Xu Guangming (徐光明)

Xu Guangming, a son of a founding major general of the People's Liberation Army, built a legendary career by playing the polar opposite — a specialist in portraying Nationalist generals and historical villains. His ability to bring these complex figures to life, most famously the "King of Shanxi" Yan Xishan, earned him the title of "Nationalist General Specialist" in Chinese cinema. Breakthrough Role: His claim to fame While Xu began his film career in 1974 with the war film Eagle of the Long Sky, his breakthrough to national recognition arguably came later when he portrayed the treacherous warlord Chen Jiongming in the 1983 historical film Liao Zhongkai. This role marked his first foray into playing military figures of the Nationalist era, setting the stage for his future as the definitive actor for such characters. However, for younger audiences, he is perhaps best remembered for his stunning turn as the wise and cautious Chief Steward Lü Fang, the most trusted eunuch of the Jiajing Emperor, in the acclaimed historical drama Ming Dynasty in 1566. Public Perception: Status and reputation Xu Guangming is fondly remembered as a deeply respected "Old Drama Veteran" (老戏骨) and a master of the "character actor" craft — an artist whose name might not be a household word, but whose face is instantly recognized from a dozen classic films and TV series. His performances were so transformative that audiences often didn't realize the same actor portrayed the ruthless eunuch Lü Fang and the iconic "King of Shanxi" Yan Xishan until the credits rolled. Upon his passing in 2015, the Chinese media mourned the loss of a true artist, noting that his death was a tremendous loss to the film and television industry.