1957年6月15日，张铁林出生于河北唐山，从小在陕西渭南长大。
1973年上山下乡插队到临潼务农。
1976年招工回城返回西安当一位 装卸工。
1977年恢复高考后，张铁林决心做一位 演员。
1978年考入北京电影学院表演系。
1982年毕业后分配到天津电视台演员剧团。
1987年赴英国留学，十年后加入英国国籍。
1990年代初，张铁林赴香港发展，初期与徐克签约，参加了《黄飞鸿》系列电影的拍摄。
1996年转入凤凰卫视掌管 电影专栏。
1997年，张铁林在香港皈依于汉传佛教的星云大师座下，法号普觉。不久，他回到内地发展。
1998年由于 《还珠格格》1 剧重新走红。
2005年，张铁林被聘为暨南大学艺术学院院长。
2013年担任世贸联合基金总会荣誉主席及抽象 大使、香港佛教文明 产业抽象 大使。

1979年，刚上大二的张铁林参与拍摄了地方 电视台的第1 部单集电视剧《有1 个青年》，在片中扮演男配角 顾明华，以后 在影片《年轻的朋友》中饰解放军兵士 小何。
1983年，出演香港导演李翰祥执导，梁家辉、刘晓庆主演的电影《火烧圆明园》、《垂帘听政》。同年与龚雪合作电影《大桥上面 》出演见义勇为的男配角 ，该片获得文明 部故事片1 等奖。
两年后再次与龚雪合作拍摄了电影《多彩的晨光》。
1987年，赴英国留学，四年半后他留校任教。此后为bbc拍摄纪录片，给好莱坞导演乔治·卢卡斯当副手，他拍摄的短故事片《外国人》获得了英国学院奖。
1990年初，从英国到香港，想投奔徐克学习武侠电影的制造 理念，随后与徐克签约，在《黄飞鸿》中演孙中山，后又出演徐克影片《仙鹤神针》等。演戏的同时他还写剧本，《山不转水转》、《孙子》、《椅子》，5 年拿了三个奖。
1995年，张铁林在《狮子王2》中为辛巴配音。
1996年，由于 电影市场不是很景气，张铁林在刚开播的凤凰卫视掌管 节目《电影世界》。以后 进入内地，与赵明明、袁莉、赵薇主演了古装宫斗剧《汉宫飞燕》。
1998年，与赵薇、林心如、苏有朋主演古装清朝悲剧 《还珠格格》饰演乾隆，为观众所熟知，以后 出演了《还珠格格2》
2001年，搭档张国立、王刚主演古装剧《铁齿铜牙纪晓岚》饰演乾隆，以后 三人构成 “铁三角”，主演了《铁齿铜牙纪晓岚》系列的2、3、4部，和 古装剧《布衣天子》、《少年宝亲王》、《宋莲生坐堂》和民国剧《5 月槐花香》。
2002年，在张卫健、严宽、苏有朋主演的古装悲剧 《少年张三丰》中饰演澄空大师。联合斯琴高娃、李芯逸主演家庭情感剧《众里寻她千百度》饰林海涛。
2003年，在苏有朋、贾静雯主演的金庸武侠剧《倚天屠龙记》中饰演“光明右使”杨逍。搭档吴奇隆、范冰冰主演武侠剧《名捕震关东》。在焦恩俊、胡静、何润东主演的古装神话剧《十八罗汉》中饰演老方丈。
2004年，搭档李立群、李诚儒主演古玩题材电视剧《人生几度秋凉》，并演唱片尾曲。在吴京、袁咏仪、淳于珊珊主演的动作剧《南少林三十六房》中饰演雍正。在徐峥、张庭、汪芫主演的清朝悲剧 《满汉全席》中饰演康熙。
2006年，联合孙兴、曹颖主演古装悲剧 《铁将军阿贵》。在保剑锋、金巧巧主演的古装励志剧《薛仁贵传奇》中饰李道宗。参与霍建华、孙俪主演的偶像剧《屋顶上的绿宝石》。
2007年，在唐国强、聂远主演的历史剧《贞观长歌》中饰罗艺与斯琴高娃、温峥嵘主演历史古装剧《无字碑歌》饰唐高宗李治。与吕丽萍共同主演情感剧《非常夫妻》。在范冰冰、赵文瑄主演的古装剧《大唐芙蓉园》中饰演李白。
2009年，联合郭富城、郝蕾主演电影《白银帝国》饰康老太爷。
2010年，搭档唐国强、刘劲、郑卫莉主演《黄炎培》饰黄炎培。
2011年，在《新水浒传》中饰演洪太尉。在唐国强、蒋勤勤、张国立主演的历史剧《中国1945之重庆风云》中饰演黄炎培。参与胡歌、陈意涵、陈柏霖主演的青春励志时尚剧《摩登新人类》。在陈坤、张雨绮主演的电影《钱学森》中饰演毛泽东。
2012年，在苗圃、罗晋主演的历史传奇古装剧《穆桂英挂帅》中饰演宋真宗。与王志文、霍建华主演医疗题材剧《感动生命》。主演革命史诗历史剧《红军东征》饰毛泽东。与曹曦文、马跃主演古装剧《黄梅戏宗师传奇》。
2013年，参与拍摄廖京生、高云翔、吕夏主演的抗战剧《刀影》中饰演彭振山。

