Walter Tso Tat-Wah (15 September 1915 – 10 January 2007) was a film actor of Hong Kong, most famous for the roles he played in a number of ''
Wuxia
( , literally "martial arts and chivalry") is a genre of Chinese literature, Chinese fiction concerning the adventures of martial artists in ancient China. Although is traditionally a form of historical fantasy literature, its popularity ha ...
'' films in the 1950s and 1960s.
The names Cho Tat-wah and
Shih Kien
Shek Wing-cheung (1 January 1913 – 3 June 2009), better known by his stage name Shih Kien, Sek Kin, Sek Gin or Shek Kin (), was a Hong Kong actor and martial artist. Shih is best known for playing antagonists and villains in several early Hon ...
were synonymous to "good and evil" in the colloquial language of Hong Kong because of the roles the two actors played in those movies.
Yu So-chow co-starred many of Cho's movies. The two names Cho Tat-wah and Yu So-chow symbolized a perfect couple. His well-known roles include Lung Kim-fei (), Leung Foon () and Inspector Wah ().
A native of
Taishan
__NOTOC__
Taishan may refer to:
*Mount Tai
Mount Tai () is a mountain of historical and cultural significance located north of the city of Tai'an. It is the highest point in Shandong province, China. The tallest peak is the ''Jade Emperor Peak ...
, Guangdong, (he spoke Cantonese and Taishanese) Cho began his actor career at the age of 15, and eventually starred in more than 700 movies. He was a
compulsive gambler. Legend has it that he lost the Wah-tat Studio, which produced most of his movies at the time, at the gambling table. However, it is not certain whether the studio was owned by him.
Filmography
Films
This is a partial list of films.
* 1936 ''Tears of the Reed Catkins'' - Wong Tin-Wah
* 1936 ''Luhua Lei''
*''Xiangxiapo Congjun'' (1937)
*''Xihu nu'' (1937)
*''Modeng Wu Dalan'' (1937)
*''Kuang Dauyan'' (1937)
*''Bian fang xue lei'' (1937)
*''Roubo'' (1937)
*''Longcheng Feijian'' (1938)
*''Gong di'' (1938)
*''Xuejian Baoshan Cheng'' (1938)
*''Babai Zhuangshi'' (1938)
*''Shanghai Huoxian Hou'' (1938)
*''Sizi Congjun'' (1938)
*''Yan Ruisheng'' (1938)
*''Liu lang de fu qin'' (1938)
*''Chaimi Fuqi'' (1938)
*''Jinye Ju Xuji'' (1939)
*''Wuyi Dui'' (1939)
*''Sa nian ku ming nu'' (1939)
*''Toudu Hulang Guan'' (1940)
*''
Little Guangdong'' (1940)
*''Xiao Guang Dong'' (1940)
*''Shi gui zai chu shi'' (1940)
*''Dayu Sha Jia'' (1940)
*''Chayi Hu'' (1940)
*''Zhao Zilong'' (1940)
*''Xiao Laohu'' (1941)
*''Zheng qi ge'' (1941)
*''
Roar of the People'' (1941)
*''Molu Qier'' (1941)
*''Yongchun Sannian'' (1941)
*''Chu qiang hong xing'' (1941)
*''Xuegong Chunse'' (1941)
*''
Gone Are the Swallows When the Willow Flowers Wilt'' (1946)
*''The Lady Escort, Part Two'' (1947)
*''Mou furen'' (1947)
*''Nu luo bin han'' (1947)
*''Qi jian shi san xia Shang ji'' (1949) - Chui Ming-Go
*''Qi jian shi san xia xia ji'' (1949)
*''Huang Fei-hong zhuan: Bian feng mie zhu'' (1949) - Leung Foon
*''Huang Fei Hong zhuan: Da po Ba Wang Zhuang'' (1949) - Leung Foon
*''Huang Fei Hong zhuan di san ji xue zhan Liu Hua Qiao'' (1949) - Leung Foon
*''Huang Fei Hong zhuan si ji: Liang Kuan gui tian'' (1950) - Leung Foon
*''Huo shao Shao Lin si'' (1950)
