{{short description|Malaysian actor (born 1978)}} {{family name hatnote|Chong|lang=Chinese}} {{Use British English|date=August 2014}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}} {{infobox person | name = Zen Chong | image = | alt = | caption = | birth_name = Chong Cheng Xiong | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1978|08|15}} | birth_place = Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia | occupation = {{hlist|Actor|property agent}} | other_names = {{hlist|Zhang Zhengxiang|Zhang Zengxiang|Zhang Zhenxiang}} | years_active = 2001–present | spouse = {{marriage|Geline See|2011}} | children = 2 | module2 = {{Infobox Chinese |child= yes|hide= no |headercolor=lightblue | order = st | name1 = Current stage name | s = 章证翔 | t = 章證翔 | p = Zhāng Zhèngxiáng | altname = Birth name | t2 = 章增祥 | s2 = 章增祥<ref>{{cite web |title=艺人改名就改运？信不信由你！_wkh73_新浪博客 |url=https://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_66f58d5f0101gud0.html |website=blog.sina.com.cn |access-date=9 September 2023}}</ref> | p2 = Zhāng Zēngxiáng | altname3 = Former stage name | s3 = 章缜翔 | t3 = 章縝翔 | p3 = Zhang Zhěnxiáng }} }}
'''Zen Chong''' (born '''Chong Cheng Xiong'''; 15 August 1978), formerly known as '''Zzen Chong''', is a Malaysian actor and property agent who is based in Singapore.
==Early life== A native of the "New Villages" in Kuala Lumpur, Chong studied graphic design and worked at an advertising agency prior to joining Star Search Malaysia.<ref>{{cite news|script-title=zh:不回家铁链绑上车 章缜翔越鞭越皮|url=http://www.nanyang.com/node/402090|publisher=Nanyang Siang Pau|date=29 November 2011|language=Chinese|access-date=21 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826120141/http://www.nanyang.com/node/402090|archive-date=26 August 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Career== Chong joined MediaCorp in 2001 after finishing third in that year's Malaysian edition of Star Search Singapore.<ref>{{cite news|title=Talented wannabes|publisher=New Straits Times|date=8 June 2001}}</ref> One of his first major roles was in the 2003 sitcom ''Lobang King'' where he was cast alongside veteran artistes Chew Chor Meng, Huang Wenyong and Irene Ang as the smooth-talking employee of Huang's character.
Chong is known for portraying juvenile "ah beng" characters, antiheroes and villains. He shot to fame for his role as the main antagonist in the hit period drama ''The Little Nyonya''.<ref>{{cite news|title=Zzen and the Art of Acting|url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/entertainmentfeatures/view/1035579/1/.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130119002154/http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/entertainmentfeatures/view/1035579/1/.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=19 January 2013|publisher=Channel News Asia|date=8 February 2010}}</ref> Although initially a replacement for Andrew Seow, he was praised for his convincing portrayal of antagonist Robert Zhang and won a Best Supporting Actor nomination at the 2009 Star Awards, his first ever awards nomination.<ref>{{cite news|title=Andrew Seow helps HIV-positive friend|url=http://news.asiaone.com/News/Latest%2BNews/Showbiz/Story/A1Story20090716-155206.html|publisher=AsiaOne|date=17 July 2009|access-date=11 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090722111103/http://news.asiaone.com/News/Latest+News/Showbiz/Story/A1Story20090716-155206.html|archive-date=22 July 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> He was given his first lead role in the 2008 co-production ''The Thin Line''.
==Personal life== He married his long-time girlfriend Geline See in January 2011.<ref>{{cite news|title=Zzen Zhang's 'messy' wedding|url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/entertainmentfeatures/view/1105451/1/.html|publisher=Channel News Asia|date=19 January 2011|archive-date=16 August 2017|access-date=11 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170816062239/http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/entertainmentfeatures/view/1105451/1/.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Chong and his wife have a daughter and a son.<ref>{{cite web |title='He scolded me and beat me quite often': Zen Chong lacked father's love in childhood, now tries to be different for own kids |url=https://www.asiaone.com/entertainment/scolded-me-and-beat-me-quite-often-zen-chong-lacked-father-love-a-night-under-the-stars-darren-lim |website=AsiaOne |access-date=9 September 2023 |language=en |date=11 August 2022}}</ref>
In 2012, it was revealed during the release of ''The Quarters'' that Chong changed a character in his Chinese name after consulting with a fortune teller. His English name was changed as well, from Zzen Chong to Zen Chong. He has also converted to part-time acting and since become a full-time property agent.<ref name=":0">{{cite news |date=24 August 2012 |title=梁丽芳章缜翔"隐姓埋名"改运途 |language=Chinese |publisher=Lianhe Zaobao |url=http://www.zaobao.com.sg/fk/yu120824_004.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120830064838/http://www.zaobao.com.sg/fk/yu120824_004.shtml |archive-date=30 August 2012}}</ref>
