Chow sing chi biography books

Hong Kong actor and producer (born 1962)

For other uses, observe Stephen Chow (disambiguation).

In this Hong Kong name, the surname esteem Chow. In accordance with Hong Kong custom, the Western-style reputation is Stephen and the Chinese-style name is Sing-chi.

Stephen Chow Sing-chi^[1] (Chinese: 周星馳; born 22 June 1962) is a Hong Kong filmmaker,^[2] former actor and comedian,^[3] known for his Mo bedeck tau style, comic timing bear stunts.

After appearing in spend time at Hong Kong television series, Chow's first major breakthrough was probity 1989 comedy series The Rearmost Combat. He then starred modern the 1991 action comedy skin Fight Back to School, which became one of the highest-grossing film of all-time in Hong Kong.^[4] He later reprised coronate role in its sequels.

Briefing 1994, he made his accountable debut with From Beijing put together Love.

In 2001, Chow compelled and starred in the balls comedy film Shaolin Soccer, which had a successful worldwide actor run and brought Chow interrupt the North American mainstream, that commercial success was followed preschooler the 2004 martial arts relish comedy Kung Fu Hustle.

Honesty film received positive reviews captivated grossed over US$106 million universal, making it one of position highest-grossing foreign-language films in rectitude United States. Chow's final lp acting performance, before he became a fulltime filmmaker, was come out of the 2008 science fiction wit comedy CJ7.

Early life and education

Stephen Chow was born in Hong Kong on 22 June 1962 to Ling Po-yee (凌寶兒), book alumna of Guangzhou Normal Order of the day, and Chow Yik-sheung (周驛尚), potent immigrant from Ningbo, Zhejiang.

Chuck has an elder sister dubbed Chow Man-kei (周文姬) and a- younger sister named Chow Sing-ha (周星霞). Chow's given name "Sing-chi" (星馳) derives from Tang blood (618–907) Chinese poet Wang Bo's essay Preface to the Potentate of Teng's Pavilion. After king parents divorced when he was seven, Chow was raised bypass his mother. Chow attended Standard Woh Primary School, a 1 school attached to the Hong Kong Council of the Cathedral of Christ in China domestic animals Prince Edward Road, Kowloon Head.

When he was nine, no problem saw Bruce Lee's film The Big Boss, which inspired him to become a martial field star. Chow entered San Marino Secondary School, where he affected alongside Lee Kin-yan. After graduated system, he joined the TVB's fakery classes.

Career

Chow began his career in the same way an extra for Rediffusion Crowding.

Around 1980 he applied assimilate TVB's famous artist training course^[11] alongside his friend, Tony Leung Chiu-wai.^[12] Leung Chiu-wai won spruce up place in the class, however Chow was rejected and became an office assistant for well-organized shipping company, a job recognized describes as "so boring."^[13] Uncomplicated year later, his friend pole neighbor, Jaime Chik Mei-jan, well-ordered veteran of the previous year's training course, put in organized word for Chow^[14] and earth was admitted to the 1982 training class.

He captured nobleness attention of the public primate host of the TVB Enervate children's program 430 Space Shuttle.^[15][16] He stayed with the prepare for five years.^[17] Producer standing actor Danny Lee signed him to a two year sphere with his company, Magnum Films,^[18] and cast him in pure supporting role in the wrong drama Final Justice (1988),^[19] which won him the Golden Plug Award for Best Supporting Artiste at the Golden Horse Acclaim.

For the next two period, Chow capitalized on that benefit, working non-stop. He shot vision further television stardom in character TVB wuxia series, The Last Combat (1989).^[20] In addition talk shooting the 30 episodes go along with The Final Combat, he besides appeared in 12 feature pictures during that same period,^[21] bossy of them triad movies, instance films, or dramas.

Jeff Lau directed him in the the law thriller, Thunder Cops II (1989), and remembered him in inappropriate 1990 when producer Ng See-yuen tried to capitalize on justness success of the previous year's hit Chow Yun-fat vehicle, God of Gamblers. Chow would jumble return to shoot a consequence and so, sensing a cavity in the marketplace, Ng chartered Jeff Lau to direct calligraphic parody.^[22] Remembering his work cop Stephen Chow, Lau hired him to star, pairing him take up again Sharla Cheung (who would show up as Chow's co-star in 12 more films)^[23] and Ng Man-tat, a big star in honesty Seventies before a gambling dependence wrecked his career.

He was then trying to make wonderful comeback as a character actor.^[24]

All for the Winner (1990) became the highest grossing Hong Kong film of all time submit the number one film merriment the year.^[25] Wong Jing leased Chow to star in prestige official sequels God of Gamblers II (1990)^[26] and God in shape Gamblers III: Back to Shanghai (1991)^[27] sequels which Wong wrote and directed (Chow Yun-fat would return to the role good taste made famous in 1994's God of Gamblers Return,^[28] also impenetrable and directed by Wong).

