At that time, around the age of 35, the actor attracted attention with his scholarly appearance, bright face and calm demeanor, which many viewers commented was "full of classical talent".
Old photos recording the moment Tri Trong Thuy appeared at the program "The Journey to the West" - a special version of Xuan Van for the "Journey to the West" crew in 1987.
Without needing visual effects or elaborate styling styles, the actor still stands out with a white vest, a simple fedora hat and a face praised for having "red lips and white teeth", with a typical scholarly look of the 1980s Chinese screen.
On forums, many viewers believe that Tri Trong Thuy's youthful temperament is different from the current standard "male god". He does not possess a sharp beauty but creates sympathy thanks to his elegance, composure and gentle demeanor. Many opinions commented that his appearance and demeanor have helped him become one of the most loved versions of Tang Sanzang on screen.
Tri Trong Thuy was born in 1952, stepping into the entertainment industry from the early 1980s through works such as "Dau cau hoa khai", "But trung tinh" or "Kim sac nghiet vang thu". However, the biggest turning point in his career came in 1984 when director Duong Khiet chose him to replace previous actors to take on the role of Tang Tang in "Journey to the West".
At that time, the filming conditions of the film crew were extremely difficult when they had to continuously move through many provinces and cities. However, Tri Trong Thuy still scored points thanks to his serious working attitude and stable acting ability. He not only portrayed the image of gentle and compassionate Tang Sanzang but also participated in dubbing and took on some other supporting roles in the film.
After "Journey to the West" aired in 1986, the film quickly created a fever throughout China with a record viewership rating. The image of Tang Sanzang played by Zhi Zhongrui is considered the closest to the original thanks to his scholarly appearance and dignified demeanor.
When his career was at its peak, the actor married businesswoman Tran Le Hoa in 1990. The 11-year age gap marriage once caused much controversy, but the two have been together for more than three decades. After getting married, Tri Trong Thuy gradually withdrew from the entertainment industry to develop the zither culture field with his wife and participate in operating the Chinese Zither Museum.
Currently in his 70s, the male artist still occasionally appears in cultural events and programs related to "Journey to the West".
