Taiwanese actor Fan Chih-Wei used to be known for his brooding good looks and his raw acting talent. He first rose to fame in critically-acclaimed 2003 Taiwanese gay romance drama, Crystal Boys, which turned him into a heartthrob for guys and girls alike.

Back then, the star, who sometimes goes by his English name Wing Fan, had said in an interview that he’s “a bad person” and had warned anyone about being in a relationship with him. Which his ex-girlfriend Cyndi Wang should know all about.

When they ended their six-year relationship in 2006, Cyndi aired her grievances in an interview with Apple Daily, claiming that Chih-Wei was flirty, sketchy and had “no backbone” to tell her that he wanted a breakup. In retaliation, Chih-Wei said that they “never dated”.

But it was in 2010 that his reputation took a serious nosedive. On April Fools' Day that year, he posted an intimate photo he had taken with Cyndi and also revealed unnecessary details about their relationship, like how he had gotten violent with the singer and how he was disappointed that he wasn't Cyndi’s first sexual partner.

The following year, Chih-Wei, who also dated Jesseca Liu for two years in 2008, made the news again when it was reported that he had physically abused his then-girlfriend, the boss of a French cosmetics brand. With his reputation and career in tatters, he moved to China in 2013 to pursue an acting career there.

But success as an actor evaded him in China and so the 39-year-old decided to set up a media company there, and has shifted his focus to working behind-the-scenes.

And it seems he has let himself go after not appearing on screen for a long time.

The once-dashing actor is now a shadow of his former self, and with his pudgy face and thick beard, kinda looks like a middle-aged uncle now. May we remind you that he's only 39?

Scroll down to see Chih-Wei's transformation over the years.

Botak, but still a looker.