Edison Chen

China Suppliers


Early life

Chen was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada to parents (father is businessman Edward Chen) of Chinese and 1/8 Portuguese descent. He was a student at R.C. Palmer Secondary School in Richmond, British Columbia and also attended Hong Kong International School. He was in the same tenth grade class as fellow actor Nicholas Tse.

Career lighted martini glasses

Film crystal martini glasses

In 1999, a talent scout approached Chen while he was clubbing with friends in Hong Kong. He asked him to film a commercial. He was at the age of 19. From then on, his career began with the Japanese film Dead or Alive 2: Birds. He made his Hong Kong film debut in the film Gen-Y Cops in 2000. He starred in many popular films including Infernal Affairs, Infernal Affairs II, Initial D and Dog Bite Dog. His latest film is Trivial Matters. Determined to expand his horizons to countries around the world, he also starred in the Japanese drama Under the Same Moon. plastic champagne glass

Music

Edison Chen - "Hong Kong land ()" - audio sample

A track Chen dedicated to the people of Hong Kong in 2004, the same year he was assaulted in the city.

The segment also said "Regardless of the difficulty or chaos, the song is dedicated to HK: past, present, and future."

Problems listening to this file? See media help.

In 2000, at the age of 20, Chen landed a record deal with Emperor Entertainment Group. It took him a number of successful album releases before he was given the opportunity to produce a hip hop album. His first hip-hop release was in February 2004, called Please Steal This Album backed by MC Yan and Singaporean musician Hanjin Chen. Several singles from the album topped local pop charts. Chen mentioned the difficulty of fitting in Hong Kong, where it is dominated by cantopop, but said that hip hop has a great potential.

He is featured on M-Flo's album, Cosmicolor, on the track "LOVE ME, HATE THE GAME" with Chan, Thaitanium and Ryohei Yamamoto.

Fashion

Edison's foray into the fashion industry accompanied his rising success as a young pop icon. Edison, along with partners Kevin Poon and Billy Ip, became the founders of CLOT Inc., a clothing company described as a "lifestyle company" that is geared toward youth culture, and bringing street fashion to China and Hong Kong. The company has collaborated with many big clothing companies, such as Nike and A Bathing Ape.

Multimedia company

In February, 2007, he invested $10 million HKD to open his own multi-media company, Clot Media Division, which plans to produce movies, commercials and music albums. In June, 2007, he released a Mandarin album, (Allow Me To Reintroduce Myself) with tracks produced by Kanye West, Just Blaze and Clinton Sparks.

Community work

As early as 2001 Chen had appeared in Vancouver charity shows. He has also been a supporter for the gay and lesbian community in Hong Kong, including being voted as an icon in 2001.

In 2007 he was invited by Be@rbrick toys for a charity event in Hong Kong Harbour City. The charity proceeds were donated to "Hong Kong Blood Cancer Foundation".

Incidents

2004 Chen assault incident

In March, 2004, two male teenagers assaulted Chen in Central District of Hong Kong. The two teenagers mocked Chen with dance moves outside a record store. Immediately following the dance taunt, both of the teenagers punched Chen. Upon doing so the two teenagers fled the scene, and Chen gave chase. Chen eventually caught up to the two individuals as they were trying to board a bus. They were turned over to Hong Kong Police. As a result of the incident, Chen reported that he sprained his ankle and that his cheekbone and ear were also injured. Chen declined to press charges and the two individuals were released.

Chen, not pressing charges on the teens:

"Their lives would be ruined if I pressed charges. Their mother asked me to forgive them. I went to the hospital and got checked out and since it just bruises, I decided to let it go."

2007 Taxi dent incident

Chen drove to his home after midnight 9 March 2007. The gate was blocked by a Toyota Crown Comfort taxi that had just dropped off its passengers. The taxi driver then signalled Chen to move away so he could pull out, clearing the way for Chen to enter. Chen's security guard told the taxi driver to pull over so that Chen could pass. The taxi-driver insulted the security guard. Chen proceeded to have an argument with the taxi driver. Despite the presence of the security guard and other witnesses, he got out of his car and kicked the taxi several times, denting it and breaking all its windows.

