Roy Chiao Hung ( zh, 喬宏; 16 March 1927 – 15 April 1999) 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 ...

-American actor. Nicknamed "the Lion of Cinema" for his athletic physical stature and powerful screen presence, he was a popular leading man throughout the 1950s and '60s, and continued his acting career well into the 1990s. He was an early star 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 associated with the

Hong Kong New Wave The Hong Kong New Wave is a film movement in Chinese-language Hong Kong cinema that emerged in the late 1970s and lasted through the early 2000s until the present time. Origins of the movement The Hong Kong New Wave started in 1979 with the rele ...

, thanks to his roles in ''

A Touch of Zen ''A Touch of Zen'' () is a two-part ''wuxia'' film written, co-edited and directed by King Hu, originally released in 1970 and 1971. Its screenplay is based on a classic Chinese story " Xianü" in the book ''Strange Stories from a Chinese Stud ...

'' (1971) and ''

The Fate of Lee Khan ''The Fate of Lee Khan'' () is a 1973 Hong Kong ''wuxia'' film, directed by King Hu. Plot During the waning years of the Yuan Dynasty, Mongol general Lee Khan and his sister Wan’er travel to the desolate Spring Inn in Shaanxi province to obt ...

'' (1973), both directed by

King Hu King Hu Jinquan ( zh, t=胡金銓, 29 April 1932 – 14 January 1997) was a Chinese filmmaker and actor, based in British Hong Kong, Hong Kong and Taiwan. He is known for directing various ''wuxia'' films in the 1960s and 1970s, which brought Ci ...

. His deep voice and fluency in multiple languages, including English, also made him a popular actor for Western filmmakers working in Hong Kong. He notably played supporting roles in ''

Ferry to Hong Kong ''Ferry to Hong Kong'' is a 1959 British melodrama/adventure film directed by Lewis Gilbert and starring Curt Jürgens, Sylvia Syms, Orson Welles and Jeremy Spenser. Lewis Gilbert later described ''Ferry to Hong Kong'' as "my nightmare film". O ...

'' (1959), ''

Enter the Dragon ''Enter the Dragon'' ( zh, t=龍爭虎鬥) is a 1973 martial arts film directed by Robert Clouse and written by Michael Allin. The film stars Bruce Lee, John Saxon, Ahna Capri, Bob Wall, Shih Kien and Jim Kelly. ''Enter the Dragon'' was ...

'' (1973), ''

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom ''Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom'' is a 1984 American action-adventure film directed by Steven Spielberg from a script by Willard Huyck and Gloria Katz, based on a story by George Lucas. It is the second installment in the Indiana Jone ...

'' (1984), ''The Protector'' (1985) and ''Bloodsport'' (1988). He won the

Hong Kong Film Award for Best Actor The Hong Kong Film Award for Best Actor is an annual Hong Kong industry award presented to an actor for the best performance by an actor in a leading role. History The award was established at the 1st Hong Kong Film Awards (1982) and the first ...

for his performance in the 1996

Ann Hui Ann Hui On-wah, (; born 23 May 1947) is a film director, producer, screenwriter and actress from Hong Kong who is one of the most critically acclaimed filmmakers of the Hong Kong New Wave. She is known for her films about social issues in ...

film '' Summer Snow''.

Early life

Chiao was born in

Shanghai Shanghai, Shanghainese: , Standard Chinese pronunciation: is a direct-administered municipality and the most populous urban area in China. The city is located on the Chinese shoreline on the southern estuary of the Yangtze River, with the ...

in 1927. His father, Qiao Yisheng, was a supporter of

Sun Yat-sen Sun Yat-senUsually known as Sun Zhongshan () in Chinese; also known by Names of Sun Yat-sen, several other names. (; 12 November 186612 March 1925) was a Chinese physician, revolutionary, statesman, and political philosopher who founded the Republ ...

and was part of the Chinese Revolution. Chiao attended an American missionary school as a child, where he became fluent in English. He moved to

Chongqing ChongqingPostal Romanization, Previously romanized as Chungking ();. is a direct-administered municipality in Southwestern China. Chongqing is one of the four direct-administered municipalities under the State Council of the People's Republi ...

during the

Second Sino-Japanese War The Second Sino-Japanese War was fought between the Republic of China (1912–1949), Republic of China and the Empire of Japan between 1937 and 1945, following a period of war localized to Manchuria that started in 1931. It is considered part ...

, but moved back after the end of World War II to complete his secondary education. During the

Korean War The Korean War (25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953) was an armed conflict on the Korean Peninsula fought between North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea; DPRK) and South Korea (Republic of Korea; ROK) and their allies. North Korea was s ...

