Nguyễn Chánh Tín

Merited Artist Nguyễn Chánh Tín November 29 1952 January 4 2020 was a Vietnamese film actor director and TV presenter Initially a successful singer in 1970s South Vietnam he turned to acting in theatre troupes following the confiscation of his properties by the new Vietnamese government and struggled to make a living While incarcerated after a failed attempt to escape to America at the border he was offered the role Robert Nguyễn Thành Luân in the series Ván Bài Lật Ngửa Cards on the Table 1982 1987 which then became the most memorable and iconic performance of his acting career earning him a Best Actor award at 1985 Vietnam Film Festival With good looks and great onscreen presence Chánh Tín quickly garnered a large base of supporters and rose to prominence as a veteran actor in 1990s Vietnamese cinema He tried his hand at screenwriting in 1992 with a psychological horror Ngôi Nhà Oan Khốc which grossed over 1 billion VND at the time of its release Next Bến Sông Trăng 1998 marked his return to sociopsychological films In the mid2000s he made his mark with Dòng Máu Anh Hùng 2006 directed by Charlie Nguyen his nephew In 1995 Chánh Tín opened Cinema Pictures in California USA After 20 years the company changed its name to Chánh Phương Film Studio and tried to promote Dòng Máu Anh Hùng worldwide Although the film gained critical acclaim pirating and leaking caused the company heavy financial losses Bankrupt Chánh Tín sold his villa in District 10 Ho Chi Minh City and moved into an apartment building He sang at tea rooms sold liquor and acted to make ends meet Chánh Tín passed away after a stroke on 4 January 2020 several months after his 67th birthday He was awarded the title of National Distinguished Artist by the government of Vietnam