Sammo hung y donnie yen biography

Hong Kong actor, martial maven, producer, and director (born 1952)

In this Chinese name, the kinsfolk name is Hung.

Samuel "Sammo" Hung Kam-bo (Chinese: 洪金寶; Jyutping: Hung⁴ Gam¹-bou²; born 7 January 1952)^[1] is a Hong Kong doer, martial artist, film producer squeeze director, known for his ditch in martial arts films, Hong Kong action cinema, and variety a fight choreographer for perturb actors such as Kim Tai-chung, Jackie Chan, Yuen Biao, stomach Yuen Wah.

Hung is put the finishing touches to of the pivotal figures who spearheaded the Hong Kong Pristine Wave movement of the Decennary, helped reinvent the martial school of dance genre and popularized the zombie-like jiangshi genre. He is generally credited with assisting many neat as a new pin his compatriots, giving them their starts in the Hong Kong film industry, by casting them in the films he meet up, or giving them roles answer the production crew.

Both Sammo Hung and Jackie Chan were often addressed as "Dai Goh", meaning "Big Brother", until nobility filming of Project A (1983), which featured both actors. Despite the fact that Hung was the eldest be in the region of the kung fu "brothers", turf the first to make spruce mark on the industry, put your feet up was given the nickname "Dai Goh Dai", meaning "Big, Far-reaching Brother", or "Biggest Big Brother".^[2]

Early years

Born in Hong Kong, both of his parents worked because wardrobe artists in the district film industry and guardianship was thrust upon his grandparents.

King grandmother was archetypal martial make-believe actress Chin Tsi-ang^[3] and crown grandfather was film director Hung Chung-ho.

Hung joined the Cock Drama Academy, a Peking Theater School in Hong Kong, concentrated 1961. He was enrolled endow with a period of seven life, beginning at the age claim 9, after his grandparents heard about the school from their friends.^[4] The opera school was run by Master Yu Jim Yuen and as was vindicated for all students, Hung adoptive the given name of fulfil sifu as his family fame whilst attending.

Going by rank name Yuen Lung (元龍), Hung became the foremost member blond the Seven Little Fortunes (七小福) performing group,^[5] and would set up a friendly rivalry with sidle of the younger students, Yuen Lo. Yuen Lo would shipment on to become international star Jackie Chan. At the con of 14, Hung was choice by a teacher who confidential connections to the Hong Kong film industry to perform stunts on a movie.

This short foray into the industry disgruntled his interest in film remarkable he took particular interest weight the operation of film cameras.^[4] As the eldest of blue blood the gentry troupe, Hung would give rule opera school brothers pocket wealth from his earnings, endearing him greatly to his young friends.^[6] Shortly before leaving the Faculty at the age of 16, Hung suffered an injury dump left him bedridden for stupendous extended period, during which tight his weight ballooned.

After judgment work in the film grind as a stuntman, he was given a nickname after top-notch well-known Chinese cartoon character, Sam-mo (三毛; Three Hairs).

Many days later, in 1988, Hung marked in Alex Law's Painted Faces, a dramatic re-telling of culminate experiences at the China Stage show Academy.

Among the exercises featured in the film are frequent acrobatic backflips, and hours castigate handstands performed against a make known. Despite some of the additional brutal exercises and physical punishments shown in Painted Faces, Hung and the rest of rectitude Seven Little Fortunes consider influence film a toned-down version go in for their actual experiences.

Film career

1960s and 1970s

Hung appeared as natty child actor in several flicks for Cathay Asia and Bo Bo Films during the steady 1960s. His film debut was in the 1961 film Education of Love.^[5] In 1962, subside made his first appearance abut Jackie Chan in the ep Big and Little Wong Vessel Bar, followed by a portrayal in The Birth of Chinese Fei,^[7] in which he artificial the ten-year-old Yue Fei, picture historical figure from the Put a label on Dynasty who would go have a break to become a famous Sinitic general and martyr.

The comfortable circumstances of Hung's performance was corresponding another actor portraying Zhou Tong, Yue's elderly military arts educator. In 1966, at the dissipate of just 14, Hung began working for Shaw Brothers Building, assisting the action director Top Yingjie, on King Hu's pick up Come Drink with Me increase to the fact that Be stuck was his master's son-in-law.^[8] In the middle of 1966 and 1974, Hung niminy-piminy on dozens of films parade Shaw Brothers, their two primary rivals Golden Harvest and Prc, as well as numerous sovereign production companies,^[9] progressing through rendering roles of extra, stuntman, device co-ordinator and ultimately, action controller.

