Born on December 26, 1980 in Seoul, South Korea, 175 cm tall, blood type AB, graduated from Seoul National University of the Arts.
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Cao Zhengyi's mother had three children with her ex-husband, met Cao Zhengyi's biological father, remarried and gave birth to him, and his mother was 40 years old when she gave birth to him. His original dream was to become a classical guitar player, and he retook the entrance exam 3 times, but all of them ended in failure, so he thought he was not talented and decided to give up.
At that time, a church preacher who recognized his talent told him, "You seem to be very good at acting," so he changed his dream and was admitted to the drama department of Seoul National University of the Arts.
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In 2000, when Cao Zhengyi was 20 years old, due to the death of his father, the family's economy was in trouble, and he became the head of the family and took on the responsibility of supporting his mother. At that time, because of his family's poverty and the need to support his mother, who was 60 years old, he applied for exemption from military service and was approved. In an interview, Cao Zhengyi confessed that he wanted to commit suicide in his 20s, but because he did not have the courage, he did not do so in the end. Although he enrolled later than his peers, and the uncertainty of the future of being an actor was great, Cao Zhengyi held the determination that "if you work hard, you may be able to succeed", saving living expenses and tuition fees through part-time work, and desperately practicing acting skills.
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In 2004, at the age of 24, Cao Zhengyi debuted as an actor through the musical "The Nutcracker". He also starred in several musicals from the age of 25 in 2005 to the age of 31 in 2011. And in 2011, he starred in the TV series "What's Up" for the first time. In 2012, at the age of 32, he won the Best Male Newcomer Award at the 33rd Korea Blue Dragon Film Awards for his love movie "Introduction to Architecture", and starred in several variety shows such as Golden Fishery.
In 2013, at the age of 33, he starred in the inspirational love drama "Best Lee Soon-xin" with IU and co-starred in the movie "Guan xiang" with Song Kanghao, showing extraordinary acting skills, and won many acting awards with these two films, and won the Best Screen Couple Award with IU. In 2014, at the age of 34, he starred in the historical costume movie "Reverse Scales", and co-starred with Shin Min'er in the romantic comedy movie "My Love My Bride", and also starred in variety shows such as the Korean version of Running Man.
In 2015, at the age of 35, he starred with his Korean national sister Park Baoying in the fantasy romantic comedy "Oh My Ghost God Adult" and the suspense movie "Exclusive: The Story of The Good Birthday Killing", as well as variety shows.
In 2016, at the age of 36, he starred in the popular variety show "Fancy Youth Iceland", and acted in the romantic romantic comedy "The Embodiment of Jealousy" with Kong Xiao Allah, and won multiple awards. In 2017, at the age of 37, he co-starred in the MBC TV series "Two Policemen" with Lee Wai Lee and won the Male Best Actor Award.
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In 2018, at the age of 38, in addition to continuing to appear in movies, TV series and variety shows, he also married female singer Park Ji-yeon (GUMMY). At the age of 39 in 2019, he starred in a number of variety shows including "Brother I Know", and co-starred in the police action movie "Escape Group" with Kong Xiaozhen and Liu Junlie, and co-starred in the disaster comedy movie "Extreme Escape" with Yun Er of Girls' Generation.
At the age of 40 in 2020, Cao Zhengyi and his wife successfully welcomed their first child, which was very happy. He also starred in the first season of the hit medical TV series "Witty Doctor Life" with Yoo Yeon-seok, Jeong Kyung-soo, Kim Dae-dae, and Tian Meidu, and won the Best OST Award by singing the show's OST "ALOHA".
At the age of 41 in 2021, he won the award again for singing OST "ALOHA", and starred in Luo PD's variety show "Witty Camping Life", and continued to star in the second season of the TV series "Witty Doctor Life" with the original team.