Asian actors that I love
List activity
8.5K views
• 0 this weekCreate a new list
List your movie, TV & celebrity picks.
42 people
- Actor
- Music Department
- Director
Nicholas was born in Hong Kong, China. He attended school in Vancouver, Canada. He also attended school for a short time in Phoenix, Arizona before moving back to Hong Kong with his parents Patrick Yin Tse and Deborah Dik, and his sister, Jennifer (Ting Ting). Nicholas started his singing career around 1997.- Actor
- Producer
- Director
Daniel Wu, is a renowned Hong Kong- American actor, director, and producer. With a career spanning over twenty five years, Wu has made significant contributions to the Asian film industry, and gained recognition for his roles in martial arts and action films as well as drama, showcasing both his broad acting range and physical agility.
Wu's journey in the entertainment world began when he moved to Hong Kong in the late 1990s and was discovered by auteur director Yonfan who cast him in the lead role of gay art house film, "Bishonen". He then quickly rose to fame, starring in films like Benny Chan's "Gen-X Cops", "Purple Storm", and most notably in "City of Glass" for which he earned the first of five Hong Kong Film Award nominations, as Best New Performer.
He received two more Hong Kong Film Award nominations in 2005, for Best Actor in "One Night in Mongkok", Best Supporting Actor in Jackie Chan's "New Police Story", an iconic role that also brought him Taiwan's Golden Horse Award as Best Supporting Actor. The following year Daniel made his directorial debut with "The Heavenly Kings" , a humorous glimpse into the Hong Kong music industry, which won him the prestigious Hong Kong prize as Best New Director for his 2006 feature. Daniel was again nominated for Best Actor in 2015 for his role in Dante Lam's psychological thriller "That Demon Within".
His string of international film hits includes Frank Coraci's 2004 remake of "Around the World in 80 Days", "Blood Brothers" (2007), "Overheard" (2009), Quentin Tarantino's presentation of "The Man with the Iron Fists" (2012), "Europa Report" (2013), China's submission to the 88th Academy Awards "Go Away Mr. Tumor," Duncan Jones' adaptation of the renowned video game, "Warcraft" (2016), "Geostorm" (2017), as well as the remake of "Tomb Raider" (2018). He also starred and executive produced the AMC TV show "Into the Badlands" (2015-2019). Most recently, Wu starred in the box office hit "Caught in Time" (2020), as well as appearing in Lisa Joy's feature directorial debut, romantic sci-fi noir thriller "Reminiscence" (2021), and the HBO series, "Westworld" (2022).
He can also be seen in the Disney+ limited series, "American Born Chinese" (2023) based on the award-winning graphic novel by Gene Luen Yang. Wu appears as Sun Wukong, better known as The Monkey King, a mythological and all-powerful god who journeys into our world in a pursuit to find his son.
Beyond his cinematic accomplishments, Daniel Wu is recognized for his advocacy work, supporting the Asian American community as well as other charitable causes. Daniel was also the 2022 recipient of The Bruce Lee Award, in honor of the legendary actor, presented each year by AWFF and the Bruce Lee Foundation to an individual in the film industry whose efforts in the field of martial arts has created a legacy of excellence. Daniel is also an accomplished race car driver currently racing in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge series. Daniel Wu's multifaceted career, marked by talent and versatility, has solidified his status as a prominent figure in the global entertainment landscape and making him a household name throughout the global Chinese community.- Actor
- Producer
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Stephen Fung is a international filmmaker who made his acting debut in Forbidden Nights(1990.) Since then he has starred in more than 40 films in Asia. In 2004, Stephen wrote/directed/starred in his feature film directorial debut "Enter the Phoenix" for JackieChan's newly formed company JCE Movies; it became an instant hit. His second directing/starring feature "House of Fury" marks Stephen's first collaboration with legendary action director Yuen Wo Ping (Matrix, Kill Bill) proves also to be a success. "House of Fury" was the opening film for the Hong Kong International Film Festival 2005, official selection for the 18TH Tokyo International Film Festival, and at home, the highest grossing Hong Kong film for the first half of 2005. Besides continuing with his acting career, Stephen directed "JUMP" written and produced by Stephen Chow for Sony Columbia Pictures Asia in 2009. In 2012 Stephen directed the first two installment "Tai Chi Zero" and "Tai Chi Hero" in the "Taichi Trilogy." The two films have won numerous awards and was the official selection for The Venice Film Festival, Toronto Film Festival, Busan Film Festival among others. In 2016 Stephen directed "The Adventurers" with an international cast starring Jean Reno, Andy Lau, Shu Qi. The film opened No. 4 internationally with a 30 Million USD weekend box office. Stephen is an Executive Producer, Director and Fight Director for the AMC's hit Martial Arts Drama "Into The Badlands." In 2019, Stephen directed and executive produced the first two episodes for Netflix's Wu Assassins.- Actor
- Producer
- Additional Crew
Jet Li born Li Lian Jie in Beijing, China. He started training at the Beijing wushu academy (wushu is China's national sport, largely a performance version of various martial art styles) at age eight. He won five gold medals in the Chinese championships, his first when he was only 11. In his teens, he was already a national coach, and before he was 20 he had starred in his first movie: The Shaolin Temple (1982), which started the 1980s Kung-Fu boom in mainland China. He relocated to Hong Kong, where he was the biggest star of the early 1990s Kung-Fu boom. His first directorial effort was Born to Defense (1988).- Producer
- Actor
- Stunts
Hong Kong's cheeky, lovable and best-known film star, Jackie Chan endured many years of long, hard work and multiple injuries to establish international success after his start in Hong Kong's manic martial arts cinema industry.
