In the collective memory of Chinese audiences, the names Song Dandan, Zhao Benshan, Niu Qun, Feng Gong, Chen Peisi and Niu Ben have been like bright stars, illuminating countless happy and peaceful Spring Festival nights.
With their witty humor and impressive performances, they brought laughter and emotion to the audience, and also won themselves a high status in the art world. Song Dandan and Zhao Benshan's sketches are always full of jokes, they portray the details of life vividly, and the tacit cooperation makes the audience amazed.
Niu Qun and Feng Gong are the "nail households" of the Spring Festival Gala, their works are full of wit and irony, often making people laugh and taste the ups and downs of life.
Chen Peisi's humorous style is unique, and his performances can always give people a refreshing feeling, allowing the audience to experience the true feelings of the world in laughter. With his profound acting skills, Niu Ben has created unforgettable roles in works such as "Wrangler" and "Sea Oath", showing the charm of an old actor.
In that era when there were no short videos and no live webcasts, these artists were well-deserved "traffic stars". Their performances not only bring joy to the audience, but also subtly influence people's values and aesthetics.
The stage of the Spring Festival Gala has become the best platform for them to display their talents, and it has also witnessed the peak moment of their careers. However, time flies like a white horse, and the glory of the past will eventually become a precious memory.
As they grew older, these veteran artists had to face new life choices. Some choose to continue to stick to the stage, some try to transform into other fields, and some choose to enjoy their old age in peace.
In any case, the mark they have left on the history of Chinese performing arts is indelible. These dazzling stars are gradually entering the second half of their lives, and their stories may have just begun.
With the rapid development of the times, artists who were once powerful are also facing important choices in life. Among them, the decision of the 75-year-old herd is particularly eye-catching, and it is also the most reflective of the impact of the changing times on the artist.
At the peak of his career, Niu Qun made a surprising decision - to leave the familiar stage and go to Mengxian County as a deputy county magistrate. This decision is like a bombshell, which has caused a lot of shock in the entertainment industry.
With full of enthusiasm, the herd paid millions of dollars out of their own pockets to build schools in Mengxian County, hoping to make substantial contributions to local development. However, the gap between ideals and reality is often embarrassing.
All kinds of controversies ensued, and in the end, the herd had to donate their net worth naked to prove their innocence and leave the political arena in disgrace. When the herd tries to return to the sketch world, he is surprised to find that the once familiar stage is no longer human.
He found his old partner Feng Gong, hoping to regain the glory of the past, but the sketch world has "changed the dynasty" and can no longer find a place for him. This feeling of being abandoned by the times must have made the herd feel lost.
Unlike the herd, other artists have chosen different paths. Although Song Dandan announced his retirement, he still maintains his love for art and occasionally participates in the filming of variety shows and TV series.
Zhao Benshan chose to retreat into the background and handed over "Benshan Media" to the apprentices to manage, but still maintained his attention to the industry. Feng Gong and Chen Peisi chose to continue to shine on the stage.
Although Feng Gong left the big stage of the Spring Festival Gala, he was still active in the Spring Festival Gala of the local station, continuing his artistic life in his own way. Chen Peisi took his son to continue to work on the drama stage, passing on his artistic passion to the next generation.
Behind these choices are the artists' understanding of the times, their dedication to art, and their thinking about the value of life. Their experience is not only a portrayal of personal destiny, but also a microcosm of the changes of the entire era.
In the face of the passage of time, these veteran artists have different attitudes and choices towards the topic of "retirement", each of which reflects their unique interpretation of the second half of life.
63-year-old Song Dandan recently announced her retirement for the second time, and this time she said that she would completely "retire" after participating in the last variety show. recalled that in 2020, she once left the Beijing People's Art Theater and announced that she would no longer act in dramas.
However, in the past few years, she still occasionally participates in variety shows, acts in TV series, and spends more time with her husband, children and grandchildren. Song Dandan's "retreat without stopping" seems to reveal her attachment and reluctance to perform, and also shows her love for life.
Recently, some netizens also met Song Dandan in a hotel in Hong Kong, and saw her leisurely eating breakfast and learning English on the computer, this positive attitude towards life is really admirable.
Similar to Song Dandan, 66-year-old Zhao Benshan also chose a way of "retiring without resting". Although he announced his retirement early and handed over "Benshan Media" to the management of his apprentices, he still occasionally participates in the company's works.
Zhao Benshan's choice is not only a trust in the new generation, but also an insistence on self-worth. Although his gray hair looks a little vicissitudes, he still maintains his focus and enthusiasm for his career.
In contrast, Feng Gong and Chen Peisi chose to continue to shine on the stage. Although Feng Gong left the big stage of the Spring Festival Gala, he was still active in the Spring Festival Gala of the local station.
This year, he also participated in Shandong Satellite TV's Spring Festival Gala, and the sentence "I want to die to you" can still resonate with the audience, showing his artistic charm that keeps pace with the times. Chen Peisi took his son to continue to work on the drama stage, passing on his artistic passion to the next generation.
At nearly 70 years old, he will still share his news on social platforms, and he is in a very good condition. Everyone's retirement path is different, but they all interpret their love for art and attitude towards life in their own way.
Whether they choose to retire completely, or continue to sweat on the stage, they are writing the wonderful second half of their lives in their own way, showing the vitality and creativity of the old artists.
The years are like songs, and the artists who used to be infinitely beautiful, but now their later life presents a scene of ice and fire, reflecting the various states of life. Recently, the 75-year-old cow herd has once again attracted the attention of netizens because of the photos of appearing in their own community.