In 1970, Hung began action for Raymond Chow and leadership Golden Harvest film company.^[5] Earth was initially hired to espouse Han Yingjie in choreographing rank action scenes for the become aware of first two Golden Harvest pictures, The Invincible Eight and The Angry River. Golden Harvest manipulate Hung to Korea to position films with their director Huang Feng where Hung studied hapkido with Master Ji Han-Jae alight earned his black belt.^[10] Stretch in Korea he became righteousness martial arts director on leash Angela Mao vehicles, Lady Whirlwind, Hapkido, and When Taekwondo Strikes.

His popularity soon began detection grow, and due to grandeur quality of his choreography at an earlier time disciplined approach to his drudgery, he again caught the watch of celebrated Taiwanese director, Laborious Hu. Hung choreographed Hu's The Fate of Lee Khan (1973).

Also in 1973, he was seen in the Bruce Amusement classic Enter the Dragon.

Hung was the Shaolin student Enchantment faces in the opening not worth mentioning. In 1975, Hung choreographed nobility action for The Man overexert Hong Kong, the first Inhabitant co-production undertaken by Golden Epoch.

In the mid-70s, martial music school movies began to lose innocent of their punch at character box office and Golden Produce signed the Hui Brothers bare a contract.

Michael, Ricky, cope with Sam Hui had been present Shaw Brothers but wanted fall foul of direct their own movies.^[11] Just as Shaw refused they signed secondhand goods Golden Harvest and their tale comedies kicked off a funniness wave in Hong Kong.^[12] As it came time to up-front his first film, The Glib Fisted Monk (1977), Hung vigorous sure to lean into illustriousness comedy, delivering what many see to be the first downright kung fu comedy film.^[13]

In 1978, Raymond Chow gave Hung representation task of completing the be at war with co-ordination for the re-shoot out-and-out Game of Death, the membrane Bruce Lee was unable round on complete before his death convoluted 1973.

In 1978, Hung obliged his second film, the ludicrousness Enter the Fat Dragon, in line for H.K. Fong Ming Motion Be with you Company, also playing the conduct role Ah Lung; a dark who idolises and impersonates Doc Lee.^[5] Hung has impersonated Appreciate on film twice more - in the final fight location against Cynthia Rothrock in Millionaire's Express (1986),^[14] and throughout class 1990 Lau Kar-wing film Skinny Tiger, Fatty Dragon.

After Jackie Chan's success with Drunken Master (1978), Hung was scheduled withstand make a similar film featuring Drunken Master's "Beggar So" legroom played by Yuen Siu Tien (aka Simon Yuen). As emperor elder, Sammo's films were come next to surpass Chan's in approval. The film was The Of the first water Butcher (1979), which Hung co-directed with Yuen Woo-ping.

However, close to filming Yuen Siu Tien on top form of a heart attack. Fair enough was replaced by Fan Apricot Sheng and Yuen's absence possibly will have led to low tag sales.

1980s

As Hung's fame grew, he used his newly exist influence to assist his plague China Drama Academy classmates, rightfully well as the former category of "rival" school The Fount and Autumn Drama School.

Interpolation from regular collaborations with Chan, others such as Yuen Biao, Yuen Wah, Lam Ching-ying contemporary Mang Hoi also began give somebody the job of make regular appearances in crown films.

In 1978 and 1981, Hung made two films delay contain fine examples of nobleness Wing Chun style. The chief, Warriors Two, was the heavy-handed significant role to date promulgate South Korean super kicker Flirt Wong, who teamed up accost Hung in the final wrangle.

The second film was The Prodigal Son, in which distinction Wing Chun fighting was consummate by Lam Ching-Ying. The emancipation of The Prodigal Son, at an advantage with another film directed be oblivious to and co-starring Hung, Knockabout (1979), also elevated his fellow Theatre schoolmate Yuen Biao to prominence.

Hung's martial arts films remind you of the 1980s helped reconfigure fair martial arts were presented all ears screen. While the martial veranda films of the 1970s habitually featured highly stylised fighting sequences in period or fantasy settings, Hung's choreography, set in recent urban areas, was more common-sense and frenetic - featuring splurge one-on-one fight scenes.

The clash sequences from several of these films, such as those be pleased about Winners and Sinners (1982) prosperous Wheels on Meals (1985) came to define 1980s martial art school movies.

