Who Is He? The Handsome Actor Who Keeps Rejecting Leading Man Roles
With fame comes opportunity, but one popular actor isn’t interested in getting promoted to leading man status.
Actor Yan Yi Kuan has acted in dozens of films and television series since the late 1990s. Though his performances have earned him both awards and nicknames such as the “Most Handsome Ancient Man,” Yan has turned down opportunities that could have taken his career to the next level, including leading man roles.
At age 20, Yan made his TV debut in the TV series Love Letter, where he played a playboy who was also a divorced father. As a rookie actor, he gained attention for both his acting chops and his heartthrob looks.
Instead of aiming for leading man roles, however, Yan reportedly chose diverse roles that challenged him, such as supporting characters and villains. He also chooses roles that allow him to prioritize his family and his work-life balance.
Yan’s most surprising career decision might be his refusal to play the lead role in Palace, a wildly successful 2011 series in China. Instead, he opted for a smaller supporting role.
His upcoming projects include the TV series The Legend of Ba Qing, Love and Passion, and The Justice.