Jackie was born Kong-sang Chan on April 7, 1954, on Hong Kong's famous Victoria Peak, to Charles and Lee-Lee Chan, and the family immigrated to Canberra, Australia, in early 1960. The young Jackie was less than successful scholastically, so his father sent him back to Hong Kong to attend the rigorous China Drama Academy, one of the Peking Opera schools. Chan excelled at acrobatics, singing and martial arts and eventually became a member of the "Seven Little Fortunes" performing troupe and began lifelong friendships with fellow martial artists / actors Sammo Kam-Bo Hung and Biao Yuen. Chan journeyed back and forth to visit his parents and work in Canberra, but eventually he made his way back to Hong Kong as his permanent home. In the early 1970s, Chan commenced his movie career and interestingly appeared in very minor roles in two films starring then rising martial arts superstar Bruce Lee: Fist of Fury (1972) (aka "The Chinese Connection"), and the Warner Bros. production Enter the Dragon (1973). Not long after Lee's untimely death, Chan was often cast in films cashing in on the success of Bruce Lee by utilizing words like "fist", "fury" or "dragon" in their US release titles.
Chan's own film career was off and running and he swiftly appeared in many low-budget martial arts films that were churned out at a rapid-fire pace by Hong Kong studios eager to satisfy the early 1970s boom in martial-arts cinema. He starred in Shaolin Wooden Men (1976), To Kill with Intrigue (1977), Half a Loaf of Kung Fu (1978) and Magnificent Bodyguards (1978), which all fared reasonably well at the cinemas. However, he scored a major breakthrough with the action comedy Drunken Master (1978), which has become a cult favorite among martial arts film fans. Not too long after this, Chan made his directorial debut with The Young Master (1980) and then "Enter the Dragon" producer Robert Clouse lured Jackie to the United States for a film planned to break Jackie into the lucrative US market. Battle Creek Brawl (1980) featured Jackie competing in a "toughest Street fighter" contest set in 1940s Texas; however, Jackie was unhappy with the end result, and it failed to fire with US audiences. In a further attempt to get his name known in the United States, Jackie was cast alongside Burt Reynolds, Sir Roger Moore and Dean Martin in the Hal Needham-directed car chase film The Cannonball Run (1981). Regrettably, Jackie was cast as a Japanese race driver and his martial arts skills are only shown in one small sequence near the film's conclusion. Stateside success was still a few years away for Jackie Chan!
Undeterred, he returned to East Asia to do what he did best--make jaw-dropping action films loaded with amazing stunt work. Chan and his legendary stunt team were without parallel in their ability to execute the most incredible fight scenes and action sequences, and the next decade would see some of their best work. Chan paired with the dynamic Sammo Kam-Bo Hung to star in Winners & Sinners (1983), Project A (1983), Wheels on Meals (1984), My Lucky Stars (1985) (aka "Winners & Sinners 2"), Twinkle Twinkle Lucky Stars (1985) (aka "Winners & Sinners 3"). Chan then journeyed back to the United States for another shot at that market, starring alongside Danny Aiello in The Protector (1985), filmed in Hong Kong and New York. However, as with previous attempts, Jackie felt the US director--in this case, James Glickenhaus--failed to understand his audience appeal and the film played to lukewarm reviews and box-office receipts. However, Jackie did decide to "harden" up his on-screen image somewhat and his next film, Police Story (1985) was a definite departure from previously light-hearted martial arts fare, and his fans loved the final product!
This was quickly followed up with the Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)-influenced Armour of God (1986), during filming of which Jackie mistimed a leap from a wall to a tree on location in Yugoslavia and fell many quite a few feet onto his head, causing a skull fracture. It was another in a long line of injuries that Chan has suffered as a result of doing his own stunt work, and he was soon back in front of the cameras. Project A 2 (1987), Police Story 2 (1988), Miracles: The Canton Godfather (1989) (aka "Mr. Canton and Lady Rose)", Armour of God 2: Operation Condor (1991) (aka "Armour of God 2") and Supercop (1992) (aka "Police Story 3") were all sizable hits for Jackie, escalating his status to phenomenal heights in Asia, and to his loyal fanbase around the globe. US success was now just around the corner for the hard-working Jackie Chan, and it arrived in the form of the action film Rumble in the Bronx (1995) (though it was actually filmed in Canada) that successfully blended humor and action to make a winning formula in US theaters.
Jackie did not waste any time and went to work on First Strike (1996) (aka "Police Story 4"), Mr. Nice Guy (1997), Who Am I? (1998), which all met with positive results at the international box office. Jackie then went to work in his biggest-budget US production, starring alongside fast-talking comedian Chris Tucker in the action comedy Rush Hour (1998). The film was a bigger hit than "Rumble in the Bronx" and firmly established Jackie as a bona fide star in the United States. Jackie then paired up with rising talent Owen Wilson to star in Shanghai Noon (2000) and its sequel, Shanghai Knights (2003), and re-teamed with Tucker in Rush Hour 2 (2001), as well as starring in The Tuxedo (2002), The Medallion (2003) and the delightful Around the World in 80 Days (2004). Not one to forget his loyal fanbase, Jackie returned to more gritty and traditional fare with New Police Story (2004) and The Myth (2005). The multi-talented Chan (he is also a major recording star in Asia) shows no sign of slowing down and has long since moved out of the shadow of Bruce Lee, to whom he was usually compared early in his career.
