Clarence Fok Yiu-leung (; 1960 – 1 February 2024) was a

Hong Kong Hong Kong)., Legally Hong Kong, China in international treaties and organizations. is a special administrative region of China. With 7.5 million residents in a territory, Hong Kong is the fourth most densely populated region in the wor ...

film director and actor. He was perhaps best known for directing the international cult classic ''

Naked Killer ''Naked Killer'' () is a 1992 Hong Kong erotic thriller film written and produced by Wong Jing, and directed by Clarence Fok Yiu-leung. The film stars Chingmy Yau, Simon Yam and Carrie Ng. The film is regarded as a cult classic. Plot Kitty is ...

'' (1992).

Life and career

Fok was born in 1960 in Hong Kong. He graduated from the Department of Design at

Hong Kong Polytechnic University The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU or HKPU) is a public research university in Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong. The university is one of the eight government-funded degree-granting tertiary institutions in Hong Kong. Founded in 1937 a ...

. He received training as a production assistant at

Rediffusion Television Rediffusion Television (, RTV) was a defunct television station in Hong Kong. It was the city's first broadcaster and the first in any British colony or majority-Chinese city.Kitley, Philip. 003(2003). ''Television, Regulation and Civil Soci ...

in 1978, gaining television production credits on ''In Cold Blood'' (1980). The following year, he joined

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 ...

, where he helped write and direct several series including '' The Passenger'' (1979), ''

The Bund The Bund is a waterfront area and a protected historical district in central Shanghai. The area centers on a section of Zhongshan Road (East Zhongshan Road No.1) within the former Shanghai International Settlement, which runs along the wester ...

'' (1980), and ''

Five Easy Pieces ''Five Easy Pieces'' is a 1970 American road drama film directed by Bob Rafelson, written by Rafelson and Carole Eastman (as Adrien Joyce), and starring Jack Nicholson, Karen Black, Susan Anspach, Lois Smith, and Ralph Waite. The film tell ...

'' (1980). Fok started directing feature-length films while at TVB. His first released movie was ''Job Hunter'' (, 1981), a youth drama starring

Leslie Cheung Leslie Cheung Kwok-wing (born Cheung Fat-chung; 12 September 1956 – 1 April 2003) was a Hong Kong singer and actor. One of the most influential cultural icons in the Sinophone, Sinophone world, Cheung was known for his debonair demeanor, flamb ...

and

Danny Chan Danny Chan Pak-Keung (; 7 September 1958 – 25 October 1993) was a Hong Kong singer, songwriter and actor. One of the first Cantopop idols in Hong Kong, he gained fame alongside performers Alan Tam, Anita Mui, and Leslie Cheung, who wer ...

. His next project, ''The Man from Vietnam'' (1982), was his actual directorial debut completed two years prior. He was once asked by producer

Mario Kassar Mario F. Kassar (; born October 10, 1951) is a Lebanese-American film producer and industry executive who produced the first three films of the '' Rambo'' series, '' Terminator 2: Judgment Day'', '' Total Recall'', ''The Doors, Angel Heart'', ' ...

to direct ''

Basic Instinct 2 ''Basic Instinct 2'' (also known as ''Basic Instinct 2: Risk Addiction'') is a 2006 erotic thriller film directed by Michael Caton-Jones, produced by Mario Kassar, Joel B. Michaels, and Andrew G. Vajna, and written by Leora Barish and Henr ...

''.Source: interview on ''

'' DVD On 1 February 2024, Fok died at the Shatin Hospital in Hong Kong. He had been reportedly living with

kidney cancer Kidney cancer, also known as renal cancer, is a group of cancers that starts in the kidney. Symptoms may include blood in the urine, a lump in the abdomen, or back pain. Fever, weight loss, and tiredness may also occur. Complications can include ...

and

heart disease Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is any disease involving the heart or blood vessels. CVDs constitute a class of diseases that includes: coronary artery diseases (e.g. angina pectoris, angina, myocardial infarction, heart attack), heart failure, ...

. His death was announced in March 2025 by Federation of Hong Kong Filmmakers spokesperson

Tin Kai-man Tin Kai-Man, also spelled Tin Kai-mun, is a Hong Kong actor and production manager, most notable for his role in '' Shaolin Soccer''. A well-known friend of Stephen Chow, he began acting in his films with the 1994 '' Hail the Judge''. Tin also wo ...

