Sammo Hung

Sammo Hung (Hung Kam-bo), born November 7, 1952, is from Guangdong (ancestral home Meizhou, Guangdong) and was raised in Hong Kong. His grandfather, Hong Shen, once participated in the production of China’s first generation of martial arts films, and his grandmother, Qian Siying, was a Shanghai film star. Hung’s family environment had a strong artistic atmosphere, with many family members having performing experience.

At an early age Hung showed a mischievous, active temperament. Before he was ten he was sent by his family to the China Drama Academy to study Peking opera. Under the instruction of Peking opera master Yu Jim-yuen (Yu Zhan-yuan), he built a solid foundation in traditional theatre skills. That period in the opera school gave him good physical conditioning and performance skills, and helped cultivate his professional work ethic. As a youth he met fellow students Jackie Chan, Yuen Wah, Yuen Qiu, Yuen Biao, and Yuen Wu; together they formed the “Seven Little Fortunes” troupe and were active on stage and screen.

Hung’s show-business career began in 1961, appearing as a child actor in the film The Education of Love and gradually entering the film industry. In 1966 he officially joined Shaw Brothers Studio, working as an action choreographer and serving as a martial arts instructor on many films. In the 1970s he began taking on roles as martial arts choreographer and lead actor, producing a number of classic action films, and won the Taiwan Golden Dragon Award for Best Martial Arts Choreography for the film The Deadly Twin Swords.

In 1977 Hung began directing, making The Monk San Te and Chung-Mi Luk (San De Heshang yu Chong Mi Liu), which launched his directing career. He then founded Gar Bo Film (Jiabo) and released a series of kung fu comedies, gradually developing a distinctive action style. In the 1980s Hung collaborated with Golden Harvest to establish BoHo Film Productions, releasing films such as Shaolin Buddhist (Gui Da Gui) and The Prodigal Son (Bai Jia Zai) and successfully creating a trend of Hong Kong supernatural comedies. His representative work The Coolie Killer (Shenyong Shuang Xiang Pao) earned him his first Best Action Design award.

In the 1990s Hung gradually reduced his output and shifted more to behind-the-scenes work, though he continued to be frequently involved in action choreography and acting, in films such as Mr. Vampire and Ip Man 2, and he received multiple Hong Kong Film Awards nominations and wins for Best Action Choreography. He also worked in the U.S., starring in the TV series The Legend of the Condor Heroes (Note: literal title) and directing and starring in several films that incorporated Hollywood production experience.

Since the 21st century, Hung has remained active in film production, direction, and performance, starring in many award-winning films including Once Upon a Time in China: The Heroic Dream (literal: Huang Feihong zhi Yingxiong You Meng) and SPL: Sha Po Lang (Kill Zone). In 2010 he received numerous awards in the action film field and has been presented with several lifetime achievement honors. Hung has also held social and industry positions, such as vice chairman of the China Film Association and roles in the Hong Kong film community, and has been active in philanthropy—since 1999 supporting education and medical aid in Yulin, Guangxi.

In 2024 Hung was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 42nd Hong Kong Film Awards, recognizing his outstanding contributions to cinema. His career has encompassed actor, director, producer, action choreographer, and screenwriter roles, and he has played an important role in the development of Chinese-language and Asian cinema.