Ekin Cheng Yee-Kin is a Hong Kong actor and Cantopop singer. Earlier in
his career he was known as Noodle Cheng, though he has now reverted to
a more conventional-sounding first name. Sometimes he uses Dior
(because that was what it sounded like when his younger sister tried to
call him) as a first name but usually Ekin is the name used.
Ekin began acting in commercials when he was in high school, the most
well-known being for Hi-C Lemon Tea. After high school, he enrolled in
TVB's Martial Arts school, but did not like it and switched to their
acting school. After that he began to get a number of TV roles. The
latest TVB series he participated in was Always Ready, working with
Charmaine Sheh, Bowie Lam, and Linda Chung.
Ekin was caught up in a grand scandal after leaving Maggie Siu, an actress
whom he dated for many years, for a decade younger actress and singer
Gigi Leung. Maggie was well-loved by Hong Kong audiences and gave up her
career to support Ekin's career and many slighted him after the
breakup. In 2006, Ekin and Gigi broke up, ending their seven-year
relationship.
In September 2006, Ekin and 'Yoyo Mung' begun dating through their mutual
interest in badminton.
His first film was Girls Without Tomorrow (1992) and at the time he was
still going by the name Dior Cheng. He changed his name to Ekin before
his breakout role in the Young and Dangerous series as Chan Ho Nam. The
film led to 6 sequels, all starring Ekin Cheng, and a lucrative working
partnership with director Andrew Lau. Together they went on to make The
Storm Riders, which was the highest-grossing Hong Kong movie at the
time and the first film to utilize a truly large number of special
effects. They also worked together on The Legend of Speed, A Man Called
Hero, The Duel and the comedy Women From Mars.
Ekin has branched out in the roles he's taken, including more comedy
like earlier in his career with My Wife is 18 and Six Strong Guys,
while still doing more action-oriented films like The Twins Effect and
Tokyo Raiders.
Recently Ekin returned to the movie scene (having taking a break in
2005 to work on the Ultraman TV Series in Thailand), He had a brief
appearance in My Name is Fame as himself. Soon after that he starred in
Heavenly Mission a triad/cop thriller starring alongside Stephen Fung &
Alex Fong. He has completed a Pang Brothers film called The Forest of
Death, which will be released in March 2007. He is currently filming a
serial in Mainland China based on the life of martial arts master, Huo
Yuanjia with former Young & Dangerous co-star Jordan Chan.
