Yun Fat Chow

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: 68
It did not take long for Chow to become a household name in Hong Kong following his role in the hit series The Bund in TVB in 1980. The Bund, about the rise and fall of a gangster in 1930s Shanghai, made him a star. It was one of the most popular TV series ever produced in Hong Kong and was a hit throughout Asia.

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
Year Title Type Rating
1995 Peace Hotel
Movie
0.0
1989 All About Ah Long
Movie
7.5
Drama
Year Title # Role Rating
1985 Police Cadet '85
Hong Kong Drama, 1985, 40 eps
Cheung Ging Sing (Main Role)
40
Main Role
8.0
1985 The Yang's Saga
Hong Kong Drama, 1985, 6 eps
Lui Tung Ban (Support Role)
6
Lui Tung Ban
Support Role
7.8
1985 The Battle Among the Clans
Hong Kong Drama, 1985, 30 eps
Lok Chung Hing (Main Role)
30
Main Role
8.2
1984 The Smiling, Proud Wanderer
Hong Kong Drama, 1984, 30 eps
Ling Wu Chung (Main Role)
30
Main Role
7.2
1983 The Radio Tycoon
Hong Kong Drama, 1983, 30 eps
Wai Yip-coeng (Main Role)
30
Main Role
7.3
1982 The Legend of Master So
Hong Kong Drama, 1982, 20 eps
So Chan (Main Role)
20
So Chan
Main Role
7.7
1982 The Mavericks
Hong Kong Drama, 1982, 20 eps
Lau Chi (Main Role)
20
Lau Chi
Main Role
8.0
1981 The Shell Game Season 2
Hong Kong Drama, 1981, 20 eps
Ah Long (Main Role)
20
Ah Long
Main Role
6.7
1980 The Bund Season 2
Hong Kong Drama, 1980, 20 eps
Hui Man Keung (Guest Role)
20
Hui Man Keung
Guest Role
0.0
1980 The Brothers
Hong Kong Drama, 1980, 70 eps
Shek Fai (Main Role)
70
Main Role
8.0
1980 The Bund
Hong Kong Drama, 1980, 25 eps
Hui Man Keung (Main Role)
25
Hui Man Keung
Main Role
8.0
1976 Hotel
Hong Kong Drama, 1976, 129 eps
Siu Wa Saan (Main Role)
129
Main Role
10.0
1975 Dream of the Red Chamber
Hong Kong Drama, 1975, 7 eps
Jeung Yuk Haam (Support Role)
7
Jeung Yuk Haam
Support Role
0.0
Movie
Year Title Role Rating
TBA The Invincible 12
Unconfirmed
Hong Kong Movie, 0000,
(Unknown)
Unknown
1.0
TBA Cold War 3
Hong Kong Movie, 0000,
(Support Role)
Support Role
0.0
2023 One More Chance
Hong Kong Movie, 2023,
Fai (Main Role)
Fai
Main Role
7.9
2018 Project Gutenberg
Hong Kong Movie, 2018,
"Painter" (Main Role)
"Painter"
Main Role
7.7
2016 Cold War 2
Hong Kong Movie, 2016,
Oswald Kan (Support Role)
Oswald Kan
Support Role
7.5
2016 The Moment: Fifty Years of Golden Horse
Taiwanese Movie, 2016,
[Himself] (Support Role)
[Himself]
Support Role
9.5
2016 From Vegas to Macau 3
Hong Kong Movie, 2016,
Main Role
7.0
2015 Office
Hong Kong Movie, 2015,
Ho Chung Ping (Main Role)
Main Role
7.2
2015 From Vegas to Macau 2
Hong Kong Movie, 2015,
Ken (Main Role)
Ken
Main Role
7.2
2014 From Vegas to Macau 1
Hong Kong Movie, 2014,
Hendrik / Ken (Main Role)
Main Role
7.3
2014 The Monkey King 1: Havoc In Heaven's Palace
Hong Kong Movie, 2014,
[Jade Emperor] (Main Role)
[Jade Emperor]
Main Role
7.2
2013 The Last Tycoon
Hong Kong Movie, 2013,
Cheng Daqi (Main Role)
Main Role
7.9
2012 The Assassins
Chinese Movie, 2012,
Cao Cao (Main Role)
Cao Cao
Main Role
7.1
2011 Beginning of the Great Revival
Chinese Movie, 2011,
Yuan Shikai (Main Role)
Main Role
6.9
2010 Let the Bullets Fly
Chinese Movie, 2010,
Wang (Support Role)
Wang
Support Role
7.3
2010 Shanghai
Chinese Movie, 2010,
Anthony Lan-Ting (Main Role)
