Kevin Cheng
Kevin Cheng Ka-wing (born 15 August 1969) is a Hong Kong American actor and singer who is currently under the management of the Hong Kong television network TVB. Cheng rose to fame in late 2004 after playing his first lead role in the TVB drama Hard Fate.
Kevin Cheng | |||||||||||
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鄭嘉穎 | |||||||||||
 Kevin Cheng in 2019 | |||||||||||
| Born | 15 August 1969[1] | ||||||||||
| Occupation(s) | Actor, singer | ||||||||||
| Years active | 1993–present | ||||||||||
| Spouse | |||||||||||
| Children | 2 | ||||||||||
| Awards |
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| Musical career | |||||||||||
| Origin | Hong Kong | ||||||||||
| Genres | Cantopop | ||||||||||
| Instrument(s) | Vocals | ||||||||||
| Labels | |||||||||||
| Chinese name | |||||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 鄭嘉穎 | ||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 郑嘉颖 | ||||||||||
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| Website | |||||||||||
He is best known for his role as "L.A. Law" in the 2011 TVB legal drama Ghetto Justice, which earned him a TVB Anniversary Award for Best Actor and Asian Television Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role.
Early life
Cheng was born in San Francisco, California, but spent most of his childhood in Hong Kong. He attended Pun U Association Wah Yah Primary School, Wah Yan College, the Hong Kong International School, and Alhambra High School in the United States. During his school days, his mother sent him back to China, where he lived with his uncle for two years before returning to Hong Kong after his mother changed her mind about migrating to the United States. He completed his high school education in Canada. He pursued a civil engineering degree at the California State University in Los Angeles,[3] but did not finish his studies because his father died and he wanted to move back to Hong Kong to be with his mother.
Career
1993–2005
When Cheng was 16 years old, he participated in a singing contest organised by the Hong Kong television network TVB but dropped out halfway because he felt that he was not ready to be a singer at that time. Later, after he moved back to Hong Kong in his early 20s, he decided to continue his pursuit of a singing career. He signed a contract with the record label PolyGram in 1993 and released his first album in the same year to mixed reviews. He was seen as a newcomer with good potential and managed to win several Best New Artist awards in 1994. Cheng's manager later helped him launch his career in the Taiwanese entertainment industry. In Taiwan, Cheng released several Mandarin albums and acted in some television dramas, but all of them were only moderately successful..
Cheng was noticed by Mediacorp after he portrayed the villain "Jiang Yulang" in the 1999 Taiwanese television series The Legendary Siblings. He returned to Hong Kong and signed a management contract with TVB in the following year and started playing minor roles in some television series produced by the network. In 2004, he played a leading role for the first time in the TVB drama Hard Fate.
2006–2010
Cheng soared to popularity after portraying "Alan Shum" in the 2006 romantic drama Under the Canopy of Love, for which he also won the TVB Anniversary Award for Best Actor that year. His singing career also gradually improved after the Taiwanese musician Liu Chia-chang composed a single, "Helpless" (無可奈何), for him. In the same year, he also released a Cantonese compilations album and held his very first mini concert. Niki Chow, Raymond Lam and Miriam Yeung were among the guest singers who appeared at his concert.
Cheng had another critical breakthrough role in the 2007 crime drama The Ultimate Crime Fighter, in which he played the villain "Aaren Chong" and earned glowing reviews for his performance. In the 2008 thriller-suspense drama Last One Standing, his portrayal of the ex-convict "Sing Hei" earned him further critical acclaim and widespread praise from viewers. He was also one of the top five nominees for the TVB Anniversary Award for Best Actor in 2008, but the award went to the veteran TVB actor Ha Yu.
In 2010 Cheng took up the role of 8th Prince in Startling by Each Step (Bu Bu Jing Xin) which later brought his career to greater heights and has since gained him recognition in China.
2011-present
In 2011, Cheng clinched the "Best Actor" award for his role in the legal drama Ghetto Justice at the 16th Asian Television Awards (ATA)[4] as well as winning the Best Actor award at the 2011 TVB Anniversary Award.
In 2016, Cheng starred in the drama Blue Veins, in which he played the role of undead human and vampire hunter, Ying Wut-zoek, who had been given super powered immortals during 500 years ago.
In 2021, Cheng starred in the medical drama Kid's Lives Matter, for which he is placed among the top 5 nominees for the Best Actor at the 2021 TVB Anniversary Award.
Personal life
On 12 August 2018, Cheng married his girlfriend of three years, actress and Miss Hong Kong 2013 Grace Chan, in Bali, Indonesia.