*''Ren hai wan hua tong'' (1950)
*''
How Ten Heroes of Guangdong Slew the Dragon'' (1950) - Mak Tai
*''Lei dian zhui feng jian'' (1951)
*''Wu hu duan hun qiang'' (1951)
*''Hu dan ying hun'' (1952) - Fong Tat
*''Qi xia hei xuan feng'' (1952) - Black Whirlwind
*''Ye du Yuan Yang jiang'' (1953)
*''The Killing Spear'' (1953)
*''Ren tou qi an'' (1955) - Leung, Tai-yim
*''Liang Kuan yu Lin Shi Rong'' (1955) - Leung Foon
*''Xu Huang Fei Hong zhuan'' (1955) - Leung Foon
*''Huang Fei Hong hua di qiang pao'' (1955) - Leung Foon
*''Huang Fei Hong wen zhen si pai lou'' (1955) - Leung Foon
*''Huang Fei Hong chang ti jian ba'' (1955) - Leung Foon
*''Fang Shi Yu yu Hu Hui Qian'' (1955) - Woo Wai Kin
*''Huang Fei Hong da nao Fo Shan'' (1956) - Leung Foon
*''Huang Fei Hong du bei dou wu long'' (1956) - Leung Foon
*''Fang Shi Yu yi jiu Hong Xi Guan'' (1956) - Hung Hei-guan
*''Huang Fei Hong san xi nu biao shi'' (1956) - Leung Foon
*''Huang Fei Hong yi jiu long mu miao'' (1956) - Leung Foon
*''Huang Fei Hong nu tun shi er shi'' (1956) - Leung Foon
*''Huang Fei Hong fu er hu'' (1956) - Leung Foon
*''Huang Fei Hong xing shi hui qi lin'' (1956) - Leung Foon
*''Huang Fei Hong Shamian fu shen quan'' (1956) - Leung Foon
*''Huang Fei Hong heng sao Xiao Beijiang'' (1956) - Wan Tat Tat
*''Bu xia xiang wei zhui hun biao'' (1956)
*''Huang Fei Hong Guan Yin Shan xue hen'' (1956) - Leung Foon
*''Huang Fei Hong Guanshan da he shou'' (1956) - Leung Foon
*''Bai hao ying xiong chuan'' (1956)
*''Huang Fei-hong tian hou miao jin xiang'' (1956) - Leung Foon
*''Huang Fei Hong shui di san qin Su Shulian'' (1956) - Leung Foon
*''Huang Fei-hong qi dou huo qi lin'' (1956) - Leung Foon
*''Huang Fei Hong da nao hua deng'' (1956) - Leung Foon
*''Huang Fei-hong Henan yu xie zhan'' (1957)
*''Huang Fei Hong shi wang zheng ba'' (1957)
*''Huang Fei Hong die xie ma an shan'' (1957) - Leung Foon
*''Huang Fei Hong da po fei dao dang'' (1957) - Leung Foon
*''Heng ba qi sheng sheng zi qi'' (1957)
*''Huang Fei-hong ye tan hei long shan'' (1957) - Leung Foon
*''Huang Fei Hong wu du dou shuang long'' (1958) - Leung Foon
*''Huang Fei Hong long zheng hu dou'' (1958)
*''Huang Fei Hong da po jin zhong zhao'' (1958)
*''Huang Fei Hong da nao Feng Huang Gang'' (1958) - Leung Foon
*''Huang Fei Hong lei tai dou wu hu'' (1958) - Leung Foon
*''She diao ying xiong zhuan'' (1958)
*''Huang Fei Hong hu xue jiu Liang Kuan'' (1958) - Leung Foon
*''
Sword of Blood and Valour'' (1958–1959) - Yuen Sing-chi
*''Liang Kuan's Fight at Fiery Tiger Pit'' (1958)
*''Huang Fei-hong Saved the Bride at Xiguan'' (1958)
*''
Story of the Vulture Conqueror'' (1958–1959) - Kwok Ching
*''Huo zang Lan Tou He'' (1959) - Tang Lung
*''Huang Fei Hong bei kun hei di yu'' (1959) - Leung Foon
*''Huang Fei Hong hu peng fu hu'' (1959) - Leung Foon
*''Huang Fei Hong yi guan Cai hong qiao'' (1959) - Lau Cham
*''Huang Fei Hong lei tai zheng ba zhan'' (1960) - Leung Foon
*''Shisan hao xiong sha an'' (1960)
*''Xing xing wang da zhan Huang Fei Hong'' (1960) - Leung Foon
*''Huang Fei Hong yuan da po wu hu zhen'' (1961) - Leung Foon
*''Bu bu jing hun'' (1961) - Lee Hoi-Ming
*''Sha ren wang da zhan niu ji tan'' (1961)
*''Yi jian jiu lian huan'' (1961)
*''Zhui hun tai ji biao'' (1961)
