Chow Yun Fat
- Name: Chow Yun Fat
- Native name: 周潤發
- Also Known as: Donald Chow, 周润发
- Nationality: Hong Konger
- Gender: Male
- Born: May 18, 1955
- Age: 69
Although Chow continued his TV success, his goal was to become a big-screen actor. His occasional ventures onto the big screens with low-budget films, however, were disastrous. Success finally came when he teamed up with director John Woo in the 1986 gangster action-melodrama A Better Tomorrow, which swept the box offices in Asia and established Chow and Woo as megastars. A Better Tomorrow won him his first Best Actor award at the Hong Kong Film Awards. It was the highest-grossing film in Hong Kong history at the time, and it set the standard for Hong Kong gangster films to come. Taking the opportunity, Chow quit TV entirely. With his new image from A Better Tomorrow, he made many more 'gun fu' or 'heroic bloodshed' films, such as A Better Tomorrow 2 (1987), Prison on Fire, Prison on Fire II, The Killer (1989), A Better Tomorrow 3 (1990), Hard Boiled (1992) and City on Fire an inspiration for Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs.
Chow may be best known for playing honorable tough guys, whether cops or criminals, but he also starred in comedies like Diary of a Big Man (1988) and Now You See Love, Now You Don't (1992) and romantic blockbusters such as Love in a Fallen City (1984) and An Autumn's Tale (1987), for which he was named best actor at the Golden Horse Awards. He brought together his disparate personae in the 1989 film God of Gamblers (Du Shen), directed by the prolific Wong Jing, in which he was by turns suave charmer, broad comedian and action hero. The film surprised many, became immensely popular, broke Hong Kong's all-time box office record, and spawned a series of gambling films, as well as several comic sequels starring Andy Lau and Stephen Chow.
The Los Angeles Times proclaimed Chow Yun-Fat "the coolest actor in the world."[citation needed] Being one of the biggest stars in Hong Kong, Chow moved to Hollywood in the mid-'90s in an ultimately unsuccessful attempt to duplicate his success in Asia. His first two films, The Replacement Killers (1998) and The Corruptor (1999) were box office disappointments. In his next film Anna and the King (1999), Chow teamed up with Jodie Foster, but the film suffered at the box office. Unable to play down the Asian stereotype, Chow took advantage of it by accepting the role of Li Mu-Bai in the (2000) film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. It became a winner at both the international box office and the Oscars. In 2003, Chow came back to Hollywood and starred in Bulletproof Monk in yet another Asian stereotyped role of a martial art expert. In 2006, he teamed up with Gong Li in the film, Curse of the Golden Flower, directed by Zhang Yimou.
In 2007, Chow was cast as the pirate captain Sao Feng in Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End. His character, however, was omitted when the movie was shown in mainland China. His character was criticized as demeaning as it "vilifies and humiliates the Chinese." Despite the censorship, the unedited version of the movie was freely sold on the black market without government intervention because viewers wanted to see Chow Yun Fat.
Chow had often wished to be regarded as a serious dramatic actor in Hollywood. Unfortunately, he often landed in roles that stereotyped him as an Asian action hero.
