Gordon Liu
Gordon Liu | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
劉家輝 | |||||||||||
| Born | Sin Kam-hei (冼錦熙) August 22, 1955[1] | ||||||||||
| Occupation(s) | Actor, martial artist | ||||||||||
| Years active | 1973–present | ||||||||||
| Spouse |
Ma Fei-feng
(m. 1991; div. 2009) | ||||||||||
| Children |
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| Chinese name | |||||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 劉家輝 | ||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 刘家辉 | ||||||||||
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| Sin Kam-hei | |||||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 冼錦熙 | ||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 冼锦熙 | ||||||||||
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Gordon Liu (Lau Kar-fai simplified Chinese: 刘家辉; traditional Chinese: 劉家輝; pinyin: Liú Jiāhuī; Wade–Giles: Liu Chia-hui; Jyutping: Lau4 Gaa1 fai1); born Sin Kam-hei (simplified Chinese: 冼锦熙; traditional Chinese: 冼錦熙; pinyin: Xiǎn Jǐnxī, 22 August 1955)[2] is a Chinese actor and martial artist best known for his martial arts films.
Born in Guangdong, Liu studied Hung Ga kung fu at the school founded by Lau Kar-leung's father, Lau Cham.[3] He entered the Hong Kong film industry as a stuntman. His early acting credits include minor roles in several Hong Kong kung fu films, including the Shaw Brothers-produced 5 Shaolin Masters (1974). He went on to appear in many Shaw Brothers films, such as Challenge of the Masters (1976), in which he portrayed the folk hero Wong Fei Hung, Executioners from Shaolin (1977), The 36th Chamber of Shaolin (1978), in which he played the lead role as Shaolin hero San Te, Dirty Ho (1979), Return to the 36th Chamber (1980), Martial Club (1981), The Eight Diagram Pole Fighter (1984), and Disciples of the 36th Chamber (1985). By the late-1980’s, he had begun accepting smaller roles, such as in Lau Kar-leung's Tiger on the Beat (1988). In 1993, he appeared opposite Jet Li in Last Hero in China.
Liu made his American film debut in 2003. He played two roles in Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill films: Johnny Mo, the leader of the Crazy 88 yakuza gang in Volume 1 (2003), and kung fu master Pai Mei in Volume 2 (2004). Other than being a staple in Hong Kong action movies and his foray into Hollywood, Liu also made his Bollywood debut in 2009's Chandni Chowk to China.
In 2020, Liu was inducted into the Martial Arts History Museum Hall of Fame.[4]
Early life
[edit]Liu was born Sin Kam-hei in Guangdong Province, China on 22 August 1955, prior to his adoption into another family.[5] He is often wrongly cited as being the adopted son of Lau Cham, and adoptive brother of directors and actors Lau Kar-leung (Liu Chia-liang) and Lau Kar-wing (Liu Chia-Yung). He was not adopted by the family but is Lau Cham's godson.[6]
In his youth (ages 15–20), he skipped school to train in Chinese martial arts without his parents' knowledge. He trained at Lau Cham's martial arts school of Hung Gar discipline, which descended from Wong Fei-hung's grand student (father to Lau Kar Leung). Lau Cham's wife assisted in his training and due to the friendship and respect Liu felt for Lau and his wife, he took on the name Lau Ka-fai. As he grew up, he found a job as a shipping clerk to make ends meet. His interests had always been towards martial arts and he was eventually offered a role by Lau Kar-leung.
Career
[edit]Liu's first break was with Chang's Film Company, a Shaw Brothers subsidiary in Taiwan, acting in small parts for films like 5 Shaolin Masters, Shaolin Martial Arts, and 4 Assassins. He starred in Challenge of the Masters (1976) as the folk hero Wong Fei Hung and was featured in Executioners From Shaolin (1977) before starring as Shaolin hero San Te in The 36th Chamber of Shaolin.
