Liu was born in
Beijing,
China on May 18, 1947. He was an actor at China Peking Opera. He made his film debut in
Kung Fu Cult Master (1993), playing a Shaolin monk. That same year, he had a minor role as Duan Hua in the historical television series
Empress Dowager Cixi. In 1994, he portrayed
Kangxi Emperor in the
epic fantasy television series
The Book and the Sword, adapted from
Hong Kong writer
Jin Yong's
wuxia novel of
the same title. At the same year, he also portrayed
Sun Chen, a regent of the state of
Eastern Wu during the
Three Kingdoms period, in the historical television series
Romance of the Three Kingdoms, based on the novel by
the same name by
Luo Guanzhong. In 1995, he portrayed
Han Yuan in the historical television series
Wu Zetian. In 1996, he had a supporting role in the historical television series
Prime Minister Liu Luoguo. In 1998, he rose to fame after playing
Sha Wujing in the
shenmo television series
Journey to the West, adapted from
Wu Cheng'en's classical novel of
the same title. In 2000, he appeared in
Smart Kid, an ancient costume comedy television series starring
Dicky Cheung and
Li Bingbing. In 2003, he participated in
Sword Master, a wuxia television series adaptation based on the novel of the same name by Taiwanese novelist
Gu Long. In 2004, he filmed as the President of martial arts school in
Silver Hawk, a film starring Li Bingbing. In 2006, he had a cameo appearance in
The Great Dunhuang, a historical television series starring
Chen Hao and
Tang Guoqiang. In 2007, he starred opposite
Liu Xiao Ling Tong,
Ma Dehua,
Chi Chongrui in ''
Wu Cheng'en and Journey to the West''. In 2010, he was cast in
The Dream of Red Mansions, playing the father of Jiang Tong's character. In 2015, he was cast in the lead role of
Sha Wujing in the
Paramount Pictures's production
Journey to the West 3D, a
3D Chinese-American
action fantasy film adaptation based on the novel of
the same name by
Wu Cheng'en. Liu died in Beijing on November 3, 2025, at the age of 78. ==Filmography==