, Chiao went to

Taiwan Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia. The main geography of Taiwan, island of Taiwan, also known as ''Formosa'', lies between the East China Sea, East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocea ...

, and subsequently enlisted in the

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the primary Land warfare, land service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution.Article II, section 2, clause 1 of th ...

. A

polyglot Multilingualism is the use of more than one language, either by an individual speaker or by a group of speakers. When the languages are just two, it is usually called bilingualism. It is believed that multilingual speakers outnumber monolin ...

fluent in several languages (Mandarin, Cantonese, Shanghainese, English and Japanese among them), Chiao served as a battlefield interpreter. After the war, he was a part of the United States' negotiation delegation. He was discharged in 1954, as a captain.

Career

In 1955, he went to

Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...

and there he met actress

Bai Guang Shi Yongfen (; 27 June 1921 – 27 August 1999), known professionally as Bai Guang (; also credited as Pai Kwong, Bai Kwong and Bai Kwang), was a Chinese actress and singer. By the 1940s, she became one of the Seven Great Singing Stars. Early l ...

who cast him in the 1956 film ''Xian mu dan''. The English speaking film appearances that Chiao appeared in included roles in the 1984

Harrison Ford Harrison Ford (born July 13, 1942) is an American actor. Regarded as a cinematic cultural icon, he has starred in Harrison Ford filmography, many notable films over seven decades, and is one of List of highest-grossing actors, the highest-gr ...

film ''

'', the 1988

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 ''

Bloodsport A blood sport or bloodsport is a category of sport or entertainment that involves bloodshed. Common examples of the former include combat sports such as cockfighting and dog fighting, and some forms of hunting and fishing. Activities charact ...

'', the 1973

Bruce Lee Bruce Lee (born Lee Jun-fan; November 27, 1940 – July 20, 1973) was an American-born Hong Kong martial artist, actor, filmmaker, and philosopher. He was the founder of Jeet Kune Do, a hybrid martial arts philosophy which was formed from ...

film ''

'' and the 1978 version of Lee's ''

Game of Death ''Game of Death'' () is an incomplete Hong Kong martial arts film, of which portions were filmed between September and October 1972, and was planned and scheduled to be released by 1973, directed, written, produced by and starring Bruce Lee. Th ...

''. He performed in many

films with a career total of 90 films.

1950s to 1960s

Chiao's screen debut was in the 1956 film ''Xian mu dan'' which came about as a result of his meeting actress Bai Guang. She had cast him in the film. On her recommendation he went to MP&GI in 1957 and that year he was signed to them. Recognized as a handsome leading man, in the 1959 film, ''

'', Chiao played the part of the Americanized Johnny Sing-Up, a black leather jacket, blue jean wearing

Elvis Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977) was an American singer and actor. Referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th century. Presley's sexuall ...

styled gangster from America. Sing-Up was the partner of a pirate called Yen (played by

Milton Reid Milton Rutherford Reid (29 April 1917 – c. 1987) was a British-Indian actor and professional wrestler. He was born in India, the son of a Scottish-born Customs and Excise inspector and an Indian woman. He wrestled in England under the name of ...

) who board a ferry that has been battered in a storm and drifting near the China Coast.

1970s to 1999

In a type of send-up of his award-winning role in ''Summer Snow'', Chiao played the part of the Alzheimer disease stricken grandfather of Tung Tzun in the 1996 film '' Blind Romance''. He had suffered from three heart attacks and died of heart disease.

Personal life

Chiao married Liu Yen-Ping when he was in his twenties. She was a disc-jockey. Both he and his wife were Christians. Chiao had been a devout Christian since his early twenties. In 1964 he and his wife immigrated to

Seattle Seattle ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Washington and in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. With a population of 780,995 in 2024, it is the 18th-most populous city in the United States. The city is the cou ...

. In his later years he became involved in missionary work. He was the founder of "Artists' Home," a Christian Fellowship for actors in

. Singer-songwriter Zac Kao is one of the people who have been positively affected by Chiao.''City News'', April 4, 2010 �
Zac Kao: Return To God
/ref>

Death

Chiao suffered three heart attacks before his heart disease-related death in 1999.

