Trần Hạnh (March 12, 1929 – March 4, 2021) was a Vietnamese stage and television actor, with titles of National Artist and People's Artist. He was born and raised in Hanoi, to a father who worked at the Ngô Tử Hạ printing factory on Nhà Thờ Street, and to a mother who was a small-sized merchant. When his father died following an illness and left him orphaned at the age of 8, Trần Hạnh learnt to live independently. To help out his mother with taking care of the family, he worked as a hired shoemaker on Tràng Tiền Street, during which he participated in drama activities at the Youth Club (of Hanoi Youth Union). In the club, there were many friends who later became famous names in the Vietnamese theater industry, such as People's Artist Doãn Hoàng Giang, People's Artist Trọng Khôi, People's Artist Đoàn Dũng... Trần Hạnh has played memorable roles on the stage of Hanoi Drama Theater and attained various Gold and Silver Awards at national theater festivals. The highlight of his career came in the late 70s and early 80s when he played the role of the historic patriot and poet Nguyễn Trãi in the poetic play Lam Sơn Tụ Nghĩa, which won the Gold Medal at the National Drama Festival, and took leading roles in the plays "Tiền tuyến gọi" (The Front Line Calls"), "Âm mưu và tình yêu" ("Conspiracy and Love") directed by Nguyễn Đình Nghi. In the collection "Người Hà Nội" ("Hanoians"), playwright Lưu Quang Vũ writes: "Four to five people have played the role of Nguyễn Trãi, only Trần Hạnh emanates a grandness specific to the Hanoian personhood." General Secretary Trường Chinh once came to him and praised him for his performance in "Âm mưu và tình yêu," "You were so good, I don't know how to say it, but it can be said that it is all very romantic". Trần Hạnh retired from the Hanoi Drama Theater in 1989. He started his career with theater, but is also well known to the public through his film career. His first feature film role was in "Chiếc bình tiền kiếp" by Nguyễn Hữu Phần. He then participated in many other films such as "Tướng về hưu," "Hãy tha thứ cho em," "Cỏ lau," "Người đàn bà thứ hai," "Làng nổi,"...His first TV role, also his favorite, was the role of Mr. Cần in the series "Cuốn sổ ghi đời" by Tất Bình. At the 11th Vietnam Film Festival in 1996, he won the Best Actor award in the film "Nước mắt đàn bà" ("Tears of a Woman"). At the 2010 National Television Festival, he was honored with the Contribution Award for his role in the film "Ngõ lỗ thủng," directed by Quốc Trọng. In 2017, he participated in "Cha cõng con" in the role of a blind man. Trần Hạnh's characters have lived in the hearts of Vietnamese viewers with their often ascetic, pitiful and gentle personality. He died at at his home on March 4, 2021, aged 92.
