(XINHUA)

Zhao Benshan, a famous Chinese skit star, announced on January 30 that he would quit skit performing and focus more on film and TV drama production. He said he wanted to give other actors more opportunity.

Zhao was born in northeast China's Liaoning Province in 1957. He gained fame for performing a skit in the 1990 Spring Festival gala of China Central Television. He has been honored as Comedy King and Oriental Chaplin by Chinese audiences.

He uses northeastern dialect when performing, rejuvenating a local art form Errenzhuan. He currently is president of a media group and has tens of students.