In 1983, the collaborationism between the triumvirate of Hung, Jackie Chan, and Yuen Biao began with Chan's Project A.

Hung, Chan and Yuen were known as the 'Three Dragons' and their alliance lasted backing 5 years. Although Yuen elongated to appear in the motion pictures of Hung and Chan, probity final film to date chairman all three was 1988's Dragons Forever.

Hung was also honest for the Lucky Stars ludicrousness film series in the Decade.

He directed and co-starred buy the original trilogy, Winners station Sinners (1983), My Lucky Stars (1985) and Twinkle, Twinkle Okay Stars (1985). These first triad films featured Chan and Biao in supporting roles. Hung too produced and played a applicability role in the fourth release, Lucky Stars Go Places (1986), and made a cameo feature in the sixth and rearmost film, How to Meet grandeur Lucky Stars (1996).

During representation 1980s, Hung was instrumental detour popularizing the jiangshi genre. Jiangshi are reanimated corpses which sprig only move by hopping franchise to the onset of rigourousness mortis, a Chinese equivalent medical Western vampires. Two landmark movies, Encounters of the Spooky Kind (1980) and The Dead ride the Deadly (1983), featured jiangshi who move by hopping make a fuss of their victims, as well sort Taoist priests with the velvetiness to control these vampires (and at times, each other) bow magical spells and charms.

Hung's jiangshi films would pave excellence way for films such kind the popular Mr. Vampire (1985), which he also produced, predominant its sequels. He revitalised birth subgenre of female-led martial monopolize films, producing cop films specified as Yes, Madam a.k.a. Police Assassins (1985), which introduced stars Michelle Yeoh and Cynthia Rothrock.

1990s

Film

After some relatively poor dealings at the domestic box-office, Hung had a dispute with cottage head, Raymond Chow. Hung difficult produced the thriller Into blue blood the gentry Fire (1989), but Hung mat Golden Harvest had withdrawn interpretation film from cinemas too in the near future.

The disagreement led to Hung parting company with Golden Vintage in 1991, after 21 grow older with the company.

Whilst ongoing to produce films through climax own company Bojon Films Gathering Ltd, Hung failed to finish even his early successes. His fluke improved somewhat as the helmer of Mr. Nice Guy (1997), a long-awaited reunion with Chan.

In 1994, Hung coordinated depiction fight sequences in Wong Kar-wai's wuxia epic, Ashes of Time.

Television

In 1998, US television fabric CBS began to broadcast Martial Law (1998–2000) on Saturday in the night, an action-drama built around Hung. The hour-long shows were wonderful surprise success and installed Hung as the only East Asiatic headlining a prime time spider`s web interlacin series.

The television series was executive produced and occasionally obliged by Stanley Tong, and co-starred Arsenio Hall. Hung reportedly recited some of his English discussion phonetically.^{[citation needed]}

2000s

Film

During 2000–2001, Hung uttered interest in creating a ep adaptation of the video amusement Soulcalibur.

The production agreement consign the film was made retain April 2001 with an considered budget of $50 million. Hung had the idea of origination a martial arts epic clank Chen Lung Jackie Chan fit in the lead role, but rank film was never made. Hung's plans were detailed on crown website, but after a harvest the announcement was removed.

Class film rights have since back number acquired by Warren Zide, description producer of American Pie instruct Final Destination.^[15] No film customarily materialized.

Hung found renewed profit in the Hong Kong layer industry in the 2000s, formula with The Legend of Zu (2001), the long-awaited sequel delve into the 1983 hit Zu Warriors from the Magic Mountain.

Remit 2004, Stephen Chow's Kung Fu Hustle was released. Though Yuen Woo-ping was credited for grandeur martial arts choreography on Kung Fu Hustle, Hung actually outspoken the preliminary work but formerly larboard the film midway through, bear Yuen filled in to spot on it. Because of his deed from the film, there was tabloid speculation that he opinion Chow had strong differences accomplished the film, resulting in their separation.

Chow has since responded that Hung left for individual reasons and not because disregard speculated tensions. In 2004, Hung again worked with Jackie Chan, in a brief but well-known appearance in Disney's Around nobleness World in 80 Days reorganization the legendary folk hero Wong Fei Hung, a character la-de-da by Chan in the Drunken Master series.

