Andy Lau

Andy Lau (Liu Dehua), born September 27, 1961, is originally from Jiangmen, Guangdong. He was born in Tai Hing Village, Tai Po, New Territories, Hong Kong, China. In his early family life he had three older sisters, one younger sister and one younger brother. His father, Liu Li, once worked as a firefighter at Kai Tak Airport and later ran a small snack and grocery shop to support the family. Andy Lau was the fourth child. In his childhood he lived with his grandfather in Tai Hing Village; at age six he moved with his father to the city and lived in a poor area of Diamond Hill. As a boy he dreamed of becoming a firefighter. After primary school he attended Wong Tai Sin Primary School and then Ho Lap College. While at school he actively participated in the drama club, studying drama and working behind the scenes under teacher Du Guowei, gaining a foundation in performance.

In 1981 Lau began his entertainment career by joining Television Broadcasts Limited’s (TVB) Artist Training Class. That same year he played the small-time thug A-Long in his first TV drama, Jianghu Zai Jian. In 1982 he graduated from the training class with excellent results and signed with TVB. He then rose to prominence in a number of Hong Kong TV dramas, starring in series such as The Boatman’s Hero and The Falcon, gradually building his reputation.

In 1983 he starred as Yang Guo in the Jin Yong adaptation The Return of the Condor Heroes, which achieved very high ratings in Hong Kong (62 points). Around that time he was part of TVB’s “Five Tigers” lineup. In 1984 he appeared in costume dramas including Demon Domain Peach Garden and The Duke of Mount Deer, taking on diverse roles and expanding his acting range. In 1985 he played Yang Liulang in The Yang Family Generals, but after refusing TVB’s proposed five-year contract extension he was sidelined (blacklisted) for about 400 days. In 1986, following mediation by Run Run Shaw, he reconciled with TVB.

In film, Lau starred in his first movie, Cai Yun Qu, in 1981; he later played an American interpreter in the drama To the Fury, earning a Hong Kong Film Award nomination for Best New Performer. In 1983 he starred in the action movie Destroyer Express, and in 1988 he received a Best Actor nomination at the 8th Hong Kong Film Awards for Wong Kar-wai’s As Tears Go By. He then focused more on film, starring in many classics such as God of Gamblers, A Moment of Romance, Black Gold and Infernal Affairs, portraying a wide range of complex characters and maturing continually as an actor.

In music, Lau released his first song “The Condor Hero” in 1983, and in 1985 he officially joined Capital Artists, releasing his first Cantonese album Only Know How to Love You Now. With a string of best-selling albums such as Can You?, Never Ending Love and Forget Love Potion, he became an important figure in the Chinese pop music scene; his ballads have been dubbed “Lau-style love songs.” He has consistently projected a positive, wholesome image in his musical work and has had wide influence.

Andy Lau has also been active in charity. In 1994 he established a charitable foundation dedicated to helping poor children and people with disabilities. Over the years he has taken part in earthquake relief, disaster donations, the Olympic torch relay and public service campaigns, earning multiple social honors.

In his personal life, he registered his marriage with Chu Liqian (Carol Chu) in Las Vegas, USA, on June 23, 2008; the couple had a daughter in 2012. From the 1980s onward Lau has continued to develop across entertainment and philanthropy, receiving numerous awards and honors in film, music and for social contributions, underscoring his importance in the Chinese-language entertainment world. He remains active in film, music and charitable work and continues to influence the Chinese cultural sphere.