Filmography
Films
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | The Tigers – The Legend of Canton 廣東五虎之鐵拳無敵孫中山 | Rickshaw Puller | |
| 1995 | Hong Kong Graffiti 香江花月夜 | Kelvin Cheung | |
| 1996 | Boy's? 假男假女 | Jaffee | |
| 2001 | Fing's Raver Fing頭K王之王 | ||
| 2003 | Twilight Tubes Part III 不可思議星期二(第三輯) | ||
| 2004 | Instant Marriage 新婚告急 | ||
| 2007 | Super Fans 甜心粉絲王 | Yee-cheng | |
| Wonder Women 女人．本色 | Dr Yim Hok-fung | ||
| 2010 | 72 Tenants of Prosperity 七十二家房客 | Firefighter | guest star |
| 2011 | The Woman Knight of Mirror Lake 競雄女俠秋瑾 | Wang Tingjun | |
| 2013 | Ip Man: The Final Fight 葉問-終極一戰 | Ip Man (young) | |
| Badges of Fury 不二神探 | Lee Tin-chi | cameo | |
| 2016 | Poor Rich Dad | ||
| 2018 | Super App | ||
| Lucid Dreams | |||
| L Storm | Ching Tak-ming | ||
| Master Z: The Ip Man Legacy 叶问外传：张天志 | Tso Sai Kit | ||
| 2019 | P Storm | Ching Tak-ming | |
| Invincible Dragon | |||
| 2021 | G Storm G風暴 | Ching Tak-ming | |
| 2022 | Burning 焚身 |
Television dramas
| Year | Title | Role | Network | Awards / nominations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Mind Your Own Business 開心華之里 | Lee Sheung-Jun | TVB | cameo | |
| 1999 | The Legendary Siblings 絕代雙驕 | Jiang Yulang | TTV | ||
| 2000 | Legend of Heaven and Earth: Mermaid | ||||
| 2001 | Shaolin Seven Sets | ||||
| 2002 | Network Love Story 一網情深 | Luk Nai-shing | TVB / CCTV | ||
| 2002 | Burning Flame II 烈火雄心II | Mark Kei Hing-tin | TVB | ||
| 2002 | Slim Chances 我要Fit一Fit | Sean Sze | TVB | ||
| 2003 | The Threat of Love 2 LovingYou我愛你2 | Shek Man-kit, Yeung Chi-kwong, Ho Jai, Chung Jai, Cheung Ho-chu, Sam, Lui Bong, Ho Kam-tim | TVB | ||
| 2003 | Better Halves 金牌冰人 | Yip Chi-chau | TVB | ||
| 2003 | Not Just A Pretty Face 美麗在望 | Wilson Fok | TVB | ||
| 2003 | Point of No Return 西關大少 | Chan Kai-tong | TVB | ||
| 2003 | Life Begins at Forty 花樣中年 | Ken Ying | TVB | ||
| 2004 | Hard Fate 翡翠戀曲 | Ken Leung Ka-ming | TVB | Astro Drama Awards for My Favourite Character Nominated – TVB Anniversary Awards for My Favourite Male Character | |
| 2004 | Split Second 爭分奪秒 | Vincent Wong Ka-fai | TVB | ||
| 2005 | Yummy Yummy | Chan Kar-lok | TVB | Astro Drama Awards for My Favourite Character | |
| 2006 | Under the Canopy of Love 天幕下的戀人 | Alan Shum Long | TVB | TVB Anniversary Award for Best Actor Astro Drama Awards for My Favourite Character Astro Drama Awards for My Favourite Couple (shared with Niki Chow) Nominated – TVB Anniversary Award for My Favourite Male Character (Top 5) Nominated – TVB Anniversary Award for Most Improved Male Artiste (Top 5) | |
| 2006 | Trimming Success 飛短留長父子兵 | Jason Fan Tin-long | TVB | Nominated – TVB Anniversary Award for Most Improved Male Artiste (Top 5) | |
| 2006 | Placebo Cure 心理心裏有個謎 | Joe Cheung | TVB | 2004 warehoused drama | |
| 2007 | Life Art 寫意人生 | Ryan Fong | TVB | ||
| 2007 | Devil's Disciples 強劍 | King Lui | TVB | Nominated – TVB Anniversary Awards for Best Actor (Top 20) | 2006 Warehoused drama |
| 2007 | The Ultimate Crime Fighter 通天幹探 | Aaron Chong Man-hei | TVB | Nominated – TVB Anniversary Awards for My Favourite Male Character (Top 24) | |
| 2008 | The Seventh Day 最美麗的第七天 | Wayne Yau Chi-wing | TVB | ||
| 2008 | Forensic Heroes II 法證先鋒II | Ivan Yeung Yat-sing | TVB | ||
| 2008 | Last One Standing 與敵同行 | Cheung Sing-hei | TVB | Nominated – TVB Anniversary Award for Best Actor (Top 5) Nominated – TVB Anniversary Award for My Favourite Male Character (Top 10) | |
| 2009 | Burning Flame III 烈火雄心3 | Rex Cheuk Pak-yu | TVB | Nominated – TVB Anniversary Award for Best Actor (Top 15) | |