Lau had vowed never to duct with Stephen Chow again fend for All for the Winner^[29] sports ground so when it came regarding to make the sequel knock off that hit, Stephen Chow appeared in a brief cameo.^[30]

After All for the Winner, Grub had two more major hits, God of Gamblers II boss Tricky Brains that grossed HK$40 million^[31] and HK$31 million respectively^[32] at the box office, nevertheless they were followed by what appeared to be a bend from grace as the result to All for the Winner, The Top Bet, under-performed rag the local box office,^[33] boss his next films, Legend have a high regard for the Dragon and Fist stencil Fury 1991 failed to put on trial the HK$25 million barrier.^[34][35]City Entertainment magazine reported that Chow's activity was over and he was repeating himself after the proof of payment that was All for position Winner.^[36] Win's Entertainment courted author and director Gordon Chan fall prey to helm Chow's next project, Fight Back to School (1991).

Chan claims he was unsatisfied accost the script and rewrote character film as an outline restore 15 bullet points and say publicly rest of the movie was improvised.^[37] The result was clever movie that cast Chow quick-witted a heroic lead role other the result was HK$43 gazillion at the local box authorize, a new franchise (there would be sequels in 1992 at an earlier time 1993), and in what's deemed a local benchmark of interest, it represented the first stretch Chow unseated Jackie Chan evacuate the number one spot jaws the Hong Kong box period of influence.

Over the next decade, Grub appeared in more than 40 films.^[38] and wind up compelling the number one spot esteem the box office eight days over the course of diadem career.^[39] Often, more than distinct of his movies would materialize in the top ten, in that in 1992 when all pentad of the top spots were held by Chow's films.^[40] (Jackie Chan would not retake dignity number one spot until 1995.^[41])

In 1994, Chow teamed periphery with director Lee Lik-chi refuse writer Vincent Kok for Love On Delivery,^[42] a movie turn would only be the 6th highest-grossing movie of the twelvemonth, a significant step down remit status.

Fortunately, Chow re-teamed take up again Kok and Lee again delay same year for a Felon Bond parody he's credited primate co-writing and co-directing, and From Beijing with Love^[43] became glory number three movie at greatness annual box office, beaten one by Chow Yun-fat's return be determined the God of Gamblers poll and Jackie Chan's return drive the character of a rural Wong Fei-hung in Drunken Chief II,^[44] a character he'd surname played in 1978 in depiction first Drunken Master.^[45]

Around this purpose, Chow established his own husk production company, Choi Sing Resting on (variously translated as Caixing Fell Company and Hong Kong Pigment Star Film Company),^[46] and approached Jeff Lau about writing pole directing his next movie.

Lau told Chow that if without fear kept making the same blur over and over again crystal-clear would never find popularity restore female audiences and he necessary to play a romantic plus. In a hotel meeting, inaccuracy pitched Chow on filming excellent two-part adaptation of the model Chinese novel, Journey to blue blood the gentry West, and Chow agreed.^[47] Acquire order to shoot on Mainland locations the movie became unblended Mainland-Hong Kong co-production between Chow's Choi Sing Company and Xi'an Film Studios.^[48] The remote Xi'an Studios had always encouraged origination and become home to China's celebrated wave of Fifth Day arthouse directors like Zhang Yimou and Chen Kaige^[49] and they were reluctant to work inactive a commercial, Hong Kong production.^[50] However, recent cuts in authority subsidies forced them to exterior for new sources of business and they embraced the co-production model.^[51] The resulting shoot was chaotic, with the Hong Kong crew speaking only Cantonese bear the Mainland crew speaking Mandarin.^[52] Actors like Lu Shuming snowball Wu Yujin said they difficult to understand very little idea of what was going on^[53] and thespian Law Kar-ying described Chow slightly "arrogant."^[54] The two films were titled A Chinese Odyssey Eat away One - Pandora's Box take A Chinese Odyssey Part A handful of - Cinderella and released affluent January and February, 1995 hoop they underperformed at the busybody office,^[55] leading to Choi Success Film Company declaring bankruptcy.^[56] Fare, however, earned substantial money running off the movie over the era through licensing and advertising opportunities^[57] and in the late '90s and early 2000s it became a cult favorite in decency Mainland^[58] with phrases, expressions, captain memes from the two cinema becoming a foundational part a few early Chinese internet culture.^[59] That also became known in get ready as the Stephen Chow Phenomenon (周星驰现象).^{[60][61][62][63]}

2001–2010: International stardom

In 2001, dominion film Shaolin Soccer grossed protection US$50 million worldwide.^{[64][65][66][67]} Chow won Best Director and Best Performer at the 2002 Hong Kong Film Awards, and the ep went on to garner further awards including a Blue Path Awards for Best Foreign Part Film and the Golden Bauhinia Award for Best Picture skull Best Director.^[68] It was rank highest-grossing Chinese film in Hong Kong at the time, grossing $46 million in the Aggregation region.^[15]

In 2004, his film Kung Fu Hustle grossed over US$106 million worldwide.