In the live-action version of Dragonball Evolution, which performed poorly in the USA and grossed $57 million worldwide, Chow Yun Fat played Master Roshi. Edit Biography
Screenwriter
Title | Rating |
---|---|
Peace Hotel | 6.9 |
All About Ah Long | 7.2 |
Drama
Title | Rating |
---|---|
Police Cadet '85
Hong Kong Drama, 1985, 40 eps
Cheung Ging Sing
(Main Role)
|
7.9
|
The Yang's Saga
Hong Kong Drama, 1985, 6 eps
Lui Tung Ban
(Support Role)
|
7.7
|
The Battle Among the Clans
Hong Kong Drama, 1985, 30 eps
Lok Chung Hing
(Main Role)
|
7.7
|
The Smiling, Proud Wanderer
Hong Kong Drama, 1984, 30 eps
Ling Wu Chung
(Main Role)
|
7.2
|
The Superpower
Hong Kong Drama, 1983, 20 eps
Tin Yat
(Main Role)
|
0.0
|
The Radio Tycoon
Hong Kong Drama, 1983, 30 eps
Wai Yip-coeng
(Main Role)
|
6.9
|
The Legend of Master So
Hong Kong Drama, 1982, 20 eps
So Chan
(Main Role)
|
7.5
|
The Mavericks
Hong Kong Drama, 1982, 20 eps
Lau Chi
(Main Role)
|
7.4
|
The Shell Game Season 2
Hong Kong Drama, 1981, 20 eps
Ah Long
(Main Role)
|
6.7
|
The Bund Season 2
Hong Kong Drama, 1980, 20 eps
Hui Man Keung
(Guest Role)
|
0.0
|
The Brothers
Hong Kong Drama, 1980, 70 eps
Shek Fai
(Main Role)
|
8.0
|
The Bund
Hong Kong Drama, 1980, 25 eps
Hui Man Keung
(Main Role)
|
7.9
|
Hotel
Hong Kong Drama, 1976, 129 eps
Siu Wa Saan
(Main Role)
|
10.0
|
Dream of the Red Chamber
Hong Kong Drama, 1975, 7 eps
Jeung Yuk Haam
(Support Role)
|
0.0
|
Movie
Title | Rating |
---|---|
The Invincible 12
Unconfirmed
Hong Kong Movie, 0000,
(Unknown)
|
1.0
|
Cold War 3
Hong Kong Movie, 0000,
(Support Role)
|
0.0
|
Detective Chinatown 1900
Chinese Movie, 2025,
(Support Role)
|
0.0
|
One More Chance
Hong Kong Movie, 2023,
Fai
(Main Role)
|
7.7
|
Project Gutenberg
Hong Kong Movie, 2018,
"Painter"
(Main Role)
|
7.5
|
Cold War 2
Hong Kong Movie, 2016,
Oswald Kan
(Support Role)
|
7.4
|
The Moment: Fifty Years of Golden Horse
Taiwanese Movie, 2016,
[Himself]
(Support Role)
|
9.5
|
From Vegas to Macau 3
Hong Kong Movie, 2016,
Ken Shek / Ko Chun,God of Gamblers
(Main Role)
|
6.9
|
Office
Hong Kong Movie, 2015,
Ho Chung Ping
(Main Role)
|
7.1
|
From Vegas to Macau 2
Hong Kong Movie, 2015,
Ken
(Main Role)
|
7.1
|
From Vegas to Macau 1
Hong Kong Movie, 2014,
Hendrik / Ken
(Main Role)
|
7.3
|
The Monkey King 1: Havoc In Heaven's Palace
Hong Kong Movie, 2014,
[Jade Emperor]
(Main Role)
|
7.2
|
The Last Tycoon
Hong Kong Movie, 2013,
Cheng Daqi
(Main Role)
|
7.8
|
The Assassins
Chinese Movie, 2012,
Cao Cao
(Main Role)
|
7.0
|
Beginning of the Great Revival
Chinese Movie, 2011,
Yuan Shikai
(Main Role)
|
6.8
|
Let the Bullets Fly
Chinese Movie, 2010,
Wang
(Support Role)
