In 1955, Li Qi was born in an ordinary working family in Shanxi. In his childhood, he was naughty and naughty, going up the trees and down the river with his friends all day long, and lacked interest in learning.
Who would have thought that this little boy who didn't learn anything would embark on the road of acting by accident? The young Li Qi originally only accompanied his friends to participate in the examination of the Shaanxi Provincial People's Art Theater.
However, under the persuasion of the invigilator, he participated in the exam by accident. With his extraordinary skills and the favor of fate, Li Qi actually passed all the exams, but his friend was defeated.
What's even more surprising is that he was also accepted as a disciple by the examiner. This adventure gave Li Qi the idea of studying in the art theater. However, his family strongly objected, believing that "actors are actors" and that only farmers are supreme.
They even threatened to sever ties with Li Qi. Faced with the opposition of his family, the stubborn Li Qi insisted on his choice. Eventually, during that tumultuous time, the family reluctantly agreed to his decision.
After entering the Shaanxi Provincial People's Art Theater, the unruly Li Qi did not focus on acting studies. He spent most of his time in factories, in the countryside, and in the army.
However, it was these close-to-life experiences that laid a solid foundation for his future acting career. In 1992, Li Qi embarked on the road of North Drift with a dream. When he first arrived in Beijing, he lived in a guest house, lived in a basement, and even worked as a coolie to make ends meet.
From dramas to sketches, he has experienced countless encounters and disappointments. However, Li Qi never gave up, and he firmly believed that he would one day shine in the city.
During this difficult period of drifting north, Li Qi's friend Guo Da reached out to help. At that time, Guo Da had already made a name for himself on the stage of the Spring Festival Gala, and his career was thriving. Under Guo Da's recommendation, Li Qi turned from the drama stage to sketch performances, opening up a new direction for his acting career.
In 1997, opportunity finally favored this indomitable North Drifter actor. In the movie "Party A and Party B" directed by Feng Xiaogang, Li Qi played a supporting role called "Fat Cook".
Although there are not many scenes, Li Qi interprets this role well with his superb acting skills, which leaves a deep impression on the audience. This seemingly ordinary supporting role has become an important turning point in Li Qi's acting career.
Since then, Li Qi's career has begun to get on the right track. In 1998, he joined the Armed Police Art Troupe, where he used his expertise to bring joy to his comrades-in-arms and enrich their cultural life.
This experience not only broadened Li Qi's life experience, but also laid the foundation for him to later shape the role of the military. In 2001, Li Qi ushered in another important opportunity - to appear on the stage of the Spring Festival Gala.
He and Yin Xiangjie, Zang Tianshuo, Liu Hui, and Liu Jinshan formed a "Thousand Jin Group" and sang "New Kangding Love Song" together. This appearance made the national audience remember this honest and lovely actor and further expanded his popularity.
In the years that followed, Li Qi participated in many well-known TV series, creating one vivid role after another. He used his unique performance charm to win the love of the audience and gradually became the "old drama bone" in people's mouths.
For every role, Li Qi has poured all his heart and soul into it, striving to portray the characters vividly. However, behind the fame is Li Qi's hard work. In order to better interpret the role, he often delves into the script without sleep or food, and repeatedly figures out the psychology of the character.
The high-intensity work made him physically and mentally exhausted, and gradually, Li Qi began to use alcohol to relieve stress and numb himself. Li Qi is immersed in the glory of his career and enjoys the love of the audience, but ignores the potential threat to health of this lifestyle.
He naively thought that he was strong and strong, and that these small indulgences would not cause much of a problem. However, he didn't know that this seemingly harmless habit was quietly planting the seeds of hidden health hazards.
In the busy filming work, Li Qi met his true love, makeup artist Gao Li. The two met in the dressing room on the set, and they had subtle feelings in getting along day and night.
Li Qi was attracted by Goryeo's gentleness and thoughtfulness, and Goryeo was also moved by Li Qi's humor. This relationship came as fast as lightning, and after only a month together, the two made the decision to enter the marriage hall hand in hand.
This love, which can be called a "flash marriage", caused quite a stir in the entertainment industry at that time. However, Li Qi and Gao Li are steadfast in their choice. Although their relationship came suddenly, it was also sincere and deep.
In the busy work, the two cherish every minute of time together and manage this hard-won relationship with their hearts. Under the influence of Li Qi, his son Gao Dai chose to follow in his father's footsteps and enter the showbiz when he grew up, continuing the family's artistic tradition.
And her daughter Gao Ya chose a very different path and became an honorable soldier who served in the Marine Corps. The different choices of the two children made Li Qi extremely proud.
The warmth of the family has become Li Qi's strongest backing. Whenever he came home after a hard job on the set, he could always feel the thoughtfulness of his wife and the laughter of his children. This seemingly ordinary but loving family has always kept Li Qi sincere in the complicated entertainment industry.
However, Li Qi did not realize that his bad habits were quietly affecting this happy family. His wife, Gao Li, often looked worriedly at his face, which was getting thinner day by day, and advised him to drink less alcohol and pay more attention to his body.
The children also often remind their fathers to quit smoking. But Li Qi always laughed it off, thinking that he was physically strong and would be fine. Little did he know that this attitude would eventually lay a hidden danger for his health in the future.
The years are unforgiving. Years of cigarettes and alcohol have finally made Li Qi's health a red light. As he grew older, he began to have various problems with his body. Diabetes, gout, high blood pressure, hyperlipidemia, and even cardiovascular blockages followed.
This "old drama bone" who used to be active in front of the screen now needs to use a wheelchair to move, which makes his fans both surprised and distressed. When his condition worsened, Li Qi had to be hospitalized several times.
