Gordon Liu

Gordon Liu Chia-hui (born Sin Kam-hei, August 22, 1951) is a retired Hong Kong actor, martial artist, and filmmaker, best known for his roles in martial arts films. He was one of the biggest male stars of Shaw Brothers Studio's martial arts cinema during the 1970s and 1980s.

Born in Guangdong, Liu studied Hung Ga kung fu at the school founded by Lau Kar-leung's father, Lau Cham. He entered the Hong Kong film industry as a stuntman. His early acting credits include minor roles in several Hong Kong kung fu films, including the Shaw Brothers-produced 5 Shaolin Masters (1974). He went on to appear in many Shaw Brothers films, such as Challenge of the Masters (1976), in which he portrayed the folk hero Wong Fei Hung, Executioners from Shaolin (1977), The 36th Chamber of Shaolin (1978), in which he played the lead role as Shaolin hero San Te, Dirty Ho (1979), Return to the 36th Chamber (1980), Martial Club (1981), The Eight Diagram Pole Fighter (1984), and Disciples of the 36th Chamber (1985). By the late-1980’s, he had begun accepting smaller roles, such as in Lau Kar-leung's Tiger on the Beat (1988). In 1993, he appeared opposite Jet Li in Last Hero in China.

Liu made his American film debut in 2003. He played two roles in Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill films: Johnny Mo, the leader of the Crazy 88 yakuza gang in Volume 1 (2003), and kung fu master Pai Mei in Volume 2 (2004). Other than being a staple in Hong Kong action movies and his foray into Hollywood, Liu also made his Bollywood debut in 2009's Chandni Chowk to China.

In 2020, Liu was inducted into the Martial Arts History Museum Hall of Fame.

Early life Liu was born Sin Kam-hei in Foshan, Guangdong Province, China on August 22, 1951, prior to his adoption into another family. He is often wrongly cited as being the adopted son of Lau Cham, and adoptive brother of directors and actors Lau Kar-leung (Liu Chia-liang) and Lau Kar-wing (Liu Chia-yung). He was not adopted by the family, but is Lau Cham's godson, and adopted his surname as his professional name.

In his youth (ages 15–20), he skipped school to train in Chinese martial arts without his parents' knowledge. He trained at Lau Cham's martial arts school of Hung Gar discipline, which descended from Wong Fei-hung's grand student (father to Lau Kar Leung). Lau Cham's wife assisted in his training and due to the friendship and respect Liu felt for Lau and his wife, he took on the name Lau Ka-fai. As he grew up, he found a job as a shipping clerk to make ends meet. His interests had always been towards martial arts and he was eventually offered a role by Lau Kar-leung.

Career Liu's first break was with Chang's Film Company (a Shaw Brothers subsidiary operating in Taiwan) acting small parts for such films as 5 Shaolin Masters, Shaolin Martial Arts, and 4 Assassins. He starred in Challenge of the Masters (1976), as the folk hero Wong Fei Hung, and was featured in Executioners From Shaolin (1977) before starring in his signature role as Shaolin hero San Te in The 36th Chamber of Shaolin.

The tale of the imperialistic struggle, while not a new one, was significant for the intense focus placed on the inner workings of Shaolin Temple itself. San Te, Liu's character, overcomes the temple's thirty-five chambers as he unwittingly undergoes the rigorous training regimen imposed by the temple's Head Abbott on the pretext of "earning" a right to study martial arts there.

The "zero-to-hero" tale turned Liu into an international icon in spite of a frame far slighter than that of the folk hero himself (known as "Iron Arms" for the muscularity of his physique) and paved the way for a very healthy working schedule into the mid-1990s, even as younger, more agile martial artists eventually emerged. By the late 1980s, he had begun accepting smaller roles, such as in Lau Kar-leung's Tiger on the Beat.