The film focuses on the inner workings of Shaolin Temple. San Te, Liu's character, overcomes the temple's thirty-five chambers, undergoing rigorous training imposed by the temple's Head Abbott. This "zero-to-hero" tale turned Liu into an international icon despite his slighter frame compared to the folk hero, paving the way for a successful career into the mid-1990s. By the late 1980s, he began accepting smaller roles, such as in Lau Kar-leung's Tiger on the Beat.
Liu has been active in television, contracted to Hong Kong's TVB company for many years, playing roles as a martial arts master and sometimes comedic, self-deprecatory, or emotional characters. His second-most common role at TVB has been as a Hong Kong Police Force officer[citation needed].
Quentin Tarantino, a long-time fan of Liu, cast him in the roles of Johnny Mo and Master Pai Mei in Kill Bill films. His roles in Kill Bill raised Liu's profile, renewing interest from Chinese producers. Since Kill Bill, Liu has returned to making movies while continuing to do television for TVB.
In addition to his work in Hong Kong action movies and Hollywood, Liu made his Bollywood debut in 2009's Chandni Chowk to China, playing the villain Hojo, a smuggler, and well-trained martial artist.[7] Before this, he appeared as himself along with his mentor Lau Kar Leung in the 2009 film Dragonland, the first Italian documentary about martial cinema history, by Lorenzo De Luca. Liu attended the premiere in Rome as a special guest, meeting his Italian fans for the first time.
During August 2011, Liu had a stroke and put all his plans on hold to recover. He canceled all public engagements as of March 2012.[8]
Personal life
[edit]Liu has been married twice. He has two daughters, Angie and Bonnie, from his first marriage, which ended in 1986, and a son Kris (冼峻龙) and daughter Sonia (冼咏珊) from his second marriage to Ma Fei-feng (马飞凤) of Thai descent, which ended in 2009.
In August 2011, while performing with his band in To Kwa Wan, Liu had a stroke, resulting in partial right-sided paralysis and a speech impairment, requiring a wheelchair. His estranged family from his second marriage began pressuring him for money. Depressed by his physical state and family complications, he isolated himself in a nursing home. In June 2012, Liu decided to divorce his second wife and focus on his recovery.[9]
During his medical crisis, Liu entrusted his assets to his assistant and spokesperson, Eva Fung, but they fell out, and Fung refused to return his assets.[10] In 2013, Hong Kong actress Amy Fan became the legal guardian of his assets.[11] Liu took legal action to recover his assets, and on April 29, 2014, a day before the court date, Fung agreed to return them with interest. In 2015, it was reported that he no longer spoke with a slur but continued to use a wheelchair, and had resided at a nursing home for several years.[12]
Filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Hero of the Waterfront | Extra | The Hero of Chiu Chow |
| 1974 | 5 Shaolin Masters | Chang Yung | Cameo |
| Shaolin Martial Arts | Ho Chen-kang | ||