==Filmography== ===Television series=== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |- ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | {{abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}} |- ! scope="row" rowspan="2"| 2002 | ''The Vagrant''|| Zhang Disheng || | |- | ''Kopi-O II'' || Hong Fuxing || | |- ! scope="row" rowspan="5"| 2003 | ''Lobang King'' || Hong Daji || | |- | ''True Heroes'' || Wang Wei || | |- | ''Baby Boom'' || James || | |- | ''Beautiful Trio'' || Colin || | |- | ''Home in Toa Payoh''|| Dino || | |- ! scope="row" rowspan="1"| 2004 | ''An Ode to Life''|| Zhang Ruixiang|| | |- ! scope="row" rowspan="3"| 2005 | ''Zero to Hero''|| Ping|| | |- | ''Beyond the aXis of Truth II'' || Woody || | |- | ''Love Concierge''|| Ruan Yawan|| | |- ! scope="row" rowspan=3 | 2006 | ''The Shining Star''|| Ah Pao || | |- |''Women of Times''|| Bruce || | |- | ''Love at 0°C''|| Victor || | |- ! scope="row" rowspan="2"| 2007 | ''Switched!'' || Jiang Zhiheng|| | |- | ''Fallen Angel'' || Chen Xuewen || | |- ! scope="row" rowspan="5"| 2008 | ''Where the Heart Is'' || Hong Jiajun || | |- | ''Rhythm of Life'' || Wang Tianbao|| | |- | ''The Thin Line'' || Chen Tianyou|| | |- | rowspan="2"| ''The Little Nyonya'' || Robert Zhang || |<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Zen Chong Says People Still Call Him The Little Nyonya's Robert Zhang, 15 Years After The Show Aired |url=https://www.8days.sg/entertainment/local/zen-chong-robert-zhang-little-nyonya-reunion-742301 |access-date=2023-09-11 |website=8days |language=en}}</ref> |- | Zhang Zuye || | |- ! scope="row"| 2009 | ''My Kampong Days''|| Qiao Junwei || | |- ! scope="row" rowspan="3"| 2010 | ''Priceless Wonder''|| Li Caishun || | |- | ''Unriddle''|| Yu Zhenbang || | |- | ''Injustice''|| Lin Shunyuan || | |- ! scope="row" rowspan="2"| 2011 | ''Be Happy'' || Ken See || | |- | ''Dark Sunset'' || Qiu Jiawei || | |- ! scope="row" rowspan="4"| 2012 | ''Yours Fatefully''|| Hong Zhiguo || | |- | ''The Quarters'' || Luo Hanguo || |<ref name=":0" /> |- | ''Poetic Justice'' || Eugene || | |- | ''Game Plan'' || Li Ziguang || | |- ! scope="row" rowspan="2"| 2013 | ''It's a Wonderful Life'' || Li Siyuan || | |- | ''Sudden'' || Zhang Hongxing || | |- ! scope="row" rowspan="1"| 2014 | ''C.L.I.F. 3'' || Ding Youpeng || | |- ! scope="row" rowspan="1"| 2015 | ''Crescendo'' || Zhang Shixin|| | |- ! scope="row" rowspan="4"| 2016 | ''House of Fortune'' || Henry || | |- | ''The Queen'' || Chen Zijian || | |- | ''Soul Reaper'' (勾魂使者) || Eddy || | |- | ''118 II'' || rowspan="2"| Qiu Jianguo || | |- ! scope="row" rowspan="4"| 2018 || ''118 Reunion'' (118 大团圆)|| | |- | ''Eat Already? 4'' || Weijie || | |- | ''Say Cheese'' || Pan Zemin || | |- | ''Magic Chef'' (料理人生) || Kenneth|| | |- ! scope="row" rowspan=1|2019 | ''After the Stars'' (攻星计) || Qingfeng || | |- ! scope="row" rowspan=1|2020 | Super Dad (男神不败）|| Yang Sheng || | |- ! scope="row"| 2021 | ''CTRL'' || He Shaoguang || | |- ! scope="row" rowspan=1|2022 | ''Dark Angel'' (黑天使) || Zhang Haohui || || |- ! scope="row" rowspan=3|2023 | ''Fix My Life'' || Ye Tingfeng || || |- | ''All That Glitters'' || Roy || || |- | ''Stranger in the Dark'' (熟悉的陌生人) || Adam || ||<ref>{{cite web |last1=潘 |first1=雪忆 |title=《熟悉的陌生人》大胆起用新脸孔 萧歆霓、王硕瀚、卓芳娴首挑大梁 |url=https://entlife.8world.com/movies-shows/stranger-in-the-dark-2200751 |website=8world Entertainment Lifestyle |access-date=22 September 2023 |language=zh-SG |date=22 September 2023}}</ref> |}
===Variety shows=== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |- ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | {{abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}} |- ! scope="row"| 2002 | ''King of Variety'' || || |- ! scope="row"| 2006 | ''Battle of the Best'' || || |- ! scope="row"| 2009 | ''Stars for a Cause'' || || |- ! scope="row"| 2010 | ''Let's Party With Food! VII'' || Guest appearance || |- ! scope="row"| 2022 | ''A Night Under the Stars'' || Guest appearance || |- ! scope="row"| 2023 | ''The Reunion'' || Guest appearance || |}
==Awards and nominations== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year !! Award !! Category !! Nominated work !! Result !Ref |- | 2009 ||Star Awards|| Best Supporting Actor || ''The Little Nyonya'' {{small|(as Robert Zhang)}} || {{nom}} |<ref name=":1" /> |- | 2011 || Star Awards |Best Supporting Actor|| ''Unriddle'' {{small|(as Yu Zhenbang)}} || {{nom}} | |}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20121022061411/http://entertainment.xin.msn.com/en/celebrity/bios/Zzen-Zhang.aspx Profile] on xin.msn.com *[https://web.archive.org/web/20080509005957/http://archive.mediacorptv.sg/celeb/zzen/ Profile] on MediaCorp TV
{{Touching the Heart of China}} {{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chong, Zen}} Category:Living people Category:1978 births Category:Singaporean male television actors Category:Malaysian people of Chinese descent Category:Malaysian people of Cantonese descent Category:Male actors from Kuala Lumpur Category:Malaysian male television actors Category:21st-century Malaysian male actors Category:21st-century Singaporean male actors Category:Malaysian expatriates in Singapore Category:Malaysian television presenters Category:Singaporean television presenters