Liu has also been active in television, and was contracted to Hong Kong's TVB company for many years, continuing playing roles as a martial arts master. Though still performing some martial arts roles, he is at home as well in comedic, self-deprecatory or emotional characters. His second-most common role in TVB has been playing a Hong Kong Police Force officer.

Quentin Tarantino had long been a fan of Liu, and hoped to find him a role in one of his movies. This eventually came to pass with the roles of Johnny Mo and Master Pai Mei in Tarantino's Kill Bill films. His roles in Kill Bill raised Liu's profile again and a renewed interest was shown by Chinese producers; since Kill Bill, Liu has returned to doing movies while continuing to do television for Hong Kong's TVB station.

Other than being a staple in Hong Kong action movies and his foray into Hollywood, Liu also made his Bollywood debut in 2009's Chandni Chowk to China. He played the role of the villain, Hojo, a smuggler and a well-trained martial artist. Before this, he appeared as himself (along with his mentor Lau Kar Leung) in the 2009 film Dragonland, the first Italian documentary about martial cinema history, by Lorenzo De Luca. Liu attended as special guest star at the premiere in Rome, meeting his Italian fans for the first time. During August 2011, Liu had a stroke and put all his plans on hold to recover.

Personal life Liu has been married twice. He has two daughters, Angie and Bonnie, from his first marriage which ended in 1986, and a son Kris and daughter Sonia from his second marriage with Ma Fei-feng of Thai-descent which ended in 2009.

Health In August 2011, while in To Kwa Wan performing with his band, Liu had a stroke and hit his head. He had partial right-sided paralysis and a speech impairment as a consequence of the stroke, needing a wheelchair to travel. At the same time, his estranged family from his second marriage had begun pressuring him for money. Depressed at his physical state and family complications, he isolated himself in a nursing home. Liu had cancelled all public engagements as of March 2012. In June 2012, Liu decided to divorce his second wife and focus on his recovery.

During his medical crisis, Liu entrusted his assets to his assistant and spokesperson, Eva Fung. However, the two fell out, and Fung refused to return his assets. Subsequently in 2013, he arranged for Hong Kong actress Amy Fan to become the legal guardian of his assets. Liu later took legal action to recover his assets, and on April 29, 2014, a day before the court date, Fung agreed to return them with interest. In 2015, it was reported that he no longer spoke with a slur but continued to use a wheelchair, and that he had resided at a nursing home for several years.

In 2020, Liu was inducted into the Martial Arts History Museum Hall of Fame.