Chan is truly one of the international film industry's true maverick actor / director / stuntman / producer combinations - he has done this the hard way, and always his way to achieve his dreams and goals to be an international cinematic star. Off screen, he has been directly involved in many philanthropic ventures providing financial assistance to schools and universities around the world. He is a UNICEF GoodWill Ambassador, and he has campaigned against animal abuse and pollution and assisted with disaster relief efforts to the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami victims.- Actor
- Soundtrack
Branded as the next "Nicholas Tse", Shawn Yue was born and raised in Hong Kong. Spotted at an early age on the streets of Hong Kong by agents of the famous Hong Kong modelling agency "Starz People". He has modelled for Giordano, Sony, Timberland, Gillette, Meko, and is currently a spokesmodel for Shiseido Pureness and Coca-Cola China. Yue's first acting projects included Hong Kong TV series "Y2K", co-starring Twins member Charlene Choi, and the lead role in its sequel "Y2K+01". But, it was the lead role in the Taiwanese TV series "Tomorrow" that brought him more attention outside of Hong Kong, and through out the Far East. In 2002, Yue starred in "Just One Look", with both Twins members, and the much talked-about, big budget "Infernal Affairs", which brought him even more publicity.- Actor
- Producer
- Art Department
Andy Lau Tak-wah, (born 27 September 1961) is a Hong Kong actor, singer-songwriter, presenter, and film producer. Lau has been one of Hong Kong's most commercially successful film actors since the mid-1980s, performing in more than 160 films while maintaining a successful singing career at the same time. In the 1990s, Lau was branded by the media as one of the Four Heavenly Kings of Cantopop. Lau was entered into the Guinness World Records for the "Most Awards Won by a Cantopop Male Artist". By April 2000, he had already won a total unprecedented 292 awards. In 2005, Lau was awarded "No.1 Box office Actor 1985-2005" of Hong Kong, yielding a total box office of HKD 1,733,275,816 for shooting 108 films in the past 20 years. In 2007, Lau was also awarded the "Nielsen Box Office Star of Asia" by the Nielsen Company.- Actor
- Soundtrack
Edison Chen was born on 7 October 1980 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. He is an actor, known for Infernal Affairs (2002), The Grudge 2 (2006) and The Dark Knight (2008). He has been married to Qin ShuPei since 30 May 2016. They have one child.- Actor
- Music Department
- Additional Crew
The 1/2 Taiwanese and 1/2 Japanese Takeshi Kaneshiro may have started out as a puerile teen idol in the Chinese entertainment scene, but he's since become a proper film star in his own right. Whether by his own design or not, the boyishness that marked his first steps into showbiz has evolved into a cool, somewhat reticent demeanor that has now become his trademark. Despite being effortlessly good-looking, he chooses to strike a sometimes uneasy balance between the commercially pleasing and the quirky in his choice of film roles -- a move that's unusual for Asian leading men. But whether he's the faithful lover in the Japanese AIDS drama Kamisama mousukoshi dake (1998), the canned-pineapple-eating cop in Chungking Express (1994) or awkward in his role in Misty (1996), a remake of Akira Kurosawa's Rashomon (1950), Asian audiences love his style. Other memorable roles include his turn as a lovelorn student in Tempting Heart (1999), an angel in Lavender (2000) and the leader of a trio of robbers in Space Travelers (2000). There hasn't been an Asian actor quite as versatile as Kaneshiro, who is able to straddle the Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Japanese film industries because of his proficiency in various languages. Still, one wonders if the reason why he's so sought after is because he is so elusive. No one really knows what he does outside of film commitments, and his reluctance towards being in the spotlight is legendary.- Actor
- Producer
- Soundtrack
Louis Koo was born on 21 October 1970 in Hong Kong. He is an actor and producer, known for Warriors of Future (2022), Paradox (2017) and Protégé (2007).- Actor
- Stunts
- Producer
Donnie Yen was born in Guangzhou, China. His mother, Bow-sim Mark, was a kung fu master and his father, Kylster Yen, a newspaper editor and amateur musician. When Donnie was just two years old, the family moved to Hong Kong and then, when he was 11, to Boston, Massachusetts.
There, Master Bow-sim Mark became a pioneer for Chinese martial arts in America, and it was only natural that her only son was trained from early childhood in the same skills. At the same time, Donnie was influenced by his parents' love of music and reached a high level of proficiency as a pianist. All these interests would have a manifest influence on Yen's later life.
In his teens, Donnie defined his own persona by rebelling against his parents edicts. Beyond the limitations of his mother's school, Yen began training in various different fighting arts, including Japanese karate, Korean taekwondo and western boxing. Donnie also took up hip-hop and break-dancing. At the same time, he began spending his nights in Boston's notorious Combat Zone. Given that he was by now a serious practitioner of modern Wu Shu, his parents decided to send him to Beijing to train at the Chinese capital's famed Wu Shu academy.
It was when Yen returned to Hong Kong en route back to Boston that he met the famed martial arts movie director Yuen Woo-ping.
Donnie exploded onto the Hong Kong movie scene when he was cast in the lead role of director Yuen Woo-ping's 'Drunken Tai Chi'. His debut film immediately established him as a viable leading man, and Yen has remained a major figure in Chinese action cinema to this day.
Yen skills as a street dancer were to the fore in his second starring role, 'Mismatched Couples', in which he showed off his breakdance moves, as well as his general athleticism. This slapstick romantic comedy was produced by Hong Kong's prestigious Cinema City studio.
Donnie was subsequently signed by the newly formed D&B Films, and cast in the hit cop actioner 'Tiger Cage'. In this movie, and his follow-up features for the company ('In the Line of Duty 4', 'Tiger Cage 2'), Yen showed off his own unique form of contemporary screen combat, a form that included elements of rapid fire kicking, Western boxing and grappling moves.
Having established a worldwide fan base, Yen moved on to star in a string of independent Asian action features before director Tsui Hark tapped him to co-star in 'Once Upon A Time In China 2'. The film's two action highlights saw Donnie's character duel the legendary martial arts master Wong Fei-hung, played by his old friend Jet Li. The film brought Yen his first real attention as a thespian and he was nominated in the Best Supporting Actor category at that year's Hong Kong Film Awards.
Tsui Hark went on to produce a remake of King Hu's classic 'New Dragon Inn', which provided another showcase role for Donnie as the film's apparently invincible villain.
