Biography
Who is Yuen Biao?
Early life and real name
Born Ha Lingchun in Nanjing, China on the 26th July 1957, Yuen Biao was the fifth child in a family of eight children. His family relocated to Hong Kong when he was five years old, and by the age of six, he enrolled at the Peking Opera School known as The China Drama Academy. Master Yu Jim-yuen trained him alongside schoolmates who would later achieve immense fame in cinema.
Given the stage name Yuen Biao, which means Little Tiger, he quickly demonstrated a natural talent for acrobatics. According to records, he performed a proper backflip on his very first day of training when asked by his master. He remained at the school until the age of sixteen before starting his career in the local film industry.
Film career and stunt work
During the early 1970s, Yuen began working as an extra and stuntman on various productions. He performed stunts in Fist of Fury and Way of the Dragon, and served as a body double for physical feats in Game of Death. As his career progressed, he adopted alternative names such as Bill Yuen and Jimmy Yuen for international releases before returning to his professional stage name.
He collaborated frequently with his former schoolmates Sammo Hung and Jackie Chan throughout the 1980s. Together, the trio starred in multiple successful Hong Kong films including Project A, Wheels on Meals, and Dragons Forever. He also took on leading roles in critically acclaimed martial arts movies such as The Prodigal Son and Righting Wrongs.
Directing and later projects
In addition to performing and coordinating stunts, Yuen expanded his career into filmmaking and direction. He directed the movie A Kid from Tibet in 1991. He also established his own production company, Yuen Biao Films Limited, which produced films such as Kick Boxer.
As his career continued into the later decades, he balanced big screen appearances with television work. He acted in various TVB series and served as an action coordinator for international projects. His later work included roles in films like Robin B Hood alongside his long-time collaborator Jackie Chan.
Personal life
In 1984, Yuen married Didi Pang Sau Ha. The couple has two children together, a daughter named Yi-Bui born in 1986 and a son named Ming-Tsak born in 1988.
Outside of his active involvement in the film industry, Yuen maintains a second home located in Canada. During his time away from filming schedules, he enjoys playing golf.
Birthday and age
Yuen Biao was born on July 26, 1957, which makes Yuen 69 years old today. That birthday falls under the Leo sign. Yuen shares the date with 50 other famous people.
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