Run Run Shaw

Sir Run Run Shaw
Born	Shao Renleng (1907-11-19) 19 November 1907 Ningbo, China
Died	7 January 2014(2014-01-07) (aged 106)
Other names	Shao Yifu, Siu Yat-fu
Occupation(s)	Entrepreneur, film producer, philanthropist
Years active	1925–2011
Known for	Founding Shaw Brothers Studio and TVB; establishing the Shaw Prize

Sir Run Run Shaw (originally named Shao Renleng; 19 November 1907 – 7 January 2014), also referred to as Shao Yifu and Siu Yat-fu, was a distinguished entrepreneur, film producer, and philanthropist based in Hong Kong. He played a pivotal role in the entertainment industry of East Asia and Hong Kong by founding Shaw Brothers Studio, one of the territory’s most influential film production houses, as well as TVB, the leading television network in Hong Kong.

As a philanthropist of great renown, Shaw donated billions of Hong Kong dollars toward educational initiatives throughout Hong Kong and mainland China. His name graces over 5,000 educational buildings, including Shaw College at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Furthermore, he established the esteemed Shaw Prize, which honors achievements in Astronomy, Life Science & Medicine, and Mathematical Sciences.

Early life

Born in Ningbo, Shaw was the youngest among six brothers in the family of textile merchant Shaw Yuh Hsuen (; 1866–1921) and Huang Shun Xiang (; 1871–1939). Originally named Shao Renleng (), his name was later modified to Shao Yifu (邵逸夫) to facilitate easier pronunciation. The English rendition "Run Run Shaw" is said to be derived from a phonetic transcription of his birth name in the Ningbo dialect.

He celebrated his birthday according to the 14th day of the 10th lunar month on the Chinese lunisolar calendar, which corresponds to 19 November 1907 on the Gregorian calendar and is officially recognized as his birthdate.

During his youth, his family moved to Shanghai. He completed his education at Shanghai YMCA School, where he learned English.

Early ventures

In 1925, under the leadership of eldest brother Runje Shaw, Shaw’s siblings founded Tianyi Film Company (Unique Film Productions) in Shanghai, marking Run Run Shaw’s entry into the film industry through various support roles. At age 19, in 1927, he traveled to Singapore to assist his third brother Runme Shaw with marketing films to Southeast Asia’s Chinese diaspora. Together they launched what would become the Shaw Organisation, a firm engaged in film distribution and production throughout Southeast Asia. Tianyi was responsible for producing the first Chinese talkie using sound-on-film technology in 1931, followed by the first Cantonese sound film in 1932, which led to establishing a branch in Hong Kong by 1934.

Prior to the Japanese invasion of Shanghai in 1937, Tianyi transferred its operations to Hong Kong, shipping essential equipment from Shanghai. Their Shanghai studio was destroyed during the occupation. In Hong Kong, Tianyi restructured as Nanyang Studio, which later became known as Shaw Brothers Studio. Run Run Shaw took on roles as scriptwriter and director for the 1937 comedy Country Bumpkin Visits His In-laws.

While Run Run Shaw oversaw business affairs in Singapore, Runme expanded into Malaya by opening four cinemas in 1927 dedicated to screening their films. By 1939, they had acquired ownership of 139 cinemas across the region, including Singapore’s first cinema equipped with air conditioning on Beach Road. Their enterprises also extended into amusement parks across Borneo, Thailand, and Java, such as the Great World Amusement Park located at Kim Seng Road.

Starting from 1937, the brothers began producing Malay-language films in Singapore. Motivated by successful productions like Leila Majnun (1934) and films from the Dutch East Indies, they established Malay Film Productions (MFP), which created over 160 Malay films, many featuring and directed by P. Ramlee, until production ceased at Jalan Ampas in 1967. The period from the late 1940s through early 1960s is recognized as the Golden Age of Malay Cinema, during which MFP and Cathay Keris produced over 300 films.

