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Jia Hongsheng (; 19 March 1967 – 5 July 2010) was a Chinese actor who became known in the late 1980s and early 1990s for roles in movies like ''The Case of the Silver Snake'' (1988), ''Good Morning, Beijing'' (1991), ''A Woman from North Shaanxi'' (1993) and ''
Weekend Lover ''Weekend Lover'' () is the 1995 directorial debut by Chinese director Lou Ye. The film stars actors Jia Hongsheng and Ma Xiaoqing. Fellow director Wang Xiaoshuai also plays a minor role. The film follows a young man, A Xi, who is recently re ...
'' (1995). His performances were praised by critics and he developed a rebellious image that made him popular among artistic youth and the " Sixth Generation" of Chinese directors. However, he backed away from the limelight in 1995 after becoming addicted to
cannabis ''Cannabis'' () is a genus of flowering plants in the family Cannabaceae that is widely accepted as being indigenous to and originating from the continent of Asia. However, the number of species is disputed, with as many as three species be ...
and eventually
heroin Heroin, also known as diacetylmorphine and diamorphine among other names, is a morphinan opioid substance synthesized from the Opium, dried latex of the Papaver somniferum, opium poppy; it is mainly used as a recreational drug for its eupho ...
. His father, head of the local theatre in
Jilin ) , image_skyline = Changbaishan Tianchi from western rim.jpg , image_alt = , image_caption = View of Heaven Lake , image_map = Jilin in China (+all claims hatched).svg , mapsize = 275px , map_al ...
, retired two years before his retirement age, and along with his wife moved to
Beijing Beijing, Chinese postal romanization, previously romanized as Peking, is the capital city of China. With more than 22 million residents, it is the world's List of national capitals by population, most populous national capital city as well as ...
to try to help Jia. He made a comeback in 2000, starring in the celebrated ''
Suzhou River Suzhou Creek (or Soochow Creek), also called the Wusong (Woosung) River, is a river that passes through the Shanghai city center. It is named after the neighboring city of Suzhou (Soochow), Jiangsu, the predominant settlement in this area prior ...
''. The following year he starred in the film he is best known for to Western audiences, the autobiographical ''
Quitting ''Quitting'' () is a 2001 Chinese drama (film and television), drama film directed by Zhang Yang (director), Zhang Yang, starring and based on the true life story of Jia Hongsheng. Jia, an actor and former drug addiction, drug addict, battled hi ...
''. It depicts his battle with addiction and his family trying to help him sober up, with all of the cast members being real people playing themselves.


Early life and career

Jia was born on 19 March 1967 in Siping,
Jilin ) , image_skyline = Changbaishan Tianchi from western rim.jpg , image_alt = , image_caption = View of Heaven Lake , image_map = Jilin in China (+all claims hatched).svg , mapsize = 275px , map_al ...
, to Jia Fengsen and Chai Xiuling, both retired theater actors from
northeast China Northeast China () is a geographical region of China, consisting officially of three provinces Liaoning, Jilin and Heilongjiang. The heartland of the region is the Northeast China Plain, the largest plain in China with an area of over . The regi ...
. He had a younger sister, Wang Tong. Jia graduated from the
Central Academy of Drama The Central Academy of Drama () is a national public drama school in Beijing, China. It is affiliated with the Ministry of Education (China), Ministry of Education. The academy is part of the Double First-Class Construction. Information The sch ...
in
Beijing Beijing, Chinese postal romanization, previously romanized as Peking, is the capital city of China. With more than 22 million residents, it is the world's List of national capitals by population, most populous national capital city as well as ...
in 1989, and soon gained fame in the late 1980s and early 1990s as an actor in films such as ''
The Case of the Silver Snake ''The'' is a grammatical article in English, denoting nouns that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' ...
'' and '' A Woman from North Shaanxi''. While rehearsing for a stageplay titled '' Kiss of the Spider Woman'' (also directed by Zhang Yang) in the fall of 1992, Jia first became exposed to marijuana and eventually became addicted, while also occasionally using heroin. Then, in 1995, after filming ''
Weekend Lover ''Weekend Lover'' () is the 1995 directorial debut by Chinese director Lou Ye. The film stars actors Jia Hongsheng and Ma Xiaoqing. Fellow director Wang Xiaoshuai also plays a minor role. The film follows a young man, A Xi, who is recently re ...
'', Jia quit acting completely and lived off his younger sister Wang Tong. He was also an avid fan of
The Beatles The Beatles were an English Rock music, rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960. The core lineup of the band comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They are widely regarded as the Cultural impact of the Beatle ...
, listening to their music obsessively and began to fantasize himself as the son of the Beatles' lead singer,
John Lennon John Winston Ono Lennon (born John Winston Lennon; 9 October 19408 December 1980) was an English singer-songwriter, musician and activist. He gained global fame as the founder, co-lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of the Beatles. Lennon's ...
. In late 1995, his parents decided to move to Beijing in order to help their son quit drugs. Wang Tong also came back to live with her parents and brother in the same apartment. Several efforts made by his parents to penetrate their son's inner world were met with indifference, sometimes even hostility. Over time, however, Jia began to open up. He started to take regular walks with his father, usually buying a bottle or two of beer along the way. Jia Fengsen also bought his son cassette tapes by The Beatles. In early 1996, Jia relapsed after being off drugs for almost six months. On 19 March of that year, after drinking several bottles of beer for the celebration of his twenty-ninth birthday, Jia slapped his father, claiming it was to teach him the "meaning of life". Jia's family was upset by this and felt he needed to be taught a lesson. They contacted the police, and three officers arrived at their house the next day. Jia was taken into custody and sent to a mental institution. Upon arrival at the institution, after being placed on medication, his condition improved greatly. He also stopped fantasizing and started to see himself as just an ordinary human being. His doctor determined that Jia was not suffering from schizophrenia but recommended that he stay a little longer to sober completely. He was finally discharged on 19 March 1997, his thirtieth birthday. 2000's ''
Suzhou River Suzhou Creek (or Soochow Creek), also called the Wusong (Woosung) River, is a river that passes through the Shanghai city center. It is named after the neighboring city of Suzhou (Soochow), Jiangsu, the predominant settlement in this area prior ...
'' depicted his return to acting. The film is considered one of the most important of the "Sixth Generation" of Chinese cinema. His struggle with addiction was depicted in 2001's ''
Quitting ''Quitting'' () is a 2001 Chinese drama (film and television), drama film directed by Zhang Yang (director), Zhang Yang, starring and based on the true life story of Jia Hongsheng. Jia, an actor and former drug addiction, drug addict, battled hi ...
'', in which he, his family and even the patients of the mental institution, play themselves. For the film, Jia Hongsheng won the 2002 Silver Screen Award for Best Actor. In 2000, Jia began a four-year romantic involvement with
Zhou Xun Zhou Xun ( zh, s=周迅, born 18 October 1974) is a Chinese actress and singer. Zhou rose to prominence with the film '' Suzhou River'' (2000), followed by films such as '' Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress'' (2002), '' Perhaps Love'' (2005 ...
, his co-lead star in ''Suzhou River''. He has been credited with getting her the lead role in '' Palace of Desire'', having introduced her to director
Li Shaohong Li Shaohong (born 7 July 1955) is a Chinese film and television director and producer. She is considered a member of the Fifth Generation movement, and China's top woman director. Her films have won multiple awards in China and abroad, includin ...
.


