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Preamble:
Life is often full of accidents and surprises, who would have thought that a railway worker from a humble background could one day become a respected film and television star?
Who would have thought that a seemingly unpromising love could go through 30 years of ups and downs without abandoning?
This is the legendary life of actor Li Hongtao.
Six years of railroad tracks, planting the seeds of art
Li Hongtao was born in Qingdao in 1964, and his parents were ordinary railway workers.
Although the family is not wealthy, parents attach great importance to the cultivation of children's interests.
Li Hongtao has liked to sing since he was a child, and his singing voice is pure and beautiful.
Seeing that he was so talented in singing, his father specially invited a vocal teacher to guide him.
However, the pressure of life forced Li Hongtao to give up his studies after graduating from high school.
By his father's arrangement, he became a railroad worker.
During the six years he spent by the railroad tracks, Li Hongtao never gave up his love for music and performance.
Workers praised him for his good singing, but he longed for the opportunity to study professionally.
Inspirational to get the Chinese opera, fate ushered in a turnaround
Inspired by his vocal music teacher, Li Hongtao learned that there was also a university specializing in art.
So, he resolutely decided to resume his studies and try to get into an art school.
In 1987, Li Hongtao, who was 23 years old, was admitted to the Central Academy of Drama and became a student of the 87-level performance department.
After entering the Chinese opera, Li Hongtao became classmates with Hu Jun, He Bing, Chen Xiaoyi and others, and formed a deep friendship.
However, due to his late start, some of the basic courses were difficult for him.
In order to keep up with the progress, Li Hongtao practiced without sleep or food, often staying up all night.
Chen Xiaoyi, who was also re-registered, was also one of the hardest working students in the class.
Party to meet true love, unfavored love
During his studies in Chinese opera, a party organized by a teacher changed the trajectory of Li Hongtao's life.
At the party, he fell in love with the teacher's daughter Wang Honglei at first sight.
At that time, Li Hongtao was still an ordinary student, and Wang Honglei's family was well-off, so the teacher naturally disapproved of his daughter being with Li Hongtao.
But the power of love prevails over all.
Wang Honglei was moved by Li Hongtao's sincerity and steadfastness, and despite the opposition of her parents, she secretly obtained a marriage certificate with Li Hongtao.
After marriage, because there was no flat to divide the house, the young couple rented a simple basement, and although they were poor, they were happy.
The career is bumpy and unsmooth, and his wife never gives up
After graduating from university, students embarked on the road of film and television and gradually became popular.
However, Li Hongtao took root in the stage of Renyi drama and conscientiously honed his acting skills.
Despite his meager income, Li Hongtao never thought of giving up, believing that as long as he persists, there will always be a day to get ahead.
During this period, his wife Wang Honglei has always been his strongest backing.
No matter how difficult life is, she never complains, but has become Li Hongtao's most trusted partner and confidant.
Once, Wang Honglei had a high fever, and in order to save money, she didn't tell her husband who was filming in other places.
Afterwards, Li Hongtao blamed himself, and even filed for divorce, asking his wife to find a better home.
But Wang Honglei said: "I will never regret marrying you."
This made Li Hongtao deeply moved, and he also strengthened his pursuit of acting career.
The screen breakthrough was recognized, and the fighting spirit was touching
In the 90s, in order to improve family conditions, Li Hongtao began to try to shoot film and television dramas.
He successively starred in Tai Shici in "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" and Gou Jian in "Eastern Zhou Kingdoms", and gradually emerged.
In 1997, in "The Happy Life of Poor Zhang Damin" directed by Shen Haofang, the role of Li Musco played by Li Hongtao made him famous.
He grasped the ridiculous and cute characteristics of the character, and conquered the audience with his delicate and nuanced performances.
Then in "The Gate of the Mansion" filmed in 2000, the "Bai Yingyuan" he created was even more amazing.
In order to interpret an old Chinese medicine doctor with "benevolence and benevolence", he deliberately designed the details of "rubbing hot fingers and then trumpeting the pulse", which was highly appreciated by director Guo Baochang.
Li Hongtao's dedication and hard work have gradually become a good story in the circle.
During the filming of "Cliff", he only relied on smoking to maintain his weight loss; When he played the long-term worker "Lu San" in "White Deer Plain", he went deep into the rural life in advance, tanned his skin, and even did not hesitate to bake infrared lights.
He often says that "the drama is bigger than the sky", and this kind of respect and dedication to art makes people awe-inspiring.
Family happiness is not hype, hobbies become "troubles"
As his career gradually gets better, Li Hongtao has always kept a low profile, focused on acting, and never hyped up scandals.
For the family, he is even more attentive to management.
In addition to filming, he will take the initiative to hand over his income to his wife to take care of, so that she can take care of the family with peace of mind.
After his son grew up, Li Hongtao also became a "good father" in the eyes of his friends.
Now 60 years old, Li Hongtao has begun to spend more time with his family.
However, the "bad problem" of smoking addiction and sweet addiction often gives his wife a headache.
Every Mid-Autumn Festival, Li Hongtao always buys a lot of moon cakes and goes home, and eats them all by two.
His wife felt sorry for his health and always loved to count him, but Li Hongtao said aggrievedly: "I won't be fed if I can't eat!" This warm and funny episode has become a happy portrayal of this loving couple.
Epilogue:
Time flies, and with a flick of his fingers, Li Hongtao has gone through more than 30 years on the road of acting.
From an obscure railway worker to a powerful actor who is well-known in the film and television industry, he relies on perseverance and pious pursuit of art.
And what accompanies him all the way is not only his love for acting, but also the unwavering support of his wife Wang Honglei.
Li Hongtao's life has both the legendary color of ups and downs, and the most touching warmth of Chinese-style marriage.
He interprets the style of the "old artist" in his own way: dedicated, low-key, loving, and always maintains a pure and sincere heart.
This may be the most touching thing about Li Hongtao.
Now, although he is over the age of six, Li Hongtao's acting career has not come to an end.
I believe that with his unremitting efforts, the audience can once again be infected and inspired by his screen image.
And no matter how the years change, the like-minded love between him and his wife will surely become the most brilliant and lasting scenery in the entertainment industry.