Michael Fitzgerald Wong Wong Man-tak (; born 16 April 1965) is a

Chinese-American Chinese Americans are Americans of Chinese ancestry. Chinese Americans constitute a subgroup of East Asian Americans which also constitute a subgroup of Asian Americans. Many Chinese Americans have ancestors from mainland China, Hong Kong ...

actor based in

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 ...

. He is fluent in

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Culture, language and peoples * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England * ''English'', an Amish ter ...

, but not in

Chinese Chinese may refer to: * Something related to China * Chinese people, people identified with China, through nationality, citizenship, and/or ethnicity **Han Chinese, East Asian ethnic group native to China. **'' Zhonghua minzu'', the supra-ethnic ...

, which is reflected in many of the characters he has portrayed. His most notable

film A film, also known as a movie or motion picture, is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, emotions, or atmosphere through the use of moving images that are generally, sinc ...

is the 1998 film '' Beast Cops'' which won a

Hong Kong Film Award The Hong Kong Film Awards (HKFA; ), founded in 1982, is an annual List of film awards, 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 Cent ...

with Wong in the lead role. As of 2004, he has appeared in over fifty films in twenty-one years, often in very minor roles.

Early life

Michael Wong was born and raised in

Troy, New York Troy is a city in and the county seat of Rensselaer County, New York, United States. It is located on the western edge of the county, on the eastern bank of the Hudson River just northeast of the capital city of Albany, New York, Albany. At the ...

, the son of restaurateur, William Wong, and an American artist of Dutch and French descent, Connie Van Yserloo (d. 2024). His brothers,

Russell Wong Russell Wong () is an American actor. Born in New York, Wong attended Santa Monica City College while training to become a dancer. With the desire of becoming an actor, he moved to Hong Kong in 1983, where he learned Cantonese and martial arts, ...

and Declan Wong, would also become actors in the Hong Kong film industry. After finishing high school, he left to go to Hong Kong to try his luck in acting. There were a number of significant factors against Wong's eventual success in the Hong Kong film industry including an inability to speak

Cantonese Chinese Cantonese is the traditional prestige variety of Yue Chinese, a Sinitic language belonging to the Sino-Tibetan language family. It originated in the city of Guangzhou (formerly known as Canton) and its surrounding Pearl River Delta. While the ...

, no formal training in acting and no background in martial arts. He also lacked an entry into the tightly knit in the Hong Kong film industry.

Career

Acting career

His debut was in 1985's ''

City Hero ''City Hero'' is a 1985 Hong Kong action comedy film directed by Dennis Yu and starring Dean Shek, Mark Cheng, Bennett Pang, Anthony Tang, Billy Lau and Michael Wong. In the film, five idealistic police officers volunteer for training to join ...

'', then in 1986 he was cast in his first major role, ''

Legacy of Rage ''Legacy of Rage'' () is a 1986 Hong Kong action film directed by Ronny Yu. The film stars Brandon Lee, Michael Wong, Regina Kent and a special appearance by Bolo Yeung, who appeared alongside Lee’s father Bruce Lee in his posthumous 1973 f ...

'' alongside

Brandon Lee Brandon Bruce Lee (February 1, 1965 – March 31, 1993) was an American actor. Establishing himself as a rising action star in the early 1990s, he landed what was to be his breakthrough role as Eric Draven in the supernatural superhero fi ...

. His next significant film was ''Royal Warriors'' a.k.a. ''In the Line of Duty'', which established his dominant image for the first part of his career as a naive but tough outsider. He made his English language movie debut in

James Hong James Hong (born February 22, 1929) is an American actor, producer and director. Known as one of the most prolific character actors of all time, he has worked in over 400 productions in U.S. media since the Golden Age of Hollywood in the 1950s. ...

's '' The Vineyard'' in 1989. ''

Final Option The ''Oregon Files'' is a series of novels written by author Clive Cussler and several co-authors. Craig Dirgo was a co-writer for the first two titles, Jack Du Brul was a co-writer for the next seven titles, Boyd Morrison took over as co-writ ...

'', released in 1994, would make Wong a major star in the Chinese film industry. Playing the role of a police officer, Stone Wong, he established a tougher image. In 1995, he starred alongside

Jackie Chan Fang Shilong (born Chan Kong-sang; 7 April 1954), known professionally as Jackie Chan,; is a Hong Kong actor and filmmaker, known for his slapstick, acrobatic fighting style, comic timing, and innovative stunts, which he typically perf ...

in ''

Thunderbolt A thunderbolt or lightning bolt is a symbolic representation of lightning when accompanied by a loud thunderclap. In Indo-European mythology, the thunderbolt was identified with the 'Sky Father'; this association is also found in later Hel ...

.'' In 1996, he reappeared as Stone Wong in the prequel ''First Option'' for which he would be nominated for both a Hong Kong Film Award and a Golden Horse Award. Also that year, Wong starred in the

Canadian Canadians () are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of their being ''C ...