Main Role
7.1
2010 Confucius
Chinese Movie, 2010,
Confucius / Kong Zi (Main Role)
Confucius / Kong Zi
Main Role
7.1
2008 The Children of Huang Shi
Chinese Movie, 2008,
Chen Han Sheng (Main Role)
Main Role
7.7
2006 Curse of the Golden Flower
Chinese Movie, 2006,
Emperor Ping (Main Role)
Main Role
7.6
2006 The Postmodern Life of My Aunt
Chinese Movie, 2006,
Pan Zhi Chang (Support Role)
Pan Zhi Chang
Support Role
6.5
2004 Waiting Alone
Chinese Movie, 2004,
[Himself] (Bit part)
[Himself]
Bit part
7.2
2000 Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Chinese Movie, 2000,
Li Mu Bai (Main Role)
Li Mu Bai
Main Role
8.3
1995 Peace Hotel
Hong Kong Movie, 1995,
(Main Role)
Main Role
0.0
1994 Treasure Hunt
Hong Kong Movie, 1994,
Jeffrey Chang Ching (Main Role)
Jeffrey Chang Ching
Main Role
8.0
1994 God of Gamblers' Return
Hong Kong Movie, 1994,
Main Role
7.7
1992 Full Contact
Hong Kong Movie, 1992,
Gou Fei (Main Role)
Main Role
7.5
1992 Hard Boiled
Hong Kong Movie, 1992,
Main Role
7.8
1992 Now You See Love... Now You Don't
Hong Kong Movie, 1992,
Ng San Shui (Main Role)
Main Role
6.5
1991 Prison on Fire 2
Hong Kong Movie, 1991,
Chung Tin Ching / "41671" (Main Role)
Chung Tin Ching / "41671"
Main Role
7.4
1991 Once a Thief
Hong Kong Movie, 1991,
Joe (Main Role)
Joe
Main Role
7.6
1990 The Fun, the Luck and the Tycoon
Hong Kong Movie, 1990,
Lam Bo Sun / Stink (Main Role)
Main Role
7.7
1989 A Better Tomorrow 3: Love and Death in Saigon
Hong Kong Movie, 1989,
Mark Gor (Main Role)
Main Role
7.4
1989 Triads: The Inside Story
Hong Kong Movie, 1989,
Li Man Ho (Main Role)
Main Role
6.7
1989 The Killer
Hong Kong Movie, 1989,
Ah Jong (Main Role)
Main Role
7.9
1989 Wild Search
Hong Kong Movie, 1989,
Sgt. Lau Chun-Pong (Main Role)
Main Role
6.7
1989 All About Ah Long
Hong Kong Movie, 1989,
Yeung Ah Long (Main Role)
Yeung Ah Long
Main Role
7.5
1989 God of Gamblers
Hong Kong Movie, 1989,
Do shen (Main Role)
Main Role
7.8
1988 City War
Hong Kong Movie, 1988,
Dick Lee (Main Role)
Main Role
7.0
1988 Goodbye My Friend
Hong Kong Movie, 1988,
Hung (Main Role)
Hung
Main Role
7.0
1988 The Greatest Lover
Hong Kong Movie, 1988,
Nelson (Main Role)
Main Role
7.4
1988 Diary of a Big Man
Hong Kong Movie, 1988,
Chow Ting Fat (Main Role)
Main Role
6.8
1988 Tiger on the Beat 1
Hong Kong Movie, 1988,
Sgt. Francis Lee (Main Role)
Main Role
7.3
1988 The Eighth Happiness
Hong Kong Movie, 1988,
Main Role
7.5
1988 The Romancing Star 2
Hong Kong Movie, 1988,
Fred Wong (Guest Role)
Fred Wong
Guest Role
6.8
1987 A Better Tomorrow 2
Hong Kong Movie, 1987,
Ken "Gor" Lee (Main Role)
Main Role
7.7
1987 Prison on Fire 1
Hong Kong Movie, 1987,
Main Role
7.7
1987 Spiritual Love
Hong Kong Movie, 1987,
Pu Yung Tsai (Main Role)
Pu Yung Tsai
Main Role
6.2
1987 Flaming Brothers
Hong Kong Movie, 1987,
Cheung Ho Tin (Main Role)
Main Role
7.0
1987 An Autumn’s Tale
Hong Kong Movie, 1987,
Samuel Pang (Main Role)
Main Role
7.5
1987 The Romancing Star 1
Hong Kong Movie, 1987,
Fred (Main Role)
Main Role
6.5
1987 Rich and Famous
Hong Kong Movie, 1987,
Li Ah-Chai (Main Role)
Main Role
7.5
1987 Scared Stiff
Hong Kong Movie, 1987,
Inspector Chow (Main Role)
Inspector Chow
Main Role
7.0
1987 Tragic Hero
Hong Kong Movie, 1987,
Li Ah Chai (Main Role)
Li Ah Chai
Main Role
7.4
1987 City on Fire
Hong Kong Movie, 1987,
