. He was among the pioneers who changed stage performance language from Mandarin to Cantonese. Known as the "King of Wusheng," "King of Dragon Boat," and "King of Nanyin," he developed a unique vocal style despite a rough voice. He performed in the United States in 1936 and participated in numerous troupes including Xian Feng Ming, Chu Feng Ming, and Sheng Shou Nian. He excelled in historical roles and female impersonation (fan chang), and became iconic in films such as "Princess Chang Ping" and "Dream of the Red Chamber." He retired in 1992 after a career spanning over seven decades and passed away the same year.