Chinese Name: 吳慷仁
Born: November 24, 1982
Place of Birth: Kaohsiung (Southern Taiwan)
Did You Know?
Wu Kang-ren, also known as the "chameleon actor," has always been able to perfectly embody any role he takes on. Despite not having a formal acting education and only becoming an actor at the age of 27, he has gained recognition for his hard work, dedication, and exceptional acting skills.
Coming from a single-parent home, Wu Kang-ren started working at the age of 15 to support his family. After graduating from Kaohsiung Municipal Chung-Cheng Industrial High School (高雄市立中正高職)'s Electronic Control Department, he decided to forgo further education and entered the workforce. He has had a wide range of job experiences, including working as a construction worker, a street vendor, a garbage collector, and in cafes and supermarkets.
At the age of 24, he moved to Taipei and started working in a bar, which he has remarked made him realize that one can dedicate a lifetime to learning a true profession. From his experience washing glasses, he learned the importance of presenting a clean and orderly appearance both on and off the stage. To excel in mixology, Wu Kang-ren invested lot of effort, such as reading cocktail books at the 24-hour Eslite bookstore after finishing work at 4 a.m. He thought he would be a bartender for the rest of his life until a lucky opportunity came along—he received an invitation to participate in a commercial shoot, which changed his destiny.
During the commercial shoot, the director questioned his lack of soul and attitude in his performance. To improve himself, Wu Kang-ren applied and was accepted into the Master's program for Acting Training at Taipei National University of the Arts (國立台北藝術大學), with a 5% acceptance rate. With the guidance of film director Lee Chi-yuarn (李啟源) and producer Chien Li-fen (簡麗芬), he embarked on his journey in the world of acting.
Before becoming an actor, Wu had worked in some 40 different jobs. These experiences taught him the importance of “responsibility” and instilled in him the belief of “doing things with dedication.” He carries this life philosophy into his acting career and daily life.
Starting his acting career relatively late, Wu Kang-ren initially took on any role to increase his opportunities. As his experience accumulated, he still felt that his acting skills were not strong enough and that he didn't fully understand the essence of acting. He considers himself a hardworking actor and never denies that he lacks natural talent. Perhaps due to his competitive nature, he felt that he couldn't easily give up on acting. He believes that he is very fortunate to have eventually encountered directors who appreciate him and excellent scripts that have allowed him to fulfill many dreams in his work.
Wu officially became an actor at the age of 27. In 2009, director Chen Hui-ling (陳慧翎) recommended him for the supporting role in the TV drama "Autumn’s Concerto (下一站，幸福)," when he was still relatively unknown. This marked the beginning of his rise as an actor. Chen praised Wu, saying, "He is very similar to the character, possessing a genuineness and passion for life. He has his own convictions in every decision."
Not content with only playing characters similar to himself, Wu Kang-ren continues to challenge various types of roles. In 2013, he won the Best Actor award at the Asian Television Awards for his portrayal of a male lead with polio in the drama "Emerging Light (愛在旭日升起時)." In 2015, he was nominated for the Best Actor award in the 50th Golden Bell Awards for the dramas "Long Day’s Journey into Light (出境事務所)" and "Wake Up (麻醉風暴)," as well as for the Best Supporting Actor award in the Mini-Series/TV Movie category.
In 2016, Wu won the Best Actor award in the 51st Golden Bell Awards for his performance as pilot Kuo Chen in the period drama "A Touch of Green (一把青)." During the award ceremony, he expressed in his acceptance speech, "Maybe I’m not the most talented, but I can always be the hardest working."
Throughout his many years in the industry, Wu Kang-ren has produced numerous outstanding works, including the film "I Missed You (我沒有談的那場戀愛)" and TV dramas such as "The World Between Us (我們與惡的距離)," "Light the Night (華燈初上)," "Seqalu: Formosa 1867 (斯卡羅)," and "Copycat Killer (模仿犯)." He constantly challenges himself in his acting career and always manages to bring his characters to life, earning him high praise from audiences.