During the Japanese invasion of Singapore and Malaya in 1941, their film production equipment was confiscated. According to Run Run Shaw’s account, he and his brother went into hiding throughout the war and buried more than $4 million worth of gold, jewellery, and cash in their backyard. This treasure was recovered after hostilities ended and helped them rebuild their business operations.

Shaw Brothers Studios

In 1957, Run Run Shaw moved to Hong Kong, which was becoming the center of Chinese-language film production, and transformed Tianyi's operations into Shaw Brothers Studio. Inspired by Hollywood's model, Shaw developed a dedicated 46-acre production facility in Clearwater Bay where actors both lived and worked. When Shaw Movietown opened in 1961, it was recognized as the largest privately owned film studio worldwide, employing approximately 1,200 staff who produced films on a daily basis. Film budgets reached up to $50,000—a significant investment for Asia during the 1960s.

During the 1960s, Shaw Brothers emerged as Asia’s foremost film producer. Their notable works include Li Han-hsiang’s The Magnificent Concubine (recipient of the 1962 Cannes Grand Prix), The Love Eterne (1963), King Hu’s groundbreaking wuxia film Come Drink with Me (1966), and Chang Cheh’s commercially successful The One-Armed Swordsman (1967). The company’s branches across Shanghai, Singapore, and Hong Kong collectively produced over 1,000 films, peaking at an annual output of 50 in 1974 when Shaw earned the nickname "Czar of Asian Movies." Their period costume dramas emphasized traditional Chinese cultural values, aligning with Taiwan’s Nationalist administration and US anti-Communist stances, providing a stark contrast to mainland China’s Cultural Revolution. Shaw Brothers also popularized an early form of wuxia-inspired kung fu cinema that later influenced filmmakers such as John Woo and Quentin Tarantino.

Dominating Hong Kong’s film industry with near-monopoly status, Shaw Brothers experienced a decline in the 1970s due to competition from Golden Harvest—a company founded by Raymond Chow and staffed by former Shaw personnel—which gained prominence through Bruce Lee after Shaw had declined to work with him. Subsequently, Shaw redirected efforts toward television and explored ventures in the United States, co-producing films like the 1982 science fiction landmark Blade Runner. In 2000, Shaw Brothers sold its extensive archive of 760 classic films to Celestial Pictures Limited. The company also made substantial investments in the US$180 million Hong Kong Movie City project—a sprawling 1.1 million square foot studio and production complex located in Tseung Kwan O—signaling a new chapter for Shaw Studios.

Television Broadcasts Limited

In 1967, Shaw co-established TVB, Hong Kong’s inaugural free-to-air television broadcaster, which expanded into a multibillion-dollar enterprise with channels spanning 30 markets including the United States, Canada, and Taiwan. TVB grew to become the world’s largest producer of Chinese-language programming. In 1980, Shaw assumed the chairmanship following Harold Lee and leased most of Shaw Brothers’ film production facilities to TVB by 1983. Under his guidance, TVB launched the careers of internationally renowned actors such as Chow Yun-fat, Maggie Cheung, Leslie Cheung, Anita Mui, along with director Wong Kar-wai. By 2006, TVB controlled approximately 80% of Hong Kong’s television audience and captured 78% of its advertising revenue.

Shaw retired from the chairman position on December 31, 2011, at age 104 after more than four decades with TVB. He divested his controlling interest for HK$6.26 billion to investors including HTC Corporation chairman Cher Wang and ITC Corporation chairman Charles Chan. Following his retirement, he was honored with the title chairman emeritus. Additionally, Shaw held a significant stake in Macy's, acquiring a 10% share of its preferred stock for US$50 million during Macy’s financial struggles in 1991.

