Zhang Jiayi (Chinese:张嘉益; born 8 April 1970) is a Chinese actor. He played his first role in 1990, then graduated fromBeijing Film Academy in 1991.

From 1990 to 2019, Zhang Jiayi has participated in around 90 television series, 35 films and 1 animation producing, Zhang has had over 20 awards and nominations so far. In the television seriesDwelling Narrowness, Zhang played the leading role Song Siming. This TV series gained extensive social attention and discussion after its broadcast in 2009, then Zhang Jiayi rose to fame.^[1] In 2014, he became the fourth Chinese actor to win the "Grand Slam", after winning "Best Actor" at the three biggestChinese-language television awards including theFeitian Award, theGolden Eagle Award and theMagnolia Award.^[2]

Zhang Jiayi was born and raised inXi'an,Shaanxi, China. Zhang was a student with merit on wrestle when he was in high school. After graduated from high school, he planned to be a professional wrestler. However, with the advice of his uncle who worked in Xi'an Film Studio, he decided to take the admission test ofBeijing Film Academy. As a student who never had professional performance class before, Zhang did not hold any hope on being admitted, but he was admitted to Beijing Film Academy with his talent.^[3] After graduating from Beijing Film Academy, he was assigned to Xi'an Film Studio.^[4]

Zhang played his first role as Kang bosi in filmRubilks-clock in 1990, which is his first film. One year later, he graduated from Beijing Film Academy and changed his name from Zhang Xiaotong to Zhang Jiayi.^[3]

In 1995, Zhang played Zhang Jianguo in television seriesDaobei People which is his first time to appear in small screen.^[3]

Zhang in 1999 participated in filmXian's Finest and won Society Award at 7thGolden Phoenix Awards.^[5]

Zhang came back to Beijing from Xi'an in 2000. And he played Wu Dengyun in television seriesDr. Wu in Pamir which was adapted from a true story and won the First Prize of television series at 21stFlying Apsaras Awards.^[6]

In 2004, Zhang played main role Song Chao in television seriesNational Mission cooperated with actress Wang Haiyan.^[7]

Zhang gained attention and popularity and rose to fame with his role as Song Siming in television seriesDwelling Narrowness in 2009.^[1]

Zhang won the Best Actor(Contemporary Drama) at 4thHuading Awards in 2010 due to television seriesI Am the Proprietor.^[8]

In 2011, Zhang won the Best Actor at 17thMagnolia Awards for his performing in television dramaBorrow Gun.^[9] In hit filmLove Is Not Blind, Zhang played as a supporting role.^[10]

In 2012, Zhang participated in television dramaThe Brink as main actor and artistic director.^[11] In May, he played as Liu Chenxi in hit television dramaAngel Heart which was adapted from writer Liu Liu's novel.^[12] In September, he played as a police in television seriesStory of Police in Yingpan.^[13] Zhang won the Best Actor at 8thHuading Awards, 3rdGolden Lotus Awards and 4thChina TV Drama Awards for his performing inThe Brink.^[14][15] And he won the Best Actor at 29thFlying Apsaras Awards, 27thChina TV Golden Eagle Award due toStory of Police in Yingpan.^[16] At 8thHuading Awards, he also won 10 Most Popular TV Celebrities of the year award.

Zhang played as main role inLife's Ups and Downs in 2013 and won the Best Actor at 19thMagnolia Awards.^[17] In the same year, he participated in filmThe Founding of a Party and won the Society Award at 14thGolden Phoenix Awards.

In 2014, Zhang played as main role inA Servant of Two Masters and won the Best Actor at 6thChina TV Drama Awards. InForty-nine Days Memorial, a television series which was adapted from writerGeling Yan's novel, Zhang Jiayi's performing won the Best Actor Award at 20thAsian Television Awards.^[18] Same year, Zhang participated in Chinese directorZhang Yimou's filmComing Home.^[19]

In 2015, Zhang participated in television seriesWhite Deer Plain as leading role and artistic director. He also played a guest role in hit dramaGame of Hunting.^[20] At 1st China Quality Television Drama Ceremony, Zhang won the Most Expressive Actor award.
In 2016, Zhang played as main actor in contemporary dramaMy! Physical Education Teacher.^[21] Same year, he participated in Chinese directorFeng Xiaogang's filmI Am Not Madame Bovary, and was nominated for the Best Actor at 8thChina Film Director's Guild Awards.^[22]

The dramaWhite Deer Plain was allowed to broadcast in 2017.^[23] Due to this television drama, Zhang was nominated for Best Actor at 8thGolden Lotus Awards and 29thChina TV Golden Eagle Awards. And he won the Best Actor at 4thAsia Rainbow TV Awards.^[24] In this year, he also played a main role in television dramaWonderful Life, and won Best Actor at 24thHuading Awards in 2018 for his performing in this drama.^[8]

In 2004, during filming the television seriesNational Mission, Zhang had a romance with actress Wang Haiyan. Three years later, in 2007, Zhang married Wang in his hometown Xi'an. This is his second marriage.^[25] On September 19, 2010, their first daughter was born, and was named Zhang Yixin.^[26]

In the beginning of 2018, a video about Zhang Jiayi in television seriesWonderful Life went viral because of his unique walking posture. In fact, his unique walking posture is one of the symptoms ofankylosing spondylitis. The disease limits his actions so that sometimes he is unable to straighten his back.^[27] When he was 22, he felt the back pain, but did not pay much attention and still endured the pain to work, which made his illness more serious. According to his speech in CCTV programVoice, he was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis when he was 25.^[28]

• Jiayi Zhang atIMDb

• 1970 births
• Living people
• Male actors from Xi'an
• Beijing Film Academy alumni
• Chinese male television actors
• Chinese male film actors

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