*''Mo quan zhui xiong'' (1961) - Inspector Lui Tat
*''Kun lun qi jian dou wu long'' (1961)
*''Kun Lun san nu xia'' (1961) - Cha See Hung
*''Xiao Gan Luo bai xiang da jie ju'' (1962)
*''Ru yan jing hun'' (1962) - Woo Chi-Hung
*''Shuang jian meng'' (1962)
*''Shuang jian meng xia ji da jie ju'' (1962)
*''Nu du shou'' (1962) - Inspector To
*''Huang mao guai ren'' (1962) - Inspector To
*''Xian he shen zhen xin zhuan shang ji'' (1962)
*''Chain Murder'' (1962) - Yeung Sum
*''Huo shao gong lian si Shang ji'' (1963) - Gwai Mo
*''Huo shao gong lian si Xia ji'' (1963) - Gwai Mo
*''The Black Centipede'' (1963)
*''Gu rou en chou'' (1963) - Tse Jun-Wan
*''Zhui hun bai gu dao'' (1963)
*''Ye ban ren lang'' (1963)
*''Hong Xian Nu ye dao bao he'' (1963)
*''Lei dian tian xian jian'' (1963) - Ma Fei-Wan
*''Wan jian zhi wang'' (1963)
*''Yin jian jin dao'' (1964) - Ho Man-Kai / Ho Luk-Long
*''Ru lai shen zhang shang ji'' (1964) - Lung Kim Fai
*''Ru lai shen zhang xia ji da jie ju'' (1964) - Lung Kim Fai
*''Ru lai shen zhang san ji da jie ju'' (1964)
*''Ru lai shen zhang si ji da jie ju'' (1964)
*''Man tang ji qing'' (1964)
*''Qian shou shen quan shang ji'' (1965)
*''Qian shou shen quan xia ji'' (1965)
*''Gui gu shen nu'' (1965) - Lau Tin-Chi
*''Ru lai shen zhang nu sui Wan Jian Men'' (1965)
*''Te wu yi ling yi'' (1965)
*''Mi mi ke'' (1966)
*''Qi jian shi san xia'' (1967) - Chui Ming-Go
*''Kun Lun san sha shou'' (1967)
* 1969 Supreme Sword'' - Fang Tien Hung. Also Producer.
* 1970 Secret Agent No. 1 - Inspector. Also as Director.
* 1970 ''The Young Girl Dares Not Homeward'' (aka Girl Wanders Around) - Inspector Tao.
*''Dai heung lei bak min wai fung'' (1974)
*''Hua hua gong zi'' (1974)
*''Shen nu dang fu chuo tou wang'' (1975) - Chao Chen-tung
*''
The Legend of the Condor Heroes
''The Legend of the Condor Heroes'' () is a wuxia novel by Chinese writer Jin Yong (Louis Cha). It is the first part of the ''Condor Trilogy'' and is followed by ''The Return of the Condor Heroes'' and ''The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber''. I ...
'' (1976, TV Series) - Luk Sing-fung
*''
The Return of the Condor Heroes
''The Return of the Condor Heroes'', also called ''The Giant Eagle and Its Companion'', is a wuxia novel by Jin Yong (Louis Cha). It is the second part of the '' Condor Trilogy'' and was preceded by '' The Legend of the Condor Heroes'' and foll ...
'' (1976, TV Series) - Luk Sing-fung
*''Avenging Warriors of Shaolin'' (1979) - Chun's Teacher
*''Hui feng hao huang jin da feng bao'' (1979)
*''Za ji wang ming dui'' (1979) - Leung's Father
*''Qi sha'' (1979) - Yang Chun Yu
*''Cha chi nan fei'' (1980) - Chou Yi Shan
*''Wan ren zan'' (1980) - Liu Jing-Tian
*''Shao Lin yu Wu Dang'' (1980) - Feng Te
*''Long li ji'' (1980)
*''
A Deadly Secret'' (1980) - Wan Zhenshan
*''
Tai Chi Master'' (1980, TV Series) - Buddhist Monk Hong-ming
*''Si yiu'' (1981) - Chief inspector Liu
*''Gui ma zhi duo xing'' (1981) - Gang Boss
*''
The Duel of the Century
''The Duel of the Century'' is a 1981 Hong Kong wuxia film adapted from Gu Long's Before and After the Duel novel, the third installment in the '' Lu Xiaofeng'' series. The film was directed by Chor Yuen, produced by the Shaw Brothers Studio, ...