Selected filmography

* ''Heng chong zhi zhuang'' (1950) * ''Alishan feng yun'' (1956) * ''Xian mu dan'' (1959) * ''Qing chun er nu'' (1959) – Niu Mai (Buffalo) * ''San xing ban yue'' (1959) – Chang Ping-chung * ' (''Kong zhong xiao jie'') (1959) – Lei Daying * ''

'' (1959) – Johnny Sing-Up * ''Tian chang di jiu'' (1959) * ''Lan gui feng yun'' (1959) * '' Liu yue xin niang'' (1960) – Mai Qin * ''Chang tui jie jie'' (1960) – Xiao Jin / Jin Junior * ''Nu mi shu yan shi'' (1960) * ''Mu yu nu'' (1960) – Yuan Zhitang * ''Xin xin xiang yin'' (1960) * ''Kuai le tian shi'' (1960) – Jin Wenou * ''Tie bi jin gang'' (1960) * ''Hong nan lu nu'' (1960) * ''Yu lou san feng'' (1960) – Zheng Dajiang * ''Sha ji chong chong'' (1960) – Luo Shouli * ''Zei mei ren'' (1961) * ''You xi ren jian'' (1961) * ''Tao li zheng chun'' (1962) – Xu Zhaofeng * ''Huo zhong lian'' (1962) – Tian Shaoqing * ''Ye hua lian'' (1962) * ' (''Hǎo shì chéng shuāng'') (1962) – Wang Shu * ''Jiao wo ru he bu xiang ta'' (1963) – Jin Shiming * ''Die hai si zhuang shi'' (1963) * ''Xi Taihou yu Zhen Fei'' (1964) * ''Ti xiao yin yuan shang ji'' (1964) – Liu – The Warlord General * ''Ti xiao yin yuan xia ji'' (1964) – Liu – The Warlord General * ''Shen gong yuan'' (1964) – Hong Chengchou * ''Luan shi er nu'' (1966) – Ma Jen-shan * ''Bai tian e'' (1967) * ''

Five Golden Dragons ''Five Golden Dragons'' is a 1967 international co-production action comedy film set in Hong Kong and photographed in Techniscope on location in September 1966 at the Tiger Balm Pagoda and Shaw Brothers studios. It was directed by Jeremy Summer ...

'' (1967) – Inspector Chiao * ''Wo de ai ren jiu shi ni'' (1967) – Ling Chi Chiu * ''Jue dou e hu ling'' (1968) – Diao Jinghu * ''Yan ling dao'' (1968) – 2nd Chief Yueh * '' The Arch'' (1968) – Captain Yang * ''You long xi feng'' (1968) * ''Hu shan hang'' (1969) – Ching Wu Chih * ''Jia bu jia'' (1970) – (Guest star) * ''Xue lu xue lu'' (1970) – Driver * ''

'' (1971) – Hui Yuan * ''

Cheating Panorama ''Cheating in Panorama'' () is a 1972 Hong Kong comedy film directed by Li Han-hsiang. The film has a theme of duplicity. Film critic Ain-ling Wong classified ''Cheating in Panorama'' as having what Chan Koonchung would describe as "slovenly a ...

'' (1972) * ''Hei lung'' (1973) * ''

'' (1973) – Shaolin Abbott (uncredited) * ''

'' (1973) – Tsao Yu-kun * ''Pian shu qi zhong qi'' (1973) – Fur coat grifter * ''Hen ye qing deng'' (1974) * '' Golden Needles'' (1974) – Lin Toa * ''

Games Gamblers Play ''Games Gamblers Play'' () is a 1974 Hong Kong comedy film directed by and starring Michael Hui, with action direction by Sammo Hung. The film also co-stars Sam Hui, who also served as one of the film's music composers. Although very successf ...

'' (1974) – Ticketed Man at Bar (Guest star) * ''Yinyang jie'' (1974) * ''Yun cai tong zi xiao zu zong'' (1974) * ''Zhong lie tu'' (1975) – Yu Da-you * ''Lao fu zi'' (1975) * ''

The Last Message ''The Last Message'' () is a 1975 Hong Kong comedy film directed by and starring Michael Hui, and co-starring Samuel Hui, with a cameo appearance by Ricky Hui. This is the second film of the Hui Brothers. Plot Tim (Michael Hui) and Lee ( Sa ...

'' (1975) – Cheng Ming * ''Tian cai yu bai chi'' (1975) – Mr. Chiang Wo * ''Lan qiao yue leng'' (1975) * ''Da jia le'' (1975) * ''Zhong yuan biao ju'' (1976) – (Guest star) * ''Yi qi guang gun zou tian ya'' (1977) * ''

Foxbat The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25 (; NATO reporting name: Foxbat) is a supersonic interceptor and reconnaissance aircraft that is among the fastest military aircraft to enter service. Designed by the Soviet Union's Mikoyan-Gurevich bureau, it is an ...

