Have you ever wondered what kind of person Wang Xingang is in life who has made countless people fall in love on the screen? Do you remember Hong Changqing in "Red Detachment of Women"? His uninhibited eyes and resolute expression are simply a model of manhood. And in "Silent Mountains and Forests", isn't Feng Guangfa's image a living portrayal of revolutionary heroes?
Speaking of Wang Xingang, everyone will think of his tough guy image in the movie, known as "the first popular male god in New China". But do you know what kind of person he is under the halo of that layer of screen?
The star behind the stage: Wang Xingang's extraordinary road
In 1932, in the coastal city of Dalian, Wang Xingang was born in a family of ordinary accountants. At that time, could he have imagined that he would become a drama master in everyone's hearts in the future?
Since childhood, Wang Xingang has been immersed in the colorful art world. Imagine a little boy sitting in the audience, his eyes glittering with love and desire for drama.
He was not only a fan of opera, but also a small critic, often discussing every detail of the play with his father.
In 1949, the dawn of New China appeared, and Wang Xingang was still in high school. Opera has become an indispensable part of his life.
At that time, he heard that there was a "literary and artistic backbone training class" in Shenyang that was recruiting drama actors, and how could he miss it, who had an infinite love for drama?
After entering the training class, Wang Xingang's talent began to shine. Not only does he understand drama, but he is also able to internalize it into his own performances. Imagine that in those days, a young man with a love for art practiced Xi moves on the street while learning Xi.
Once, he even accidentally hit a passerby because he was too involved in Xi training, doesn't this kind of story make people feel how real his efforts and love are?
Wang Xingang's acting career started from the art troupe in Shenyang. His talent and appearance quickly made him the leading actor in the play. Imagine that in that era when there were no smartphones, Wang Xingang was already the "top star" of the Military Industry Bureau, and every performance attracted countless eyes.
But he was never proud of his fame. He always reminds himself and his companions that the applause of the audience is the greatest affirmation and the greatest responsibility of the actors. On stage, he poured all his heart and soul into every performance.
Wang Xingang thought that he would always shine on the drama stage until he retired. However, life is always full of surprises, as he himself said: "The world that knows nothing, go on, there are surprises." Isn't this a portrayal of his life: a person who is passionate about art, always looking for a new self through continuous exploration and challenge.
Screen star Wang Xingang: A legendary journey from stage to film
In Changchun, a movie called "Silent Mountain Forest" is being prepared, and director Zhu Wenshun is looking around for the actor who can shine on the screen.
At this moment, Zhu Wenshun's subordinates came to the Northeast Art Troupe by chance and took a fancy to Wang Xingang at a glance. Isn't that soldier's temperament and handsome face the person they are looking for? Soon, Wang Xingang was invited to Changchun for an audition.
At the end of the audition, Wang Xingang ran back to Shenyang like a shy child, thinking to himself, how could he be suitable for making movies as a drama actor? However, his solid drama skills and steady typhoon won the favor of the director team.
After the crew discussed, it was decided to let Wang Xingang star. Wang Xingang was hesitant at first, thinking that he was just a drama actor, so how could he pick the lead in making movies? He was worried that his unproficiency would cause chaos for the crew.
But the leader's words woke him up, the theme of this movie is important, and Wang Xingang's role is crucial. After hearing these words, Wang Xingang decided to accept this challenge.
Imagine Wang Xingang's nervousness when he first got the movie script. Not only did he study the art of film in the library, but he also often went to the studio to observe the filming process. This spirit of his and the accumulated acting skills have made his performance in the film so well received that he almost never needs to be remade.
As soon as "Silent Mountain and Forest" was released, it was widely acclaimed, and Wang Xingang's reputation also rose. thought that after completing this performance, he would return to the art troupe to continue his drama career, but who would have thought that the success of "Silent Mountains" made Changchun Film Factory invite him to shoot "The Shepherd's Son" again.
Next, Wang Xingang starred in "Breaking Superstition" and "The Radio Waves That Never Disappear", each of which was widely acclaimed. In that era when there were not many movies, Wang Xingang undoubtedly became a well-known star, known as "there is a handsome called Wang Xingang".
But even with his fame, Wang Xingang has always maintained a humble attitude and constantly honed his acting skills. In his heart, only continuous efforts can make his career to the next level.
