Bao Quoc

Bao Quoc (1949-    ) is a famous Vietnamese comedic actor of stage, film and Southern Vietnamese folk opera known as cai luong.  

Born as Lu Quoc Bao on September 11, 1949 in Tay Ninh, South Vietnam, he is the sixth eldest in a family of ten children.  His father was Nam Nghia, a prominent cai luong actor.  His older half-sister was the late legendary cai luong and film actress Thanh Nga who had been murdered in 1978.  Coming from a family with a firm background in the cai luong stage, Bao Quoc began his career as a performer at an early age.  He was cast in supporting roles in major cai luong stage productions starring his sister, Thanh Nga, and actor Thanh Sang such as Chuong Hau in Tieng Trong Me Linh and Tat Dao in Ben Cau Det Lua.  His other notable roles on the cai luong stage also include Bui Kiem in Kieu Nguyet Nga, Hai Xien in Ban Tho To Mot Co Dao and Y Xi Ke in Bong Toi va Anh Sang.  In 1967, Bao Quoc along with My Chau, Ngoc Bich and Phuong Binh were honored each with a Thanh Tam Award, South Vietnam's equivalent to a Tony Award, for most promising newcomer.  In 1974, Bao Quoc had a small part in his very first feature film, Năm Vua Hề Về Làng, which featured and all-star cast including Thanh Nga, Tham Thuy Hang, Thanh Duoc, Thanh Mai, La Thoai Tan, singer Hong Van, Phuong Hong Ngoc and Bang Chau.  

Bao Quoc in Khi Dan Ong Co Bau (2005)

After the Fall of Saigon, Bao Quoc concentrated mostly on his career in comedy.  For eleven consecutive years from 1991 to 2001, he was voted favorite comedian of the year in a poll conducted by San Khau Magazine.  Bao Quoc has won a total of 4 Mai Vang Awards as a comedic actor.  He has also acted in several blockbuster comedy movies, each featuring an all-star cast, such as Khi Dan Ong Co Bau (When a Man Gets Pregnant) (2005) with Nguyen Phi Hung, Hong Nga, Truong Ngoc Anh, Ngoc Giau, Hong Van and Phuong Thanh, Vo Lam Truyen Ky (2007) with Dan Truong, Chi Bao, Hoai Linh, Thanh Thao, Vu Thu Phuong and Cat Phuong and Cong Chua Teen va Ngu Ho Tuong (2010) with Bao Thy, Yen Trang, Chi Tai, Hieu Hien, Khong Tu Quynh and Dong Nhi.  In 2014, Bao Quoc appeared on Thuy Nga's Paris By Night Volume 110 alongside comedic actresses Viet Huong and Thuy Nga in a comedy sketch entitled as Ong Tau Chau Troi written by Nguyen Ngoc Ngan.

Bao Quoc has been married to his wife, Thu Thuy, since 1967.  Together the couple are parents of four grown children.  On December 19, 2015, Bao Quoc became a great grandfather for the first time when his grandson, comedic actor Gia Bao, and his wife, actress Thanh Hien, welcomed the birth of their daughter named Thanh Vy.  Bao Quoc and his wife own and operate their own restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City simply called Bao Quoc Saigon Restaurant.