Wu Kang-ren (Chinese: 吳慷仁; Wade–Giles: Wu K'ang-jen; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Ngô͘ Khóng-jîn; born 24 November 1982), is a Taiwanese actor. He debuted in the short film Fragile in Love: Poetry in Motion in 2007 and gained wider recognition for his role in the 2009 television series Autumn's Concerto. He won the Golden Horse Award for Best Leading Actor for Abang Adik (2023) and the Golden Bell Award for Best Male Lead in a Television Series for Living (2023).
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Early life
Wu was born on November 24, 1982, in a military dependents' village in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, with his family roots in Anhui. His parents divorced when he was young, after which he lived with his mother. He began working at 14, after graduating from junior high school, to support his family. Initially, he tried his hand as an on-site construction welder despite his lack of experience, which resulted in eye burns. He later worked in various jobs, including restaurants, stalls, and supermarkets and enrolled into the Kaohsiung Municipal Chung-Cheng Industrial High School, where he balanced work with studies. He enlisted in Taiwan’s mandatory military service immediately after graduation. After completing his conscription at the age of 24, he moved from Kaohsiung to Taipei, where he worked as a bartender for three years. At 27, he was discovered by director Li Qiyuan, who helped him break into the entertainment industry.