| 1975 | The Four Assassins | Aburiha / Abulahua | Marco Polo |
| The Monk | Foon Ying's Thug / Monk | Brief Appearance | |
| 1976 | Challenge of the Masters | Wong Fei-hung | |
| 7-Man Army | Mongolian Commander #2 | ||
| Boxer Rebellion | Boxer | Bloody Avengers | |
| 1977 | He Has Nothing But Kung Fu | Shang Kai-Yuan (as Chia-Fai Liu) | Stunt Coordinator |
| Executioners from Shaolin | Tung Chien-chin (Tong Qianjin) | ||
| 1978 | Breakout from Oppression | Hsiao Tu (Tsao Chan) | Director, Action Coordinator |
| The 36th Chamber of Shaolin | Liu Yu-de / Monk San Te | ||
| Heroes of the East | Ah To | ||
| Shaolin Mantis | Shaolin Fighting Monk (Guest Star) | Brief Appearance | |
| 1979 | Fury in the Shaolin Temple | ||
| Dirty Ho | Wang Tsun Hsin (11'th Prince) | ||
| The Shadow Boxing | Chang Chieh | Spiritual Boxer Sequel | |
| 1980 | Clan of the White Lotus | Hong Wen-Ting | |
| Return to the 36th Chamber | Chao Jen-Cheh | ||
| Fists and Guts | Ah-San / Shaolin Priest | ||
| Shaolin Warrior | Fa Tien | Producer | |
| 1981 | My Young Auntie | James | |
| Elders | |||
| Shaolin and Wu Tang | Director | ||
| The Shaolin Drunken Monk | Lao Chung | ||
| Treasure Hunters | Monk Mo Seung | ||
| Martial Club | Wong Fei-hung | ||
| 1982 | Raiders of Shaolin Kung Fu | Ga-wi Yu | |
| Legendary Weapons of China | Ti Tan (Guest Star) | ||
| Godfather of Canton | Lin Si Hai | ||
| The 82 Tenants | Ah Hui | ||
| Cat vs Rat | Emperor Yung Hsi (Guest Star) | ||
| 1983 | Lady Is the Boss | Lee Hon Man (Ah Man) | |
| Shaolin and Wu Tang | Hung Yung-Kit | ||
| Tales of a Eunuch | Emperor Kang Hsi / Siu Yuen Tzu | ||
| 1984 | The Eight Diagram Pole Fighter | Yang Wu-lang (Fifth Brother) | |
| 1985 | Two Jolly Cops | Lo Tak-Fai | Producer |
| The Young Vagabond | So Chan | ||
| Disciples of the 36th Chamber | Monk San Te | ||
| Crazy Shaolin Disciples | Monk Wu Ching | ||
| USA Ninja | Action Director | ||
| 1986 | The Story of Dr. Sun Yat Sen | ||
| 1988 | Legend of the Phoenix | ||
| Tiger on the Beat | Fai, The Hitman | ||
| A Bloody Fight | Inspector Lau Fai | ||
| Peackock King | Kubira | ||
| Shaolin vs. Vampire | Hyo Daiyu (as Ryu Chafi) | Director | |
| Let's Rage the Gangland | |||
| 1989 | A Fiery Family | Wei | |
| Fury of a Tiger | Rambo / Sergeant Mang | Action Choreographer | |
| White Lotus Trio | Avenging Trio | ||
| My Heart Is That Eternal Rose | Lai Liu | ||
| Ghost Ballroom | Chai | ||
| Killer Angels | Michael | ||
| 1990 | Tiger on the Beat 2 | Lau Fai | |
| The Fortune Code | Japanese Commander in Blue | ||
| 1991 | The Killer | Inspector Wong | |
| Crystal Hunt | Officer Lung | China Heat | |
| The Banquet | Brief Appearance | ||
| A Fate of Love | |||
| The Story of the Gun | Officer Lau Fai | Guns of the Master Killer | |
| 1992 | Passionate Killing in the Dream | Chit-Chit | |
| Cheetah on Fire | Mainland Gang Leader (as Ka Fai Lau) | ||
| Cry Killer | Martial Art Director | ||
| 1993 | Flirting Scholar | Evil Scholar | |
| Last Hero in China | Master Liu Heung (as Ka-fai Lau) | ||
| Legend of the Liquid Sword | Shaolin Monk (Guest) (as Ka-fai Lau) | Cameo | |