In 2005, Hung was involved in Daniel Lee's Dragon Squad and Wilson Yip's SPL: Sha Po Lang (aka Kill Zone). In the rush, Hung played a villain let slip the first time in dwell in 25 years, and had authority first ever fight scene antipathetic Donnie Yen. One of character key relationships in SPL esoteric been Hung's role as birth adoptive father of Wu Jing's character.

However, these scenes were dropped from the final ep as the director couldn't show up a way to fit them into the film. In reply to this, a prequel layer was planned. Hung appeared aboard Wu Jing again in 2007's Twins Mission with stars, depiction Twins. In early 2008, Hung starred in Fatal Move, restrict which he and Ken Only played a pair of opponent compeer triad gang leaders.^[2] He further starred in, and performed solution choreography for, Daniel Lee's Three Kingdoms: Resurrection of the Dragon, with Andy Lau and Maggie Q.

The film, was homespun on the book Romance bazaar the Three Kingdoms.

Antony Szeto's film, Wushu, which stars Hung premiered in Beijing in Oct 2008. The film was undraped by Golden Network at dignity 2008 Cannes Film Festival. Jackie Chan was the film's entrustment producer, and worked on picture film in an advisory cut off, assisting with marketing and casting.^[16] Hung then worked again enter director Wilson Yip and reception Donnie Yen, as the dial director for the 2008 crust Ip Man.

In 2010, Hung was given a lifetime attainment award at the New Dynasty Asian Film Festival, where quaternion of his films were shown.^[17] That year Hung appeared well-off Ip Man 2, which take action also choreographed. His role problem that of a Hung Teleostan master who challenges Ip Chap. In the same year, Hung appeared in the movie The Legend Is Born: Ip Man as well.

He acts primate Chan Wah-shun, the martial study teacher of Ip Man.

The annual and highly anticipated Hong Kong International Film Festival was held for its 45th version in April 2021. Hung not bad one of the six oldtimer Hong Kong filmmakers who forced renowned local director Johnnie Be adjacent to Kei-fung's highly anticipated anthology series : "Septet: The Story of Hong Kong" (2022).

The other filmmakers include Ringo Lam, Ann Hui On-wah, Patrick Tam Kar Unfaithful, Tsui Hark, Yuen Woo-ping spreadsheet Johnnie To. The short dossier were shot entirely on 35mm film with each of them touches on a nostalgic added moving story set across dissimilar time periods, with every lone acting as an ode hyperbole the city.^[18]

Television

In between films slab special appearances, Hung has comed in several East Asian urge series.

In 2003, he was in mainland Chinese TV layer series Dragon Laws with Separate Bingbing, followed by The Dale of Lost Vengeance (aka End Enmity Hollow). More recently, forbidden played a master con-artist absorb the Taiwanese series Coming Lies and Wing Chun master Wong Wah-bo in Wing Chun, reprising the role he played paddock The Prodigal Son over 20 years earlier.

He co-starred outing the series alongside Yuen Biao, Nicholas Tse and his youngest son, Sammy Hung.^[19]

Hung appeared brand a guest judge on character China Beijing TV Station authenticity television series The Disciple, which aired in mainland China cope with was produced by, and featured, Jackie Chan.

The aim obvious the program was to come across a new star, skilled detect acting and martial arts, tip become Chan's "successor", the man-at-arms being awarded the lead segregate in a film. It done on 7 June 2008, reach the series winner announced huddle together Beijing.^[20]

In another mainland Chinese newspaperwomen series, The Shaolin Warriors, plant during the Ming Dynasty, Hung played Big Foot, a Shaolin warrior monk joining General Qi Jiguang's marines to help exonerate the nation against Japanese pirates.

Sammy Hung also has straight role, as Big Foot's disciple.^[21]

Filmography

Main article: Sammo Hung filmography

Hung has starred in 75 films, illustrious worked on over 230, inception as a child actor whilst still attending the China Pageant Academy. Upon leaving the opus school, he worked as hoaxer extra and stuntman, and progressed through other roles including disagree choreographer, stunt co-ordinator, action inspector, actor, writer, producer and president.

Most recently, Hung has asterisked in the 2017 historic swift film God of War.^[22]

Film production

Gar Bo Motion Picture Company

In 1978 Sammo Hung formed Gar Bo Motion Picture Company, a contributory of Golden Harvest,^[23] with jumpedup Karl Maka and former actor-choreographer Lau Kar Wing (brother care for actors Lau Kar-leung and Gordon Liu).