家庭生活
1987年张铁林赴英留学，期间由于 工作关系结识了身在英国的波兰籍妻子，婚后妻子非常希望丈夫能有正常的生活和工作，但事业心很强的张铁林，却整天思考着本身 的剧本和创作。过多的埋头工作与较少的感情交流，再加上张铁林念念不忘归国发展，终究 导致夫妻敌对 分手。两人育有1 女叫张月亮和母亲生活在英国，1 两年才会回国1 次。凭借电视剧《还珠格格》成名后，张铁林就不断 国内定居生活。
艺术生活
张铁林以书法家身份亮相在南京举行的“2008·林散之奖书法双年展”开幕式。张铁林养成了用毛笔字记日记的习气 ，1 天都不间断。
 

June 15, 1957, Zhang Tielin was born in Hebei, Tangshan, grew up in Shaanxi, grew up in Weinan.
In 1973 the countryside in Lintong to the farmer.
1976 returned to hire returned to Xi'an as a stevedore.
Zhang Tielin was determined to be an actor after the college entrance examination in 1977.
1978 admitted to the performance Department of Beijing Film Academy.
After graduation in 1982 assigned to the Tianjin television actor theater.
1987 to study in Britain, ten years after joining British citizenship.
In early 1990s, Zhang Tielin went to Hongkong to develop, initially signed with the Tsui Hark, participated in the "film" series of shooting of the "film" of the film in the "".
1996 transferred to Phoenix TV hosted film column.
In 1997, the grand master Zhang Tielin in Hongkong to the Han Buddhism, fahao pujue. Soon, he returned to the mainland development.
In 1998 as the "Princess" of a drama popular again.
In 2005, Zhang Tielin was appointed dean of the Art Institute of Jinan University.
2013 as the World Trade Federation foundation honorary chairman and ambassador, Hongkong Buddhist cultural industry ambassador.

