Chow Yun Fat as Master Roshi

Mini Biography

Chow Yun Fat is a charismatic, athletically built & energetic Asian-born film star who first came to the attention of western audiences via his roles in the high-octane/blazing guns action films of maverick HK director John Woo. Born in 1955 on the quiet island of Lamma, part of the then British colony of Hong Kong near its famous Victoria Harbour, Chow's family moved to urban Hong Kong in 1965 and in early 1973, Chow attended a casting call for TVB, a division of Shaw Bros. productions. With his good looks and easy-going style, Chow was originally a heartthrob actor in non-demanding TV and film roles. However, his popularity increased with his appearance as white-suited crime boss Hui Man-Keung in the highly popular HK film Shang Hai tan xu ji (1983). In 1985, Chow started receiving acclaim for his work and scored the Golden Horse (Best Actor) Award in Taiwan and another Best Actor Award from the Asian Pacific Film Festival for his performance in Dang doi lai ming (1984). With these accolades, Chow came to the attention of Woo, who cast Chow in the fast-paced gangster film Ying hung boon sik (1986) (aka "A Better Tomorrow")
Spouse
Jasmine Chow (6 May 1987 - present) On-on Yu (1983 - 1983) (divorced)
Trade Mark
Chow often is seen with a trademark toothpick in his mouth, particularly in his films with John Woo. The action superstar can be seen in most of his movies with twin guns (usually two Beretta 92s) and dark shades during a gunfight.
Trivia
Won Hong Kong Academy "Best Actor" Awards Three Times: A Better Tomorrow, 1987. City On Fire, 1988, All About Ah Long, 1990.
Won Taiwan Golden Horse "Best Actor" Awards Two Times: Hong Kong 1941, 1985. An Autumn's Tale, 1987.
Won Asian Pacific Festival "Best Actor" Award for Hong Kong 1941, 1985.
Chow Yun-Fat was born of the Hakkha (aka Ha Ka) race, an ethnic group from China that has moved from one region to another without taking up permanent residence since the ancient times. The Hakkha dialect is now the second most popular dialect in Taiwan.
CineAsia, the Asian Theatre Owners Convention, named Chow the Star of the Decade. Turned down the role of Morpheus in The Matrix (1999). Chosen one of 50 Most Beautiful People by People Magazine in 2002. Before going to work on a movie each day, he goes to the nearest market and buys some fresh fruit. Sponsors a lot of charity events such as,"National Wildlife" and many others. Unusually tall by Chinese standards, he was often a head taller than his co-stars in his Hong Kong films, female or male. Tri-lingual, speaking Cantonese, Mandarin, and English. Credited as Chow Anderson in the Philippines in his earlier films. He helped Andy Lau in his movie career, after it almost crashed when he refused to sign a contract with TVB, which made him blacklisted from Hong Kong Television. He and Andy Lau made 4 movies together: Ying hung ho hon (1987), Gong woo ching (1987), Du shen (1989), and Dou hap (1991). They also made two TV-series together: "Yang ka cheung" (1986) and "Sou hat yi" (1982). After a first unsuccessful marriage with a fellow Hong Kong star actress, he fell in love and re-married the daughter of one of the richest Chinese dynastic scions from Singapore. Attempted suicide over the break-up after 5-year (1978-1983) romance with popular TV star Idy Chan.