'' (1977) – Doctor Vod * ''Da sha xing yu xiao mei tou'' (1978) – Drunken Sheng * ''

'' (1978) – Henry Lo * ''Wen ni pa wei'' (1978) * '' Enter the Fat Dragon'' (1978) – Chiu * ''Shen tou miao tan shou duo duo'' (1979) – Biggie * ''Meng zai Sha mei miao zhen tan'' (1979) * ''Huang shi shi'' (1979) – (Guest star) * ''Bo za'' (1980) – White Norman * ''Yi er san'' (1980) * ''Shi ba'' (1980) – Chu Tung Shen * '' Game of Death 2'' (1981) – Abbot * ''Da li xiao shui shou'' (1981) * ''Chuang ban shen tan dian zi gui'' (1981) * '' Once Upon a Mirage'' (1982) – Policeman Ma * ''Chiu pei nui hok sang'' (1982) * ''Meng'' (1983) * ''Feng shui er shi nian'' (1983) – (Cameo) * ''

'' (1984) – Lao Che * ''Ge wu sheng ping'' (1985) * '' The Protector'' (1985) – Harold Ko * ''

Heart of Dragon ''Heart of Dragon'', (Chinese: 龍的心) released in the United Kingdom as ''Heart of the Dragon'', is a 1985 Hong Kong action drama film directed by Sammo Hung, who also starred in the lead role. The film co-stars Jackie Chan, Emily Chu and ...

'' (1985) – Restaurant Owner * ''

Aces Go Places IV ''Aces Go Places IV'' is a 1986 Hong Kong action-comedy film directed by Ringo Lam and starring Samuel Hui, Karl Maka, Sylvia Chang and Sally Yeh. It is the fourth film in the ''Aces Go Places'' film series. Plot Cast * Samuel Hui as King Kon ...

'' (1986) – The Professor * ''Wu long da jia ting'' (1986) * ''

Righting Wrongs ''Righting Wrongs'' () is a 1986 Hong Kong action cinema, Hong Kong action film produced and directed by Corey Yuen, and also produced by and starring Yuen Biao, both of whom also serve as the film's stage combat, action directors. The film also ...

'' (1986) – Magistrate Judge * ''Shen tan zhu gu li'' (1986) – Chief Inspector Chiao * ''Zhao hua xi shi'' (1987) * ''

Dragons Forever ''Dragons Forever'' () is a 1988 Hong Kong martial arts action comedy film directed by Sammo Hung, who also starred in the film, and co-directed by Corey Yuen. The film co-stars Jackie Chan, Yuen Biao, Pauline Yeung, Deannie Yip, Yuen Wah, R ...

'' (1988) – Judge Lo Chung-Wai * ''

'' (1988) – Senzo Tanaka * ''Fa da xian sheng'' (1989) * ''Lady Reporter'' (1989) * ''Long zhi zheng ba'' (1989) – Hwa's father * ''

Shadow of China ''Shadow of China'' is a 1989 drama film directed and co-written by Mitsuo Yanagimachi and starring John Lone, Sammi Davis and Vivian Wu. It is based on the novel ''Snake Head'' by Masaaki Nishiki. It was the first Japanese-American co-productio ...

'' (1989) – Lee Hok Chow * ''Do wong'' (1990) * ''Bamboo in Winter'' (1991) – Father * ''

A Kid from Tibet ''A Kid from Tibet'' () is a 1991 Hong Kong martial arts action film starring and directed by Yuen Biao, who also produced. The film was written by Barry Wong, Sam Chi-leung, and Chan Kam-cheong. The film features two more former members of th ...

'' (1992) – Lawyer Robinson * ''

Cageman ''Cageman'' () is a 1992 Hong Kong satirical comedy-drama film directed by Jacob Cheung. It won four awards at the 12th Hong Kong Film Awards held in 1993, including Best Film. Plot The movie explores the lives of tenants of the Wah Ha cage- ...

'' (1992) – Koo Yiu-Cho * '' Treasure Hunt'' (1994) – Uncle Bill * ''Mr. X'' (1995) – Roy * '' Summer Snow'' (1995) – Lin Sun * ''Dai lo bai sau'' (1995) – Great Uncle * ''Ma ma fan fan'' (1995) – Death * ''Tou tou ai ni'' (1996) – Tung-Tung's Grandfather * ''

All's Well, Ends Well 1997 ''All's Well, Ends Well 1997'' or abbreviated as ''AWEW 1997'' (97家有囍事) is a Hong Kong comedy film directed by Alfred Cheung, starring Stephen Chow, Raymond Wong and Francis Ng. Plot Kung (Stephen Chow) is the spoiled youngest brother ...

'' (1997) – Mr. Lo * ''Tin sai ji shing'' (1999) – Uncle Wang (final film role)

References

External links

*
Hong Kong Cinemagic: Roy Chiao Hung

alt.asian-movies discussion on Roy Chiao
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chiao, Roy 1927 births 1999 deaths 20th-century Hong Kong male actors Chinese emigrants to Hong Kong Hong Kong expatriates in the United States Hong Kong male film actors Hong Kong male television actors TVB actors United States Army personnel of the Korean War Hong Kong Christians Male actors from Shanghai