Zen Chong

Zen Chong
Born
Chong Cheng Xiong

(1978-08-15) 15 August 1978 (age 46)
Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia
Other names
  • Zhang Zhengxiang
  • Zhang Zengxiang
  • Zhang Zhenxiang
Occupations
  • Actor
  • property agent
Years active2001–present
Spouse
Geline See
(m. 2011)
Children2
Current stage name
Simplified Chinese章证翔
Traditional Chinese章證翔
Hanyu PinyinZhāng Zhèngxiáng
Birth name
Simplified Chinese章增祥[1]
Traditional Chinese章增祥
Hanyu PinyinZhāng Zēngxiáng
Former stage name
Simplified Chinese章缜翔
Traditional Chinese章縝翔
Hanyu PinyinZhang Zhěnxiáng

Zen Chong (born Chong Cheng Xiong; 15 August 1978), formerly known as Zzen Chong, is a Malaysian actor and property agent who is based in Singapore.

Early life

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A native of the "New Villages" in Kuala Lumpur, Chong studied graphic design and worked at an advertising agency prior to joining Star Search Malaysia.[2]

Career

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Chong joined MediaCorp in 2001 after finishing third in that year's Malaysian edition of Star Search Singapore.[3] One of his first major roles was in the 2003 sitcom Lobang King where he was cast alongside veteran artistes Chew Chor Meng, Huang Wenyong and Irene Ang as the smooth-talking employee of Huang's character.

Chong is known for portraying juvenile "ah beng" characters, antiheroes and villains. He shot to fame for his role as the main antagonist in the hit period drama The Little Nyonya.[4] Although initially a replacement for Andrew Seow, he was praised for his convincing portrayal of antagonist Robert Zhang and won a Best Supporting Actor nomination at the 2009 Star Awards, his first ever awards nomination.[5] He was given his first lead role in the 2008 co-production The Thin Line.

Personal life

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He married his long-time girlfriend Geline See in January 2011.[6] Chong and his wife have a daughter and a son.[7]

In 2012, it was revealed during the release of The Quarters that Chong changed a character in his Chinese name after consulting with a fortune teller. His English name was changed as well, from Zzen Chong to Zen Chong. He has also converted to part-time acting and since become a full-time property agent.[8]

Filmography

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Television series

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Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2002 The Vagrant Zhang Disheng
Kopi-O II Hong Fuxing
2003 Lobang King Hong Daji
True Heroes Wang Wei
Baby Boom James
Beautiful Trio Colin
Home in Toa Payoh Dino
2004 An Ode to Life Zhang Ruixiang
2005 Zero to Hero Ping
Beyond the aXis of Truth II Woody
Love Concierge Ruan Yawan
2006 The Shining Star Ah Pao
Women of Times Bruce
Love at 0°C Victor
2007 Switched! Jiang Zhiheng
Fallen Angel Chen Xuewen
2008 Where the Heart Is Hong Jiajun
Rhythm of Life Wang Tianbao
The Thin Line Chen Tianyou
The Little Nyonya Robert Zhang [9]
Zhang Zuye
2009 My Kampong Days Qiao Junwei
2010 Priceless Wonder Li Caishun
Unriddle Yu Zhenbang
Injustice Lin Shunyuan
2011 Be Happy Ken See
Dark Sunset Qiu Jiawei
2012 Yours Fatefully Hong Zhiguo
The Quarters Luo Hanguo [8]
Poetic Justice Eugene
Game Plan Li Ziguang
2013 It's a Wonderful Life Li Siyuan
Sudden Zhang Hongxing
2014 C.L.I.F. 3 Ding Youpeng
2015 Crescendo Zhang Shixin
2016 House of Fortune Henry
The Queen Chen Zijian
Soul Reaper (勾魂使者) Eddy
118 II Qiu Jianguo
2018 118 Reunion (118 大团圆)
Eat Already? 4 Weijie
Say Cheese Pan Zemin
Magic Chef (料理人生) Kenneth
2019 After the Stars (攻星计) Qingfeng
2020 Super Dad (男神不败) Yang Sheng
2021 CTRL He Shaoguang
2022 Dark Angel (黑天使) Zhang Haohui
2023 Fix My Life Ye Tingfeng
All That Glitters Roy
Stranger in the Dark (熟悉的陌生人) Adam [10]

Variety shows

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Year Title Notes Ref.
2002 King of Variety
2006 Battle of the Best
2009 Stars for a Cause
2010 Let's Party With Food! VII Guest appearance
2022 A Night Under the Stars Guest appearance
2023 The Reunion Guest appearance

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Nominated work Result Ref
2009 Star Awards Best Supporting Actor The Little Nyonya (as Robert Zhang) Nominated [9]
2011 Star Awards Best Supporting Actor Unriddle (as Yu Zhenbang) Nominated

References

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  1. ^ "艺人改名就改运?信不信由你!_wkh73_新浪博客". blog.sina.com.cn. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
  2. ^ 不回家铁链绑上车 章缜翔越鞭越皮 (in Chinese). Nanyang Siang Pau. 29 November 2011. Archived from the original on 26 August 2014. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
  3. ^ "Talented wannabes". New Straits Times. 8 June 2001.
  4. ^ "Zzen and the Art of Acting". Channel News Asia. 8 February 2010. Archived from the original on 19 January 2013.
  5. ^ "Andrew Seow helps HIV-positive friend". AsiaOne. 17 July 2009. Archived from the original on 22 July 2009. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
  6. ^ "Zzen Zhang's 'messy' wedding". Channel News Asia. 19 January 2011.
  7. ^ "'He scolded me and beat me quite often': Zen Chong lacked father's love in childhood, now tries to be different for own kids". AsiaOne. 11 August 2022. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
  8. ^ a b "梁丽芳章缜翔"隐姓埋名"改运途" (in Chinese). Lianhe Zaobao. 24 August 2012. Archived from the original on 30 August 2012.
  9. ^ a b "Zen Chong Says People Still Call Him The Little Nyonya's Robert Zhang, 15 Years After The Show Aired". 8days. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  10. ^ 潘, 雪忆 (22 September 2023). "《熟悉的陌生人》大胆起用新脸孔 萧歆霓、王硕瀚、卓芳娴首挑大梁". 8world Entertainment Lifestyle (in Chinese (Singapore)). Retrieved 22 September 2023.
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