Jia Hongsheng
Encyclopedia
Jia Hongsheng was a Chinese
actor.
, to Jia Fengsen and Chai Xiuling, both retired theater actors from northeast China
. He had a younger sister, Wang Tong.
, a movie that chronicles his life and his story, in which he struggles to overcome drug and alcohol addiction. He also appeared in other Chinese films.
He graduated from the Central Academy of Drama
in Beijing
in 1989, and soon gained fame in the late 1980s and early 1990s as an actor in films such as The Case of the Silver Snake and A Woman from North Shaanxi. While rehearsing for a stageplay titled Kiss of the Spider Woman
(also directed by Zhang Yang) in the fall of 1992, Jia first became exposed to marijuana and eventually became addicted, while also experimenting occasionally with heroin. Then, in 1995, after filming Weekend Lovers, Jia quit acting completely and lived off his younger sister Wang Tong. He was also an avid fan of The Beatles. He listened to their music obsessively and began to fantasize himself as the son of the lead singer, John Lennon.
In late 1995, his parents decided to move to Beijing in order to help their son quit drugs. Wang Tong also came back to live with her parents and brother in the same apartment. Several efforts made by his parents to penetrate their son's inner world were met with indifference, sometimes even hostility. Over time, however, Jia began to open up. He started to take regular walks with his father, usually buying a bottle or two of beer along the way. Jia Fengsen also bought his son cassette tapes by The Beatles.
In early 1996, Jia relapsed after being off drugs for almost six months. On 19 March of that year, after drinking several bottles of beer for the celebration of his twenty-ninth birthday, Jia slapped his father, claiming it was to teach him the "meaning of life". Jia's family was upset by this and felt he needed to be taught a lesson. They contacted the police, and three officers arrived at their house the next day. Jia was taken into custody and sent to a mental institution.
Upon arrival at the institution, after being placed on medication, his condition improved greatly. He also stopped fantasizing and started to see himself as just an ordinary human being. His doctor determined that Jia was not suffering from schizophrenia but recommended that he stay a little longer to sober completely. He was finally discharged on 19 March 1997, his thirtieth birthday.
in Beijing. He was found dead on the trunk of a car around 6:00pm.
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
actor.
Early life
Jia was born in Siping, JilinJilin
Jilin , is a province of the People's Republic of China located in the northeastern part of the country. Jilin borders North Korea and Russia to the east, Heilongjiang to the north, Liaoning to the south, and Inner Mongolia to the west...
, to Jia Fengsen and Chai Xiuling, both retired theater actors from northeast China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
. He had a younger sister, Wang Tong.
Life and career
Jia began acting in the late 1980s, and is probably best remembered in the 2001 Chinese drama film, QuittingQuitting
Quitting is a 2001 Chinese drama film directed by Zhang Yang, starring and based on the true life story of Jia Hongsheng. Jia, an actor and former drug addict, battled his addiction to marijuana and heroin for five years from 1992 to 1997...
, a movie that chronicles his life and his story, in which he struggles to overcome drug and alcohol addiction. He also appeared in other Chinese films.
He graduated from the Central Academy of Drama
Central Academy of Drama
The Central Academy of Drama is a drama school in Beijing, People's Republic of China.-History:The academy was established in April 1950. It was named by Mao Zedong. It inherited the drama department of Lu Xun Art Academy in Yan'an, art school of North China University, and National Drama College...
in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
in 1989, and soon gained fame in the late 1980s and early 1990s as an actor in films such as The Case of the Silver Snake and A Woman from North Shaanxi. While rehearsing for a stageplay titled Kiss of the Spider Woman
Kiss of the Spider Woman
Kiss of the Spider Woman is a 1985 Brazilian-American drama film. It was directed by Argentine-born Brazilian director Héctor Babenco, and adapted by Leonard Schrader from the Manuel Puig novel of the same name...
(also directed by Zhang Yang) in the fall of 1992, Jia first became exposed to marijuana and eventually became addicted, while also experimenting occasionally with heroin. Then, in 1995, after filming Weekend Lovers, Jia quit acting completely and lived off his younger sister Wang Tong. He was also an avid fan of The Beatles. He listened to their music obsessively and began to fantasize himself as the son of the lead singer, John Lennon.
In late 1995, his parents decided to move to Beijing in order to help their son quit drugs. Wang Tong also came back to live with her parents and brother in the same apartment. Several efforts made by his parents to penetrate their son's inner world were met with indifference, sometimes even hostility. Over time, however, Jia began to open up. He started to take regular walks with his father, usually buying a bottle or two of beer along the way. Jia Fengsen also bought his son cassette tapes by The Beatles.
In early 1996, Jia relapsed after being off drugs for almost six months. On 19 March of that year, after drinking several bottles of beer for the celebration of his twenty-ninth birthday, Jia slapped his father, claiming it was to teach him the "meaning of life". Jia's family was upset by this and felt he needed to be taught a lesson. They contacted the police, and three officers arrived at their house the next day. Jia was taken into custody and sent to a mental institution.
Upon arrival at the institution, after being placed on medication, his condition improved greatly. He also stopped fantasizing and started to see himself as just an ordinary human being. His doctor determined that Jia was not suffering from schizophrenia but recommended that he stay a little longer to sober completely. He was finally discharged on 19 March 1997, his thirtieth birthday.
Death
On 5 July 2010, Jia jumped to death from Building 19, an apartment building at the Anyuan Beili Community in Chaoyang DistrictChaoyang District
Chaoyang District may refer to:*Chaoyang District, Beijing, district in Beijing*Chaoyang District, Changchun, district in Changchun, Jilin*Chaoyang District, Shantou, district in Shantou, Guangdong...
in Beijing. He was found dead on the trunk of a car around 6:00pm.
Filmography
- 1988 - The Case of the Silver Snake, Hao Feiyu
- 1988 - Samsara
- 1991 - Good Morning, Beijing!
- 1993 - A Woman from North Shaanxi
- 1993 - Hei huo, Zhao Mengyu
- 1994 - Suicides
- 1995 - Weekend LoverWeekend LoverWeekend Lover is the 1995 directorial debut by Chinese director Lou Ye. The film stars actors Jia Hongsheng and Ma Xiaoqing. Fellow director Wang Xiaoshuai also plays a minor role....
, A Xi - 1997 - FrozenFrozen (1997 film)Frozen is a 1997 Chinese film directed by Wang Xiaoshuai. The film was originally shot in 1994, but was banned by Chinese authorities and had to be smuggled out of the country. Moreover, Wang was operating under a blacklisting from the Chinese Film Bureau that was imposed after his previous film,...
, Qi Lei - 2000 - Suzhou RiverSuzhou River (film)Suzhou River is a 2000 film by Lou Ye about a tragic love story set in contemporary Shanghai. The film, though stylistically distinct, is typical of "Sixth Generation" Chinese filmmakers in its subject matter of contemporary China's gritty urban experience...
, Mardar - 2001 - QuittingQuittingQuitting is a 2001 Chinese drama film directed by Zhang Yang, starring and based on the true life story of Jia Hongsheng. Jia, an actor and former drug addict, battled his addiction to marijuana and heroin for five years from 1992 to 1997...
, Jia Hongsheng, himself