Zhao Benshan

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Zhao Benshan (Chinese: 赵本山; pinyin: Zhào Běnshān; born 1957) is a Chinese skit and sitcom actor, and recently turned director. Having initially gained immense popularity from performances on the CCTV New Year's Gala, Zhao is now a household-name comedy actor on Mainland China.

Born in Shizui Cottage in Lianhua County in Tieling, Liaoning, in a peasant family, he was orphaned when he was only 6. Apprenticed to his uncle, he learned many local traditional performance arts, including Er hu, Er Ren Zhuan etc.

He gained some popularity in local areas, which caught attention of Jiang Kun, a famous Chinese Xiangsheng artist, who recommend him to the 1987 CCTV New Year's Gala, a TV program broadcast all around China. After his first appearance, he had appeared in each Gala show every year. Some of his highlights included "Yesterday, today and Tomorrow", and "Fixing up the house".

Since the turn of the century, Zhao had also turned attention towards acting and directing sitcoms, appearing as the main character in Liu Laogen and Ma Dashuai, and their sequels. Some of his associates in acting are Gao Xiumin Song Dan Dan and Fan Wei. In 2007 Zhao went on a tour in the United States, making a stop in New York City. After his return, he attended the 2007 National People's Congress as a delegate from Liaoning.