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After more than a decade away from the spotlight, Taiwanese actor Li Hou-Hao has made a surprising return to the entertainment world—this time not just as an actor, but as a major investor too.
Once famous for his role in the beloved 2003 drama My Secret Garden, Li faded from the public eye for 11 years.
But now, at age 43, he’s back in front of the camera, appearing in the new drama The Dark Judge (黑判官), currently being filmed in New Taipei’s Xinzhuang District.
On the rainy night of 9 April, Li was seen at Xinzhuang Dizang Temple filming an action scene involving a massive crane and wirework.
Despite the downpour, he performed a high-wire fight sequence with another male actor late into the evening, showcasing that he hasn’t lost his on-screen edge.
But what really stunned onlookers was the fact that Li is now a massively successful CEO in the tech world.
For over a decade, he’s been leading a tech firm called Desert Fish, focusing on cutting-edge VR and AI projection technology.
He even owns a 50,000-ping (around 165,000 square metres) factory in Vietnam and is reportedly earning over 100 million TWD annually—about 120 times what he made during his early acting years.
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Back then, despite his popularity in series like My Secret Garden, The Rogue Professor, and The Game Begins, Li’s income was modest.
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He also suffered a financial betrayal by his manager, who embezzled over a million TWD of his pay.
That experience, coupled with the uncertainty of showbiz life, drove him to quit the entertainment industry 11 years ago.
Since shifting his focus to tech, Li not only found financial success but also renewed confidence.
Now, his return to acting is not a financial necessity but a personal passion.
He’s not only acting in The Dark Judge, but also investing in it through his company, showing just how committed he is to blending his two worlds.
Meanwhile, actor Liu Kuan-Ting was also seen on set that same night.
Liu, who had been taking time off to focus on fatherhood, was spotted wearing a white blazer while shooting indoor scenes. The rainy weather forced much of the shoot indoors, limiting his involvement that evening.
The Dark Judge is still in its early production stages but has already drawn attention for its ambitious scale.
The action sequences are being supervised by Hong Kong veteran Donnie Yuen Wai, a two-time Golden Horse and seven-time Hong Kong Film Awards action director.
The series also stars Golden Horse Best Actor Liu Kuan-Ting and Golden Horse Best Actress Chen Shu-Fang, adding to its credibility.
Li’s journey from disillusioned actor to tech magnate and now actor-investor is a remarkable full-circle moment. His return isn’t just nostalgia—it’s a powerful comeback fuelled by passion, perseverance, and a whole new level of financial freedom.