Leon Lai facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Leon Lai SBS BBS MH
黎明
Lai in 2024
Born	(1966-12-11) 11 December 1966 (age 58) Beijing, China
Alma mater	Kingsway Princeton College
Occupation	Singer actor record company manager businessman
Years active	1985–present
Spouse(s)	Gaile Lok ​ ​ (m. 2008; div. 2012)​
Partner(s)	Shu Qi (1997–2004)
Children	1
Awards	Full list
Musical career
Origin	Hong Kong
Genres	Cantopop Mandopop
Instruments	Vocals guitar piano
Labels	PolyGram (1990–1998) Sony Music (1998–2004) Amusic (2004–present)
Chinese name
Chinese	黎明
Hanyu Pinyin	Lí Míng
Jyutping	Lai4 Ming4
Signature

Leon Lai Ming (Chinese: 黎明; born 11 December 1966) is a famous Hong Kong actor, singer, film director, and businessman. He is one of the "Four Heavenly Kings" of Hong Kong pop music. This group includes four very popular male singers from the 1990s. His Chinese name, "Lai Ming," means "dawn."

Early Life and Education

Leon Lai was born in Beijing, China. His birth name was Lai Chit, but he later changed it to Lai Ming. His family comes from Meixian. When he was four, his parents divorced. He then moved to Hong Kong with his father.

At age 15, Leon went to Lewisham College in the United Kingdom. He returned to Hong Kong when he was 18, in 1984.

Leon's Entertainment Journey

Leon Lai in 2006

Leon Lai started his career after winning second-runner-up in the 1986 New Talent Singing Awards. He then signed a contract with a music company.

Music Career Highlights

In 1990, Leon released his first album, "Leon," which quickly became a success. He sang mostly Cantopop and Mandarin songs. Later, he started making popular electronic songs with cool music videos.

He won many awards, including "Most Popular Male Singer" in 1993 and 1995. In 1998, he was the first Hong Kong singer to get into the Top 10 K-pop chart. Leon also sang "Charged Up," the theme song for the 2002 FIFA World Cup in the Greater China region. In 2004, he represented Hong Kong at the first Asia Song Festival in South Korea.

Leon was an ambassador for the 6th Winter Asian Games in 2007. He sang the theme song and helped with the torch relay. He continues to hold concerts, like his "Leon Lai Talk & Sing 2021 Concert" in Hong Kong.

Singing with Others

Leon has also sung many popular duets with other artists. Some of these include songs with Vivian Chow, Priscilla Chan, Alan Tam, Jacky Cheung, and Janice Vidal.

Starting His Own Company

In 2004, Leon Lai started his own music company called "A Music" with Peter Lam. Their first album, "Dawn," was released that same year. This company helps produce music for other artists too.

Acting on Screen

Leon Lai's handprint at the Avenue of Stars in 2015

After his singing awards, Leon started acting in TV shows. One of his early TV series, The Breaking Point (1991), became very popular. This show helped him become famous in Hong Kong and Taiwan.

He was nominated for "Best Actor" at the Hong Kong Film Awards for his role in Comrades: Almost a Love Story (1996). In 2002, he won "Best Actor" at the Golden Horse Awards for the film Three: Going Home. The Golden Horse Awards are like the Oscars for Chinese-language films.

Leon has starred in many different types of movies. He played a small role in Infernal Affairs III (2003) and acted with Faye Wong in Leaving Me, Loving You (2004). He also played a warrior in the film Seven Swords (2005).

Leon Lai's wax figure at Madame Tussauds Hong Kong

In 2008, he played a famous Peking Opera artist, Méi Lánfāng, in the movie Forever Enthralled. For this role, he even trained in Peking Opera. A wax figure of Leon Lai was made and displayed at Madame Tussauds Hong Kong to honor his success.

Helping the Community

Leon Lai in 2021

Leon Lai is very active in charity work. He started helping others in the 1990s. His first big charity project was with UNICEF in 1993, working to help stop polio in China. He raised a lot of money from his fans and concert ticket sales.

In 1994, he became an International UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. This made him the first person from Hong Kong to have this important role. He has visited places like Rwanda and Brazil to see UNICEF's work and help raise awareness for children in need.

In 1995, he was named "UNICEF Special Representative to Youth" for his efforts. He also received the Medal of Honour in 2003 for his contributions to the community. Leon continues to support various charity campaigns, including those for children's education.

Personal Life

In 2008, Leon Lai married model Gaile Lok. They later divorced in 2012. In 2017, he started a relationship with Chan Wing-yee. They welcomed a daughter in April 2018.

Song Controversy

In 2000, Leon's song "All Day Love" caused some discussion. Some people felt its opening tune sounded like the Chinese National Anthem. Leon was advised not to use the song for commercial purposes.

Discography

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Filmography

Movies

Television Series

Concerts and Performances

Leon Lai has held many concerts throughout his career. Here are some of his performances at the Hong Kong Coliseum and Central Harbourfront:

Concerts at Hong Kong Coliseum

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Concerts at Central Harbourfront Event Space

Awards and Recognitions

Leon Lai has received many awards for his music and acting. In July 2019, he was given the Silver Bauhinia Star, a high honor from the Hong Kong Government. This award recognized his work, including promoting a retirement plan.

Here are some of the awards he has received from the music industry:

IFPI Awards

Commercial Radio Awards

See also

In Spanish: Leon Lai para niños