Simu Liu

Simu Liu is a Chinese-born Canadian actor, filmmaker, producer, and writer. He rose to prominence starring as the titular superhero Shang-Chi in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021). Liu is also widely recognized for playing Jung Kim in the CBC Television sitcom Kim's Convenience, Paul Xie in the crime drama series Blood and Water, and one of the Ken dolls in the fantasy comedy film Barbie (2023).

Liu was born in Harbin, China, on April 19, 1989, to parents Zhenning and Zheng Liu. He was raised by his grandparents in Harbin until age five, after which he rejoined his parents in Kingston, Ontario, before being raised in Mississauga, Ontario. He attended Sydenham Public School and University of Toronto Schools, later studying business administration at the Ivey Business School at the University of Western Ontario.

After graduating, Liu initially worked as an accountant at Deloitte, but he was laid off in April 2012 after nine months. Following his dismissal, he pursued a career in acting and stunt work. He began his entertainment career as an extra and stuntman, appearing in productions such as the film Pacific Rim and the music video for "I Could Be the One," as well as television projects including Nikita, Beauty and the Beast, Sick: Survive the Night, and Heroes Reborn.

In 2015, Liu secured a recurring role in Blood and Water, for which he received nominations for a Canadian Screen Award and an ACTRA Award. That same year, he was cast as Jung Kim in Kim's Convenience, starring in the sitcom until its conclusion in 2021. During this timeframe, Liu appeared in recurring roles on series such as Taken, Slasher, and Bad Blood, alongside guest roles in Orphan Black, Dark Matter, The Expanse, Yappie, Fresh Off the Boat, and Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens.

Following his casting announcement in 2019, Liu starred in Marvel's Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021). He voiced the character in What If...? and Marvel Zombies, and is set to reprise the role in Avengers: Doomsday (2026), Avengers: Secret Wars (2027), and an untitled Shang-Chi sequel. His recent film projects include Bright: Samurai Soul (2021), Simulant (2023), and Barbie (2023). In 2026, he is set to make his Broadway debut in Oh, Mary!.

Beyond acting, Liu has worked as a writer, director, and producer, starting with his 2013 short film Open Gym. He co-wrote for Blood and Water, co-created the short Meeting Mommy, and founded the production company 4:12 Entertainment in 2018. He published his memoir, We Were Dreamers, in 2022, released his debut single "Don't" in 2023, and joined soup dumpling company MìLà as chief content officer in 2023.

Liu was named one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people in 2022. He hosted the Juno Awards in 2022 and 2023, winning a Canadian Screen Award for hosting, and received the Radius Award in 2023. He has served as a UNICEF Canada Ambassador since 2020. In his personal life, Liu began dating digital marketing manager Allison Hsu in 2022, and the couple announced their engagement in May 2025.