Tang Guoqiang was born in 1952 in the beautiful coastal city of Qingdao. He came from a family of doctors, his father was a surgeon and had high expectations for his son.
In order to let Tang Guoqiang be well edified, his father prepared a lot of classics for him since he was a child, such as the Four Books and Five Classics, hoping that he would grow up under the influence of traditional culture.
However, Tang Guoqiang's interest is not in books, he has shown a passion for acting since he was a child. When he was in elementary school, he was already the head of the school's art troupe.
In middle school, he joined the campus drama troupe, and for the first time he went on stage to play, and the feeling of being watched by the audience made him extremely excited as a teenager.
Perhaps, it was from then on that the dream of becoming an actor gradually sprouted in his heart.
But it wasn't until 1970 that 18-year-old Tang Guoqiang got his wish and entered the Qingdao Repertory Theatre. Four years later, he participated in his first film "South China Sea" and served as the leading actor.
At that time, he was 27 years old, and although he was late enough to satisfy his passion for acting, it was not too late.
The environment of the doctor's family has given Tang Guoqiang a solid cultural accomplishment. His father's strict requirements and teachings also made him understand from an early age that dreams are worth chasing, but they need to work hard to achieve them.
Without diligence and perseverance, even a talented person will not be able to go far on the road of acting. Perhaps, it was this consciousness that made Tang Guoqiang not give up at the most difficult moment, which made his later achievements.
From the son of a doctor to a professional actor, Tang Guoqiang has spent more than 20 years realizing his childhood dream.
1984 was an important turning point in Tang Guoqiang's career. This year, he starred in the movie "Garland Under the Mountain" as the leading actor Zhao Mengsheng. This is a work with serious themes and extraordinary significance, and it is also a very rare opportunity for Tang Guoqiang.
Because before, Tang Guoqiang has been labeled as a "cream student" by the outside world, and is considered to have only a handsome appearance and mediocre acting skills. In 1979, when he collaborated with Chen Chong on the film "Little Flower", Chen Chong jokingly praised him as "like cream".
This was originally just a joke, but after Tang Guoqiang starred in the 1981 costume film "Peacock Princess", the title of "Cream Xiaosheng" began to spread to the outside world and became a fixed impression of him.
In fact, Tang Guoqiang has always longed for the opportunity to change this impression. The so-called cream Xiaosheng is just a denial of his acting skills. Therefore, "Garland Under the Mountain" is a rare opportunity for him.
In order to devote himself to this role, Tang Guoqiang participated in a six-month mining life experience and visited the young miner Zhao Mengsheng, just to interpret the image more realistically on the screen.
As it turned out, his efforts were not in vain. The film has received a huge response since its release, and Tang Guoqiang's gripping acting skills have also received unanimous praise from the audience and critics.
The old impression of "Cream Xiaosheng" has been gradually broken in people's hearts, and real acting skills are the most important label that Tang Guoqiang should have.
After starring in this movie, Tang Guoqiang was also admitted to the Beijing Film Academy for further study. Xi with a group of stars in the same class and honing his acting skills has undoubtedly improved his professionalism.
It can be said that "Garland Under the Mountain" is his landmark work from a "cream boy" who was misunderstood by the outside world to a powerful actor.
Just when Tang Guoqiang's career was in full swing, he suffered a major blow in his life. Just after the Spring Festival in 1990, Tang Guoqiang's first wife Sun Tao hanged herself at home.
As soon as this news came out, it caused a sensation among the public. What's even more fatal is that the suicide note left by Sun Tao directly accused Tang Guoqiang of being "unfaithful" and asked for a divorce. This is undoubtedly an unimaginable insult for a famous actor in the family.
For a while, public opinion was full of people, and the evaluation of Tang Guoqiang took a sharp turn.
In fact, since Tang Guoqiang and Sun Tao got married in 1979, their relationship is not as good as before. As an actor, Tang Guoqiang often goes out to work, gathering less and leaving more, which does have a negative impact on the emotional maintenance of a family.
In 1989, Tang Guoqiang filed for divorce, but this was only at the negotiation stage. He didn't expect that this decision would become the fuse for Sun Tao's despair.
In any case, the suicide of a mother and a wife is an unbearable blow for anyone. Although Tang Guoqiang repeatedly stated that Sun Tao had a medical record of mental problems, in the eyes of the public, he seemed to be indisloyal.
