Li was born in Jiawang District of Xuzhou city, Jiangsu province in November 1946, during the Chinese Civil War, with his ancestral home in Wendeng, Shandong.
Resumption of University Entrance Examination in 1977, Li he attended Central Academy of Drama in 1978, after graduating from 1981 he taught there.
In 1985, Li starred in Wu Yinxun's comedy film The Wanderer and The Swan, which were highly praised by audience.
For his role as Grandfather Zhi Gen in The Nightingale, Li won the Best Actor Award at the 1st Chinese Australian Film Festival.
[5] In 2015, he was cast as Shi Changgong in the romantic drama film Forever Love, opposite Joe Chen, Sun Yizhou and Chrissie Chau.