Lai Lok-yi
Lai Lok-yi | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Lai Yat-sing 黎日昇 (Traditional) 黎日升 (Simplified) Lai4 Jat6 Sing1 (Cantonese) Lí Rìshēng / Li2 Jih4-sheng1 (Mandarin) June 15, 1980 |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, host |
| Years active | 2003–present |
| Notable work | Come Home Love Who Wants a Baby? |
| Height | 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) |
| Spouse |
Nicole Lee (m. 2014) |
| Children | 2 sons |
| Template:Infobox Chinese | |
Chris Lai Lok-yi (born on 15 June 1980) is a Hong Kong-based actor, television host, and producer affiliated with TVB.
Lai became widely recognized for portraying John Ma in the TVB sitcom Come Home Love from 2012 to 2015. His leading role as Elvis Yip in the well-received family series Who Wants a Baby? in 2018 earned him a nomination for the TVB Anniversary Award for Best Actor.
Background
Raised in a financially challenged household in Hong Kong, Lai is the second of three brothers. His father, who enhanced the family’s income through a delivery trucking business, died of cancer when Lai was eleven years old. Afterward, his mother worked two jobs to sustain the family, while Lai contributed by working part-time during his secondary school years. He completed his education at Tung Wah Group of Hospitals Yau Tze Tin Memorial College and briefly pursued a banking career before leaving due to workplace stress. After three attempts, he was admitted into TVB’s Artiste Training School in 2001, partly because of his resemblance to the late singer Danny Chan.
Career
Lai initiated his acting journey with minor roles and a supporting character in the sports-themed drama Aqua Heroes during his training period, graduating in 2002. In 2003, he appeared in the idol drama Hearts of Fencing, acting alongside emerging talents such as Raymond Lam, Ron Ng, Bosco Wong, Sammul Chan, and Kenneth Ma—collectively known as the “Olympic Six.” Despite his height and attractive appearance, Lai remained cast in secondary roles while his contemporaries quickly ascended to leading parts.
His major career breakthrough occurred in 2012 with the hit sitcom Come Home Love, where his starring role notably increased his prominence. Following this success, he featured in several well-received TVB dramas including My Unfair Lady, Daddy Cool, Presumed Accidents, and The Tofu War. His lead role in the 2018 family drama Who Wants a Baby? was met with critical praise and secured him nominations for Best Actor and Most Popular Male Character at that year’s TVB Anniversary Awards.
Origin of the stage name "Lai Lok Yi"
Born Lai Yat-sing, a name given by his late father, he adopted the stage name "Lai Lok Yi" upon entering an artiste training program. This name was selected by his teacher with the intention of ensuring a long-lasting career in entertainment.
Personal life
Between 2008 and 2011, Lai was romantically involved with actress Tavia Yeung. Subsequently, from 2011 until 2014, he dated Nicole Lee, a former Miss Hong Kong participant and heiress to a prominent Hong Kong beauty enterprise. The couple wed in November 2014 and are parents to two sons, born in 2017 and early 2022.
Filmography
| Title | Year | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| City of Dream | 2007 | ||
| Bad Blood | 2010 | Jason Lok | |
| Womb Ghosts | 2010 | Joseph | |
| I Love Hong Kong | 2011 | FEHD personnel | Cameo appearance |
| I Love Hong Kong 2013 | 2013 |
Television dramas
| Title | Year | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| The King of Yesterday and Tomorrow | 2003 | Private Investigator | |
| Better Halves | 2003 | Police Constable | |
| Virtues of Harmony II | 2003 | Jackie | |