| The Buddhism Palm Strikes Back | For-wan Tse-san | ||
| The Mystery of the Condor Hero | Yuen-tsan | ||
| Bogus Cops | Hood | ||
| 1994 | The Kung Fu Scholar | His Excellency | |
| Drunken Master III | Governor Lee (as Kar Fai Lau) | ||
| American Shaolin | Abbot Hung Chi | Treasure Hunt | |
| If You Were Here | Mr. Chiang | Stunt Coordinator | |
| Funny Shaolin Kids | Two Shaolin Kids in Hong Kong | ||
| 1995 | Lethal Girls 2 | ||
| 1997 | Super Cops | Uncle Shing | Action Coordinator |
| 1998 | Thunder Scout | ||
| 1999 | The Set Up | ||
| Heaven of Hope | Coffin Leung | ||
| Generation Consultant | Lieutenant Chow | ||
| Generation Pendragon | |||
| Gambler Series: Fraudelent Culture | |||
| 2000 | The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber | Sing Kwan | |
| The Legend of Lady Yang | Chan Yuen-lai | ||
| The Island Tales | Bo | ||
| 2002 | Drunken Monkey | Detective Hung Yat Fu | |
| 2003 | Star Runner | Master Lau (Coach Lau) | |
| Kill Bill: Volume 1 | Johnny Mo | ||
| 2004 | Kill Bill: Volume 2 | Johnny Mo / Pai Mei | |
| Shaolin vs. Evil Dead | Pak / Brother White | ||
| Dragon in Fury | |||
| Snake Curse | Dr. Gao Er | ||
| 2005 | Dragon Squad | Ko (Police Driver) | Dragon Heat |
| A Chinese Tall Story | Jade Emperor | ||
| Insuperable Kid | Japanese Ambassador | ||
| Dragon Get Angry | |||
| 2006 | Katana-Man | ||
| Mr. 3 Minutes | Triad Head (Mahjong Debt Collector) | ||
| Hung Kuen vs. Wing Chun | Liu Chiaoxi | ||
| My Kung Fu Sweetheart | |||
| 2007 | Shaolin Vs. Dead: Ultimate Power | Roam Chow | |
| 2008 | Heroes of Shaolin | ||
| Anaconda Frightened | Master Mao Dashi | ||
| 2009 | Chandni Chowk to China | Hojo | CC2C |
| Frankenstein Unlimited | Segment Flesh for Kung Fu | ||
| 2010 | Lost in Love | Banker | |
| Citizen King | Master Cheung | ||
| The Immemorial Magic | |||
| Hot Summer Days | Uncle Fai | ||
| True Legend | Old Sage | ||
| 2011 | Love in Space | Mr. Chen | |
| Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair | Johnny Mo / Pai Mei | ||
| Flying Swords of Dragon Gate | Eunuch Wan Yulou | ||
| 2012 | Nightfall | Retired CID Officer Lung | |
| The Man with the Iron Fists | The Abbott | ||
| Painted Skin: The Resurrection | Uncle Da | ||
| Blood Money | Shaolin Monk | ||
| Kill 'em All | Snakehead | ||
| No Retreat | |||
| Warrior | |||
| 2013 | High Kickers | Zhao Yumin | |
| 2014 | Future Fighters |
Television
[edit]| Year | Title | Chinese Title | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | The Legend of the Invincible | 劍魔獨孤求敗 | Gong Zan-hung |
| 1991 | Mystery of the Twin Swords | 日月神劍 | Jin Pin-cin |
| 1992 | Mystery of the Twin Swords II | 捉妖奇兵 | |
| 1993 | The Mystery of The Condor Hero | 射鵰英雄傳之九陰真經 | Jyun Zan |
| The Buddhism Palm Strikes Back | 如來神掌再戰江湖 | Ngou Cin-saan | |
| 1995 | The Condor Heroes 95 | 神鵰俠侶 | Kam-lun Fat-wong |
| Detective Investigation Files II | 刑事偵緝檔案II | Cing Gan | |
| 1996 | Journey to the West | 西遊記 | Bull Demon King |
| 1997 | Bonds of Blood | 千秋家国梦 | Zhang Baozi / Chen Jiongming |
| Taming of the Princess | 醉打金枝 | Lei Gin (Sing Ping's 8th Royal Uncle) | |