Ko Chow (Main Role)
Main Role
7.4
1986 A Hearty Response
Hong Kong Movie, 1986,
Ho Ting Bon (Main Role)
Ho Ting Bon
Main Role
6.0
1986 The Seventh Curse
Hong Kong Movie, 1986,
Wesley / Wei (Main Role)
Wesley / Wei
Main Role
6.9
1986 Love Unto Waste
Hong Kong Movie, 1986,
Inspector Lan (Main Role)
Main Role
6.8
1986 A Better Tomorrow
Hong Kong Movie, 1986,
Mark (Main Role)
Mark
Main Role
7.9
1986 The Lunatics
Hong Kong Movie, 1986,
Chung (Support Role)
Chung
Support Role
7.9
1986 Dream Lovers
Hong Kong Movie, 1986,
Song Yu (Main Role)
Song Yu
Main Role
6.6
1986 Witch from Nepal
Hong Kong Movie, 1986,
Joe (Main Role)
Joe
Main Role
7.0
1986 Lost Romance
Hong Kong Movie, 1986,
Charles Wong | Ga Ming (Main Role)
Charles Wong | Ga Ming
Main Role
7.0
1986 100 Ways to Murder Your Wife
Hong Kong Movie, 1986,
(Main Role)
Main Role
6.6
1985 Why Me?
Hong Kong Movie, 1985,
Mr. Chow (Support Role)
Mr. Chow
Support Role
0.0
1985 Women
Hong Kong Movie, 1985,
Derek Sun (Main Role)
Derek Sun
Main Role
6.5
1984 Waiting for Daybreak
Hong Kong Movie, 1984,
Yip Gim Fei (Main Role)
Main Role
3.0
1984 The Occupant
Hong Kong Movie, 1984,
Insp Valentino Chow (Main Role)
Insp Valentino Chow
Main Role
9.0
1984 Love in a Fallen City
Hong Kong Movie, 1984,
Fan Liu Yuen (Main Role)
Main Role
6.9
1983 The Last Affair
Hong Kong Movie, 1983,
Kwong Ping (Main Role)
Kwong Ping
Main Role
5.5
1983 Blood Money
Hong Kong Movie, 1983,
"Bullet" (Main Role)
"Bullet"
Main Role
0.0
1983 The Bund
Hong Kong Movie, 1983,
Hui Man Keung (Main Role)
Hui Man Keung
Main Role
7.0
1982 The Postman Strikes Back
Hong Kong Movie, 1982,
Fu Jun (Main Role)
Fu Jun
Main Role
6.0
1982 The Head Hunter
Hong Kong Movie, 1982,
Yuen Lik | Nguen Dich (Main Role)
Yuen Lik | Nguen Dich
Main Role
2.0
1981 The Story of Woo Viet
Hong Kong Movie, 1981,
Wu Yuet (Main Role)
Wu Yuet
Main Role
7.6
1981 The Executor
Hong Kong Movie, 1981,
Ng Tao (Main Role)
Ng Tao
Main Role
0.0
1980 Modern Heroes
Hong Kong Movie, 1980,
Sgt Chu Hwa Tai (Main Role)
Sgt Chu Hwa Tai
Main Role
0.0
1980 Pursuit
Hong Kong Movie, 1980,
[Killer] (Support Role)
[Killer]
Support Role
0.0
1980 Joy to the World
Taiwanese Movie, 1980,
Jen Lung (Main Role)
Jen Lung
Main Role
0.0
1980 See Bar
Hong Kong Movie, 1980,
Git (Main Role)
Git
Main Role
0.0
1978 Miss "O"
Hong Kong Movie, 1978,
Koon (Main Role)
Koon
Main Role
0.0
1978 Their Private Lives
Hong Kong Movie, 1978,
(Main Role)
Main Role
0.0
1977 Hot Blood
Hong Kong Movie, 1977,
(Main Role)
Main Role
5.7
1976 The Hunter, the Butterfly and the Crocodile
Hong Kong Movie, 1976,
(Main Role)
Main Role
0.0
1976 Massage Girls
Hong Kong Movie, 1976,
Ah Gin (Main Role)
Ah Gin
Main Role
0.0
TV Show
Year Title # Role Rating
2023 The Popcorn Show Season 2
Hong Kong TV Show, 2023, 29 eps
(Ep. 2) (Guest)
29
(Ep. 2)
Guest
0.0
1989 Celebrity Talk Show Season 2
Hong Kong TV Show, 1989, 17 eps
(Ep. 3) (Guest)
17
(Ep. 3)
Guest
0.0
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Chow Yun Fat

Yun Fat Chow
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Details

  • First Name: Yun Fat
  • Family Name: Chow
  • Native name: 周潤發
  • Also Known as: Donald Chow, 周润发
  • Nationality: Hong Konger
  • Gender: Male
  • Born: May 18, 1955
  • Age: 68

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