Shi Xiaoman was a well-known child star in the 1960s, and was well known to the audience for playing the male protagonist Xiaoman in Xie Tian's "Little Bells", and this children's film was even more unforgettable by children. For more than half a century, this children's film has accompanied generations through childhood when material life was once extremely scarce.
Shi Xiaoman was born in Beijing in 1955 to a family of film artists, and his father was the famous film and drama performance artist Shi Yu. Under the influence of his father, Shi Xiaoman, who was only three years old, began to be carried to the stage by Xie Tian and other movie stars, playing a small role that could not speak in dramas such as "Nala" and "Catch Zhuang Ding". At the age of 5, his outstanding performances in films such as "Revolutionary Family" earned him the title of China's "First Child Star" at that time. Subsequently, he successfully created the image of children in different eras such as "Cat Boy", "Little Tiger", "Little Brother Man" and other feature films and comedies such as "South China Sea Tide", "Big Li, Little Li and Old Li", and "Little Bell". While applauding and flowers, Premier Zhou Enlai cordially held Shi Xiaoman in his arms many times. In 1963, Shi Xiaoman was selected by the great director Xie Tian to star in China's first puppet co-production film "Little Bells" directed by Xie Tian, which was popular in China when it premiered in 1964. The play won the first prize of the second China Children's Literary and Artistic Creation, and Shi Xiaoman, who was only nine years old, also became a hot child star.
In 1969, Shi Xiaoman, who was not yet an adult, went to the countryside at Laolai Farm in Heilongjiang. Here, Shi Xiaoman, like an adult, did heavy physical work every day and persisted for seven years. In 1976, he served as a literary and artistic soldier in the 38th Army of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, and after 1985, he served as a planner for the Beijing Guoan Advertising Company.
As an adult, Shi Xiaoman has played roles in dozens of film and television dramas in China, such as Xiaodou in the movie "Sweet Career", Ma San in "Mei Lanfang", the marriage priest in "Women Are Not Bad", Zhu Fu in the TV series "The Gate of the Great Mansion", Lao He in "The Tale of Wulin", Chen Ada in "Eighteen Secretaries of Boss Cao", and Li Lianying in "The Pleiades of the Firmament". Among these roles, most of the characters played by Shi Xiaoman are villains who are sinister and known for their yin, damage, fierceness and badness. Some people commented that Shi Xiaoman's transformation from a popular child star to a "bad guy professional" who specializes in bad guys has really become bad. Shi Xiaoman did not think much of this, believing that what acting like was what a person who really wanted to pursue success in his artistic career should do.
Shi Xiaoman in childhood
In 1960, he played Jiang Xiaoqing in the film "Revolutionary Family" directed by Shui Hua.
In 1962, he played the three tigers in the film "Big Li Xiao Li and Old Li" directed by Xie Jin.
In 1963, he played Xiaoxi and Cat Boy in the movie "South China Sea Tide" (won the supporting role award at the 3rd Popular Film Hundred Flowers Awards in 1964).
In 1963, he played Xiao Man in the film "Little Bell" directed by Xie Tian, and Ma Jia played Xiao Jia.
In 1979, he played Xiao Dou in the film "Sweet Career" directed by Xie Tian.
Stills from "Big Bowl of Tea"