|
7.3
|
Shanghai
Chinese Movie, 2010,
Anthony Lan-Ting
(Main Role)
|
7.0
|
Confucius
Chinese Movie, 2010,
Confucius / Kong Zi
(Main Role)
|
7.0
|
The Children of Huang Shi
Chinese Movie, 2008,
Chen Han Sheng
(Main Role)
|
7.6
|
Curse of the Golden Flower
Chinese Movie, 2006,
Emperor Ping
(Main Role)
|
7.6
|
The Postmodern Life of My Aunt
Chinese Movie, 2006,
Pan Zhi Chang
(Support Role)
|
6.4
|
Waiting Alone
Chinese Movie, 2004,
[Himself]
(Bit part)
|
7.2
|
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Chinese Movie, 2000,
Li Mu Bai
(Main Role)
|
8.3
|
Peace Hotel
Hong Kong Movie, 1995,
(Main Role)
|
6.9
|
Treasure Hunt
Hong Kong Movie, 1994,
Jeffrey Chang Ching
(Main Role)
|
7.4
|
God of Gamblers' Return
Hong Kong Movie, 1994,
Ko Chun / The God of Gambler
(Main Role)
|
7.6
|
Full Contact
Hong Kong Movie, 1992,
Gou Fei
(Main Role)
|
7.3
|
Hard Boiled
Hong Kong Movie, 1992,
Inspector Tequila Yuen
(Main Role)
|
7.7
|
Now You See Love... Now You Don't
Hong Kong Movie, 1992,
Ng San Shui
(Main Role)
|
6.4
|
Prison on Fire 2
Hong Kong Movie, 1991,
Chung Tin Ching / "41671"
(Main Role)
|
7.3
|
Once a Thief
Hong Kong Movie, 1991,
Joe
(Main Role)
|
7.4
|
The Fun, the Luck and the Tycoon
Hong Kong Movie, 1990,
Lam Bo Sun / Stink
(Main Role)
|
7.4
|
A Better Tomorrow 3: Love and Death in Saigon
Hong Kong Movie, 1989,
Mark Gor
(Main Role)
|
7.2
|
Triads: The Inside Story
Hong Kong Movie, 1989,
Li Man Ho
(Main Role)
|
6.6
|
The Killer
Hong Kong Movie, 1989,
Ah Jong
(Main Role)
|
7.8
|
Wild Search
Hong Kong Movie, 1989,
Sgt. Lau Chun-Pong
(Main Role)
|
6.6
|
All About Ah Long
Hong Kong Movie, 1989,
Yeung Ah Long
(Main Role)
|
7.2
|
God of Gamblers
Hong Kong Movie, 1989,
Do shen
(Main Role)
|
7.7
|
City War
Hong Kong Movie, 1988,
Dick Lee
(Main Role)
|
6.8
|
Goodbye My Friend
Hong Kong Movie, 1988,
Hung
(Main Role)
|
7.0
|
The Greatest Lover
Hong Kong Movie, 1988,
Nelson
(Main Role)
|
7.3
|
Diary of a Big Man
Hong Kong Movie, 1988,
Chow Ting Fat
(Main Role)
|
6.8
|
Tiger on the Beat 1
Hong Kong Movie, 1988,
Sgt. Francis Lee
(Main Role)
|
7.0
|
The Eighth Happiness
Hong Kong Movie, 1988,
'Handsome' Fong Kim-long
(Main Role)
|
7.4
|
The Romancing Star 2
Hong Kong Movie, 1988,
Fred Wong
(Guest Role)
|
6.6
|
A Better Tomorrow 2
Hong Kong Movie, 1987,
Ken "Gor" Lee
(Main Role)
|
7.6
|
Prison on Fire 1
Hong Kong Movie, 1987,
Chung Tin Ching / 41671
(Main Role)
|
7.6
|
Spiritual Love
Hong Kong Movie, 1987,
Pu Yung Tsai
(Main Role)
|
6.0
|
Flaming Brothers
Hong Kong Movie, 1987,
Cheung Ho Tin
(Main Role)
|
6.8
|
An Autumn’s Tale
Hong Kong Movie, 1987,
Samuel Pang
(Main Role)
|
7.4
|
The Romancing Star 1