He was subsequently charged by the police. On the basis of these charges he was convicted and placed on a one year good behaviour bond. He was also fined; the taxi company was granted HK$4,700 in compensation for the damage inflicted to the car.

2008 Photo scandal

Main article: Edison Chen photo scandal

In January 2008, Chen was involved in a widely publicized sex scandal when sexually explicit nude photographs of himself taken four years earlier became widely circulated on the Internet. Celebrities implicated in the scandal included Gillian Chung, Bobo Chan, Mandy Chen, Candice Chan, Rachel Ngan and Cecilia Cheung. Nude photos of Edison's current girlfriend, Vincy Yeung, were also made public and the future of the relationship is in doubt.

Hong Kong police have stated that they confiscated a collection of sex-related photos that involve 6 other identifiable females and other unidentifiable males.

Initially the authenticity of the photos was denied, and digital manipulation was used as the primary explanation for the pictures. However, Hong Kong police and Photoshop experts argued that the photos were in fact real and not digitally altered. This brought about a serious reaction towards all parties involved in the scandal. As a result, Chen indirectly admitted his role and expressed remorse and subsequently announced his indefinite departure from the Hong Kong entertainment industry at a press conference.

Due to the scandal, the Google search engine rankings for 2008 resulted in Chen's Chinese name being the number 1 search term in China, and number 3 in Taiwan. Chen was runner-up to US president-elect Barack Obama in the Hong Kong Person of 2008 poll by government-run RTHK radio, with just under 30% of votes in the Person of the Year. On June 1, 2009, Chen spoke openly about the sex photo scandal for the first time since the scandal broke in an interview with TalkAsia on CNN. In the interview he reveals his side of the scandal and how he endured criticisms from the public, the media, and from the individuals affected by the case.

Personal

In Chen's personal blog, he referred to an anonymous girlfriend as 'V'. In 2007, he finally announced that he has been dating Vincy Yeung (the niece of EEG founder Albert Yeung) for 3 years. On an entertainment show in Taiwan, Chen disclosed that he planned to marry Vincy and that his previous playboy and womanizing habits have stopped because of his love for his current girlfriend.

Discography

Year

Album

Label

Notes

30 November 2000

(Edison Chen)

EEG

Cantonese EP

11 May 2001

Fast and Furious

EEG

Cantonese Album

5 June 2001

Visual Diary (Version 2)

EEG

Cantonese Album

21 August 2001

(Ultraman Gaia)

EEG

Cantonese EP

2 November 2001

Ed Is On

EEG

Mandarin Album

20 December 2001

Peace and Love

EEG

Cantonese Album

3 July 2002

Break Through

EEG

Cantonese Album

29 August 2002

Transition

EEG

Mandarin Album

13 February 2003

Hits or Misses

EEG

Cantonese Compilation

26 February 2004

Please Steal This Album

EEG

Cantonese Album

4 January 2005

Hazy: The 144 Hour Project

EEG

Cantonese Album

18 April 2005

Hazy: The 144 Hour Project (Version 2)

EEG

Cantonese Album

21 December 2005

The Best Collection

EEG

Cantonese Compilation

12 May 2006

69FM Mixtape

-

Cantonese Mixtape

15 June 2007

(Allow Me To Reintroduce Myself)

Clot Media Division

Mandarin Album

10 August 2007

(Allow Me To Reintroduce Myself) (Version 2)

Clot Media Division

Mandarin Album

Filmography

Films

2000 - Dead or Alive 2: Birds (Dead or Alive 2: ) (Japan)

2000 - Gen-Y Cops (2)

2001 - Final Romance ()

2001 - Cats & Dogs () (Voice only, Cantonese version)

2001 - Dummy Mommy, Without a Baby ()

2001 - Dance of a Dream ()

2002 - Princess D ()

2002 - Nine Girls and a Ghost ()

2002 - Infernal Affairs ()

2003 - The Twins Effect ()

2003 - The Medallion () (Cameo)

2003 - Infernal Affairs II (I)

2003 - The Spy Dad ()

2003 - Infernal Affairs III (II: ) (Cameo)

2004 - Sex and the Beauties ()