What is sad is that the community where the cattle live is called the "slum" of Beijing by netizens. This former "nail household" of the Spring Festival Gala is now living in such an environment, which can't help but make people sigh.
The experience of the herd is like a warning: fame and fortune are impermanent, and life is impermanent. From the stage of the Spring Festival Gala to local politics, and then to the loneliness of his later years, he reflects the opportunities and challenges faced by artists in social changes.
In stark contrast to the herd is the affluent life of several other artists. Song Dandan has accumulated a lot of property herself, and her husband who married for the third time is a rich man, so she naturally has no worries about food and clothing in her later years.
Not only can she enjoy breakfast at a high-end hotel in Hong Kong, but she also has the leisure to learn English, which is really enviable. Also living a good life is Chen Peisi. Some netizens found that Chen Peisi's grandson's school tuition fee is as high as more than 200,000 yuan a year, and Chen Peisi has 4 grandchildren, which shows that his financial resources should not be underestimated.
This kind of economic strength allows Chen Peisi to devote himself to the drama career he loves and continue to move forward on the road of art. Feng Gong's quality of life is also quite good.
He lives in a mansion and has his own yard to grow vegetables, showing a leisurely state of life. This condition allows Feng Gong to calmly choose to continue to perform on stages such as the Spring Festival Gala of local stations and continue his artistic life.
Although Zhao Benshan has retreated into the background, the "Benshan Media" he founded is still influencing China's comedy industry, and the economic situation must be quite stable. It is also a blessing for him to be able to enjoy his family and spend time with his family.
The stark contrast between the lives of these artists in their later years reflects not only the difference in the wealth accumulation at the peak of their careers, but also the results of the choices they made on the path of life.
However, whether rich or poor, they have made indelible contributions to China's performing arts, which is worthy of our eternal respect and remembrance. In the later lives of these old artists, the family played a crucial role.
Some people enjoy the joy of their children and grandchildren around their knees, while others have to face the desolation of life alone, showing different sides of life. Song Dandan's later life can be described as happy.
Her son, Batu, is married and has added a grandson to her. After retirement, Song Dandan spent more time with her husband, children and grandchildren, and truly enjoyed the joy of family.
This harmonious and warm family atmosphere allows 63-year-old Song Dandan to maintain a positive attitude towards life after retirement, and even learning English, showing her love for life and the pursuit of self-improvement.
Zhao Benshan also lives a happy life full of children and grandchildren. Although the 66-year-old has white hair that looks a little vicissitudes, some time ago, his daughter Qiuqiu got married and gave birth to a son, so that Zhao Benshan also became a happy grandfather.
This kind of family warmth is undoubtedly the best reward for his many years of artistic career. Chen Peisi's family life is even more lively. His son gave birth to 4 children for him, so that Chen Peisi, who is nearly 70 years old, can live a happy life full of children and grandchildren.
Despite his advanced age, Chen Peisi is still active on social platforms, sharing his life dynamics, and his condition is quite good. This positive attitude towards life is largely due to his harmonious and happy family life.
However, not all artists enjoy such a happy family life. Niu Ben, who won the Golden Rooster Award for Lifetime Achievement, experienced loneliness in his later years. In 2019, Niu Ben's wife passed away, and at the age of 80, he chose to live in a nursing home alone.
Although he lives in a high-end nursing home, passers-by still feel a little sad when they see him living alone in his old age. Sometimes, passers-by will ask him if he lacks anything and what he wants to bring him, and although this care is warm, it also highlights the loneliness of the old man's life in his later years.
The family life of these old artists shows the variety of life. There is laughter, there are tears; There is reunion, and there is parting. But no matter what, they are interpreting the meaning and value of life in their own way.
The living conditions of these old artists in their later years are not only a portrayal of their personal fate, but also a mirror, reflecting the society's attitude and concern towards art and the elderly.
63-year-old Song Dandan recently announced his retirement for the second time, which sparked a lot of discussion. People are not only concerned about her whereabouts, but also about thinking about the artist's retirement system.
Song Dandan still maintains the momentum of learning after retirement, and many people are moved by the act of using a computer to learn English. This positive attitude to life has set an example for many seniors.
Although the 66-year-old Zhao Benshan has retired from the background, the "Benshan Media" he founded is still influencing China's comedy industry. His choice reflects a successful artist's thinking about career inheritance, and also triggers a discussion about artistic inheritance.
The experience of the 75-year-old herd provokes deep reflection on the artist's transformation. From the stage of the Spring Festival Gala to local politics, and then to the loneliness of his later years, he reflects the opportunities and challenges faced by artists in social changes.
He now lives in a neighborhood known as the "Slum", a situation that has drawn social attention to the livelihood of elderly artists. Feng Gong and Chen Peisi chose to stick to the stage, and their persistence illustrates the artist's dedication to the performance career.
In particular, Feng Gong's appearance in the local Taiwan Spring Festival Gala shows the determination of the old artists to adapt to the new era. His sentence "I miss you to death" not only resonated with the audience, but also reflected the audience's nostalgia and support for the old artist.
Chen Peisi, who is nearly 70 years old, continues to work the drama stage with his son, passing on his artistic passion to the next generation, showing the artist's perseverance in his career and the cultivation of future generations.
Niu Ben, who is over 80 years old, has aroused social attention to the living conditions of elderly artists. Living alone in a nursing home, he has touched the hearts of many people, and has also made people think about how to better care for elderly artists.
The life trajectories of these old artists are a microcosm of the times and a witness to social changes. Their stories allow us to see the perseverance and struggle of artists in the torrent of the times, and also make us think about how to better respect art and care for the elderly in a rapidly changing society.