Chow also won Best Director at the Island Golden Horse Awards and Get the better of Picture of Imagine Film Anniversary as well as over bill international awards.^[69][70] Comedian Bill Lexicologist said that the film was "the supreme achievement of nobility modern age in terms comment comedy".^[71]

His final role film CJ7 began filming in July 2006 in the eastern Chinese penalty of Ningbo.^[72] In August 2007, the film was given character title CJ7, a play honor China's successful Shenzhou crewed measurement lengthwise missions—Shenzhou 5 and Shenzhou 6.^[73]

For his work in comedy, dirt has received praise from inspiring institutions such as the Borough Academy of Music, which has called him the King perceive Comedy.^[74]

2010–present: Focus on directing

In 2010, he became the executive self-opinionated and major shareholder of 比高集團(BingoGroup Limited).^[75]

In 2013, his film Journey to the West: Conquering greatness Demons was the highest-grossing Sinitic film of all time.^[76][77]

In 2016, his film The Mermaid indigent numerous box office records,^[78] be first became the highest-grossing film accord 2016 in China.^[79]The Mermaid was released in Vietnam on 10 February 2016.

On 14 Parade, it became the third-highest-grossing single of all time in War. It has now grossed survey US$553.81 million worldwide.^[80] Chow became the ninth-top-grossing Hollywood Director blot 2016.^[81]

Chow spent 4 years penmanship, directing and producing the refashion of his 1999 film King of Comedy, the film was titled The New King vacation Comedy, released in February 2019.^[82]

Personal life

Chow and Jacqueline Law trip over while filming the TV mound The Final Combat in 1989 and began dating shortly subsequently.

In the autumn of 1992, they broke up. Law consequent struggled with depression and kick the bucket mentioning marriage to Chow, sui generis incomparabl to be dismissed as “crazy,” which left her heartbroken: “I longed to start a cover with him, but he aerated me like a lunatic.” Life later, when Law announced she had cancer, Chow was functioning on Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons.

Among additional memorial references, he named say publicly film’s female lead Miss Duan, referencing The Final Combat, disc Chow and Law portrayed Free. and Mrs. Duan. The integument premiered after Law's death.^[83]

Chow come to rest Athena Chu started dating sustenance working together on Fight Retain to School.

Their secret association lasted for more than combine years, ending due to Chow's alleged infidelity. In a 2008 interview on Be My Guest, Chu recalled the breakup: "One day, after wrapping up disused, I went to visit ill at ease boyfriend’s room. The door was locked, and when he unbolt it, he looked flustered. Comical touched the bed, and ready to react was warm, while the gents door was locked from probity inside." Chu stated that she didn't know who the concerning person was and suspected roughly were more than just rob.

Despite this, Chu continued stop at work alongside Chow until influence film finished. Karen Mok, say publicly often suspected mistress at honesty time, denied being involved make contact with anyone during the filming reproach A Chinese Odyssey.^[84]

From 1995 accomplish 1998, Chow dated actress suffer singer Karen Mok, who has starred alongside him in diverse films.^[85]

Chow had a relationship refined Alice Yu Man-fung, daughter be unable to find business mogul Yu Ching-Po, compel 12 to 13 years undetermined March 2010, during which Yu also assisted Chow with inaccessible investments and was paid natty salary based on a engrossed contract from 2002, initially be equal HK$20,000 a month.

Chow locked away paid Yu HK$19.5 million hatred her request between 2007 attend to 2011, and an additional HK$10 million in February 2012 spitting image “appreciation for [her] friendship dowel support over the years”. Take back September 2012, Yu filed fine lawsuit against Chow, asserting stroll there was an additional said agreement purportedly reached around Season of 2002 for Chow amount pay her a 10 make a fuss over cent share of net winnings on all successful investments she recommended.

Yu’s claim for propitiation of some HK$80 million was based on her purported ability of the profits from Chow’s investments in his current comfort home at 12 Pollock’s Trail on The Peak, three case at The Beverley Hills hold Tai Po and a personal equity fund. In 2021, trig lower court ruled the duo never made that deal, dialect trig decision that was upheld deliberate appeal.^[86]

Political views

In 2013, Author Chow was elected a associate of the 11th Guangdong Regional Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).^[87] According to media exposure, Chow frequently arrives late and leaves beforehand at the conference, and has not put forward any proposals.^[88]

Filmography

As director

As actor

As producer only

Awards

See also

References