The condemnation of public opinion followed, and during this time, he even had to wear a mask on the streets to avoid the fingers of reporters and passers-by.
However, Tang Guoqiang did not give up. He took off his mask and calmly faced the doubts. Because it's a new beginning, not an end.
Sometimes, fate gives us a slap in the face, just to test the tenacity of our hearts. Tang Guoqiang was not knocked down, this is the most valuable quality. History proves that perseverance always pays for miracles.
When public opinion almost knocked Tang Guoqiang into a "typical example of disloyalty in the actor industry", an opportunity changed his fate. In 1991, the TV series "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" was preparing for filming, and the crew actually found Tang Guoqiang, who was caught in negative news, and asked him to audition for the role of Zhuge Liang.
In fact, the director also had doubts at first. But to everyone's surprise, Tang Guoqiang interpreted a brand-new, intelligent image of Zhuge Liang.
The director and the judges were unanimously optimistic and insisted that he play this role. As a result, Tang Guoqiang, who was still in the trough, regained his brilliance.
For two and a half years, Tang Guoqiang devoted himself to this role. Completely different from his previous image, the new Zhuge Liang is thoughtful and well-informed, as if he has vividly interpreted historical figures in the lens.
What the audience sees is no longer a "cream boy", but a powerful actor who can take on heavy responsibilities.
Since then, Tang Guoqiang has devoted more energy to the reshaping of historical figures. In 1996, he played the role of Mao Zedong for the first time in a TV series. In order to interpret it realistically, he watched all the video materials, repeatedly figured it out, and expressed Mao Zedong's demeanor vividly.
In 1997, he once again won the recognition and appreciation of the audience with "Yongzheng Dynasty".
It can be said that "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" opened the second spring of Tang Guoqiang's career. When many people were speculating about where he would go, Tang Guoqiang gave an answer with his determination and ability.
In the face of adversity, only those who are firm in their hearts can create miracles. This is exactly the character that an actor should have.
In 1993, 41-year-old Tang Guoqiang married his second wife, Zhuangli. Zhuangli is also an actor, and the two can be said to be bosom friends who met in a long place. In 2010, a new life test came.
Tang Guoqiang, 68 years old, was paralyzed in bed after a stroke and could not take care of herself.
This would be a heavy blow to any son. At first, Tang Guoqiang also fell into self-blame and pain. He remembered that his parents blessed him when he was young, and he only has himself today; remembered that his mother had been looking forward to him coming home, but he was busy with work and had no time to accompany him.
"I have to take care of my mother. This thought sustained the initial stage of Tang Guo's strength over the pain. So, he put aside his job for the time being and devoted himself to the daily life of taking care of his mother.
Daily life, diet, rehabilitation and exercise, Tang Guoqiang single-handedly took care of it, showing the filial piety of a son.
In fact, it is not easy to take care of a half-paralyzed elderly person for a long time. Tang Guoqiang himself is also over the age of six, and his physical strength and energy are not as good as before. But every time his mother smiled on her face, the satisfaction in his heart overshadowed all the hard work.
He knew that this was his duty.
After a long period of careful care, my mother's body gradually recovered, and she was able to take care of part of her own life. Tang Guoqiang temporarily put down the big stone in his heart. And this process also allowed him to see the truth, goodness and beauty of ordinary people, and let the original intention of "filial piety" be integrated into his life.
Looking back on Tang Guoqiang's life, what we see is not only the growth story of an excellent actor, but also the epitome of a gentleman's life.
In the face of the peaks and troughs of his career, he did not retreat and compromise, but cherished every role and proved everything with his strength. In the face of family misfortune and public opinion doubts, he did not blame others, but faced them with tolerance and won trust with sincerity.
In the face of his mother's illness, he did not shirk himself, but did his duty as a son and was grateful for his nurturing.
Repay your father's expectations with your career, thank your mother for her cultivation with companionship, and build your own family with responsibility and love...... At every node of the intersection of life, Tang Guoqiang chose to do the right thing.
It's not to please others, but to be a virtuous gentleman.
Maybe many people don't know the real him, but every life carefully interpreted in the lens is interpreting what a good life is. Tang Guoqiang used his life to interpret "benevolence, righteousness, courtesy, wisdom, and faith", which is the spiritual wealth he left us.