Chinese skit and sitcom actor and writer. He is also less successful as a TV series and movie producer and director. Born in Harbin, he joined the People's Liberation Army (PLA) when he was only 13. He studied philosophy at Liaoning University and performance at the People's Liberation Army Academy of Art. Huang was a regular sketch comedy performer on the CCTV New Year's Gala, appearing on the show almost uninterruptedly for over two decades between 1989 and 2012, during which he became a household name in China.