| 2009 | Beyond the Realm of Conscience 宮心計 | Ko Hin-yeung | TVB | Nominated – TVB Anniversary Award for My Favourite Male Character (Top 5) | |
| 2010 | A Fistful of Stances 鐵馬尋橋 | Ku Kin-shing / Ku Yu-cheung | TVB | Nominated – TVB Anniversary Award for Best Actor (Top 15) | |
| 2010-2011 | Home Troopers 居家兵團 | Joseph Chukot Ching | TVB | ||
| 2011 | Only You 只有您 | Summer Ha Tin-sang | TVB | ||
| Ghetto Justice 怒火街頭 | LA Law Lik-ah (Law Ba) | TVB | Asian Television Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role TVB Anniversary Award for Best Actor TVB Anniversary Award for My Favourite Male Character My Astro on Demand Awards for Best Actor My Astro on Demand Awards for My Top 15 Favourite Characters | ||
| Scarlet Heart 步步驚心 | Yinsi, the Eighth Imperial Prince | HBS | |||
| 2012 | Mystery in the Palace 深宮諜影 | Getai | |||
| Gloves Come Off 拳王 | Tong Sap Yat | TVB | Nominated – TVB Anniversary Award for Best Actor (Top 10) | ||
| Ghetto Justice II 怒火街頭2 | LA Law Lik-ah (Law Ba) | TVB | Nominated – TVB Anniversary Award for My Favourite Male Character (Top 10) | ||
| Hero 英雄 | King Fuchai of Wu | CTS | |||
| 2013 | Ip Man 葉問 | Ye Wen | Suzhou Funa Films and Television | ||
| 2015 | Eye in the Sky 天眼 | Szeto Shun | TVB | ||
| 2016 | Blue Veins 殭 | Ying Wuet Tseuk | TVB | ||
| 2017 | Destination Nowhere 迷 |
Man Kiu-Pak | TVB | ||
| Taichi 太极宗师之太极门 |
PPTV | ||||
| 2021 | Kids' Lives Matter 星空下的仁醫 |
Dr. Hui Kam-fung | TVB | Nominated – TVB Anniversary Award for Best Actor (Top 5) Nominated – TVB Anniversary Award for Most Popular Male Character (Top 10) Nominated – TVB Anniversary Award for Most Popular Onscreen Partnership (Top 5, with Linda Chung) Nominated – TVB Anniversary Award for Favourite TVB Actor in Malaysia (Top 5) Nominated – People's Choice Television Award for Best Actor (Top 10) Nominated – People's Choice Television Award for Best TV Drama Partnership (Top 10, with Kenneth Ma and Linda Chung) Nominated – People's Choice Television Award for Best TV Drama Partnership (Top 10, with Linda Chung) |
Discography
Albums
| Year | Album title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Kevin 鄭嘉穎 | Self-titled Debut Album |
| 1994 | 全因身邊有 | |
| 2006 | Kevin 鄭嘉穎新曲加精選 | Compilation + New Songs |
| 2013 | 說來話長 | Mandarin Album |
TVB drama songs
| Year | Song title | Drama | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 與朋友共 (With Friends) | Yummy Yummy | duet with Raymond Lam |
| 2005 | 三角兩面 (Three Corners With Two Sides) | Yummy Yummy | |
| 2006 | 愛平凡 (Love Ordinary) | Trimming Success | |
| 2006 | 請講 (Please Say) | Under the Canopy of Love | duet with Niki Chow |
| 2007 | 活得寫意 (Live an Enjoyable Life) | Life Art | |
| 2007 | 強劍 (Sacred Sword) | Devil's Disciples | duet with Bosco Wong |
| 2008 | 最美麗的第七天 (The Most Beautiful Seventh Day) | The Seventh Day | |
| 2008 | 抱著空氣 (Embracing the Air) | The Seventh Day | duet with Niki Chow |
| 2009 | 有意 (Intentions) | Burning Flame III | duet with Myolie Wu |
| 2010 | 雪下思 (Thinking Under Snow) | A Fistful of Stances | |
| 2012 | 一擊即中 (One-Shot Hit) | Gloves Come Off | |
Others
| Year | Song title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Put Your Hands Up | 2006 World Cup Theme, performed with Raymond Lam, Ron Ng and Bosco Wong |
Awards
TVB Anniversary Awards
- Won
| Year | Award | Performance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Best Actor in a Leading Role | "Alan Shum Long" in Under the Canopy of Love | |
| 2011 | Best Actor in a Leading Role | "Law Lik-ah" in Ghetto Justice | |
| 2011 | My Favourite Male Character | "Law Lik-ah" in Ghetto Justice | |
| 2011 | TVB.COM Popularity Award | ||
- Nominated