Filmography

Film YearTitleRoleNotes1973 Hero of the Waterfront Extra 1974 5 Shaolin Masters Chang Yung Shaolin Martial Arts Ho Chen-kang 1975 The Four Assassins Aburiha / Abulahua The Monk Foon Ying's Thug / Monk 1976 Challenge of the Masters Wong Fei-hung7-Man Army Mongolian Commander #2 Boxer Rebellion Boxer 1977 He Has Nothing But Kung Fu Shang Kai-Yuan Also stunt coordinatorExecutioners from Shaolin Tung Chien-chin 1978 Breakout from Oppression Hsiao Tu Also director and action coordinatorThe 36th Chamber of Shaolin Liu Yu-de / San TeHeroes of the East Ah To Shaolin Mantis Shaolin Fighting Monk 1979 Fury in the Shaolin Temple Dirty Ho Wang Tsun Hsin (11'th Prince) The Shadow Boxing Chang Chieh 1980 Clan of the White Lotus Hong Wen-Ting Return to the 36th Chamber Chao Jen-Cheh Fists and Guts Ah-San / Shaolin Priest Shaolin Warrior Fa Tien Also producer 1981 My Young Auntie James Elders The Shaolin Drunken Monk Lao Chung Treasure Hunters Monk Mo Seung Martial Club Wong Fei-hung 1982 Raiders of Shaolin Kung Fu Ga-wi Yu Legendary Weapons of China Ti Tan Godfather of Canton Lin Si Hai The 82 Tenants Ah Hui Cat vs Rat Emperor Yung Hsi 1983 Lady Is the Boss Lee Hon Man Shaolin and Wu Tang Hung Yung-Kit Also directorTales of a Eunuch Emperor Kang Hsi / Siu Yuen Tzu 1984 The Eight Diagram Pole Fighter Yang Wu-lang (Fifth Brother) 1985 Two Jolly Cops Lo Tak-Fai Also producerThe Young Vagabond So Chan Disciples of the 36th Chamber Monk San Te Crazy Shaolin Disciples Monk Wu Ching USA Ninja Action director1986 The Story of Dr. Sun Yat Sen 1988 Legend of the Phoenix Tiger on the Beat Fai, The Hitman A Bloody Fight Inspector Lau Fai Peackock King Kubira Shaolin vs. Vampire Hyo Daiyu Also directorLet's Rage the Gangland 1989 A Fiery Family Wei Fury of a Tiger Rambo / Sergeant Mang Also action choreographerWhite Lotus Trio My Heart Is That Eternal Rose Lai Liu Ghost Ballroom Chai Killer Angels Michael 1990 Tiger on the Beat 2 Lau Fai The Fortune Code Japanese Commander in Blue 1991 The Killer Inspector Wong Crystal Hunt Officer Lung The Banquet A Fate of Love The Story of the Gun Officer Lau Fai 1992 Passionate Killing in the Dream Chit-Chit Cheetah on Fire Mainland Gang Leader Cry Killer Martial arts director 1993 Flirting Scholar Evil Scholar Last Hero in China Master Liu Heung Legend of the Liquid Sword Shaolin Monk The Buddhism Palm Strikes Back For-wan Tse-san The Mystery of the Condor Hero Yuen-tsan Bogus Cops Hood 1994 The Kung Fu Scholar His Excellency Drunken Master III Governor Lee (as Kar Fai Lau) American Shaolin Abbot Hung Chi If You Were Here Mr. Chiang Also stunt coordinatorFunny Shaolin Kids 1995 Lethal Girls 2 1997 Super Cops Uncle Shing Also action coordinator1998 Thunder Scout 1999 The Set Up Heaven of Hope Coffin Leung Generation Consultant Lieutenant Chow Generation Pendragon Gambler Series: Fraudelent Culture 2000 The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber Sing Kwan The Legend of Lady Yang Chan Yuen-lai The Island Tales Bo 2002 Drunken Monkey Detective Hung Yat Fu 2003 Star Runner Master Lau (Coach Lau) Kill Bill: Volume 1 Johnny Mo 2004 Kill Bill: Volume 2 Johnny Mo / Pai Mei Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair Johnny Mo / Pai Mei Shaolin vs. Evil Dead Pak / Brother White Dragon in Fury Snake Curse Dr. Gao Er 2005 Dragon Squad Ko (Police Driver) A Chinese Tall Story Jade Emperor Insuperable Kid Japanese Ambassador Dragon Get Angry 2006 Katana-Man Mr. 3 Minutes Triad Head (Mahjong Debt Collector) Hung Kuen vs. Wing Chun Liu Chiaoxi My Kung Fu Sweetheart 2007 Shaolin Vs. Dead: Ultimate Power Roam Chow 2008 Heroes of Shaolin Anaconda Frightened Master Mao Dashi 2009 Chandni Chowk to China Hojo Frankenstein Unlimited 2010 Lost in Love Banker Citizen King Master Cheung The Immemorial Magic Hot Summer Days Uncle Fai True Legend Old Sage 2011 Love in Space Mr. Chen Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair Johnny Mo / Pai Mei Flying Swords of Dragon Gate Eunuch Wan Yulou 2012 Nightfall Retired CID Officer Lung The Man with the Iron Fists The Abbott Painted Skin: The Resurrection Uncle Da Blood Money Shaolin Monk Kill 'em All Snakehead No Retreat Warrior 2013 High Kickers Zhao Yumin 2014 Future Fighters

Television

Documentaries