Manh Linh: The only People's Artist in Vietnam to have his title stripped, current status unknown

Although he is the only person in Vietnam to have his title of People's Artist revoked, the audience still highly recognizes artist Manh Linh's contributions to the country's art scene.

Director of Vietnam Drama Theater, left a mark with the film "Retired General"

Artist Manh Linh's real name is Pham Van Lang, born in 1929 in an urban family in Ha Bac province, now Bac Giang province.

Because of his passion for art, he left home early to follow a cai luong theater troupe here and there. In 1945, he returned to his hometown and joined the Xuan Dai theater troupe and then joined the revolution.

In 1948, artist Manh Linh participated in the establishment of the volunteer propaganda team of the Bac Giang Information Department, which later became the Bac Giang People's Cultural Troupe, and successively held the positions of Deputy Head of the Troupe, Head of the Troupe, and in charge of the Cultural Department's Cultural Department's Arts Department, concurrently Head of the Bac Giang Arts Association.

In 1956, he was transferred to the Central Art Troupe. Artist Manh Linh is considered the second generation of Vietnamese stage actors after The Lu, Dao Mong Long, and Song Kim.

He was also one of the main actors in the first film of the North after 1954 - Chung mot dong song (1959) - the first feature film of the Vietnamese revolutionary cinema.

Artist Manh Linh also held the position of Head of the Northern Drama Troupe (one of three troupes belonging to the Central Drama Troupe, now the Vietnam Drama Theater, before 1975) and was appointed Deputy Director of the Vietnam Drama Theater in 1972. In 1983, he was appointed Director of the Vietnam Drama Theater.

Not only showing his talent in leadership roles, artist Manh Linh is also known as a talented actor and director. He left his mark through many roles in plays: Kremlin Clock Bell, Tragic Third Ballad, Gunman, Dien Bien Phu Song...

He also directed many outstanding plays of the Vietnam Drama Theater such as: The Old Teacher, The Old Monk and the Baby, The Tiger's Claw...

Besides, he also participated in a series of movies such as: One day in early autumn, White smoke, The bird knows how to choose seeds, Motherland, Unscheduled farewell, The child and the soldier, Fate does not want to remember...

People's Artist Hoang Cuc in the movie 'Retired General'.

In particular, in the acting career of artist Manh Linh, we cannot fail to mention the role of Mr. Thuan - the male lead in the movie "Retired General" (1988).

Mr. Thuan - a general who left the army and returned to his family, completely lost in a changing life with values being turned upside down every day. He was like a stranger in his own house with a weak son, a sharp daughter-in-law and a silly wife.

Taking on the role of Mr. Thuan, artist Manh Linh created an unforgettable retired general on screen. With his great contributions to the country's art, in 1988 - during the second round of conferring the title of People's Artist, artist Manh Linh was awarded the title of People's Artist by the State.

The ultimate tragedy

However, only 8 years later, in 1996, People's Artist Manh Linh was stripped of this noble title because he was accused of being an accomplice with his daughter in a case of borrowing money and not paying it back. Artist Manh Linh once sold his house to pay off his daughter's debts to a few people in order to help reduce her sentence.

Regarding this case, artist Manh Linh once told the An ninh The gioi newspaper: "I advised my daughter to turn herself in while it was still not too late, but she kept trying to be negative. She also wanted to run away, but if she did, I would also have to bear the blame and suffer a heavier punishment."

The People's Artist was still sentenced to 8 years in prison, but because of his old age and poor health, he was allowed to return home to recuperate until he was granted amnesty, while his daughter served her sentence until the end of 2003.

Artist Manh Linh has 2 sons and 2 daughters. His eldest son died early in an accident, leaving him with 3 grandchildren. His second son was addicted to illegal substances and had to go to rehab, leaving him with 2 grandsons who were also raised by his grandparents.

After being pardoned, artist Manh Linh moved back to Hanoi to live with his wife and grandchildren in a cramped apartment of only 12 square meters.

In the last years of his life, the male artist suffered from many old age diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, digestive disorders... and had to raise 5 grandchildren on a small pension, so the life of artist Manh Linh and his wife was extremely deprived.

At that time, although his colleagues gave him the opportunity to work as a voice actor to improve his income, artist Manh Linh refused. He thought that his reputation was not over yet, and now his voice was heard on television, which was not good.

That is why in the following years, artist Manh Linh almost lived in seclusion. Up to now, artist Manh Linh is the only person to have his People's Artist title revoked. Up to now, if People's Artist Manh Linh were still alive, he would be 95 years old. However, there is also information that he passed away but it is not clear in what year.

NSND Nguyễn Khắc Lợi: Đạo diễn phim "Nguyễn Ái Quốc ở Hong Kong" qua đời tuổi 92 JLO21:37:29 02/08/2024Vào lúc 7h30 sáng 2/8, NSND Nguyễn Khắc Lợi qua đời, hưởng thọ 92 tuổi. Thông tin được đạo diễn NSƯT Đặng Thái Huyền, Phó Giám đốc Điện ảnh Quân đội nhân dân, đồng thời cũng là học trọ của ông chia sẻ.