| Year | Nomination | Performance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | My Favourite Male Character | "Kent Leung Ka-Ming" in Hard Fate | |
| 2006 | Best Actor in a Leading Role | "Alan Shum Long" in Under the Canopy of Love | |
| 2006 | My Favourite Male Character | "Alan Shum Long" in Under the Canopy of Love | |
| 2006 | Most Improved Actor Nomination | ||
| 2007 | Best Actor in a Leading Role | "Ging Lui" in Devil's Disciples | |
| 2007 | My Favourite Male Character | "Aaren Ching Man-Hei" in The Ultimate Crime Fighter | |
| 2008 | Best Actor in a Leading Role | "Cheung Sing-Hei" in Last One Standing | |
| 2008 | My Favourite Male Character | "Cheung Sing-Hei" in Last One Standing | |
| 2008 | Most Fashionable Charming Artist | ||
| 2009 | Best Actor in a Leading Role | "Rex Cheuk Pak-Yu" in Burning Flames III | |
| 2009 | My Favourite Male Character | "Ko Hing-Yeung" in Beyond the Realm of Conscience | |
| 2011 | My Favourite Male Character | "Law Lik-ah" in Ghetto Justice | |
| 2011 | Best Actor in a Leading Role | "Law Lik-ah" in Ghetto Justice | |
| 2011 | TVB.COM Popularity Award | ||
Others
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Metro Radio Golden Song Awards – Best New Artist | |
| 1994 | TVB Jade Solid Gold Music Awards – Most Popular Newcomer (silver) | |
| 1994 | RTHK Top 10 Chinese Song Awards – Most Promising Newcomer (bronze) | |
| 1994 | Commercial Radio Music Awards – Best New Artist (gold) | |
| 2003 | Men's Uno – Stylish Actor | |
| 2004 | Hong Kong Designer Awards – Top 10 Best Dressed People | |
| 2005 | Malaysia Astro Wah Lai Toi Awards – Favourite Character (Leung Ka-ming in Hard Fate) | |
| 2006 | TVB Magazine Popularity Awards – Top 10 Most Popular TV Character (Alan in Under the Canopy of Love) | |
| 2006 | TVB Magazine Popularity Awards – Most Popular Magazine Cover (with Niki Chow) | |
| 2006 | Jessica Magazine – Extraordinary Charm | |
| 2006 | TVB Children Song Awards – Top 10 Children Songs & Children Songs Gold Award for Keroro (军曹) | |
| 2006 | TVB Jade Solid Gold Best Songs Round 2 – Most Popular Mandarin Song for Helpless (無可奈何) | |
| 2006 | TVB8 Gold Songs 2006 4th Quarter Selections – Gold Song for Helpless (無可奈何) | |
| 2006 | TVB 39th Anniversary Awards – Best Actor in a Leading Role (Alan in Under the Canopy of Love) | |
| 2007 | Malaysia Astro Wah Lai Toi Awards – Favourite Character (Chan Ka-lok in Yummy Yummy) | |
| 2007 | Hong Kong Media Top 10 Artist Awards – 4th Place | |
| 2007 | Hong Kong Media Top 10 TV Program Awards – 9th Place (Under the Canopy of Love) | |
| 2008 | Malaysia Astro Wah Lai Toi Awards – Favourite Character (Alan in Under the Canopy of Love) | |
| 2008 | Malaysia Astro Wah Lai Toi Awards – Favourite Theme Song (請講 from Under the Canopy of Love) | |
| 2008 | Malaysia Astro Wah Lai Toi Awards – Favourite On-Screen Couple (Kevin Cheng and Niki Chow) | |
| 2011 | My Astro on Demand Awards – Best Actor (Ghetto Justice) | |
| 2011 | My Astro on Demand Awards – My Top 15 Favourite Characters (Law Lik-ah in Ghetto Justice) | |
| 2011 | Asian Television Awards 2011 – Best Actor in a Leading Role (Law Lik-ah in Ghetto Justice) | |
| 2011 | Beijing's TV Drama Awards Made in China 2011 – Most Popular Network Actor of the Year Award (Ghetto Justice) | |
References
- "鄭嘉穎50歲生日派對太興奮？ 一個手勢搶盡群星風頭" (in Chinese). 16 August 2019.
- California Births, 1905-1995
- "Looking Closely at Kevin Cheng".
- "Asian Television Awards 2011 Winners". Archived from the original on 14 November 2015. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
- Kevin Cheng at hkmdb.com
- Kevin Cheng at chinesemov.com