'' (1981) - Monk Kugua
*''Da qiao ying xiong zhuan'' (1981)
*''My Young Auntie'' (1981) - Ching Fu, Iron Man of Canton
*''
Aces Go Places
''Aces Go Places'', (), also known in the United States as ''Diamondfinger'' or ''Mad Mission'', is a 1982 Hong Kong action comedy film directed by Eric Tsang, and starring Samuel Hui and Karl Maka.
It is the first installment in the ''Ac ...
'' (1982) - Uncle Hua
*''
Carry On Pickpocket'' (1982)
*''Jut zai yau che'' (1982) - Farmer
*''San shi nian xi shuo cong tou'' (1982) - Gangster extra
*''Nan xiong nan di'' (1982)
*''Nan xiong nan di'' (1982)
*''Bat sap yee ga fong hak'' (1982) - Jealous husband
*''Ru lai shen zhang'' (1982) - Tathagata
*''2.5 CM'' (1982)
*''Xiao sheng pa pa'' (1982)
*''Bo jin'' (1982)
*''Xiao zi you zhong'' (1982)
*''
Aces Go Places 2'' (1983) - Hua
*''Jui gwai chat hung'' (1983) - Drunken Husband
*''Tian ji guo he'' (1983)
*''Shao ye Wei Wei'' (1983)
*''Feng sheng shui qi'' (1983)
*''Wu Song'' (1983)
*''
Winners and Sinners
''Winners & Sinners'' (, also known as ''5 Lucky Stars'') is a 1983 Hong Kong action comedy film written and directed by Sammo Hung, who also starred in the film. The film co-stars Jackie Chan and Yuen Biao, the latter serving as one of the ...
'' (1983) - Medicine Man
*''Mad Mission 3: Our Man from Bond Street'' (1984) - Hua
*''Huang huo'' (1984)
*''Zi jin xiong di'' (1984)
*''
A Friend from Inner Space'' (1984)
*''Fan dau mui'' (1984) - Principal
*''Ai nu xin zhuan'' (1984) - Old Man in House
*''Duo qing zhong'' (1984)
*''
My Lucky Stars
''My Lucky Stars'' () is a 1985 Hong Kong action comedy film starring and directed by Sammo Hung. The film was written by Barry Wong, and produced by Leonard Ho. The film co-stars Jackie Chan, Yuen Biao, Sibelle Hu, Richard Ng, Charlie ...
'' (1985) - Supt. Walter Tsao
*''Gong xi fa cai'' (1985) - Police Supt.
*''Ge wu sheng ping'' (1985)
*''Juk nei ho wan'' (1985)
*''
Twinkle, Twinkle Lucky Stars
''Twinkle, Twinkle, Lucky Stars'' () is a 1985 Hong Kong action comedy film starring and directed by Sammo Hung. The film co-stars Jackie Chan and Yuen Biao. It is the third installment in the ''Lucky Stars'' series, following '' Winners and ...
'' (1985) - Supt. Walter Tsao
*''Mo cuo gu'' (1985)
*''
Aces Go Places 4'' (1986) - Hua
*''
The Millionaire's Express'' (1986) - Shanghai Chief Inspector
*''Huan le ding dong'' (1986) - Captain Chan
* 1986 ''
The Family Strikes Back
''The Family Strikes Back'' is a 1986 Hong Kong action comedy film produced, directed by and starring Dean Shek.
The film focuses on a mad scientist who orders his assistants to kidnap victims for use in his experiments. When a martial artist ...