Community involvement

Shaw played a pivotal role in the development of the Hong Kong Arts Festival, acting as its inaugural chairman, while also leading the board of governors at the Hong Kong Arts Centre. From the establishment of United College at the Chinese University of Hong Kong in 1967, he was actively engaged, becoming vice-chairman of its board of trustees in 1972 and joining the University Council five years later. His dedication to public service extended to vice-presidential roles with both the Hong Kong Girl Guides Association and the Hong Kong Society for Rehabilitation. Notably, Shaw was the first Asian to serve as president of the Hong Kong Red Cross and was instrumental in spearheading fundraising efforts for the Community Chest of Hong Kong.

Philanthropic contributions

Through the Sir Run Run Shaw Charitable Trust and the Shaw Foundation, Shaw contributed approximately HK$6.5 billion towards charitable causes, educational institutions, and healthcare facilities across Hong Kong and mainland China. Of this, HK$4.75 billion was allocated to educational projects on the mainland, supporting 6,013 initiatives ranging from primary schools to university libraries. More than 5,000 buildings within Chinese academic campuses bear his Chinese name, "Yifu". Shaw College at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, established through his funding, stands as a testament to his generosity. Additional significant donations include £10 million in 1990 to create the Run Run Shaw Institute of Chinese Affairs at Oxford University and US$13 million dedicated to relief efforts following the 2008 Sichuan earthquake.

Shaw Prize

In 2002, Shaw established the internationally recognized Shaw Prize, which offers awards up to US$1 million in fields such as astronomy, mathematics, and life and medical sciences. The inaugural awards were presented in 2004.

Private life

As the sixth child among seven siblings, Shaw was affectionately known as Uncle Six (Luk Sook). His elder brothers—Runje Shaw, Runde Shaw, and Runme Shaw—were leaders of Shaw Studio; Runme co-founded it alongside him and passed away in 1985.

Shaw’s first wife, Lily Wong Mee-chun, passed away in 1987. A decade later, in 1997, he wed Mona Fong in Las Vegas; she had joined TVB in 1969 and ascended to deputy chairman by 2000. He fathered four children with his first wife—sons Vee Meng and Harold, daughters Violet and Dorothy—all of whom pursued studies at Oxford University.

A passionate collector of Rolls-Royce automobiles and a practitioner of qigong, Shaw was also known to enjoy watching the television series Mr. Bean.

Passing

Shaw died at his home on 7 January 2014 at the age of 106. He was survived by four children, nine grandchildren, and multiple great-grandchildren. The family chose not to reveal details regarding the cause of death.

On 10 January 2014, his remains were moved from United Christian Hospital to the Hong Kong Funeral Home located in North Point. The funeral attracted numerous prominent local figures, including former chief executives Tung Chee-hwa and Donald Tsang. Later that day, Shaw was cremated at the Cape Collinson Crematorium in Chai Wan. Messages honoring his legacy were sent by top Chinese officials such as General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party Xi Jinping, former Premier of China Wen Jiabao, and Chairman of the National People's Congress Zhang Dejiang.

Honours

In 1964, an asteroid located in the main belt was named "2899 Runrun Shaw" by astronomers at the Purple Mountain Observatory to commemorate him.

Shaw was designated a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1974, received a knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II in 1977, and was bestowed the Grand Bauhinia Medal (GBM) by the Hong Kong government in 1998.

His significant impact on education and culture was acknowledged through honorary doctorates: a Doctor of Social Science from the Chinese University of Hong Kong in 1981 and a Doctor of Laws from the University of Hong Kong in 1984.

In celebration of his centennial in 2007, Shaw was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Hong Kong Film Awards. Later, in 2013, he earned the BAFTA Special Award for his remarkable influence on the film industry.

In popular culture

Depicted by Douglas Lim in the production P. Ramlee The Musical.

See also

• Shaw Professor of Chinese
• Asteroid 2899 Runrun Shaw
• Brothers Runje Shaw, Runme Shaw and Runde Shaw
• Cinema of Hong Kong
• List of centenarians (businesspeople)

External links

• Sir Run Run Shaw at the Hong Kong Movie Database
• TVB (Television Broadcasts Limited)
• Shaw Studios
• Shaw Prize