Daniel Wu Bio
Daniel Neh-Tsu Wu (born September 30, 1974) is an American actor known for his distinctive roles in the Chinese language film industry. He made his film debut in 1998 and has since appeared in over 60 films. A three-time Golden Horse Award winner, Wu gained international recognition for his roles in the AMC martial arts series ‘Into the Badlands’ and the Disney+ series ‘American Born Chinese’.
Early Life and Background
Daniel Wu was born in Berkeley, California, and raised in Orinda, California. He is a third-generation Chinese American, with both of his parents’ families originally from Shanghai. His grandparents immigrated to the United States in the 1950s. Wu’s mother, Diana Wu, is a university professor, and his father, George Wu, is an engineer. Wu has two older sisters and an older brother who passed away when he was two years old. His grandfather introduced him to movies in Chinatown, which sparked his interest in martial arts after watching Jet Li and Donnie Yen films. Wu began studying wushu at age 11 and attended the Head-Royce School in Oakland before majoring in architecture at the University of Oregon. He founded the University of Oregon Wushu Club in 1994 and took film classes during his time there.
Path to Hollywood
Following his graduation, Wu traveled to Hong Kong in 1997 to witness the handover of the territory, initially without plans for a film career. However, after being encouraged by his sister, he began modeling, which led to his first film role in Yonfan’s ‘Bishonen’ in 1998. Despite not speaking Cantonese or reading Chinese at the time, he successfully completed the film. His performance earned him a nomination for Best New Actor at the Hong Kong Film Awards. Wu’s career took off with his leading role in ‘City of Glass’ and a supporting part in ‘Young and Dangerous: The Prequel’.
Daniel Wu Career
Early Career (1998–2005)
Wu’s breakthrough performance came in 1999 with his role in ‘Gen-X Cops’. He followed this success with roles in various films, including ‘Purple Storm’, ‘Peony Pavilion’, and ‘Love Undercover’. In 2001, he faced criticism for his role in ‘Cop on a Mission’, which ultimately attracted more attention to his work. His first experience in film production was in ‘Night Corridor’ (2003), where he was also nominated for Best Actor at the Golden Horse Film Awards. Wu participated in the production of the MTV show ‘Whatever Things!’ and performed in a stage production of ‘The Happy Prince’ during the Hong Kong Arts Festival.
Breakthrough (2005–2019)
In 2005, Wu was nominated for Best Actor at the Hong Kong Film Awards for his role in ‘One Nite in Mongkok’ and won the Best Supporting Actor award for ‘New Police Story’. He made his writing and directorial debut with ‘The Heavenly Kings’ in 2006, which was a mockumentary about the Hong Kong pop music industry. This film won him the Best New Director award at the Hong Kong Film Awards. In 2011, he starred in ‘Inseparable’, his first English-language film, alongside Kevin Spacey. From 2015 to 2019, Wu starred as Sunny in the AMC series ‘Into the Badlands’, where he also served as executive producer. He portrayed Gul’dan in the 2016 film ‘Warcraft’ and appeared in ‘Tomb Raider’ (2018) as Captain Lu Ren. In 2021, he featured in ‘Reminiscence’, marking another significant role in his career.
Notable Works and Milestones
Daniel Wu’s career is marked by his versatility and ability to take on diverse roles. He has won several awards, including three Golden Horse Awards, and has become a prominent figure in both the Chinese and international film industries.
Daniel Wu Award Nominations
Throughout his career, Daniel Wu has received numerous nominations for his performances, particularly at the Hong Kong Film Awards and Golden Horse Film Awards.
Daniel Wu Awards Won
Daniel Wu has won several prestigious awards, including three Golden Horse Awards, recognizing his contributions to the film industry.
Daniel Wu Family
Daniel Wu is married to Lisa S., with whom he tied the knot in 2010. They have a daughter born in 2013. Wu maintains residences in multiple cities, including Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, and Oakland, California.
Personal Life
Wu continues to train in wushu and other martial arts. Following the passing of his mother in 2014, he relocated his family back to California to care for his father and support his daughter’s education. He has publicly denied rumors regarding his political stance on Hong Kong independence.