Death

On 5 July 2010, Jia jumped to his death from Building 19, his apartment building at the Anyuan Beili Community in
Chaoyang District, Beijing Chaoyang District () is an urban list of administrative divisions of Beijing, district of Beijing. It borders the districts of Shunyi, Beijing, Shunyi to the northeast, Tongzhou, Beijing, Tongzhou to the east and southeast, Daxing, Beijing, Daxin ...
that he shared with his parents. He was found dead on the trunk of a car around 6:00pm. In an announcement his parents said; "Our son is looking for his dream. Let's give him good wishes and respect his decision." Lei Ting, a theatre producer and close friend of Jia's, stated that when he met him in June, Jia seemed "fully recovered". Likewise, Zhang Yang, director of ''Quitting'', stated that he had spoken to Jia about the actor's next film not long before his death.


Filmography

* 1988 - ''
The Case of the Silver Snake ''The'' is a grammatical article in English, denoting nouns that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' ...
'', Hao Feiyu * 1988 - '' Samsara'' * 1991 - '' Good Morning, Beijing!'' * 1993 - '' A Woman from North Shaanxi'' * 1993 - '' Hei huo'', Zhao Mengyu * 1994 - ''
Suicides Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Risk factors for suicide include mental disorders, physical disorders, and substance abuse. Some suicides are impulsive acts driven by stress (such as from financial or ac ...
'' * 1995 - ''
Weekend Lover ''Weekend Lover'' () is the 1995 directorial debut by Chinese director Lou Ye. The film stars actors Jia Hongsheng and Ma Xiaoqing. Fellow director Wang Xiaoshuai also plays a minor role. The film follows a young man, A Xi, who is recently re ...
'', A Xi * 1997 - '' Frozen'', Qi Lei * 2000 - ''
Suzhou River Suzhou Creek (or Soochow Creek), also called the Wusong (Woosung) River, is a river that passes through the Shanghai city center. It is named after the neighboring city of Suzhou (Soochow), Jiangsu, the predominant settlement in this area prior ...
'', Mardar * 2001 - ''
Quitting ''Quitting'' () is a 2001 Chinese drama (film and television), drama film directed by Zhang Yang (director), Zhang Yang, starring and based on the true life story of Jia Hongsheng. Jia, an actor and former drug addiction, drug addict, battled hi ...
'', Jia Hongsheng, himself


Awards

Singapore International Film Festival The Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF) (Simplified Chinese, Chinese: 新加坡国际电影节) is the longest-running film festival in Singapore, founded in 1987. The 35th Singapore International Film Festival took place from 28 Novem ...
- 2002 Silver Screen Award, Won for Best Actor in ''Quitting'' (2001).


References


External links

*
Yahoo! Movies
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jia, Hongsheng 1967 births 2010 deaths Male actors from Jilin People from Siping Suicides by jumping in China Suicides in the People's Republic of China Central Academy of Drama alumni Chinese male stage actors 20th-century Chinese male actors 21st-century Chinese male actors Chinese male film actors 2010 suicides