| 1998 | Journey to the West II | 西遊記 | Bull Demon King, Golden Horned King |
| 1999 | Witness to a Prosecution | 洗冤錄 | Nip Yan-lung |
| Hero of Shanghai | 中華大丈夫 | Hoi's Dad | |
| Dragon Love | 人龍傳說 | Sea Dragon King | |
| 2000 | The Legendary Four Aces | 金裝四大才子 | |
| Legend of Lady Yang | 楊貴妃 | Chen Xuanli | |
| 2001 | The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber | 倚天劍屠龍刀 | Cheng Kun / Yuan Zhen |
| A Step into the Past | 尋秦記 | Cho Chau-dou | |
| 2003 | The King of Yesterday and Tomorrow | 九五至尊 | Heung Yeung |
| 2005 | Real Kung Fu | 佛山贊師父 | Lin Yung |
| The Gateau Affairs | 情迷黑森林 | Tong Sam | |
| 2006 | A Pillow Case of Mystery | 施公奇案 | Sima Jui-fung |
| Lethal Weapons of Love and Passion | 覆雨翻雲 | Lai Yue-hoi | |
| 2007 | Best Bet | 迎妻接福 | Tsang Dai-lik |
| On the First Beat | 學警出更 | Yuen Moon | |
| The Ultimate Crime Fighter | 通天幹探 | Lai Chun Cheung | |
| 2008 | The Four | 少年四大名捕 | Lam Po-Tian |
| 2009 | Man in Charge | 幕後大老爺 | Tai Yau-Kung |
| Chinese Paladin 3 | 仙劍奇俠傳三 | Evil Sword Immortal | |
| 2010 | A Pillow Case of Mystery II | 施公奇案 II | Si Ma Jeui-fung |
| Beauty Knows No Pain | 女人最痛 | Ng Lap-chau | |
| Links to Temptation | 誘情轉駁 | Lam Chung-pau | |
| 2011 | Relic of an Emissary | 洪武三十二 | Yim Chun |
| Curse of the Royal Harem | 萬凰之王 | Tunggiya Shumung |
Documentaries
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | A Fate of Love | Video | |
| 1992 | Yesterday Once More | Assassin | Video |
| 1994 | Cinema of Vengeance | Self | Uncredited |
| 1995 | Top Fighter | Self | Video Documentary |
| 2002 | The Art of Action: Martial Arts in Motion Picture | Self (Interviewee) | Movie Documentary |
| 2003 | Cinema Hong Kong: Wu Xia | Self | Movie Documentary |
| Chop Socky: Cinema Hong Kong | Self (as Ka Fai Lau) | Movie Documentary | |
| 2008 | Dragonland | Self | Italian Documentary |
| 2010 | Medallion of Kung Fu | Self (Action Director) | Short Video |
| 2011 | Tarantino, the Disciple of Hong-Kong | Self | French Documentary |
| 2013 | Wu Xia Pian | Self | French Documentary |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Gordon Liu Celebrates 65th Birthday".
- ^ "High Kickers (2013)".
- ^ "How Shaw Brothers made Gordon Liu a martial arts superstar". June 6, 2021.
- ^ "Hall of Fame".
- ^ Gordon Lau Ka-fai 劉家輝
- ^ "Gordon Liu Chia Hui". Interview. Kung Fu Magazine. Retrieved June 8, 2011.
- ^ "'Looks like he's recovering quite well': Former action star and stroke survivor Gordon Liu turns 68, appears in rare photo". August 30, 2023.
- ^ "Far East Films - News - Gordon Liu Suffers Stroke and Left Disabled". Archived from the original on February 2, 2012. Retrieved March 12, 2012.
- ^ "Gordon Liu Enters Nursing Home And Suffers Estranged Marriage".
- ^ "Gordon Liu Takes Former Assistant To Court Over Financial Dispute".
- ^ "Gordon Liu Visits Old Friends at TVB".
- ^ "Gordon Liu Watches TVB's "Four Amigos Bon Voyage"".
External links
[edit]- Gordon Liu at IMDb
- Gordon Liu at the Hong Kong Movie Database
- Gordon Liu at Hong Kong Cinemagic
- Gordon Liu at Love HK Film
- Gordon Liu[permanent dead link] Biography at Hong Kong Cinema
