Mei Lanfang

(1894 - 1961)

Mei Lan (October 22, 1894 – August 6, 1961), better known by his stage name Mei Lanfang, was a Chinese Peking opera performer. Noted mostly for playing female roles, he earned the title "Queen of Peking Opera". In his five-decade-long career on stage, his smooth and poised style brought him international acclaim, becoming the first person to bring Peking Opera to foreign countries.