1958年8月,沈孟(meng)生出生在臺(tai)北一個(ge)軍人家庭,自(zi)幼(you)就調皮搗(dao)蛋,在小(xiao)學(xue)(xue)就常不交功課(ke)逃學(xue)(xue)和小(xiao)朋友(you)打架(jia)掀女生裙子,升(sheng)入(ru)中學(xue)(xue)后(hou)又上升(sheng)為抽煙喝酒賭博混幫(bang)會。后(hou)來在沈媽媽強迫下考入(ru)了華視歌唱訓(xun)練(lian)班.畢(bi)業(ye)后(hou)成(cheng)了酒吧的小(xiao)歌手,不過唱了幾年歌都沒什么發(fa)展,后(hou)來經朋友(you)推(tui)薦(jian)進臺(tai)視演(yan)戲。
1980年(nian)代(dai)(dai)至(zhi)1990年(nian)代(dai)(dai)初,臺灣(wan)電視(shi)公司的一(yi)線男主角(jiao),1988年(nian)憑《八月桂(gui)花香》及《春去春又回(hui)》兩(liang)劇已(yi)嶄露頭角(jiao),但之(zhi)后擔當主角(jiao)的電視(shi)劇都慘淡收場,最終(zhong)事(shi)(shi)業(ye)沉潛不(bu)(bu)起。直至(zhi)2001年(nian)憑《貞女(nv)、烈女(nv)、豪放女(nv)》再闖(chuang)事(shi)(shi)業(ye)高峰,成為金鐘(zhong)獎男主角(jiao),之(zhi)后事(shi)(shi)業(ye)不(bu)(bu)固(gu)定在臺灣(wan)或在大陸。
他(ta)(ta)第一(yi)(yi)(yi)(yi)部戲(xi)是(shi)(shi)和明(ming)星(xing)龍君兒合作(zuo)(zuo)的(de)(de)單員(yuan)劇(ju)(ju)(ju)《情鎖》,劇(ju)(ju)(ju)中(zhong)(zhong)他(ta)(ta)演(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)被(bei)龍君兒包養的(de)(de)男主角(jiao),接著他(ta)(ta)又連(lian)續演(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)了(le)四個吃軟飯的(de)(de)男人(ren)(ren)角(jiao)色,在(zai)(zai)觀(guan)(guan)眾(zhong)中(zhong)(zhong)印像深刻(ke)。沈(shen)(shen)孟生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)原先(xian)對演(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)藝事業并沒(mei)有(you)什么信(xin)心,認為(wei)自(zi)己(ji)不是(shi)(shi)挑大(da)(da)梁的(de)(de)料,只(zhi)想(xiang)混個小(xiao)角(jiao)色就好。他(ta)(ta)經(jing)常每(mei)天(tian)喝(he)得(de)醉熏熏地到(dao)片場,后(hou)(hou)(hou)來在(zai)(zai)朋友(you)的(de)(de)激勵下(xia)(xia)(xia)(xia),他(ta)(ta)開始(shi)認真對待自(zi)己(ji)的(de)(de)未來。每(mei)天(tian)在(zai)(zai)家(jia)邊喝(he)啤酒邊認真研究劇(ju)(ju)(ju)本,功(gong)夫(fu)不負(fu)有(you)心人(ren)(ren),機會終(zhong)于來了(le),1987年,沈(shen)(shen)孟生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)在(zai)(zai)《還(huan)君明(ming)珠(zhu)》中(zhong)(zhong)成功(gong)演(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)活了(le)令人(ren)(ren)又愛又恨(hen)的(de)(de)秦(qin)天(tian)富一(yi)(yi)(yi)(yi)角(jiao),開始(shi)在(zai)(zai)觀(guan)(guan)眾(zhong)中(zhong)(zhong)建立(li)了(le)個人(ren)(ren)的(de)(de)形像.有(you)了(le)《還(huan)君明(ming)珠(zhu)》成功(gong)例(li)子,同年楊(yang)佩(pei)佩(pei)制作(zuo)(zuo)《八月桂花香(xiang)》時(shi)大(da)(da)膽起用沈(shen)(shen)孟生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)擔(dan)當出(chu)(chu)(chu)演(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)董武祺這個反(fan)派角(jiao)色。沈(shen)(shen)孟生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)果(guo)然不負(fu)眾(zhong)望(wang),憑(ping)此劇(ju)(ju)(ju)大(da)(da)紅(hong)(hong),登上(shang)(shang)臺(tai)視(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)當家(jia)小(xiao)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)寶座,還(huan)提名了(le)金鐘獎(jiang)最(zui)佳男演(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)員(yuan)提名。