Here is the biography of Yuen Biao:
Yuen Biao was born to his parents Ha Kwong-Tai and Ha Sau-Ying, and his early life was marked by a strong passion for martial arts. He enrolled in the China Drama Academy at the age of 5, making him the youngest student there. It was at the Academy that he met his lifelong friends Sammo Kam-Bo Hung and Jackie Chan.
Yuen Biao's talent and dedication earned him a spot at the Academy until the age of 16, when he moved to America with Master Jim-Yuen. However, he returned to Hong Kong just two years later, citing a lack of opportunities for Chinese martial artists in American films.
He went on to appear in several bit-part roles, including The Shrine of Ultimate Bliss and The Hand of Death, before landing his first major breakthrough role in Knockabout (1979),courtesy of Sammo Kam-Bo Hung. This was followed by his starring role in The Prodigal Son (1981),which cemented his status as a rising star.
Yuen Biao's subsequent collaborations with Jackie Chan and Sammo Kam-Bo Hung, including Project A (1983),solidified his position as a leading man in Hong Kong cinema. However, he eventually decided to forge his own path, seeking to break free from the shadow of his more famous co-stars.
In 1984, he met his future wife, DiDi Phang Sau-Ha, while working as a stunt coordinator on Carry on Pickpocket. They went on to have two children together, Yi-Bui and Ming-Tsak.
The 1980s saw Yuen Biao continue to establish himself as a talented actor, with standout performances in On the Run (1988) and The Iceman Cometh (1989). The latter, a cult classic, showcased his impressive fighting skills and comedic timing, as well as his chemistry with co-star Maggie Cheung.
In the 1990s, Yuen Biao continued to work sporadically, appearing in films such as Once Upon a Time in China (1991) and directing his own movie, A Kid from Tibet (1991). He has since spoken out about the poor quality of scripts in recent years, leading to a decrease in his film appearances. Despite this, he remains a beloved figure in the martial arts community, and spends his free time pursuing his passion for golf in his second home in Canada.
