Roy Chiao
Roy Chiao Hung | |
|---|---|
| Born | 16 March 1927 Shanghai, China |
| Died | 15 April 1999 (aged 72) |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1956–1999 |
| Known for | Roles in A Touch of Zen, The Fate of Lee Khan, Enter the Dragon, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Bloodsport |
Roy Chiao Hung (; 16 March 1927 – 15 April 1999) was a Hong Kong-American actor celebrated as "the Lion of Cinema" due to his imposing presence and athletic build. As a prominent leading actor throughout the 1950s and 1960s, he maintained a successful career that extended into the 1990s. Chiao was among the pioneering stars of wuxia cinema associated with the Hong Kong New Wave movement, particularly recognized for his roles in A Touch of Zen (1971) and The Fate of Lee Khan (1973), both helmed by director King Hu.
His resonant voice and proficiency in multiple languages, including English, made him a favored choice for Western film projects shot in Hong Kong. Noteworthy supporting performances include appearances in Ferry to Hong Kong (1959), Enter the Dragon (1973), Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984), The Protector (1985), and Bloodsport (1988). He received the Hong Kong Film Award for Best Actor for his role in Ann Hui’s 1996 film Summer Snow.
Early life
Chiao was born in Shanghai in 1927 to Qiao Yisheng, a supporter of Sun Yat-sen and participant in the Chinese Revolution. He attended an American missionary school where he developed fluency in English. During the Second Sino-Japanese War, he relocated to Chongqing and returned after World War II to complete his secondary education.
Amid the Korean War, Chiao moved to Taiwan and enlisted in the United States Army, serving as a battlefield interpreter skilled in Mandarin, Cantonese, Shanghainese, English, and Japanese. Following this, he joined the U.S. negotiation team and was honorably discharged with the rank of captain in 1954.
Career
In 1955, Chiao journeyed to Japan, where actress Bai Guang cast him in the 1956 film Xian mu dan. The following year, he signed with MP&GI, marking the official start of his film career.
Throughout his career, Chiao appeared in approximately 90 films, including significant English-language roles such as those in the 1984 Harrison Ford blockbuster Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, the 1988 action film starring Jean-Claude Van Damme, Bloodsport, Bruce Lee’s iconic 1973 film Enter the Dragon, and the 1978 version of Lee’s unfinished project Game of Death.
1950s to 1960s
Chiao made his acting debut in Xian mu dan (1956) thanks to Bai Guang’s support and swiftly established himself as a leading man. His portrayal of Johnny Sing-Up, an Elvis Presley-inspired gangster with Americanized traits, in the 1959 movie Ferry to Hong Kong underscored his versatility and appeal across cultural boundaries.
1970s to 1999
In the 1996 film Blind Romance, Chiao revisited motifs similar to those in his award-winning performance in Summer Snow, portraying a grandfather suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Despite enduring three heart attacks during his lifetime, he remained active in acting until succumbing to heart-related illness.
Personal life
During his twenties, Chiao married disc jockey Liu Yen-Ping; both shared a strong Christian faith. The couple emigrated to Seattle in 1964. Later on, Chiao dedicated himself to missionary endeavors and established "Artists' Home," a Christian fellowship aimed at supporting actors from Hong Kong. His spiritual leadership influenced artists such as singer-songwriter Zac Kao.
Death
Prior to his passing in 1999 due to complications from heart disease, Chiao endured three separate heart attacks.