孟生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)杰(jie)出(chu)(chu)(chu)的(de)(de)表現令臺(tai)視(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)高層(ceng)對他(ta)(ta)抱(bao)極大(da)(da)希望(wang),想(xiang)把(ba)他(ta)(ta)捧為(wei)劉德凱的(de)(de)接班人(ren)(ren),接下(xia)(xia)(xia)(xia)來楊(yang)佩(pei)佩(pei)制作(zuo)(zuo)《春(chun)去春(chun)又回(hui)》時(shi),臺(tai)視(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)主管曾找楊(yang)佩(pei)佩(pei),要沈(shen)(shen)孟生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)出(chu)(chu)(chu)演(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)劇(ju)(ju)(ju)中(zhong)(zhong)張來福一(yi)(yi)(yi)(yi)角(jiao),而要劉松仁演(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)反(fan)角(jiao),結果(guo)制作(zuo)(zuo)人(ren)(ren)堅決不同意,結果(guo)沈(shen)(shen)孟生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)還(huan)是(shi)(shi)以(yi)壞蛋形像在(zai)(zai)電視(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)出(chu)(chu)(chu)現,不過他(ta)(ta)所演(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)的(de)(de)創(chuang)世一(yi)(yi)(yi)(yi)角(jiao)卻也大(da)(da)受歡迎。《春(chun)去春(chun)又回(hui)》殺青后(hou)(hou)(hou),臺(tai)視(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)許多大(da)(da)戲(xi)都找上(shang)(shang)沈(shen)(shen)孟生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)(sheng),他(ta)(ta)一(yi)(yi)(yi)(yi)口氣接下(xia)(xia)(xia)(xia)了(le)《芙蓉鎮》和《隨風而逝》的(de)(de)男主角(jiao),可(ke)以(yi)和大(da)(da)牌紅(hong)(hong)星(xing)趙(zhao)雅芝與陳沖搭檔演(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)男一(yi)(yi)(yi)(yi)號,總算(suan)是(shi)(shi)揚眉吐(tu)氣。但沒(mei)料到(dao)的(de)(de)是(shi)(shi)這兩部沈(shen)(shen)孟生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)抱(bao)著極大(da)(da)希望(wang)的(de)(de)大(da)(da)戲(xi)播出(chu)(chu)(chu)后(hou)(hou)(hou)收(shou)視(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)率都低得(de)可(ke)憐,此后(hou)(hou)(hou)沈(shen)(shen)孟生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)主演(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)的(de)(de)好幾出(chu)(chu)(chu)八點(dian)檔大(da)(da)都收(shou)視(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)都不好。1991年他(ta)(ta)推出(chu)(chu)(chu)的(de)(de)第一(yi)(yi)(yi)(yi)張個人(ren)(ren)唱片也乏人(ren)(ren)問津,沈(shen)(shen)孟生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)的(de)(de)事業走了(le)下(xia)(xia)(xia)(xia)坡路。