, who had received word from Fok's family about his death the previous month.

Awards

Fok was nominated as Best Supporting Actor at the 1986

Hong Kong Film Awards The Hong Kong Film Awards (HKFA; ), founded in 1982, is an annual film awards ceremony in Hong Kong. The ceremonies typically take place in April, and have mostly been held at the Grand Theatre of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre since 1991. The a ...

for his performance in ''Let's Make Laugh II'' (1985).

Filmography

As director

* ''

Special ID ''Special ID'' is a 2013 crime action film directed by Clarence Fok, from a screenplay by Chan Tai-lee and Szeto Kam-Yuen. It stars Donnie Yen alongside Jing Tian, Andy On, Zhang Hanyu, Ronald Cheng, and Collin Chou. A Chinese-Hong Kong co-pro ...

'' (2013) * '' Dating a Vampire in Bed'' (2006) * '' Don't Open Your Eyes'' (2006) * ''

Martial Angels ''Martial Angels'' () is a 2001 Hong Kong film directed by Clarence Fok Yiu-leung. The film has been described as part of the "girls with guns revival" cycle of the early 2000s. Other films in this subgenre included ''The Wesley's Mysterious ...

'' (2001) (as Clarence Ford) * '' Snakeheads'' (2001) * ''

Queen of Kowloon Queen of Kowloon is a 2000 Hong Kong film directed by Clarence Fok. Tsang Tsou Choi, nicknamed the "King of Kowloon", made an appearance in the film."Who is the King of Kowloon? ArtisTree exhibition pays tribute to artist and eccentric Tsang T ...

'' (2000) * '' Don't Look Back... Or You'll Be Sorry in Bed'' (2000) (as Clarence Ford) * '' Century of the Dragon'' (1999) * '' The H.K. Triad'' (1999) * '' Her Name Is Cat'' (1998) (as Clarence Ford) * '' Cheap Killers'' (1998) * '' On Fire'' (1996) * '' Thunder Cop'' (1996) * ''

Passion Passion, the Passion or the Passions may refer to: Emotion * Passion (emotion), a very strong feeling about a person or thing * Passions (philosophy), emotional states as used in philosophical discussions * Stoic passions, various forms of emotio ...

'' (1995) * ''

The Black Panther Warriors ''The Black Panther Warriors'' is a 1993 Hong Kong action film directed by Clarence Fok and starring an ensemble cast of Alan Tang, Brigitte Lin, Simon Yam, Tony Leung, Dicky Cheung and Carrie Ng. Plot Black Cougar (Alan Tang) is a profess ...

'' (1993) (as Clarence Ford) * '' Remains of a Woman'' (1993) * ''

'' (1992) * ''

Gun n' Rose ''Gun n' Rose'' (released as ''Guns N' Roses'' in the Philippines) is a 1992 Hong Kong action film directed by Clarence Fok and starring Alan Tang, Andy Lau, Leon Lai and Simon Yam. Plot Alan Lung is the adopted son of Taiwanese triad leader L ...

'' (1992) * '' Crying Freeman: Dragon from Russia'' (1990) * '' Chicken à la Queen'' (1990) * ''

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) * ''

They Came to Rob Hong Kong ''They Came to Rob Hong Kong'' () is a 1989 Hong Kong action comedy film produced and directed by Clarence Fok and starring Dean Shek, who also serves as the film's writer and executive producer. The film co-stars Chingmy Yau, Roy Cheung, Sandr ...

'' (1989) * '' The Greatest Lover'' (1988) * '' Before Dawn'' (1984) * '' Wrong Wedding Trail'' (1984) * '' On the Wrong Track'' (1983) * '' Job Hunter'' (1981)

As actor

* ''

Body Weapon Body may refer to: In science * Physical body, an object in physics that represents a large amount, has mass or takes up space * Body (biology), the physical material of an organism * Body plan, the physical features shared by a group of animal ...

'' (1999) * '' Project A, Part II'' (1987) (as Clarence Fok) * '' Enchanting Night'' (1987) * '' Armour of God'' (1987) - Singer * '' Let's Make Laugh II'' (1985) * '' Police Story'' (1985)

Notes

References

Cited literature

External links

* Year of birth missing (living people) Hong Kong film directors Hong Kong male actors Living people Film directors from Ottawa Male actors from Ottawa Asian-Canadian filmmakers {{HongKong-film-director-stub