Donnie was reunited with director Yuen Woo-ping for 'Iron Monkey', a film which brought Yen's acting and action skills both into focus. In 'Iron Monkey', Yen played the father of Wong Fei-hung, and its success prefigured that which he would later enjoy as another pugilistic patriarch in 'Ip Man'. Donnie collaborated with Yuen on the action for the film, designing a new on-screen interpretation of Wong Fei-hung's classic 'Shadowless Kick'.
'Iron Monkey' was all the more remarkable in that, years after its Asian release, it was acquired by the American studio Miramax, re-cut, re-scored and given a wide release in US theatres. After premieres in New York and Los Angeles, the film enjoyed great acclaim from the American critics, and won a prize at that year's Taurus Awards, an event held to celebrate action in cinema.
After working on a number of independent features, Yen went on to enjoy huge success on the small screen when he accepted a lucrative offer from Hong Kong's ATV to film a series based on the Bruce Lee classic 'Fist of Fury'. The show was the top-rated action drama show around the region, and was subsequently re-edited for international distribution on video.
Donnie went on to make his directorial debut with 'Legend of the Wolf', a stylish period actioner that even attracted the attention of legendary American film-maker Francis Coppola. The film, about an amnesiac warrior returning to his home village, has become a bona fide cult classic.
As director, Donnie followed 'Legend of the Wolf' with a very different venture, 'Ballistic Kiss', an urban thriller about a conflicted assassin. The film played at the prestigious Udine Festival in Italy, and took home awards at several other events, including the Japanese Yubari International Action Film Festival.
Donnie's body of work had by then attracted the attention of Hollywood, and Yen was approached to choreograph the action for the mainstream franchise films 'Highlander: Endgame' and 'Blade 2'. After a period where he was based in Los Angeles, Donnie returned East by way of the West when Jackie Chan requested that Yen play his nemesis in the hit 'Shanghai Knights', a shoot that took the star from Prague to London.
Yen returned to China to co-star in director Zhang Yimou's epic wu xia master work 'Hero'. Yen's duel with Jet Li brought his skills to the emerging Mainland Chinese theatrical audience, and paved the way for Donnie to become the country's biggest action star. The film received a wide US theatrical release from Miramax, and remains one of the most successful foreign language titles ever distributed in the America market.
Donnie returned to Hong Kong to choreograph the smash hit fantasy-horror-comedy 'The Twins Effect', and went on to enjoy his most productive partnership with a director. Beginning with the cop actioner 'SPL', Donnie teamed with helmer Wilson Yip for a series of very different films that Yen would star in and action choreograph and Yip would direct. Star and director subsequently teamed to create the comic book inspired fantasy actioner 'Dragon Tiger Gate' and the gritty police thriller 'Flashpoint', in which Donnie created what fans feel is the definitive on-screen MMA action scene. Yen was to return to this hard-hitting, urban action style for the later 'Special ID'.
Donnie now found himself in demand as a leading man in a series of prestigious period actioners produced for the Chinese market. 'Seven Swords' premiered at the Venice Film Festival, and proved a hit with worldwide audiences. The film was released in North America by The Weinstein Company's Dragon Dynasty label, and remains its biggest hit.
Yen also attracted rave reviews when he played an honorable general in 'An Empress and her Warriors' and an offbeat ghost-buster in Gordon Chan's 'Painted Skin'.
Yen took his career to a new level when he accepted producer Raymond Wong's suggestion that he play Bruce Lee's teacher, 'Ip Man', in an eponymous film relating the life of the great master. The film was a huge success in Hong Kong and China, and 'Ip Man' went on to find favor with audiences worldwide. Donnie also received a Best Actor nomination at the Hong Kong Film Awards.
'Ip Man' confirmed Donnie's position as China's greatest action hero, and he was immediately signed to lead a strong ensemble cast for Teddy Chen's 'Bodyguards and Assassins', produced by Peter Chan. Besides his on-screen performance, Donnie was also called on to choreograph the dynamic duel between himself and MMA champion Cung Le. The movie went on to sweep the board at the Hong Kong Film Awards winning Best Film, among many other prizes. Yen himself was nominated for Best Actor at the Chinese Hundred Flower awards.
Yen followed this with 'Ip Man 2', a rare example of a sequel that proved a match for its predecessor. The film followed Ip's life journey to Hong Kong, where he faces both rival kung fu masters, led by the film's choreographer, Sammo Hung, and a brutal foreign boxer, portrayed by the late Darren Shahlavi. 'Ip Man 2' was the biggest local hit of the year in China, and enjoyed a limited theatrical release in the US.
The film's success led to Donnie being cast as a number of legendary Chinese heroes: He played General Qin-long in Daniel Lee's '14 Blades', Guan Yu in 'The Lost Bladesman' and reprised Bruce Lee's Chen Zhen role in Andrew Lau's 'Legend of the Fist'. Yen also used the lighter side of his screen persona to good effect in two installments of the hit Hong Kong comedy movie series 'Alls Well Ends Well'.
Yen was cast opposite Tang Wei and Takeshi Kaneshiro in director Peter Chan's 'Wu Xia' (aka 'Dragon'), a dark, elegant period martial arts murder mystery. The film premiered to great acclaim at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival, and subsequently received a North American theatrical release from The Weinstein Company.
Donnie Yen played 'The Monkey King' in a hit reimagining of the Chinese classic. Donnie starred opposite screen legend Chow Yun-fat in the film, which smashed box office records in Mainland China.
Showing his versatility, Yen went on to play a kung fu master facing challenges in the modern era in director Teddy Chen's 'Kung Fu Jungle'. The movie, which premiered at the London Film Festival, paid tribute to the great history of Hong Kong martial arts cinema.
During the shooting of his ambitious, time travel themed action fantasy 'Iceman 3D', Yen was approached to revitalize the greatest brand in the history of Chinese martial arts cinema. 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny' was shot primarily on location in New Zealand, with Yen in the lead role. The world class creative team gathered by producer Harvey Weinstein included legendary kung fu film director Yuen Woo-ping, acclaimed directors Peter Berg and Morten Tyldum (as producers), 'X-Men' series DP Tom Sigel as well as the Oscar-winning production, costume and FX designers from the 'Lord of the Rings' and 'Hobbit' film series.