1992年沈(shen)(shen)孟生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)接演(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)華視(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)年度大(da)(da)戲(xi)《書劍恩仇錄(lu)》男主角(jiao)乾(qian)隆,希望(wang)能以(yi)這部戲(xi)翻身,不料上(shang)(shang)檔后(hou)(hou)(hou)收(shou)視(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)卻敗在(zai)(zai)《新白娘(niang)子傳奇》之下(xia)(xia)(xia)(xia),之后(hou)(hou)(hou)沈(shen)(shen)孟生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)從八點(dian)檔的(de)(de)一(yi)(yi)(yi)(yi)線小(xiao)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)的(de)(de)寶座跌下(xia)(xia)(xia)(xia)。
沈(shen)(shen)(shen)(shen)孟(meng)(meng)生(sheng)與女(nv)(nv)(nv)(nv)演(yan)(yan)員程秀(xiu)瑛(ying)交往(wang)時(shi),由(you)于(yu)接不(bu)(bu)到好戲(xi)事業下滑,使他(ta)酗酒(jiu)越來(lai)越嚴(yan)重,經常毆(ou)打程秀(xiu)瑛(ying),這件事登上了(le)(le)(le)娛樂版頭條一時(shi)間鬧得滿城(cheng)風雨,令(ling)沈(shen)(shen)(shen)(shen)孟(meng)(meng)生(sheng)在觀眾中(zhong)形像大(da)損(sun)。不(bu)(bu)久(jiu)后(hou)沈(shen)(shen)(shen)(shen)孟(meng)(meng)生(sheng)投入周(zhou)(zhou)令(ling)剛旗下轉戰大(da)陸,這時(shi)候的(de)沈(shen)(shen)(shen)(shen)孟(meng)(meng)生(sheng)只能在周(zhou)(zhou)令(ling)剛的(de)戲(xi)里(li)(li)出演(yan)(yan)些不(bu)(bu)大(da)不(bu)(bu)小的(de)配角。如《歡喜(xi)游(you)龍》的(de)李蓮(lian)英、《少年(nian)英雄方世玉》的(de)三德和(he)尚(shang)、《棋武(wu)士》的(de)巴雷武(wu)等。但后(hou)來(lai)內地(di)廣(guang)電(dian)總局出臺(tai)了(le)(le)(le)合拍片(pian)的(de)緊縮(suo)政策(ce),使沈(shen)(shen)(shen)(shen)孟(meng)(meng)生(sheng)內地(di)拍片(pian)的(de)飯碗也(ye)(ye)(ye)(ye)丟(diu)了(le)(le)(le)。回臺(tai)后(hou)由(you)于(yu)沒戲(xi)拍沈(shen)(shen)(shen)(shen)孟(meng)(meng)生(sheng)只好在林口賣牛肉面維生(sheng),但這時(shi)候他(ta)的(de)運氣又來(lai)了(le)(le)(le)。制作人(ren)阮虔(qian)芷(zhi)(演(yan)(yan)員出身,就(jiu)是(shi)在《新白(bai)娘子(zi)傳奇》里(li)(li)演(yan)(yan)觀音的(de))正(zheng)籌拍八點檔《貞女(nv)(nv)(nv)(nv)烈(lie)女(nv)(nv)(nv)(nv)豪放(fang)女(nv)(nv)(nv)(nv)》劇中(zhong)男主角佟老爺(ye)(ye)一角原來(lai)敲定寇(kou)世勛(xun)出演(yan)(yan),由(you)于(yu)寇(kou)世勛(xun)正(zheng)在內地(di)拍《橘(ju)子(zi)紅了(le)(le)(le)》無(wu)法(fa)軋戲(xi),于(yu)是(shi)佟老爺(ye)(ye)一角落在了(le)(le)(le)沈(shen)(shen)(shen)(shen)孟(meng)(meng)生(sheng)頭上。為演(yan)(yan)好這個角色,沈(shen)(shen)(shen)(shen)孟(meng)(meng)生(sheng)増肥到85公斤,這部(bu)戲(xi)播出后(hou)收視(shi)很高,好評如潮,入圍當年(nian)金鐘(zhong)獎十二項提名,沈(shen)(shen)(shen)(shen)孟(meng)(meng)生(sheng)更是(shi)勇(yong)奪2001年(nian)度金鐘(zhong)獎最佳男主角獎,事業再度翻紅。得獎后(hou)機(ji)會也(ye)(ye)(ye)(ye)接踵而至,好幾部(bu)偶像劇像他(ta)招手,楊佩佩制作新戲(xi)《繡(xiu)娘》也(ye)(ye)(ye)(ye)相中(zhong)了(le)(le)(le)他(ta),周(zhou)(zhou)令(ling)剛也(ye)(ye)(ye)(ye)力邀他(ta)跨海出演(yan)(yan)大(da)反派,老東家臺(tai)視(shi)也(ye)(ye)(ye)(ye)邀他(ta)擔(dan)任節(jie)目(mu)主持(chi)人(ren)……