In 1979, just sophomore Zhang Tielin participated in the filming of CCTV's first single episode of the TV series "a young man", Gu Minghua played the male lead in the film, in the film "young friend" in the decoration, the people's Liberation Army soldiers ho.
In 1983, Hongkong director Han Hsiang Li, Tony Leung, Liu Xiaoqing starred in the movie "Old Summer Palace", a "fire". The same year with Gong Xue "under the bridge" appeared in the movie cooperative courageous actor, the film won the first prize of the Ministry of culture story.
Two years later, again with Gong Xue cooperation film "colorful morning light".
In 1987, went to study in the UK, four and a half years after he taught. Since then filming for BBC Documentary, to Hollywood director George Lucas as deputy, his short story film "foreigners" won the British Academy award.
At the beginning of 1990, from Britain to Hongkong, the idea of making Tsui Hark wants to go to learn martial arts film, and subsequently signed for Tsui Hark, in the "Huang Feihong" in Sun Zhongshan, and starred in Tsui Hark film "magic Crane" etc.. Acting at the same time he also wrote the script, "the mountains do not turn the water", "grandson", "chair", five years with a prize of three.
In 1995, Zhang Tielin in "the lion king" in 2 for Simba dubbing.
In 1996, because the film market is not very boom, Zhang Tielin hosted the show "movie world just launch in the Phoenix". After entering the mainland, with Zhao Mingming, Yuan Li, Zhao Wei starred in the ancient palace fighting drama "palace swallows".
In 1998, Ruby Lin and Zhao Wei, and starring Alec Su, the Qing Dynasty costume comedy "Princess" as Qian Long, known to the audience, after appearing in "return zhugege 2"
In 2001, Guoli Zhang and Wang Gang partner starring costume drama "hissharp Ji Xiaolan" as Qian Long, after three people formed the "iron triangle", starred in "hissharp Ji Xiaolan" series of 2, 3, 4, and the costume drama "emperor", "young commoner Prince", "Song Bao Lian Sheng" and the drama "Zuotang May Huaihua incense".
In 2002, master Dicky Cheung, Kuan Yan played in clear sky, starring Alec Su in costume comedy "young Zhang Sanfeng". With Siqin Gaowa, Li Xinyi starred in family emotional drama "hard to find" Lin Haitao.
In 2003, Alec Su Alyssa Chia, Jin Yong starring martial arts drama "The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber" plays "the right light" Yang Xiao. Partner Nicky Wu, Fan Bingbing starring martial arts drama "Musketeer and princess". As the old abbot in Vincent Chiao, Hu Jing, Peter Ho starring costume drama "myth" in the eighteen arhats.
In 2004, Lichun Lee, starring Li Chengru, partner of TV drama "antique theme several approaches life", and sang the song. Wu Jing, Anita Yuen, starring starring action drama Southern Shaolin thirty-six room, played Yong Zheng. Xu Zheng, Ting Zhang, Wang Yan in Qing Dynasty "Manhanquanxi" comedy plays Kangxi.
In 2006, the United Xing, starring Ying Cao "steelmate costume comedy" aki. In Jianfeng Bao, starring in costume inspirational drama "Legend of Xue Rengui" in the decoration of the role of Li Daozong, Jin Qiaoqiao. In Wallace Huo, Sun Li starred in the drama "Emerald on the roof".
In 2007, Tang Guoqiang and Nie Yuan in the historical drama "Tang Dynasty" in the decoration, Luo Yi and Siqin Gaowa and Wen Zhengrong in the history of the costume drama "stele song" Tang Gaozong Li Zhi. Co starring with Lv Liping emotional drama "very husband and wife". In Fan Bingbing, starring in costume drama "Datang Furong garden" in the play of Li Bai Winston Chao.
In 2009, with Aaron Kwok, Lei Hao starred in the movie "empire of silver" decorated Kang old man.
2010, partner Tang Guoqiang, Liu Jin, starring in the "Huang Yanpei" decorated with the role of the president of the city of China, "in the year of the year" in.
In 2011, Hong Wei played "New Water Margin" in. Tang Guoqiang, Jiang Qinqin, starring in the history of the drama "China's 1945 Chongqing Fengyun" in the play of Huang Yanpei, Guoli Zhang. Berlin Chan, Ivy Chen, starring in the youth inspirational fashion drama "modern new man" by Hu Ge. In Chen Kun, starring in the film "Tsien Hsueshen" plays the role of Mao Zedong Zhang Yuqi.
In 2012, in the nursery, starring Luo Jin the history of the legendary costume drama "Mu Guiying command" plays Song Zhenzong. Starring Wang Zhiwen and Wallace Huo medical theme drama "touched life". The revolutionary epic historical drama starring "army" Mao Zedong. With Cao Xiwen, Ma Yue starring costume drama "Huangmei Opera master of legend".
2013, participate in shooting Liao Jingsheng, Gao Yunxiang, starring in the Anti Japanese drama "knife shadow" in the play of the role of Peng Zhenshan Lv Xia.

family life
Zhang Tielin in 1987 to study in the UK, because during the working relationship met in the United Kingdom Poland born wife, married wife very much hope that her husband will have a normal life and work, but very strong dedication to Zhang Tielin, but all day thinking of their own script and creation. Too much work and less emotional exchanges, plus Zhang Tielin. Development, eventually led to the couple amicably. Two people have a woman called Zhang Yueliang and mother lives in the UK, will return home only once in one or two years. With the TV series "Huanzhugege" fame, Zhang Tielin has been home to settle.
Art life
In order to show the identity of Zhang Tielin calligrapher held in Nanjing "2008 - Lin Shanzhi award calligraphy Biennale opening ceremony. Zhang Tielin developed the habit of keeping a diary with brush words, uninterrupted day by day.