The film debuted in most international territories as a Netflix Original movie, making it the most widely seen wu xia of all time. 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: The Sword of Destiny' also played at selected Imax theatres in North America, and enjoyed a wide theatrical release in China, where it was screened in its 3D version.
Yen reteamed with his former mentor Yuen Woo-ping for the hugely popular 'Ip Man 3'. The film, with Wilson Ip as director and Yuen as choreographer, pitted the title character against legendary boxing champion Mike Tyson. The film out-performed all the previous movies featuring the character of Ip Man, smashing box office records throughout Asia. Following a high profile Los Angeles premiere, 'Ip Man 3' enjoyed a Los Angeles premiere and a US theatrical release, earning rave reviews in the mainstream American media.
Having conquered every territory beneath the Asian skies, Donnie accepted an invitation to join the cast of an entry in the world's biggest film franchise. In 'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story', Yen plays one of the Rebel warriors responsible for the theft of the Death Star plans, the adventure that, within the 'Star Wars' universe, leads to the events of the very first film in the series. The film was shot primarily at the famed Elstree Studios in England.
Donnie had a role opposite Vin Diesel and his fellow Asian action star, Tony Jaa, in xXx: Return of Xander Cage (2017), which filmed in Toronto, Canada.
Now firmly established as a leading player across the globe, Donnie Yen continues to present a unique blend of Eastern experience and Western innovation, of musical grace with martial impact, from Hong Kong to a galaxy far, far away....
Donnie is one of the leading martial arts choreographers in the world of action cinema. His skills behind the camera began developing from his early days in the industry, and he was very much involved with the action choreography of his films for D&B Films. He received his first full action directing credit on the Michelle Yeoh, kung fu drama 'Wing Chun', in which he also starred.
Yen further developed his style of choreography in the high pressure world of Hong Kong television, where he created the action for his hit series 'Kung Fu Master' and 'Fist of Fury', and as a low-budget film-maker, when he directed, starred in and choreographed the movies 'Legend of the Wolf' and 'Ballistic Kiss'.
It was after Yen had helmed his first two Chinese features that Hollywood made its first serious bid for his services. He was signed to co-star in and action direct 'Highlander: Endgame', the latest in a series of fantasy actioners. The film, which starred Adrian Paul and Christopher Lambert, was produced by the US studio Dimension, and enjoyed a successful worldwide theatrical release.
Having relocated to Los Angeles, Yen paid his dues by directing action scenes for the Dimension action thriller 'Stormbreaker' and providing the fight sequences for the German TV series 'The Puma'.
Donnie agreed to both action direct and cameo in the major New Line action franchise entry 'Blade 2', starring Wesley Snipes. The film, directed by Guillermo del Toro, was a huge hit, earning almost twice the box office of the original 'Blade'.
Returning to Hong Kong, Yen found he now had a major contribution to make behind the camera, co-directing the SFX action adventure 'The Twins Effect'. The film, which starred two of China's top pop idols, told the tale of young vampire hunters with well-honed martial arts skills. A huge hit for Emperor, the film earned Yen his first Best Action Director prize at the Hong Kong Film Awards.
'The Twins Effect' saw Donnie start to introduce elements of MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) in his film fight scenes. He took the on-screen depiction of the style to new heights with the film 'SPL', released in the US as 'Kill Zone'. Yen's final reel duel with Sammo Hung is now regarded as a classic of the genre. The film won Donnie his second Best Action Choreography prize at the Hong Kong Film Awards.
He took his on-screen depiction of MMA to new heights in 'Flashpoint', which featured an even longer and more intense final showdown, this time between Yen and 'Matrix Reloaded' actor Collin Chou. The film won Donnie his third Best Action Choreography prize at the Hong Kong Film Awards, as well as a prize for Best Action in a Foreign Language Film at the Taurus Awards.
Yen explored different styles of screen combat when he choreographed the stunning kung fu fights for the period actioners 'Legend of the Fist' and 'The Lost Bladesman', the fantasy combat for 'The Monkey King' and the time travel adventure 'Iceman Cometh 3D'.
Many fans feel that Yen delivered his best choreographic work to date in Peter Chan's masterful 'Wu Xia', released in the US as 'Dragon'. The film saw Donnie bring his own unique flair to classical Shaw Bros style kung fu action.
Donnie brought traditional Chinese martial arts into the modern era with 'Kung Fu Jungle', for which his work won yet another Best Choreography prize at the Hong Kong Film Awards.
Away from the cameras, Yen entered into the most rewarding partnership of his life when he married former beauty queen, Cissy Wang. The couple now has two children, a girl and boy, Jasmine and James.- Actor
- Producer
- Additional Crew
Sam Lee was born on 27 September 1975 in Hong Kong. He is an actor and producer, known for Made in Hong Kong (1997), Man of Tai Chi (2013) and Dog Bite Dog (2006).- Actor
- Producer
- Additional Crew
Eric Tsang was born on 14 April 1953 in Hong Kong. He is an actor and producer, known for Infernal Affairs (2002), Hold You Tight (1998) and The Eye (2002). He was previously married to Mei-Hua Wang.- Actor
- Music Department
- Director
Jaycee Chan is the son of the Internationally famous action star, Jackie Chan and Taiwnese actress Feng-Jiao Lin. He was born Chan Jo-Ming, but changed his surname to Fong/Fang in February of 2004 as this is his true ancestral name. Although this is his name in the Eastern hemisphere, his name remains "Jaycee Chan" in the Western hemisphere with a few sources listing him as "Jaycee Fong".
