# Zen Chong
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> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zen_Chong
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{{short description|Malaysian actor (born 1978)}}
{{family name hatnote|[Chong](/source/Chong_(surname))|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](/source/Batu_Pahat), [Johor](/source/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[{{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}}]
| 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 [Malaysia](/source/Malaysia)n actor and property agent who is based in [Singapore](/source/Singapore).
==Early life==
A native of the "[New Village](/source/New_Village)s" in [Kuala Lumpur](/source/Kuala_Lumpur), Chong studied graphic design and worked at an advertising agency prior to joining [Star Search](/source/Star_Search_Singapore) Malaysia.[{{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](/source/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}}]
==Career==
Chong joined [MediaCorp](/source/MediaCorp) in 2001 after finishing third in that year's Malaysian edition of [Star Search Singapore](/source/Star_Search_Singapore).[{{cite news|title=Talented wannabes|publisher=[New Straits Times](/source/New_Straits_Times)|date=8 June 2001}}] One of his first major roles was in the 2003 sitcom ''[Lobang King](/source/Lobang_King)'' where he was cast alongside veteran artistes [Chew Chor Meng](/source/Chew_Chor_Meng), [Huang Wenyong](/source/Huang_Wenyong) and [Irene Ang](/source/Irene_Ang) as the smooth-talking employee of Huang's character.
Chong is known for portraying juvenile "[ah beng](/source/ah_beng)" characters, [antihero](/source/antihero)es and [villain](/source/villain)s. He shot to fame for his role as the main antagonist in the hit [period drama](/source/period_drama) ''[The Little Nyonya](/source/The_Little_Nyonya)''.[{{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](/source/Channel_News_Asia)|date=8 February 2010}}] Although initially a replacement for [Andrew Seow](/source/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](/source/Star_Awards_2009), his first ever awards nomination.[{{cite news|title=Andrew Seow helps HIV-positive friend|url=http://news.asiaone.com/News/Latest%2BNews/Showbiz/Story/A1Story20090716-155206.html|publisher=[AsiaOne](/source/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}}] He was given his first lead role in the 2008 co-production ''[The Thin Line](/source/The_Thin_Line_(TV_series))''.
==Personal life==
He married his long-time girlfriend Geline See in January 2011.[{{cite news|title=Zzen Zhang's 'messy' wedding|url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/entertainmentfeatures/view/1105451/1/.html|publisher=[Channel News Asia](/source/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}}] Chong and his wife have a daughter and a son.[{{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}}]
In 2012, it was revealed during the release of [''The Quarters''](/source/The_Quarters_(2012_TV_series)) 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.[{{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](/source/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}}]
==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](/source/The_Vagrant_(TV_series))''|| Zhang Disheng ||
|
|-
| ''[Kopi-O II](/source/Kopi-O_II)'' || Hong Fuxing ||
|
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="5"| 2003
| ''[Lobang King](/source/Lobang_King)'' || Hong Daji ||
|
|-
| ''[True Heroes](/source/True_Heroes_(TV_series))'' || Wang Wei ||
|
|-
| ''[Baby Boom](/source/Baby_Boom_(Singaporean_TV_series))'' || James ||
|
|-
| ''[Beautiful Trio](/source/Beautiful_Trio)'' || Colin ||
|
|-
| ''[Home in Toa Payoh](/source/Home_in_Toa_Payoh)''|| Dino ||
|
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="1"| 2004
| ''[An Ode to Life](/source/An_Ode_to_Life)''|| Zhang Ruixiang||
|
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="3"| 2005
| ''[Zero to Hero](/source/Zero_to_Hero_(TV_series))''|| Ping||
|
|-
| ''[Beyond the aXis of Truth II](/source/Beyond_the_aXis_of_Truth_II)'' || Woody ||
|
|-
| ''Love Concierge''|| Ruan Yawan||
|
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=3 | 2006
| ''[The Shining Star](/source/The_Shining_Star)''|| Ah Pao ||
|
|-
|''[Women of Times](/source/Women_of_Times)''|| Bruce ||
|
|-
| ''[Love at 0°C](/source/Love_at_0%C2%B0C)''|| Victor ||
|
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="2"| 2007
| ''[Switched!](/source/Switched!_(Singaporean_TV_series))'' || Jiang Zhiheng||
|
|-
| ''[Fallen Angel](/source/Fallen_Angel_(Singaporean-Malaysian_TV_series))'' || Chen Xuewen ||
|
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="5"| 2008
| ''[Where the Heart Is](/source/Where_the_Heart_Is_(2008_TV_series))'' || Hong Jiajun ||
|
|-
| ''[Rhythm of Life](/source/Rhythm_of_Life_(TV_series))'' || Wang Tianbao||
|
|-
| ''[The Thin Line](/source/The_Thin_Line_(TV_series))'' || Chen Tianyou||
|
|-
| rowspan="2"| ''[The Little Nyonya](/source/The_Little_Nyonya)'' || Robert Zhang ||
|[{{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}}]
|-
| Zhang Zuye ||
|
|-
! scope="row"| 2009
| ''[My Kampong Days](/source/My_Kampong_Days)''|| Qiao Junwei ||
|
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="3"| 2010
| ''[Priceless Wonder](/source/Priceless_Wonder)''|| Li Caishun ||
|
|-
| ''[Unriddle](/source/Unriddle)''|| Yu Zhenbang ||
|
|-
| ''[Injustice](/source/Injustice_(Malaysian_TV_series))''|| Lin Shunyuan ||
|
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="2"| 2011
| ''[Be Happy](/source/Be_Happy_(TV_series))'' || Ken See ||
|
|-
| ''[Dark Sunset](/source/Dark_Sunset)'' || Qiu Jiawei ||
|
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="4"| 2012
| ''[Yours Fatefully](/source/Yours_Fatefully)''|| Hong Zhiguo ||
|
|-
| ''[The Quarters](/source/The_Quarters_(2012_TV_series))'' || Luo Hanguo ||
|[{{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}}]
|}
===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](/source/Star_Awards_2009)|| [Best Supporting Actor](/source/Star_Awards_for_Best_Supporting_Actor) || ''[The Little Nyonya](/source/The_Little_Nyonya)'' {{small|(as Robert Zhang)}} || {{nom}}
|