David Chiang, a renowned actor, was born in Suzhou, China on June 29, 1947, to Hung Wei and Yim Dut, both prominent movie stars.
At the tender age of four, David began his acting career, appearing in black and white films. His real English name is John, while David was a stage name given to him by Director Chang Cheh.
In 1966, David was working as a stuntman and fight instructor for the acclaimed Shaw Brothers Studio when he was spotted by Director Chang Cheh. The director saw great potential and screen presence in the young actor, taking him under his wing and grooming him like a son.
After Wang Yu's sudden departure in 1969, Run Run Shaw and his senior executives were searching for a new leading man. They made David an offer he couldn't refuse, and with the guidance of Director Chang Cheh, David won the "Best Actor" Award at the 16th Asian Film Festival in 1970 for his role in "Vengeance!"
In 1972, David was awarded "Best Actor" at the 18th Asian Film Festival for his roles in "Blood Brothers" and "The Most Contemporary" Award in 1973 at the 19th Asian Film Festival for "The Generation Gap".
David left Hong Kong with his mentor Chang Cheh and set up an independent production company in 1973, known as Chang's Scope Company. With the backing and blessings of Run Run Shaw, their films continued to be distributed through Shaw Brothers' circuit.
David was able to try his hand at directing, producing, and scriptwriting, working with directors like Lee Han Chiang, Hsueh Li Pao, Ho Meng-hua, and Chia-Liang Liu.
In the 1980s, David continued to work on the silver screen, directing, producing, and acting in movies like "The Green Dragon Conspiracy", "Princess Chang Ping", and "Dynasty", which are all classics.
In the mid-1980s, David worked alongside his two brothers, Paul Chun and Derek Yee, directing, producing, and acting in the comedy "Legend of the Owl". His talents in comedy were also showcased in the movies "The Challenger" and "The Loot", directed by Eric Tseng.
In the late 1980s and 1990s, David successfully directed movies like "Heaven Can Help", "Silent Love", "The Wrong Couples", "Mr. Handsome", "Double Fattiness", "My Dear Son", "Will of Iron", and "Mother of a Different Kind".
In 1991, David and his family emigrated from Hong Kong to Vancouver, Canada, returning to Hong Kong to make one or two TV series each year. As the year 2000 approached, David continued to work in movies and TV series, including being nominated for "Best Supporting Actor" in 2006 for his role in "Revolving Doors of Vengeance".
With over four decades under his belt, David is indeed an icon and a legend, well-regarded as one of Kung Fu's top action heroes.