Jaycee, who attended The College of William & Mary, is an actor, singer, composer, lyricist, and guitarist. He also plays the piano, drums, and bass guitar. He released his first, self-titled, CD, "Jaycee" on September 15, 2004. This CD, for which he composed the music and wrote the lyrics for 10 of the 13 tracks, earned him many music awards in Asia for Best New Male Singer.
In addition, Jaycee is active in many charities that include children's charities, help for research of organ diseases, natural disaster relief funds,and wildlife awareness public service campaigns in Asia.
Jaycee is currently quite popular in Hong Kong and Mainland China. He is fluent in English, Cantonese and Mandarin. In addition to his musical and acting skills, Jaycee is noted for his sincerity, impeccable manners, subtle humor and cheerfulness.- South Korean actor Jang Dong-Gun starred in two record-breaking box office hits; one of which was 'Friend,' the highest grossing Korean film at the time. He gained widespread critical acclaim for his portrayal of a troubled high school student who chooses the life of organized crime, paving the way for him to star in the 2004 hit Tae Guk Gi: The Brotherhood of War (2004), about the Korean War, which again shattered box office records. Having achieved star status throughout Asia, Jang took on two more high-profile roles. Golden Globe nominated film 'The Promise' was a $30 million pan-Asian production by the Cannes Film Festival winning director Chen Kaige, in which Jang plays the leading role opposite Hiroyuki Sanada and Cecilia Cheung. 'Typhoon' by director Kwak Kyung-Taek (Friend), had Jang star as a modern-day pirate who has been betrayed by both North and South Korea and set another new standard for such a distinct kind of character.
Born and raised in Seoul, Korea, he made his debut in the MBC drama series 'Our Heaven' (1993). By the late 1990s, he had gained huge popularity in Korea, and he also became one of the very first Korean stars to garner a huge fan following in other parts of Asia. After acting in the critically acclaimed 'Nowhere to Hide' helmed by the internationally renowned director Lee Myung-Se in 1999, Jang went on to star in 'The Anarchists'(2000). In 2002, he also starred in the popular action blockbuster '2009 Lost Memories,' set in a futuristic Japan, and then took on a new challenge by appearing in the low-budget film 'The Coast Guard' (2002) by the controversial director Kim Ki-Duk. - Actor
- Soundtrack
Ekin Cheng Yee-Kin is a Hong Kong actor and Cantopop singer. Earlier in his career he was known as Noodle Cheng, though he has now reverted to a more conventional-sounding first name. Sometimes he uses Dior (because that was what it sounded like when his younger sister tried to call him) as a first name but usually Ekin is the name used.
Ekin began acting in commercials when he was in high school, the most well-known being for Hi-C Lemon Tea. After high school, he enrolled in TVB's Martial Arts school, but did not like it and switched to their acting school. After that he began to get a number of TV roles. The latest TVB series he participated in was Always Ready, working with Charmaine Sheh, Bowie Lam, and Linda Chung.
Ekin was caught up in a grand scandal after leaving Maggie Siu, an actress whom he dated for many years, for a decade younger actress and singer Gigi Leung. Maggie was well-loved by Hong Kong audiences and gave up her career to support Ekin's career and many slighted him after the breakup. In 2006, Ekin and Gigi broke up, ending their seven-year relationship.
In September 2006, Ekin and 'Yoyo Mung' begun dating through their mutual interest in badminton.
His first film was Girls Without Tomorrow (1992) and at the time he was still going by the name Dior Cheng. He changed his name to Ekin before his breakout role in the Young and Dangerous series as Chan Ho Nam. The film led to 6 sequels, all starring Ekin Cheng, and a lucrative working partnership with director Andrew Lau. Together they went on to make The Storm Riders, which was the highest-grossing Hong Kong movie at the time and the first film to utilize a truly large number of special effects. They also worked together on The Legend of Speed, A Man Called Hero, The Duel and the comedy Women From Mars.
Ekin has branched out in the roles he's taken, including more comedy like earlier in his career with My Wife is 18 and Six Strong Guys, while still doing more action-oriented films like The Twins Effect and Tokyo Raiders.
Recently Ekin returned to the movie scene (having taking a break in 2005 to work on the Ultraman TV Series in Thailand), He had a brief appearance in My Name is Fame as himself. Soon after that he starred in Heavenly Mission a triad/cop thriller starring alongside Stephen Fung & Alex Fong. He has completed a Pang Brothers film called The Forest of Death, which will be released in March 2007. He is currently filming a serial in Mainland China based on the life of martial arts master, Huo Yuanjia with former Young & Dangerous co-star Jordan Chan.- Actor
- Music Department
- Soundtrack
Aaron Kwok Fu-shing (born 26 October 1965) is a Hong Kong singer, dancer, and actor. He has been active since the 1980s and to the present. He is considered one of the "Four Heavenly Kings" of Hong Kong. Kwok's onstage dancing and displays is influenced by Michael Jackson. While most of his songs are in the dance-pop genre, he has experimented numerous times with rock and roll, ballad, rock, R&B, soul, electronica and traditional Chinese music.- Actor
- Make-Up Department
- Special Effects
Andrew Lin was born on 7 August 1969 in Taipei, Taiwan. He is an actor, known for The Man with the Iron Fists (2012), New Police Story (2004) and Dream Home (2010). He is married to Amanda.- Actor
- Stunts
- Producer
Born in Hong Kong, Sammo Hung's acting career began while he was training in acrobatics, martial arts and dance as a child at the China Drama Academy, and he received acclaim for his performance with a troupe called "The Seven Little Fortunes." He made his feature film debut as an actor at the age of 12, and has worked in numerous martial arts films as an actor, director, producer and/or choreographer, collaborating with Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan, two superstars of the genre.
He is now internationally renowned as a pioneer and trend-setter in Hong Kong action films. Hung's big break as a film actor came with a role as a sparring partner in the Bruce Lee film Enter the Dragon (1973). He established his reputation as a skilled physical comedian in several kung-fu comedies, beginning with "Enter the Fat Dragon" (Enter the Fat Dragon (1978)). He also produced and starred in numerous successful films throughout the 1970s and 1980s for Hong Kong's leading film studio, Golden Harvest.