Hong Kong Movie, 1987,
Fred
(Main Role)
|
6.4
|
Rich and Famous
Hong Kong Movie, 1987,
Li Ah-Chai
(Main Role)
|
7.3
|
Scared Stiff
Hong Kong Movie, 1987,
Inspector Chow
(Main Role)
|
7.0
|
Tragic Hero
Hong Kong Movie, 1987,
Li Ah Chai
(Main Role)
|
7.3
|
City on Fire
Hong Kong Movie, 1987,
Ko Chow
(Main Role)
|
7.2
|
A Hearty Response
Hong Kong Movie, 1986,
Ho Ting Bon
(Main Role)
|
6.2
|
The Seventh Curse
Hong Kong Movie, 1986,
Wesley / Wei
(Main Role)
|
6.7
|
Love Unto Waste
Hong Kong Movie, 1986,
Inspector Lan
(Main Role)
|
6.8
|
A Better Tomorrow
Hong Kong Movie, 1986,
Mark
(Main Role)
|
7.8
|
The Lunatics
Hong Kong Movie, 1986,
Chung
(Support Role)
|
7.2
|
Dream Lovers
Hong Kong Movie, 1986,
Song Yu
(Main Role)
|
6.5
|
Witch from Nepal
Hong Kong Movie, 1986,
Joe
(Main Role)
|
5.7
|
Lost Romance
Hong Kong Movie, 1986,
Charles Wong | Ga Ming
(Main Role)
|
6.9
|
100 Ways to Murder Your Wife
Hong Kong Movie, 1986,
(Main Role)
|
6.4
|
Why Me?
Hong Kong Movie, 1985,
Mr. Chow
(Support Role)
|
0.0
|
Women
Hong Kong Movie, 1985,
Derek Sun
(Main Role)
|
6.8
|
Waiting for Daybreak
Hong Kong Movie, 1984,
Yip Gim Fei
(Main Role)
|
5.7
|
The Occupant
Hong Kong Movie, 1984,
Insp Valentino Chow
(Main Role)
|
7.5
|
Love in a Fallen City
Hong Kong Movie, 1984,
Fan Liu Yuen
(Main Role)
|
6.9
|
The Last Affair
Hong Kong Movie, 1983,
Kwong Ping
(Main Role)
|
6.0
|
Blood Money
Hong Kong Movie, 1983,
"Bullet"
(Main Role)
|
0.0
|
The Bund
Hong Kong Movie, 1983,
Hui Man Keung
(Main Role)
|
6.9
|
The Postman Strikes Back
Hong Kong Movie, 1982,
Fu Jun
(Main Role)
|
6.4
|
The Head Hunter
Hong Kong Movie, 1982,
Yuen Lik | Nguen Dich
(Main Role)
|
5.0
|
The Story of Woo Viet
Hong Kong Movie, 1981,
Wu Yuet
(Main Role)
|
7.0
|
The Executor
Hong Kong Movie, 1981,
Ng Tao
(Main Role)
|
0.0
|
Modern Heroes
Hong Kong Movie, 1980,
Sgt Chu Hwa Tai
(Main Role)
|
0.0
|
Pursuit
Hong Kong Movie, 1980,
[Killer]
(Support Role)
|
0.0
|
Joy to the World
Taiwanese Movie, 1980,
Jen Lung
(Main Role)
|
0.0
|
See Bar
Hong Kong Movie, 1980,
Git
(Main Role)
|
0.0
|
Miss "O"
Hong Kong Movie, 1978,
Koon
(Main Role)
|
0.0
|
Their Private Lives
Hong Kong Movie, 1978,
(Main Role)
|
0.0
|
Hot Blood
Hong Kong Movie, 1977,
(Main Role)
|
5.6
|
The Hunter, the Butterfly and the Crocodile
Hong Kong Movie, 1976,
(Main Role)
|
0.0
|
Massage Girls
Hong Kong Movie, 1976,
Ah Gin
(Main Role)
|
0.0
|
TV Show
Title | Rating |
---|---|
The Popcorn Show Season 2
Hong Kong TV Show, 2023, 29 eps
(Ep. 2)
(Guest)
|
0.0
|
Celebrity Talk Show Season 2
Hong Kong TV Show, 1989, 17 eps
(Ep. 3)
(Guest)
|
0.0
|
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