Biao Yuen
- Actor
- Stunts
- Additional Crew
Yuen Biao is regarded as one of the most acrobatic martial artists
ever. Unfortunately, he is still underrated and not as popular as other
contemporaries such as Jackie Chan, Sammo Kam-Bo Hung, and Jet Li even though he is
the most critically acclaimed out of all of them and the most talented
as well. And now he is receiving a cult following due to word of mouth.
Born of his parents Ha Kwong-Tai (father) and Ha Sau-Ying. Yuen Biao
was first enrolled in the China Drama Academy at the age of 5 (he was
the youngest there). He met Sammo Kam-Bo Hung and Jackie Chan while attending the
Academy. Jackie Chan took him under his wing, and they became lifelong
friends. Yuen Biao stayed at the Academy until the age of 16 where he
moved with Master Jim-Yuen to America. However, two years later he came
back, citing there were no opportunities for Chinese martial artists to
star in American films. After being in some bit part roles in films
such as The Shrine of Ultimate Bliss (1974) (aka Stoner), The Hand of Death (1976) (aka Hand of Death), he didn't
receive his first major breakthrough role until Sammo Kam-Bo Hung cast him in
Knockabout (1979) (aka Knockabout). However, his first role which gave him full
exposure and established his status as a A-list star was The Prodigal Son (1981) (aka
The Prodigal Son), which also starred and was directed by Sammo Kam-Bo Hung.
After that, 'Jackie Chan' cast him in the classic Project A (1983) (aka Project A).
After starring in some other films with Sammo Kam-Bo Hung and/or Jackie Chan, he
decided to go his own way and to forge his own career to get out of the
shadows of Jackie Chan and Sammo Kam-Bo Hung. He met his future wife DiDi Phang
Sau-Ha in 1984 while working as a stunt coordinator on the film DiDi
Phang was working on: Carry on Pickpocket (1982) (aka Carry On Pickpocket). They have two
children. His daughter Yi-Bui was born in 1986 and his son Ming-Tsak in
1988. The film On the Run (1988) (aka On The Run) confirmed his abilities as a
brilliant actor as his portrayal as a married man seeking vengeance for
his wife's brutal murder was critically acclaimed. The following year
he starred in probably his best film, The Iceman Cometh (1989) (aka The Iceman Cometh),
in which he starred with acclaimed actress Maggie Cheung. The film is
regarded as a cult classic and is remembered not only for the fantastic
fighting scenes and hilarious comedy, but also the wonderful acting of
Biao Yuen and Maggie Cheung and the wonderful simmering sexual chemistry
between them. After starring in the acclaimed Once Upon a Time in China (1991) (aka Once Upon a
Time in China, in which most of his scenes were cut), he directed his
first movie (A Kid from Tibet (1991). aka A Kid From Tibet), in which he also starred.
In 1994, he worked for the first time in years, with Sammo Kam-Bo Hung in the
gloriously titled Don't Give a Damn (1995) (aka Don't Give a Damn). In recent years,
Yuen Biao has complained of poor scripts, so he appears in films
sparsely nowadays. He also has a second home in Canada where he spends
most of time pursuing his hobby of golf.