Hung collaborated in the 1980s with long-time friend Jackie Chan in a highly successful series of action comedies that cemented Hung's reputation as a consummate actor/director and launched Chan's career as an international star. For a while, Hung also starred in an American TV series, Martial Law (1998).
He directed Once Upon a Time in China and America (1997), his first film shot in the US. He and his wife, Mina, now divide their time between homes in Hong Kong and Los Angeles.- Actor
- Producer
- Writer
Stephen Chow was the only boy of his family, and has grown up as a Bruce Lee fan and a martial arts addict. His career started on TV, where he presented a children show ( "430 Space Shuttle" (1983)) and started becoming popular. He got some supporting roles, after that, and won the Taiwanese Golden Horse award for best supporting actor.
He had his first starring role in 1990 in a 'Chow Yun-Fat' spoof: All for the Winner (1990) - "All for the Winner" and started excelling in the comedy genre. In Hong-Kong, his particular nonsense style is called "Mo Lei Tau". It's also on the set of this movie that he encountered his fellow sidekick Man-Tat Ng.
One of the last HK biggest star which have not been bought by Hollywood, even if Miramax (who'll surely release Shaolin Soccer (2001) - "Shaolin Soccer" this year in the USA - after remastering it, ouch.) has probably planned something for him...- Actor
- Producer
- Director
Born in Beijing China in 1974, he was sent to train at Beijing Wushu Academy when he was 6 years old as both his Father and Grandfather were also Martial artists. In 1995 he was spotted by Yuen Woo-Ping who had come to the academy to look for a martial artist for the film Tai Chi 2 (aka Tai Chi Boxer). His dedication and skill won his a lot of respect across East Asia. Often contributing to the scripts and choreography of his work, his natural talent and his sense of humour are vividly expressed.- Actor
- Music Department
- Soundtrack
Lik-Sun Fong was born on 26 February 1980 in Hong Kong. He is an actor, known for 2002 (2001), Just Another Pandora's Box (2010) and Metallic Attraction: Kungfu Cyborg (2009).- A native of Fujian province, Ng Man Tat was a graduate of the class of 1974's TVB Television training program where he quickly showed his chops thereafter acting in the Hong Kong television variety show 'Enjoy Yourself Tonight' and onto long running serials in 'Chor Lau Heung' and 'Police Cadet 84'. It wasn't until 1990 that he elevated his stature on the big screen pairing his complementary comedic timing as sidekick to Stephen Chow in the Cantonese dialect HK blockbuster 'All for the Winner'.
- Actor
- Music Department
- Soundtrack
Jacky Cheung was born on 10 July 1961 in Hong Kong. He is an actor, known for Bullet in the Head (1990), As Tears Go By (1988) and Once Upon a Time in China (1991). He has been married to May Mei-Mei Lo since 15 February 1996. They have two children.- Actor
- Producer
- Additional Crew
Danny Lee Sau-Yin, was born in 1952 in Shanghai. Lee did not do so well in school and sometimes dropped out to help support his family by working. While growing up, he held policemen in high regard and so, upon graduating high school, he tried entering the police academy, but could not complete the courses. He entered the TVB acting school in 1970, and got his first big film role in the 1972 film Water Margin.
The following year, Lee made his starring debut with River of Fury. He then went on to star in Shaw Brothers' 1975 Hong Kong Tokusatsu-style superhero movie and camp classic The Super Inframan playing the Chinese superhero himself.
After superstar Bruce Lee's death in the same year, almost every star in Hong Kong was pushed in to fill "The Dragon's" shoes, and Lee was no exception, even going as far as to actually portray the legend himself in Bruce Lee and I. By the late 1970s, Lee had begun to tire of Kung Fu movies and thus tried his hand at different fare, such as 1977's The Mighty Peking Man (a King Kong ripoff now considered a camp classic). Still being offered roles in Kung Fu movies, in 1978 he decided to form his own production company. One of the earliest products from his company, 1981's The Executor (aka Heroic Cops) was largely nondescript, except for the fact that it was the first on-screen pairing with Lee and future superstar Chow Yun-Fat.
In 1982, Lee directed his first movie, Funny Boys, and then followed it up in 1984 with the movie that would cement his image in the consciousness of Hong Kong, Law With Two Phases. The violent movie (for which Lee won both the Hong Kong Film Award and Taiwanese Golden Horse for his acting) featured Lee as a hot-headed but just policeman, a role that he reprises to this day.
Law With Two Phases also inspired other directors. Some of the elements used in the shootouts were used by John Woo in his breakthrough 1986 film A Better Tomorrow, and Law's documentary-like look inspired Kirk Wong to continue with a similar style (which he was also developing at the time). Both directors subsequently asked Lee to work with them. Lee appeared with Chow Yun-Fat in Ringo Lam's 1987 gangster classic City on Fire (where he plays a rare role as a criminal), and then appeared in John Woo's benefit project for Chang Cheh, Just Heroes (1987, which Lee also co-directed). Lee's next project with Woo was, of course, his most famous, 1989's The Killer. Originally, the studio did not want Lee in the role of a cop once again, but both Woo and Chow Yun-Fat insisted on putting Lee in the film, since he was so much in the public's minds as being an upstanding police officer, which they thought was crucial for the role. The movie was an international cult hit, and Lee became forever associated with being a cop in Western minds.
In 1987, Lee formed his second production company, Magnum Films, and had become a fairly powerful producer in Hong Kong. As fitting for a company named after Dirty Harry's favorite gun, many of Magnum's films are ultra-violent "Category III" (Hong Kong's equivalent of "NC-17," where no children are allowed to watch) films which have become classics in their own right. Movies like The Untold Story, Dr. Lamb and Twist scared local audiences and entranced foreigners with their over-the-top attitude.
