Jack Kao

Jack Kao, born on April 23, 1958, in Taiwan, is a veteran actor. Before entering the industry, he worked as a sous-chef in a hotel. Later, by chance, he provided a story to producer Chang Hwa-Kun. Director Hou Hsiao-Hsien was deeply impressed by Jack Kao and strongly persuaded him to join the film industry. His first film appearance was in 1987, starring in Hou Hsiao-Hsien's "Daughter of the Nile." In 1989, he participated in the film "A City of Sadness." In 1992, Jack Kao made a memorable impression by playing a local Taiwanese gangster boss for the first time in the movie "Dust of Angels," establishing himself as the quintessential choice for gangster roles. In 1998, in Hou Hsiao-Hsien's film "Flowers of Shanghai," he personally prepared the dishes for the banquet scenes, showcasing his deep culinary skills from his past. Jack Kao's acting career spans both films and television. He has won several awards, including the Best Actor at the Asian Television Awards, Best Supporting Actor at the Golden Bell Awards, and Best Leading Actor at the Chinese Australian Film Festival.
In 2000, the romantic thriller crime film "Nomad"—one of the stories from "Hidden Whisper"—in which he participated, was released. In 2004, Jack Kao married Chen Min-Zhen, who is 22 years younger than him. In 2005, he won the Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series at the 40th Golden Bell Awards for his role as Ke Lao-Xiong in "White Magnolia." In 2008, Jack Kao was nominated for Best Leading Actor at the 2nd Asian Film Awards. The following year, he played the role of Master Lin, a paper craftsman, in the comedy film "A Place of One's Own," and won the Best Supporting Actor at the 2010 Chinese Film Media Awards for this role. In 2012, he starred in the film "Who Killed Cock Robin." Between 2015 and 2020, Jack Kao participated in a series of gangster-themed films and TV shows, such as "The Gangsters Daughter," "Wild City," and "One Night Only ." Since 2021, Jack Kao has appeared in lifestyle-themed works like "The arc of life ," "Daily Fantasy," and "Sticky Club," and participated in the variety show "Hi Directors." In 2023, he played a "funny boss" in the family comedy film "Dangerous Sister ." In 2024, Jack Kao's films "Han Dan," "Dark Water Hill," and "Gatao: Like Father Like Son" will be released.