A legend on the screen: Wang Xingang's glorious years and affectionate years
A man with a drama background, in the face of a major project like "Sea Eagle" combined with the celebration of the 10th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, what kind of waves will he set off in his heart?
In order to better interpret the image of the navy, Wang Xingang made a bold decision. Not only did he go to sea with fishermen to experience life at sea, but he also volunteered to train with the navy.
Imagine an actor with no military training, challenging himself on rough seas, and adjusting for a long time after going ashore. Isn't this the ultimate pursuit of art?
The director once advised him to give up this kind of high-intensity training, but Wang Xingang insisted that he believed that only by truly experiencing the hardships of the navy could he fully interpret the role.
This kind of persistence has won unprecedented success for "Sea Eagle", and the scene of thousands of empty alleys fully proves that his efforts have not been in vain.
In "Sea Eagle", Wang Xingang is dressed in a naval uniform, although he has never experienced real naval training, his every movement reveals the seriousness and solemnity of a soldier. Not to mention his on-screen rivalry with Wang Xiaotang, which made them a hot topic of discussion after tea and dinner in that era.
In the next few years, Wang Xingang's acting career was in full swing. Hong Changqing in "Red Detachment of Women", and "Wildfire Spring Breeze Fighting Ancient City" with Wang Xiaotang again, made him the dream lover in the hearts of countless girls.
But off the screen, Wang Xingang's life is a different scene. He met his first love, Yang Zhaocai, and the two met and fell in love at Bayi Film Studio, becoming the envy of fans. Wang Xingang's low-key and single-mindedness in his love life is in stark contrast to his brilliance on the screen.
However, in 1972, a tragedy shattered the couple's peaceful life. Yang Zhaocai fell into deep grief due to the sudden death of his friend, and was eventually diagnosed with a mental illness.
In the face of criticism from the outside world and his wife's increasingly serious condition, Wang Xingang made a difficult choice: he decided to temporarily put aside his brilliant acting career and take care of his wife wholeheartedly.
His experience not only shows his sense of responsibility as a husband, but also reflects the misunderstanding and prejudice about mental illness in that era. Wang Xingang desperately took care of his wife, traveling from Beijing to Guangzhou to seek medical treatment, completely ignoring his reputation
The twilight of the screen legend: Wang Xingang's glory and dull years
Have you ever thought about how Wang Xingang faded out of people's sight in front of the shining fluorescent curtain? In 1987, he decided to pass the baton in his hand to the newcomer, and since then he has been silent for 19 years. Could it be that this former screen star ended his film career in obscurity?
In 2006, Wang Xingang's cameo in "My Long March" seemed to rekindle the fire of his films, but then he gradually disappeared from our sight. Is he really no longer in love with acting?
In fact, Wang Xingang is the kind of person who never takes credit. After retiring, he chose to live a low-key life, as if to say: "I, an old man in my seventies, better stay at home quietly." His humility makes his image in people's hearts even more pleasing.
After retiring, Wang Xingang seems to have become his friend. He immersed himself in the sea of books and pursued the beautiful mountains and rivers of his motherland. He said: "The books I read are all famous articles that praise the motherland. "It's not just a thirst for knowledge, it's a love of life. He also travels like a never-ending explorer, hoping to set foot in every inch of his homeland.
And his children, influenced by him, always excelled in their studies. They learned from an early age to take whatever they do seriously, and these are all learned from their fathers. Today, Wang Xingang no longer worries about the children's future, because they have become self-reliant and become leaders in society.
There is news on the Internet that after Wang Xingang's children finished studying in the United States, they became leaders in the computer field and accumulated a lot of wealth. It seems that Wang Xingang's spirit has not only been inherited, but also shined in new fields.
As for Wang Xingang himself, although the years have left traces on his face, he is still as handsome as he once was. He and his first love wife have gone through ups and downs hand in hand, and they are still happy today. His life, as he said in 2014: "I was just an ordinary old man, walking on the road plainly. ”
This former movie star has now chosen a peaceful life, as if to tell us that the beauty of life lies not only in the peak of the scenery, but also in the plain and warm sunshine at dusk.
So, this former movie star, does his story make you feel the meaning of the quiet years?