In the late 1980s, Lee was also one of the first producers to back Stephen Chow (and is sometimes credited for "discovering" him), who was at the time a small-time dramatic actor, but who would then go on to be Asia's biggest star after appearing in a series of "Mo Lei Tai" (nonsense) comedies. Lee even directed Chow in one of his first comedies, 1991's Legend of the Dragon, the first film in which Lee does not appear, while on the director and producer's chairs.
He later produced, co-directed (with Herman Yau) and co-starred in The Untold Story, the controversial Category III thriller, which brought Anthony Chau-Sang Wong to stardom. The two actors later starred in Kirk Wong's action flick Organized Crime & Triad Bureau, which Lee produced.
Though his on-screen output has slowed down in recent years, reduced to mostly cameo appearances in movies like Young and Dangerous V, Lee (and his company) are still pretty busy with behind-the-scenes work, and it seems a given that as long as there will be a Hong Kong movie industry, Danny Lee will be there --especially if a movie needs to have a cop in it.- Actor
- Writer
- Producer
Born and raised in Troy, New York, Michael Wong has managed to become a star of Asian cinema in Hong Kong despite not even speaking a word of Chinese Cantonese, and he had no training in martial arts; in Asia, the actor known for his starring role in action film The Final Option (1994) and First Option (1996) where he plays a cop; for First Option the actor was nominated at the Hong Kong Film Awards, the Oscar of Hong Kong cinema, and later starred in a myriad of productions and movies oriental, often unpublished in the the West such as Beast Cops (1998) , which is considered one of the most successful films of Hong Kong cinema; actor took part but also in many U.S. films such as City Hunter (1993) starring opposite Jackie Chan,Knock Off (1998) with Jean-Claude Van Damme and the film Cold War (2012), and soon we will see the actor in the Italian film The Mercury Conspiracy (2013) with Luca Barbareschi.- Actor
- Soundtrack
Jordan Chan was born on 8 July 1967 in Hong Kong. He is an actor, known for Twenty Something (1994), Young and Dangerous 2 (1996) and Young and Dangerous (1996). He has been married to Cherrie Ying since 14 February 2010. They have two children.- Kang Ji-hwan was born on 20 March 1977 in Seoul, South Korea. He is an actor, known for Rough Cut (2008), My Girlfriend Is an Agent (2009) and Incarnation of Money (2013).
- Haruma Miura was a Japanese actor and singer. He debuted as a member of Brash Brats, a J-pop group. He garnered popularity on television with Gokusen (2002), Samurai High School (2009), You Taught Me All the Precious Things (2011), and Dying Eye (2019). In 2008, he starred opposite Juri Ueno in Naoko (2008), and won the Sponichi Grand Prix Newcomer Award in the 63rd Mainichi Film Awards in 2009. He received a newcomer award in the 31st Japan Academy Awards on February 15, 2008. He developed a following after appearing in such films as The Confidence Man JP: Princess (2020), Attack on Titan: Part 2 (2015), Attack on Titan Part 1 (2015), Attack on Titan: Part 2 (2015), and Little Nights, Little Love (2019).
- Actor
- Soundtrack
Kang Ha-neul was born on 21 February 1990 in Busan, South Korea. He is an actor, known for Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo (2016), When the Camellia Blooms (2019) and Twenty (2015).- Keisuke Koide was born on 20 February 1984 in Tokyo, Japan. He is an actor, known for Shin Godzilla (2016), Cyborg She (2008) and Sky of Love (2007).
- Kazuya Kamenashi was born on 23 February 1986 in Tokyo, Japan. He is an actor, known for It's Me, It's Me (2013), Joker Game (2015) and Lumberjack the Monster (2023).
- Lee Ji-hoon was born on 27 March 1979 in South Korea. He is an actor, known for Korea-Khitan War (2023), The Roundup: Punishment (2024) and Good Friends (2013).
- Ha Seok-jin was born on 10 February 1982 in South Korea. He is an actor, known for The Legendary Witch (2014), When I Was the Most Beautiful (2020) and Crash Landing on You (2019).
- Actor
- Soundtrack
Show Lo was born on 30 July 1979 in Keelung, Taiwan. He is an actor, known for Bleeding Steel (2017), The Mermaid (2016) and Hi My Sweetheart (2009).- Lee Ji-hoon was born on 27 March 1979 in South Korea. He is an actor, known for Korea-Khitan War (2023), The Roundup: Punishment (2024) and Good Friends (2013).
- Actor
- Soundtrack
Tatsuomi Hamada was born on 27 August 2000 in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. He is an actor, known for Ultraman Geed (2017), Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger vs. Space Sheriff Gavan: The Movie (2012) and Ryômaden (2010).- Actor
- Soundtrack
Yûya Tegoshi was born on 11 November 1987 in Kanagawa, Japan. He is an actor, known for Shissô (2005), Zero: The Bravest Money Game (2018) and Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac (2010).- Seishirô Katô was born on 4 August 2001 in Kanagawa, Japan. He is an actor, known for Assassination Classroom (2015), Ai to makoto (2012) and Ultraman Mebius (2006).
- Shuntarô Miyao is known for After the Flowers (2010), Watashi no kaseifu Nagisa san (2020) and The Wallflower (2010).
- Actor
- Director
- Soundtrack
Tomohisa Yamashita was born on 9 April 1985 in Funabashi, Japan. He is an actor and director, known for Code Blue: The Movie (2018), The Man from Toronto (2022) and The Head (2020).- Mokomichi Hayami was born on 10 August 1984 in Tokyo, Japan. He is an actor, known for Kamen Rider 555: Paradise Lost (2003), Boku no mahô tsukai (2003) and Yankî bokou ni kaeru (2003). He has been married to Aya Hirayama since 8 August 2019.