TV production '' Once A Thief'' directed by

John Woo John Woo Yu-sen ( zh, t= ; born 22 September 1946) is a Hongkongers, Hong Kong film director known as a highly influential figure in the action film genre. The recipient of various accolades, including a Hong Kong Film Awards, Hong Kong Film Award ...

. His starring role in ''Beast Cops'', which won a 1998 Best Film prize at the Hong Kong film awards, further consolidated his position. Also that year he acted with

Shannon Lee Shannon Emery Lee Keasler (born April 19, 1969) is an American actress, businesswoman, singer, and martial artist. She is the only living child of actor and martial artist Bruce Lee and retired martial arts teacher Linda Lee Cadwell, and is t ...

in ''Enter the Eagles'', and played the role of a detective in the

Jean-Claude Van Damme Jean-Claude Camille François Van Varenberg (, ; born 18 October 1960), known professionally as Jean-Claude Van Damme (, ), is a Belgian martial artist and actor. Born and raised in Brussels, his father enrolled him in a Shotokan karate schoo ...

film, ''Knock Off''. In 2000, Wong made his debut as a director in ''Miles Apart'', which he also produced and starred in. He has continued to work in the Hong Kong film industry, though more often as a supporting player rather than a leading man, in productions such as

Cold War The Cold War was a period of global Geopolitics, geopolitical rivalry between the United States (US) and the Soviet Union (USSR) and their respective allies, the capitalist Western Bloc and communist Eastern Bloc, which lasted from 1947 unt ...

Skiptrace Skiptracing is the process of locating a person's whereabouts. Skiptracing tactics may be employed by a skip tracer, contact tracer (in a public health context), debt collector, process server, bail bondsman or bail agency enforcer (bounty hun ...

and Triple Threat. In the 2002 movie ''New Option,'' he reprised the role of Stone Wong.

Music career

With his international fame, in 1993 and 1994 he had the opportunity to shoot TV commercial, star in

Thai film The cinema of Thailand dates back to the History of film, early days of filmmaking, when Chulalongkorn, King Chulalongkorn's 1897 visit to Bern, Switzerland was recorded by François-Henri Lavancy-Clarke. The film was then brought to Bangkok, whe ...

and release an album in

Thailand Thailand, officially the Kingdom of Thailand and historically known as Siam (the official name until 1939), is a country in Southeast Asia on the Mainland Southeast Asia, Indochinese Peninsula. With a population of almost 66 million, it spa ...

. His studio album was signed to Grammy Entertainment (present-day

GMM Grammy GMM Grammy Public Company Limited ( or stylized as G"MM' Grammy) is the largest media conglomerate entertainment company in Thailand. Top Grammy artists include Bird Thongchai, Silly Fools, Loso, Tai Orathai, Bie Sukrit, Tata Young, Mos Pa ...

) and was sung in Thai via

romanization In linguistics, romanization is the conversion of text from a different writing system to the Latin script, Roman (Latin) script, or a system for doing so. Methods of romanization include transliteration, for representing written text, and tra ...

. ''Chun-mah-glai'' (ฉันมาไกล, "I've Come So Far") is his best-known and promoted song. In 2006, Wong re-entered the music scene by performing "big band" music accompanied by a 10 piece band with the likes of " Come Fly with Me".

Personal life

Wong married Hong Kong supermodel Janet Ma in 1992 and they had two daughters, Kayla Wong and Irisa Shannon Wong, and one son, Kadin Miles Wong. Wong is a keen helicopter enthusiast, having held a pilot's license since 1998. In 2008, he was serving a term as President of the Hong Kong Helicopter Club.

Filmography

* '' Flying Tiger 3'' (2021) * ''

Flying Tiger 2 ''Flying Tiger 2'' () is a 2019 Hong Kong action crime drama television series jointly produced by Shaw Brothers Studios and Youku. It stars Michael Miu, Bosco Wong, Kenneth Ma, Ron Ng, Lawrence Ng, Joel Chan, Yoyo Mung and Kelly Cheung as the ...

'' (2020) * '' Triple Threat'' (2019) * '' Chasing the Dragon II: Wild Wild Bunch'' (2019) * ''

Flying Tiger The First American Volunteer Group (AVG) of the Republic of China Air Force, nicknamed the Flying Tigers, was formed to help oppose the Japanese invasion of China. Operating in 1941–1942, it was composed of pilots from the United States Ar ...

'' (2018) * '' Secret Treasure'' (2017) * ''

'' (2016) * '' Transformers: Age of Extinction'' (2014) * ''

Z Storm ''Z Storm'' () is a 2014 Hong Kong action thriller film directed by David Lam, and starring Louis Koo, Gordon Lam and Dada Chan. The plot revolves around Hong Kong's Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) and its investigation of a ...