2004 - Moving Targets (2004 )

2004 - Life, Translated (7)

2004 - Jiang Hu ()

2004 - The Twins Effect ()

2004 - A-1 Headline (A-1 )

2005 - Initial D (Japan)

2005 - Initial D (D)

2005 - Under The Same Moon () (Japan)

2006 - Dog Bite Dog ()

2006 - The Grudge 2 (2)

2007 - Shrek the Third () (Voice only, Cantonese version)

2007 - Trivial Matters ()

2008 - The Dark Knight () (Cameo)

2009 - The Sniper ()

2009 - Coweb () (Guest Role)

2010 - Almost Perfect

Television drama

2002 - Feel 100% ()

2003 - Hearts Of Fencing () Guest

2005 - Eight Heroes ().

Other appearances

2001 - Weakest Link (UT)

2005 - MTV Whatever Things

2006 - Gumball 3000: Drivin' Me Crazy

References

^ Japanese TV show "Koisuru Hanikami" aired on 21 and 28 April 2006, TBS in Japan.

Edison converses with Anne Suzuki in Japanese without interpreter on this show.

^ Hong Kong's Edison Chen to quit after nude photo scandal, Reuters news, 21 February 2008

^ a b South China Morning Post video "Sorry Edison bows out". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnsJBlZVs_A. Retrieved 2008-02-25. 

^ Time magazine. "Time.com." A Star is Formed article mention his sister is 1/8 Portuguese. Retrieved on 2008-11-19.

^ Cbc.ca. "Cbc.ca." Vancouver-born actor Edison Chen apologize for taking sex photos. Retrieved on 2008-02-21.

^ a b South China morning post. "SCMP." Icon Chen. , 12 February 2008, Original date: 2001-02-06. Retrieved 2008-02-22.

^ a b South China morning post. "SCMP." A hip crop. , 12 February 2008, Original date: 2004-12-17. Retrieved 2008-02-22.

^ "Edison Chen Interview". BEINGHUNTED Online Magazine. http://www.beinghunted.com/v51/features/2006/12_edison_chen_clot/edison_chen_clot_08.html. Retrieved 2006-07-20. 

^ Chinadaily.com. "Chinadaily.com." Edison Chen promotes toy for charity , 25 May 2007, Original date: 2001-02-06. Retrieved 2008-02-22.

^ Hong Kong pop star hurt in fight

^ a b c HK pop star Edison Chen punched by youngsters

^ "HK pop star Edison Chen punched by youngsters". http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2004-03/18/content_315829.htm. Retrieved 2008-02-22. 

^ HKstandard. "HKstandard." Singer bound over for kicking taxi. Retrieved on 2008-02-24.

^ "Hong Kong's Edison Chen quits after sex scandal". http://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyleMolt/idUSHKG36060820080221. Retrieved 2008-02-21. 

^ Google Zeitgeist. "Google.com." 2008 Year-End Zeitgeist Around the World. Retrieved on 2008-12-13.

^ Sex-scandal 2nd in Hong Kong, News24, 2 January 2009

^ "Talkasia Exclusive interview: Edison Chen breaks his silence". cnn.com. 1 June 2009. http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/06/01/ta.edison/index.html?iref=mpstoryview. Retrieved 1 June 2009. 

^ South China Morning Post video Edison: "Post anything you want"!, 11 February 2008

External links

Edison Chen's Official Blog

Edison Chen at the Internet Movie Database

Persondata

NAME

Chen, Edison

ALTERNATIVE NAMES

(), Chan Hing-Wah

SHORT DESCRIPTION

Record producer, singer, actor, fashion designer, CEO

DATE OF BIRTH

1980-10-7

PLACE OF BIRTH

Vancouver, Canada

DATE OF DEATH

PLACE OF DEATH

Categories: 1980 births | Asian Canadian actors | Canadian Christians | Canadian film actors | Canadian voice actors | Canadians of Chinese descent | Canadians of Portuguese descent | Cantopop singer-songwriters | Chinese actors | Chinese rappers | Hong Kong actors | Hong Kong rappers | Living people | Mandarin-language singers | People from Vancouver | Sex scandal figures