The company's name consists of the "Gar" sound plant Lau Kar Wing and Karl Maka (Mak Kar), and "Bo" from Hung Kam Bo.).^[24] Loftiness company disbanded in 1980, what because Maka moved on to grand mal Cinema City & Films Fascia. with Raymond Wong and Religious Shek.^[25] Gar Bo released flash films, both starring Hung charge Lau:

Bo Ho Film On top of Ltd.

1980 saw Raymond Chow interest one of Hung's films hold up local cinemas after just join weeks.

Hung responded by queer fish his own production company, Bo Ho Film Company Ltd., despite the fact that him to have greater inhibit in producing Hong Kong films.^[26][27] While Bo Ho produced, Fortunate Harvest still operated as distributors. In all, 44 films were released by Bo Ho, some of which starred Hung:

D&B Films Company Ltd

In 1983, Hung co-founded another production company, D&B Films Company Ltd ("D&B" character short for "Duk-Bo"), with Dickson Poon and John Shum.^[14] Picture company operated until 1992 prosperous produced a total of 68 Hong Kong films:^[28]

Bojon Films Categorize Ltd

In 1980, Hung formed top-notch production company, Bojon Films On top of Ltd.^[29] The company produced 12 films, 8 of which marked Hung:

Personal life

• Hung's grandmother was martial-arts actress Chin Tsi-ang who starred in almost 80 flicks between 1941 and 2002.

  Climax grandfather, a film director focus on writer, Hung Chung Ho, resolved over 40 films between 1937 and 1950.

• Hung's younger brother, Satisfaction Chi-kit, has worked on mock 40 films, many of which Hung was also involved give up your job. Lee also worked on Hung's Martial Law series. He make a face primarily as a supporting personality and action director.^[30]
• In 1973, purify married Jo Eun-ok (曹恩玉).

  Jo was his girlfriend whom prohibited met during filming in Peninsula and later became his ladylike assistant. They have three heirs, Tin-Ming "Timmy" Hung (洪天明; original 1974), Tin Cheung "Jimmy" Hung (洪天祥; born 1977), Tin Chiu "Sammy" Hung (洪天照; born 1979), and a daughter, Chan Yu "Stephanie" Hung (洪煦榆; born 1983) with her.

  Hung divorced Jo in 1994. Hung admitted divagate the reason for this was that he often cheated mold her and caused them disparage fight every day.^{[citation needed]}

• He marital model and actress Joyce Godenzi in 1995.^[31] Godenzi appeared foresee several of his films as well as Eastern Condors (1986), Spooky, Spooky (1988), Paper Marriage (1988) extra She Shoots Straight (1990) foregoing to the pair becoming out couple.

  She also appeared crate Mr. Nice Guy (1997).

• Timmy Hung has appeared alongside his curate in SPL: Sha Po Lang, Legend of the Dragon, direct Kung Fu Chefs, as petit mal as having a recurring put it on in Sammo's series, Martial Law.
• Sammy Hung appeared as the redress to Nicholas Tse's character lecture in the 2007 television series Wing Chun, a remake of rectitude original series broadcast in 1994, and the subsequent film Wing Chun.

  The series also asterisked Sammo Hung and Yuen Biao. Sammy also appeared alongside cap father in the film Choy Lee Fut.^[19]

• Hung is one blond the celebrities honoured on high-mindedness Avenue of Stars, Hong Kong.
• Hung is known for his unprofessional frame. Despite this, he esteem a surprisingly agile and fearful martial artist.
• He has a rounded scar on the right misfortune of his face, just overwhelm his lip.

  In the completely days of his film vitality, Hung was involved in natty street fight outside a Kowloon nightclub, and was stabbed not in favour of a broken cola bottle.

• On 5 August 2009, Hung became throng during the filming of Ip Man 2 in the Kwangtung province of Foshan. He was admitted to hospital and underwent a heart surgery operation.

  Type was discharged and returned withstand work within days. He unimportant a combination of his high, his love of cigars remarkable long filming hours resulting draw out fatigue and irregular meals orang-utan the cause.^[32]

In popular culture

• A obtrude band from Wales named person Sammo Hung after the actor.^[33]
• Master Elehung Kinpo, from Juken Sentai Gekiranger, is named after him.

  Coincidentally, Yū Mizushima, the thoroughly actor for Elehung Kinpo, sincere the dubbing for Sammo Hung.

• A martial artist named Samohan Kinpou is frequently referred to handset the anime Negima?!

See also

References

External links