'' (2014) * ''

Delete My Love ''Delete My Love'' () is a 2014 Hong Kong romantic comedy film directed and written by Patrick Kong and starring Wong Cho-lam, Ivana Wong and Michael Hui. Plot So Po-wing or So Boring as everyone calls him doesn't have much going for him, car ...

'' (2014) * ''

From Vegas to Macau ''From Vegas to Macau'' (), also known as ''The Man From Macau'' (), is a 2014 crime comedy film directed by Wong Jing. A Hong Kong-Chinese co-production, the film stars Chow Yun-fat, Nicholas Tse, Chapman To and Jing Tian. The film was released ...

'' (2014) * ''

Firestorm A firestorm is a conflagration which attains such intensity that it creates and sustains its own wind system. It is most commonly a natural phenomenon, created during some of the largest bushfires and wildfires. Although the term has been used ...

'' (2013) * '' SDU: Sex Duties Unit'' (2013) * '' 7 Assassins'' (2013) * ''

'' (2012) * '' Nightfall'' (2012) * '' Dear Enemy'' (亲密敌人, 2011) * ''

Triple Tap ''Triple Tap'' () is a 2010 Hong Kong action film directed by Derek Yee and starring Louis Koo and Daniel Wu. This film is a sequel to Yee's 2004 film '' One Nite in Mongkok'', which starred Wu in a different role, and the Yee-produced 2000 film ...

'' (2010) * ''

The Blood Bond ''The Blood Bond'' (also known as ''Shadowguard'') is a 2010 action thriller film directed by Michael Biehn, with additional material by Antony Szeto. It was produced by Bey Logan and stars Michael Biehn, Simon Yam and Phoenix Chou. ''The Blood Bo ...

'' (2010) * '' Overheard'' (2009) * '' Drive of Life'' (TVB Drama 2007) * ''The Counting House'' (2006) * ''PTU File: Death Trap'' (2005) * ''

Seven Swords ''Seven Swords'' is a 2005 ''wuxia'' film produced and directed by Tsui Hark, starring Donnie Yen, Leon Lai, Charlie Yeung, Sun Honglei, Lu Yi and Kim So-yeon. An international co-production between Hong Kong, China, South Korea and the Nether ...

'' (2005) * '' House of Fury'' (2005) * ''

Magic Kitchen ''Magic Kitchen'' is a 2004 Hong Kong romantic comedy film directed by Lee Chi-ngai and starring Sammi Cheng and Jerry Yan. The film was adapted from the novel of the same title by Hong Kong novelist Lam Wing-sum. Plot Yau became the proprieto ...

'' (2004) * ''Women from Mars'' (2002) * '' Partners'' (2002) * ''The New Option'' (2002) * '' Calmi Couri Appassionati'' (冷靜與熱情之間, 2001) * '' There is a Secret in my Soup'' (2001) * '' Violent Cop'' (2000) * ''

At the Threshold of an Era ''At the Threshold of an Era'' () was a Hong Kong epic drama series broadcast by TVB Jade Channel from 11 October to 18 December 1999 and 13 March to 26 May 2000 and was extensively promoted by TVB as its cross-millennium, one-hundred-episode-l ...

'' (TVB Drama 1999) * ''

Knock Off Knock offs, or dupes, are products similar to higher-end items but sold at a much lower price. Knock off may also refer to: * ''Knock Off'' (film), a 1998 film starring Jean-Claude Van Damme * "Knock Off" (song), a 2022 song by Jess Moskaluke *"Kn ...

'' (1998) * '' Beast Cops'' (1998) * '' Enter the Eagles'' (1998) * ''

Lost and Found A lost and found (American English) or lost property (British English), or lost articles (also Canadian English) is an office in a public building or area where people can go to retrieve Lost, mislaid, and abandoned property, lost articles th ...

'' (1996) * '' First Option'' (1996) * ''

'' (1995) * '' Chaophya Dragon'' (Thai film 1994) * '' Return to a Better Tomorrow'' (1994) * '' The Final Option'' (飛虎雄心, 1994) * ''

City Hunter is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Tsukasa Hojo. It was serialized in Shueisha's manga magazine ''Weekly Shōnen Jump'' from 1985 to 1991, with its chapters collected in 35 volumes. The manga was adapte ...

'' (1993) * '' Tiger Cage 3'' (1991) * '' The Vineyard'' (1989) * '' In the Line of Duty 4: Witness'' (1989) * ''

'' (1986) * ''

'' (1985)

References

External links

Hong Kong Film Michael Wong directory
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Wong, Michael 1965 births Living people 20th-century American male actors 21st-century American male actors Male actors from New York (state) American expatriates in Hong Kong American male film actors American male television actors American people of Dutch descent American people of French descent Actors from Troy, New York American male actors of Chinese descent category:GMM Grammy artists