Whether an actor is excellent or not depends not on popularity, but on his strength and contribution. Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, many artists have been born, but few have been recognized by the state, and only 5 have won the reputation of "People's Artist". They are all virtuous and artistic, contributing to the development of the performing arts and are deeply loved by people.
It is a pity that 3 of these 5 people's artists have passed away, and only 2 are still alive, the oldest of which is 94 years old, and the youngest is 87 years old.......
常宝堃(1922.5.5——1951.4.23)
Chang Baokun was born in Zhangjiakou, Hebei Province, and learned tricks from his father since he was a child, and performed on stage with his father. Don't look at him laughing, but every time he goes on stage, he always makes the audience laugh.
Later, with the help of his father, he successfully apprenticed to cross talk master Zhang Shouchen. Thanks to the teaching of famous teachers, he quickly became an excellent cross talk actor.
In the "Summer Fair" held in 1938, he became famous with his solid skills, and then organized the "Brother Troupe", performed everywhere, and shaped many classic works, such as "Monkey Trick", "Trouble in the Court", and "Criticism of the Three Kingdoms".
During the period of resisting US aggression and aiding Korea, he went to the front line with the condolence group organized by the state and expressed condolences to the soldiers through performances. However, during the condolence period, the environment was harsh and there was artillery fire everywhere, and he unfortunately died in the bombing of the US army at the age of 29.
The country and the people will not forget the contribution he made. He was posthumously awarded the title of "People's Artist" by the Tianjin government, and his heroic deeds will be remembered forever by future generations.
常香玉(1923.9.15——2004.6.1)
Chang Xiangyu, who was born in Henan, followed his father to learn Henan Opera at the age of 9.
At the age of 12, under the leadership of her father, she became a well-known actor in Kaifeng with the work "West Chamber". The following year, she quickly became famous through her performance of "Sizhou City" on stage.
It was also in that year that she founded an opera research club with the help of her father.
On the surface, she was a stage performer, but in reality, she was an active anti-Japanese worker. In order to promote the anti-Japanese resistance, she created popular works such as "Fighting the Land", and after the performance, many people joined the anti-Japanese team.
She also continues to work hard to cultivate artistic talents. At the age of 25, he founded the "Xiangyu Drama School" and is committed to cultivating new talents.
During the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea, she led the troupe to tour all over the country, and all the funds raised were donated to the country, and even sold her car to help the country tide over the crisis.
Donating money was not enough, she began in April 1953 to go to the Korean front line to carry out condolence performances, through as many as 180 performances, to boost the morale of the soldiers, and contribute to the success of the anti-US resistance.
In the years that followed, she performed many excellent Henan operas, such as "Mulan", "The Story of the West Chamber", and "The Story of the Red Lantern......
In her artistic career, she not only continues to output her works, but also devotes herself to cultivating more outstanding talents. Under her training, Li Jinzhi, Hu Meiling, Sun Lanxiang and other outstanding opera actors have emerged.
After getting older, she disappeared from the stage and began to focus on public welfare, contributing her own strength in some major activities.
In 2004, she died of cervical cancer at the age of 81 due to ineffective treatment.
One month after her death, she was posthumously awarded the title of "People's Artist" by the State Council. Her great life will always be remembered.
秦怡(1922.1.31——2022.5.9)
She was born in Shanghai in 1922. She has loved art since she was a child, and after graduation, she unexpectedly studied business. During her time at school, she fell in love with acting after participating in the drama "Put Down Your Whip".
In order to be able to pursue her dream of acting, she even left her feudal family and embarked on the road of interpretation by joining the "Zhongwan Troupe".
In 1938, she entered the Chinese film studio as a trainee actor, and the following year, she made her debut through a "Good Husband" and became a film and television actor.
In her acting career, she has created countless classic roles, and has had wonderful performances in "Rejuvenation of the Earth", "Spring and Autumn of Heaven", "Anonymous", and "Distant Her".
After the founding of the People's Republic of China, her works are even more numerous, and she has become an excellent actress in China.
On September 17, 2019, she was awarded the title of "People's Artist", and in the same year, she also won the title of "The Most Beautiful Struggler". Unfortunately, on May 9, 2022, she passed away due to illness at the age of 100.
郭兰英(1930.12.31——)
In 1930, she studied art at the age of 6, perhaps because of her innate acting talent, coupled with her hard work, she soon became a local celebrity. In order to become a more excellent artistic performer, she apprenticed to a famous teacher at the age of 11, and learned everything from Tsing Yi, Hua Dan, and Dao Ma Dan.
In 1946, she joined the Art Troupe of North China United University and began her opera career. During her time in the Art Troupe, her performances of "The White-Haired Girl", "Aunt Wang's Rush to the Market", "Brother and Sister Wasteland" and so on were deeply loved by the audience.
On the eve of the founding of New China, she went to Hungary to perform with the national organization, and won an award on the international stage with a song "Women's Freedom Song", becoming the first Chinese to win an award on the world stage.
Guo Lanying's classic repertoire is particularly numerous, such as "Dongfang Hong", "Nanniwan", "Water Comes from Water Mountain", ......
When she got older, she retired from the screen and began to train new talents, founded an art school, and devoted herself to the cultivation of more talents.
On September 17, 2019, she was awarded the title of "People's Artist", and in the same year, she also won the titles of "The Most Beautiful Struggler" and "Lifetime Achievement Dramatist of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles".
Now she is 94 years old, her body is tough, and she will be active on the stage from time to time.
Summer Chrysanthemum (1937——)
Born in a poor family in Anhui Province, she was sent to a circus class to learn art at the age of 5 because of the pressure of family life. At a young age, she had to perform acrobatics with the circus troupe, and life was very difficult.
In the process of performing acrobatics, she suffered a lot and almost lost her life several times. But it was that hard time that laid a solid foundation for her.
In 1950, she came to the stage of the "People's Paradise" in Hankou, and the unprecedented feeling made her firmly choose to stay here. With her outstanding popularity, she quickly became an excellent acrobat. Her performances of "Jiu-Jitsu", "Top Bowl", and "Jiu-Jitsu Biting Flowers" have become classics.
In the 6th Youth Gala, he won the "Gold Medal". During the period of resisting US aggression and aiding Korea, he went to the front line to give condolence performances. Her performance on the stage, regardless of personal comfort, made the blood boil for the soldiers in the audience......
Subsequently, she performed in more than 40 countries at home and abroad, much to the surprise of overseas people. With her superb skills, she was awarded the title of "Queen of the Top Bowl" by the state, and in 2004, she was awarded the title of "People's Artist".
Today's Xia Juhua is 87 years old, and she may be gradually forgotten after disappearing from the stage for a long time, but her deeds will always inspire us.
People's artists have made outstanding contributions to the country, and their deeds are worth learning from. I hope that the artists who are alive will be healthy, safe and happy.