''
* 1986 ''
Lucky Stars Go Places'' - Supt. Walter Tsao
* 1986 ''
Mr. Vampire 2''- Police Chief
* 1988 ''
Three Against the World'' - Detective
*''Fat lut mo ching'' (1988)
*''Wu long zei ti shen'' (1988) - Supt. Walter Tso
*''
Aces Go Places 5: The Terracotta Hit'' (1989) - Uncle Wah
*''Fa da xian sheng'' (1989)
*''Mang gwai dai ha'' (1989) - Buddhist God
*''Huo bao xing dong'' (1989)
*''
Return of the Lucky Stars'' (1989) - Supt. Walter Tso
*''Meng gui zhuang gui'' (1989)
*''Do si lip yan'' (1989) - Ma Sir
*''Huang jia fei feng'' (1989) - Joe Tso
*''
Funny Ghost'' (1989)
*''
The Iceman Cometh
''The Iceman Cometh'' is a play written by American playwright Eugene O'Neill in 1939. First published in 1946, the play premiered on Broadway at the Martin Beck Theatre on October 9, 1946, directed by Eddie Dowling, where it ran for 136 perf ...
'' (1989) - Zheng's uncle instructor
*''Zhi ming de you huo'' (1990)
*''Hu dan nu er hong'' (1990) - Yong's Father
*''Meng gui ba wang hua'' (1990) - Officer Chan
*''Biao jie, ni hao ye!'' (1990) - Tzu's ex-comrade
*''Ma deng ru lai shen zhang'' (1990) - Master Koo
*''
Demoness from Thousand Years'' (1990) - The Retard's Father
*''Wu ye tian shi'' (1990) - Inspector Chao
* 1994 ''
It's a Wonderful Life'' - Dai-Foon Yum
* 1996 ''
How to Meet the Lucky Stars'' - Supt. Walter Tso
* 2001 ''
A Gambler's Story''
Television series
* 1985 ''
The Legendary Prime Minister – Zhuge Liang
''The Legendary Prime Minister – Zhuge Liang'' is a Hong Kong television series based on the life of Zhuge Liang (Cantonese: Chu-kot Leung), a chancellor (or prime minister) of the state of Shu Han in the Three Kingdoms period. Starring Adam Che ...
'' (TV Series) - Pong Tak-gung
* 1986 ''
Rise of the Great Wall'' (TV Series) - King Chiu-seung
* 1986 ''
The Romance of the White Hair Maiden'' (TV Series) - Taoist Pak-shek
Personal life
In 1990, Tso emigrated to London, England, with his son. In 1993, Tso returned to Hong Kong to join
TVB
Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB; zh, t=電視廣播有限公司) is a television broadcasting company based in Hong Kong. The company operates five free-to-air terrestrial television channels in Hong Kong, with TVB Jade as its main Canton ...
. In 1997, Tso returned to England as his wife was then suffering kidney disease. In 2000, Tso's wife died, he returned alone to Hong Kong. In August 2006, Tso was hospitalised for a month after falling down stairs at his home. In November 2006, Tso returned to England. Tso's son lives in England and his daughter lives in the United States.
In January 2007 Tso died of
haemorrhage
Bleeding, hemorrhage, haemorrhage or blood loss, is blood escaping from the circulatory system from damaged blood vessels. Bleeding can occur internally, or externally either through a natural opening such as the mouth, nose, ear, urethra, vag ...
of stomach in a hospital in London, England.
[(Required paid subscription)]
One of his goddaughters is
Connie Chan.
References
*''
Apple Daily
''Apple Daily'' ( zh, t=蘋果日報, j=ping4 gwo2 jat6 bou3) was a Chinese-language newspaper published in Hong Kong from 1995 to 2021. Founded by Jimmy Lai and part of Next Media, ''Apple Daily'' was known for its sensational headlines, ...
'
16 January 2007
External links
*
Walter Tso Tat-Wah at hkcinemamagic.comWalter Tso Tat-Wah at hkmdb.comWalter Tso at senscritique.comWalter Tso at notrecinema.comWalter Tso at industrialhistoryhk.org
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tso, Walter
1915 births
2007 deaths
Hong Kong male film actors
Deaths from gastrointestinal hemorrhage
Hong Kong male television actors
People from Taishan, Guangdong
Male actors from Guangdong
20th-century Hong Kong male actors
21st-century Hong Kong male actors
Chinese male film actors
Chinese male television actors
20th-century Chinese male actors
21st-century Chinese male actors
Chinese emigrants to British Hong Kong