Eric Li Left TVB Due to Wife’s Advice
The veteran actor compared himself to a horse during his years at TVB.
Eric Li’s (李天翔) standout performance in TVB drama The Man Who Kills Troubles<解決師>, which aired at the end of 2019 saw the veteran actor’s star power rising to new heights for the first time in a two-decade long career. However, that was also his final work before quitting TVB.
A String of Unsavory Roles
On a recent radio interview, the 43 year old chatted about how he had started off hosting children’s programs years ago, playing a special forces officer on Flash Fax <閃電傳真機> and a curious superhero on Kids Click <至NET小人類>. Looking back, he felt that he had been misplaced. As Eric was not considered one of the station’s own stable of artistes, he had been assigned countless antagonist roles since he started filming dramas in the year 2000, even earning the unsavory reputation of being “TVB’s de facto rapist”.
Eric recounted, “I was (like) a bull, whatever the company assigned to me I followed. I had never had much hopes for the anniversary awards show until 2008 when I appeared in many dramas. There was talk that I had a good chance to clinch Best Supporting Male Actor or Most Improved Actor; who knew that in the end I did not even get a nomination. I was indeed disappointed then, but held no hopes ever since.”
Contractual Changes in the Run-up to Quitting
TVB’s wages are known to be on the lower side for its actors. In early 2016, Eric switched to a part-time contract with TVB. In 2017 he married Bobo Tam (譚寶怡), his girlfriend of six years from outside the entertainment circle.
His decision to quit in May last year after 24 years at the station, without first securing another job, prompted many reports that his wife’s wealthy family background was the main reason he did not have to worry about the future. Eric shared how he had met and proposed to his wife, “My wife told me to leave TVB!” He admitted he would not have made the decision had his wife not been able to take care of herself financially.
Source: On.cc
This article is written by JoyceK for JayneStars.com
[Celebrity Weddings] Eric Li to Wed Girlfriend of Five Years
Have always liked him as an actor, wish TVB gave him more chances.
A wife worth marrying! But to leave when he has a resurgence of popularity…
Many stars have left. For the past years, TVB has been trying to not only recruit new ones but also started to support ones that were hidden (sry commenting this in the middle of the night, thoughts are jumbled) by the “previous stars” or ones that have been working too long, but had no title. Eric Li was one of the people I was waiting for so long to be TVB’s chosen people as the new stars. I was so happy for him when he was in that royal blue blazer in 愛·回家之八時入席 as Ryan,
卓威仁. It felt like he was given a chance until 解決師 came out where he is again, somewhat villain. In conclusion, I agree that he should quit with TVB because he isn’t getting what he is deserving, but I am also extremely disappointed. 🙁
I like his acting too it’s all tvb fault for not taking care the good actor who deserved it then it turn around only care for the one who can’t even act right but get to win an award must be a joke for sure so feel sorry for Eric hopefully he’s able to find something better out there.
TVB seriously doesn’t know how to promote people. We have great actors out here like Eric, yet they’re out here promoting Ben, Owen, etc
@jcc10 agree, Eric is better than Ben & Owen
TVB is truly a sinking ship as they do not know how to treasure and promote the good actors and actresses. I still remember how they treated veteran actors like Bobby Au and Micheal Tao years ago. However, TVB is lucky that they forgave them since they had a long history together but how much luckier can they be, especially with new companies on HK and viewers have other options like Korea, China and other drama from other countries to watch. TVB is truly lacking in every aspect that even the producers, directors and script writers are leaving.