| The 'W' Files | 2003 | Japanese soldier (background role) | |
| Survivor's Law | 2003 | Background role | |
| Aqua Heroes | 2003 | Chi Cho-yam | |
| Hearts of Fencing | 2003 | Au-yeung Yat | TVB Anniversary Award for My Favourite On-screen Partners – Non-dramas |
| Triumph in the Skies | 2003 | Office worker (extra) / trainee | Episodes 24 & 40 (final episodes) |
| Dream of Colours | 2004 | Koo Lok-man | |
| Hard Fate | 2004 | Shopper (background role) | |
| To Catch the Uncatchable | 2004 | Lai Lap-chi | |
| Split Second | 2004 | Dick Au Kin-fung | |
| ICAC Investigators 2004 | 2004 | Inspector Arthur Kwok Chi-hei | |
| Always Ready | 2005 | Kelvin Chiang Ka-lok | |
| Safe Guards | 2006 | Sheung Yee | |
| Welcome to the House | 2006 | Ma Tak-on | |
| Land of Wealth | 2006 | Cho King-yin | |
| Forensic Heroes | 2006 | Chan Man-tik | Episodes 1–2 only |
| Glittering Days | 2006 | James Hui Wing-hong | Nominated — TVB Anniversary Award for Most Improved Male Artiste (Top five) |
| Ten Brothers | 2007 | Thousand Mile Eye | Nominated — TVB Anniversary Award for Most Improved Male Artiste (Top five) |
| Heart of Greed | 2007 | Tong Chi-foon | 'Nominated — TVB Anniversary Award for Best Supporting Actor (Top twenty) Nominated — TVB Anniversary Award for Most Improved Male Artiste (Top five) |
| The Green Grass of Home | '2007' | 'Choi Ka-po' | 'Nominated — TVB Anniversary Award for Most Improved Male Artiste (Top five) |
| Fathers and Sons | '2007' | 'Ben Lui Ka-sing' | |
| The Building Blocks of Life | '2007' | 'Choi Chi-yin' | |
| Forensic Heroes II | '2008' | 'Lee Chi-wai' | 'Episodes 20–22' |
| Speech of Silence | '2008' | 'Cheung Yau' | |
| Moonlight Resonance | '2008' | 'Kam Wing-yuen' | |
| The Beauty of the Game | '2009-10' | 'Deacon Chong Tik-kan' | |
| In the Eye of the Beholder | '2010' | 'Ching-tak Emperor' | |
| Every Move You Make | '2010' | 'Mak Wing-hei' | |
| Twilight Investigation | '2010' | 'Yau Sum-kit' | |
| Only You | '2011' | 'Cheung King-yuen ("King")' | 'Nominated — My AOD Favourites Award for Most Promising Actor' |
| The Other Truth | '2011' | 'Danny Mo King-yip' | |
| The Life and Times of a Sentinel | '2011' | 'Kei Man-cheong (young)' | 'Appeared in Episode 1 only' |
| Forensic Heroes III | '2011' | 'Vic Mak Wing-fu' | 'Episodes 1–3 only' |
| Daddy Good Deeds | '2012' | 'Chan Lap-shun' | |
| King Maker | '2012' | 'Chiu Kwai-wo' | |
| Come Home Love | '2012-15' | "John Ma Chong" | "Leading Role" |
| Ruse of Engagement | '2014' | 'Fu Wang-leung' | |
| 'ICAC Investigators 2016' |
'2016' | 'Bao Siu-chung' | | | |||
| Presumed Accidents |
'Mantus Cheuk Sing-yeung' | | | ||
| My Unfair Lady |
'Hanson Ho Chi-chiu' | | | ||
| (The Tofu War)] |
'Samuel Wong Siu-ming' |
Leading Role | ||
| Another Era |
'Chu Kong' | | | ||
| (Daddy Cool) |
'Gordon Tong Chak-ching' | | | ||
| (Who Wants A Baby)] |
Elvis Yip Chi-ting |
Leading Role | ||
| (My Life As Loan Shark)] |
IP Ben Ching Yu-sum |
Leading Role | ||
| (Go Go Go Operation C9)] |
B3 |
Leading Role | ||
| Murder Diary |
CIP Kong Ching-fun |
Significant Supporting Role | ||
| (Happy Ever After?)] |
Kam Shing-kwan | Leading Role |
Music video appearances
- 2003: "Fong Sang" (放生) performed by Jade Kwan
- 2003: "Tung Yau Ji Chui" (痛由自取) by Yumiko Cheng
- 2005: "San Sai Kai" (新世界) by 2R
- 2005: "Rolls-Royce," performed by Denise Ho
- 2005: "Tei Ping Sin" (地平線) by Ella Koon
- 2006: "Sam Sang Yau Hang" (三生有幸) by Ronald Cheng
- 2006: "December Rain," performed by Rain Li
- 2008: "Jui Mei Lai Tik Tai Chat Tin" (最美麗的第七天) by Vincy Chan
- 2008: "Sui Sin Mo Cheung Ngor Jeh Yeung Keung Tik Yan" (誰羨慕像我這樣強的人) by Theresa Fu
- 2008: "Yee Yan Sai Kai" (二人世界) by Linda Chung
- 2009: "I'm Sorry," performed by Charlene Choi