Ko Chun-hsiung

Ko Chun-hsiung (; 15 January 1945 – 6 December 2015) was a Taiwanese actor, director and politician. He had been acting since the 1960s and had appeared in more than 200 films.

His career accolades included three Golden Horse Awards, two Asia Pacific Film Festival Awards for Best Actor, a Panama International Film Festival Award for Best Actor. In 2005, Chinese Film Association of Performance Art named Ko on the list of 100 Outstanding Artists in Chinese Film (1905 - 2004).

Life

Early life and education Ko was born in Kaohsiung. During Taiwan under Japanese rule, he attended Kaohsiung No.2 School and graduated from National Taiwan University of Arts, he also studied at the University of Tokyo and St. John's College, University of Hong Kong.

Acting career Ko began his career by appearing in small roles before 1965. He appeared in The Silent Wife later that year. In 1967, Ko starred as Feng Ze in Ching-Zue Bai's Lonely Seventeen, for which he won his first Best Actor Award at the Asia Pacific Film Festival. In 1974, Ko starred as Zhang Zizhong in the historical film The Everlasting Glory, which earned Ko his second Best Actor Award at the Asia Pacific Film Festival. In 1976, Ko acted in the historical film Eight Hundred Heroes directed by Ting Shan-hsi, playing the role of Xie Jinyuan, he won a Golden Horse Award.

Ko won the Best Actor Award at the 1979 Golden Horse Awards for his performance in A Teacher of Great Soldiers.

In 1981, Ko self-directed and performed in My Grandfather, which earned him a Best Actor Award at the Panama International Film Festival. In 1989, Ko starred as Duan Yihu, reuniting him with co-star Jackie Chan, who played Guo Zhenhua, in the romantic comedy film Miracles, which were highly praised by audience. In 1999, Ko filmed in Cao Cao, he received the Best Actor Award at the 36th Golden Horse Awards. In 2012, Ko participated in the Taiwanese-language television drama Feng Shui Family.

Ko defeated incumbent legislator Chang Tsai Mei in a July 2004 Kuomintang party primary, and represented Hsinchu City Constituency in the Legislative Yuan from 1 February 2005 to 31 January 2008.

In 2007, Ko joined the Taiwan Farmers' Party, but was not reelected in the 2008 legislative elections.

Personal life Ko was twice married. Originally wed to actress Chang Mei-yao in 1970, he became the father of two children, Ko Yishan and Ko Pinyin . They divorced in 2004, as Ko was involved in an affair with Tsai Qinghua , who Ko married the next year. Ko's second marriage also produced two children, Ko Jianyu and Ko Zier . Chang, Ko's first wife, died in 2012.

Death Ko died on 6 December 2015 at Tri-Service General Hospital in Taipei, a year after being diagnosed with lung cancer. He was 70.

Works

Film Year English Title Chinese Title Role 1963 1964 1965 The Silent Wife 1966 1967 Lonely Seventeen Feng Ze I Hate You Deeply 1968 Fallen Petals 1969 Storm over the Yang-tse River 1970 Bye, My Lover Home Sweet Home I Want You 1971 Life and Mother Happiness and Joy Five Plus Five Splendid Love Affairs 1972 Pei Shih Love is Smoke The Perfect Match Crimes Are To Be Paid 1973 Father, Husband, Son The Devils Treasure Haze in the Sunset The Jilte 1974 The Everlasting Glory Spring Comes Not Again The Looks of Hong Kong 1975 The Bedeviled Devil Crows Victory 1976 Painted Waves of Love The Star Taipei 66 Rhythm of the Wave The Trap Eight Hundred Heroes 1977 1978 A Teacher of Great Soldiers 1979 Gone With Honor The Brave Ones Qi Jiguang Qiu Lian 1980 The Coldest Winter in Peking Mission over the Eagle Castle 1981 The Frogman The Battle for the Republic of China The Professional Killer Offend the Law of God 1982 Steamrolling Days In the Army The Head Hunter Attack Force Z My Grandfather 1983 My Mother The Lost Generation (20 Years of Feng Shui) 1984 1985 1986 From Here to Prosperity I am a Chinese The Heroic Pioneers The Kinmen Bombs 1987 Tragic Hero Somewhere My Love Brotherhood Rich and Famous The Kinmen Bombs Yes, Sir Strawman 1988 City Warriors Yes, Sir 2 The Story of Haybo The Dragon Family 1989 Fight to Survive Miracles Duan Yihu Burning Ambition 1990 Triad Story A Home Too Far 1991 Island of Fire Prison Chief Retreat of the Godfather 1992 Requital 1993 End of The Road 1994 Amassing Stories 1995 Remember M Remember E 1998 Cao Cao 1998 Unexpected Challenges 2001 The Last Salute

Television Year English Title Chinese Title Role 1983 Days in Xiang River 1998 2003 Crystal Boys A Qing's father 2004 My Boyfriend Is A Superstar Guan Zixiong 2011 Independent Heroes Biao Su/ Zhang Guohao Father and Son Wang Dazhu 2012 Feng Shui Family Gao Shenhuang

Awards Year Work Award Result Notes 1968 Lonely Seventeen Asia Pacific Film Festival for Best Actor Award 1975 The Everlasting Glory Asia Pacific Film Festival for Best Actor Award 1976 800 Heroes Golden Horse Award 1979 A Teacher of Great Soldiers Golden Horse Award for Best Actor 1981 My Grandfather Panama International Film Festival for Best Actor 1999 Cao Cao Golden Horse Award for Best Actor 2005 100 Outstanding Artists in Chinese Film (1905 - 2004)