Biography

Distinguished Artist - People's Artist Bùi Cường (b. 1945 in Hanoi - 3 August 2018) was a Vietnamese actor and director. He graduated from the second acting class of the University of Theater and Performing Arts of Hanoi, alongside other People's Artists such as Đào Bá Sơn, Minh Châu, Quốc Trọng and Thanh Quý. Bùi Cường is best known for his role as Chí Phèo in a classic of Vietnamese cinema, "Once Upon a Time in Vũ Đại Village" (Làng Vũ Đại ngày ấy, d. Phạm Văn Khoa, 1982). The film is a joint adaptation of three of Nam Cao's works: "Chi Pheo" (Chí Phèo, 1941); "Old Hạc" (Lão Hạc, 1943) and "Corroded Life" (Sống mòn, 1956). He then continued to impress in other roles such as Trần Tuấn in "Minute 89" (Phút 89, d. Quốc Long); Trần Quân in "The Murderer" (Kẻ giết người, d. Hoài Linh); Mộc in "Horizonless" (Không có đường chân trời, d. Nguyễn Khánh Dư, 1986); and Năm Hòa in "Saigon Rangers" (Biệt động Sài Gòn; d. Long Vân, 1982-1986). Bùi Cường's first directing effort was "Hero with a Twirled Beard" (Người hùng râu quặp, 1990). In 1996, he directed "The Childless Woman" (Người đàn bà không con). In 2003, his TV series "The Spy and His Two Wives" (Vị tướng tình báo và hai bà vợ) was well received and won the Gold Prize at the Vietnam National Television Festival.