Chen Kuan-tai

Chen Kuan-tai (; 24 September 1945 – 2 September 2026) was a Hong Kong martial arts actor, director and action choreographer. He rose to fame in the early 1970s for his films with the Shaw Brothers Studio and is credited as being one of the film company's first professionally trained martial artists.

Early life Chen was born in Guangdong, China on 24 September 1945. At age 9, he was accepted as a pupil of kung fu practitioner Chan Sau Chung, founder of the Tai Sing Pek Kwar Martial Arts Association which specializes in monkey style kung fu. While studying in Pui Kiu Middle School, he excelled in athletics, notably in javelin and soccer. After graduating, he worked as a stuntman and action director, his first project being Chor Yuen's 1970 film, Cold Blade. Chen attracted the attention of Cantonese filmmakers in 1969 after winning a light-weight division championship in Singapore's National Skills Competition. He eventually signed with the Shaw Brothers Studio in November of 1971. Unlike his contemporaries, Chen did not adopt a stage name.

In 1976, the actor expanded his career into directing and in February that year, made his directional debut with the comedy film, The Simple-Minded Fellow. The film was a moderate success at the box office. He remained with Shaw Brothers until their closure in 1985. His 1980 film, Killer Constable, has been praised as one of the studio's best wuxia films.

He starred in 164 films, around 80 of which were with Shaw Brothers. He directed five more films including Return to Action (1990) while his starring roles often focused on action, crime and, occasionally, comedy.

Personal life and death Chen was close friends with Chang Cheh and Ku Feng. He cited Chang as his favourite director and credited Ku as helping him learn Mandarin.

In 2012, Chen was expelled from the Tai Sing Pek Kwar Martial Arts Association due to a dispute with his mentor, Chan Sau Chung.

Chen died from a suspected cerebral haemorrhage on the morning of 2 September 2026; efforts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful. He was 80.

Filmography Television