The doctor told him in all seriousness that if he didn't change his lifestyle, the consequences would be dire. However, the power of habit was so strong that even after his condition improved, he still found it difficult to resist the temptation of smoking and drinking.
Whenever he feels stressed, Li Qi still unconsciously reaches for a cigarette or pours himself a glass of wine. The doctor's advice and his family's advice were all trivialities in his opinion.
Li Qi always said confidently: "My body is tough, it's okay." Even after his condition improved, he continued to eat meat in a big way, as if he had completely forgotten the health crisis he had just experienced.
However, fate gave Li Qi a heavy wake-up call. Once, he was teetering on the brink of life and death due to an aggravation of his condition, and this experience completely shook him. Li Qi, who was lying on the hospital bed, recalled his life, and his heart was full of regret and self-blame.
He thought of his wife, Goryeo, who was worried about him day and night, and of his children, who had not yet grown up, and finally realized the importance of health. At this life-and-death juncture, Li Qi made up his mind to quit drinking completely.
He understands that if he doesn't change, he may never have the opportunity to spend time with his family again. It was a hard-won decision, and the process of quitting alcohol was extremely difficult. Sometimes, he feels irritable and even has a withdrawal reaction.
But for the sake of his family and for himself, he gritted his teeth and persevered. This experience made Li Qi re-examine his lifestyle. He began to actively cooperate with the treatment, tried to adjust his work and rest, and slowly, his physical condition improved significantly.
Although the process of quitting smoking was also challenging, Li Qi knew that this was a hurdle he had to overcome. With the support and encouragement of his family, Li Qi regained his health step by step.
He began to try light exercise, ate a balanced diet, and learned to relax. Gradually, the energetic Li Qi returned. This experience not only changed his habits, but also gave him a new understanding and cherishing of life.
In March 2023, a video sparked heated discussions online. In the video, Li Qi, who has been retired for many years, is grilling lamb kebabs in front of his home in the suburbs of Beijing. This former "old drama bone" has now turned into a barbecue stall owner, which is really surprising.
In the video, Li Qi is wearing a popular antique cotton dress with khaki underwear, a black hat on his head, and a scruffy beard that looks quite casual.
Despite this, his complexion was ruddy and his mental state looked good, except that his beard was gray and his belly was a little rounder. Li Qi's barbecue stall is not large, it is in the small courtyard in front of his house.
In front of a charcoal barbecue, Li Qi turned the mutton skewers intently, and his movements were skillful. He carefully controls the heat to prevent scorching, and does not forget to sprinkle seasoning when it is almost cooked.
During the whole process, Li Qi seemed to be in high spirits, as if he was really an experienced barbecue master. However, what is even more shocking is the price given by Li Qi: fifty yuan a string! This "sky-high price" immediately aroused heated discussions among netizens.
When a passer-by asked about the price, Li Qi replied with a smile that ordinary people sell a skewer for five yuan, but he naturally sells it for fifty yuan a skewer. As he spoke, he didn't forget to give a thumbs up to his barbecue, looking quite proud.
As soon as the video was released, it immediately caused an uproar online. Some people think it's a star effect, worth the price; Some people also questioned whether Li Qi was taking the opportunity to speculate, and some even wondered if he had a problem with his economic situation.
Speculation and comments are rampant online. In the face of doubts, Li Qi seemed indifferent. He laughs and explains that this is just an attempt at his retirement life, to pass the time for his own amusement.
The exaggerated price is just a joke. However, this incident has aroused people's attention to Li Qi's recent situation. What kind of life does he live now, who used to be glamorous in front of the screen? Does he really need to make ends meet by selling barbecue? These questions continue to ferment on the Internet, and people are full of curiosity about the retirement life of the former star.
In fact, Li Qi's retirement life is far more colorful than people think. He and his wife, Gao Li, live in a small bungalow on the outskirts of Beijing, living a leisurely life.
Although he was far away from the hustle and bustle of the entertainment industry, Li Qi did not let himself be idle. After retirement, Li Qi regards retirement as a new starting point in life. He is actively involved in the community, making new friends and trying new things.
In the community, Li Qi can often be seen busy. He participates in various cultural events and sometimes shares his acting experience with his neighbors. Li Qi also has a wide range of hobbies.
He began to learn calligraphy, often sitting for hours at a time, practicing his strokes intently. Cooking has also become his new hobby, and he enjoys researching various dishes and sometimes cooking for his family.
In addition, gardening has also become a big hobby for Li Qi, who grows flowers and plants in his small yard and enjoys the fun of plant growth. The barbecue video that day was just one of Li Qi's many attempts.
He faces life with a humorous attitude and interprets the excitement of retirement life in his own way. For Li Qi, this kind of experimentation is more of a self-amusement, one of the ways he stays alive.
Looking back on the past, Li Qi was full of emotion. From the naughty teenager of the year, to the famous "old drama bone", to today's happy retiree, he has experienced too many ups and downs in his life.
Now, he has finally learned to cherish his health, cherish the present, and embrace every day of life with a positive attitude. After experiencing the health alarm bell, Li Qi paid more attention to health preservation.
He insisted on morning exercise every day, maintained a regular schedule and rest, and ate a healthier and more balanced diet. This lifestyle not only made his physical condition significantly better, but also refreshed his mental outlook.
Regarding the speculation of the outside world, Li Qi has always maintained a humorous and optimistic attitude. He said: "My life is very full now, I have something new to do every day, why do I need to worry about money? This open-minded attitude is the embodiment of Li Qi's wisdom in life.