Selected filmography
- Happenings in Ali Shan (1950)
- Heng chong zhi zhuang (1950)
- Xian mu dan (1959)
- Qing chun er nu (1959) – Portrayed Niu Mai (Buffalo)
- San xing ban yue (1959) – Role of Chang Ping-chung
- Air Hostess (Kong zhong xiao jie) (1959) – Character Lei Daying
- Ferry to Hong Kong (1959) – Played Johnny Sing-Up
- Tian chang di jiu (1959)
- Lan gui feng yun (1959)
- Liu yue xin niang (1960) – Role of Mai Qin
- Chang tui jie jie (1960) – Xiao Jin / Jin Junior
- Nu mi shu yan shi (1960)
- Mu yu nu (1960) – Portrayed Yuan Zhitang
- Xin xin xiang yin (1960)
- Kuai le tian shi (1960) – Jin Wenou
- Tie bi jin gang (1960)
- Hong nan lu nu (1960)
- Yu lou san feng (1960) – Played Zheng Dajiang
- Sha ji chong chong (1960) – Luo Shouli
- Zei mei ren (1961)
- You xi ren jian (1961)
- Tao li zheng chun (1962) – Role of Xu Zhaofeng
- Huo zhong lian (1962) – Character Tian Shaoqing
- Ye hua lian (1962)
- Ladies First (Hǎo shì chéng shuāng) (1962) – Wang Shu
- Jiao wo ru he bu xiang ta (1963) – Jin Shiming
- Die hai si zhuang shi (1963)
- Xi Taihou yu Zhen Fei (1964)
- Ti xiao yin yuan shang ji (1964) – Liu, The Warlord General
- Ti xiao yin yuan xia ji (1964) – Liu, The Warlord General
- Shen gong yuan (1964) – Hong Chengchou
- Luan shi er nu (1966) – Ma Jen-shan
- Bai tian e (1967)
- Five Golden Dragons (1967) – Inspector Chiao
- Wo de ai ren jiu shi ni (1967) – Ling Chi Chiu
- Jue dou e hu ling (1968) – Diao Jinghu
- Yan ling dao (1968) – 2nd Chief Yueh
- The Arch (1968) – Captain Yang
- You long xi feng (1968)
- Hu shan hang (1969) – Ching Wu Chih
- Jia bu jia (1970) – Guest star appearance
- Xue lu xue lu (1970) – Driver role
- A Touch of Zen (1971) – Hui Yuan
- Cheating Panorama (1972)
- Hei lung (1973)
- Enter the Dragon (1973) – Shaolin Abbott, uncredited role
- The Fate of Lee Khan (1973) – Tsao Yu-kun
- Pian shu qi zhong qi (1973) – Fur coat con artist
- Hen ye qing deng (1974)
- Golden Needles (1974) – Lin Toa
- Games Gamblers Play (1974) – Ticketed Man at Bar, guest star role
- Yinyang jie (1974)
- Yun cai tong zi xiao zu zong (1974)
- Zhong lie tu (1975) – Yu Da-you
- Lao fu zi (1975)
- The Last Message (1975) – Cheng Ming
- Tian cai yu bai chi (1975) – Mr. Chiang Wo
- Lan qiao yue leng (1975)
- Da jia le (1975)
- Zhong yuan biao ju (1976), guest star appearance
- Yi qi guang gun zou tian ya (1977)
- Foxbat (1977) – Doctor Vod
- Da sha xing yu xiao mei tou (1978) – Drunken Sheng character
- Game of Death (1978) – Henry Lo
- Wen ni pa wei (1978)
- Enter the Fat Dragon (1978) – Chiu role
- Shen tou miao tan shou duo duo (1979) – Biggie character
- Meng zai Sha mei miao zhen tan (1979)
- Huang shi shi (1979), guest star role
- Bo za (1980) – White Norman
- Yi er san (1980)
- Shi ba (1980) – Portrayed Chu Tung Shen
- Game of Death 2 (1981) – Abbot character
- Da li xiao shui shou (1981)
- Chuang ban shen tan dian zi gui (1981)
- Once Upon a Mirage (1982) – Policeman Ma
- Chiu pei nui hok sang (1982)
- Meng (1983)
- Feng shui er shi nian (1983), cameo appearance
- Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) – Lao Che
- Ge wu sheng ping (1985)
- The Protector (1985) – Harold Ko
- Heart of Dragon (1985) – Restaurant Owner
- Aces Go Places IV (1986) – The Professor
- Wu long da jia ting (1986)
- Righting Wrongs (1986) – Magistrate Judge
- Shen tan zhu gu li (1986) – Chief Inspector Chiao
- Zhao hua xi shi (1987)
- Dragons Forever (1988) – Judge Lo Chung-Wai
- Bloodsport (1988) – Senzo Tanaka
- Fa da xian sheng (1989)
- Lady Reporter (1989)
- Long zhi zheng ba (1989) – Hwa's father
- Shadow of China (1989) – Lee Hok Chow
- Do wong (1990)
- Bamboo in Winter (1991) – Father role
- A Kid from Tibet (1992) – Lawyer Robinson
- Cageman (1992) – Koo Yiu-Cho
- Treasure Hunt (1994) – Uncle Bill
* Mr. X' ' 1995' '– Roy * Summer Snow' '1995' '– Lin Sun * Dai lo bai sau' '1995' '– Great Uncle * Ma ma fan fan' '1995' '– Death role * Tou tou ai ni' '1996' '– Tung-Tung's Grandfather * All's Well, Ends Well 1997' '1997' '– Mr. Lo * Tin sai ji shing' '1999' '– Uncle Wang, final performance