Ma was born into a Hui family in Guizhou, on 23 September 1955. After the third grade of primary school, he attended Beijing Opera Class of Guizhou Art School, studying Laosheng. In 1969, he became an actor at the Cultural Work Corps of Guizhou Military District and moved to Guizhou Modern Drama Troupe in 1975. After resuming the college entrance examination, in 1978, he entered Shanghai Theatre Academy, majoring in comedy.
Acting career
Ma made his screen debut with a supporting role as Sun Yat-sen in Li Dazhao (1989). In 1997, Ma made his film debut with a small role in the war filmThe Ninth Battalion.
In 2000, he portrayed Sun Yat-sen in the biographical television series Civilian President.
Ma starred as Sun Yat-sen, reuniting him with co-star Zhou Li, who played Song Qingling, in the 2001 biographical filmTwelve Years of Wind and Rain.
In 2002, he guest-starred on the historical television series Towards the Republic, playing Sun Yat-sen.
Ma took the lead role as Zhang Daqian in the 2003 biographical television series Legend of Dun Huang: Zhang Daqian.
In 2011, he appeared in the propaganda film The Founding of a Party, in which he played Sun Yat-sen.
In 2014, Ma was cast in the war television series All Quiet in Peking.
Ma's performance in Deng Xiaoping at History's Crossroads which garnered him Best Actor Award at the 18th Chunyan Awards, Outstanding Contribution Award at the 21st Shanghai Television Festival, and 13th Sichuan TV Festival nomination for Best Actor in Long TV Series.
In 2021, he portrayed Cai Yuanpei in the propaganda television series The Awakeing Age and joined the main cast of Our Southwest Associated University as Feng Youlan.[3] He also filmed in the biographical historical dramaThe Pioneer as Sun Yat-sen.