Passed Away in Shenzhen on January 14, Wife Announces His Death
Rose to National Stardom in the 1980s as Chen Zhen
A True Martial Artist and a Giant in the World of Action Cinema
The martial arts master of Hua Yunsan, who showed off his unrivaled skills in underwear and slippers in the movie "Kung Fu Hustle," has passed away.
According to local media outlets such as the South China Morning Post, actor Leung Siu-lung (梁小龍), also known as Bruce Leung, died of illness in Shenzhen, China, on January 14. He was 77 years old. News of his passing was made public through a social media post by his disciple Liu Fei and a message from his wife Song Xiang.
Born in 1948 in a poor neighborhood of Hong Kong, Leung was a master of practical martial arts. He learned martial arts by watching his father, a Peking opera actor, and later trained in karate and Wing Chun to avoid being bullied. He practiced so intensely that calluses formed on his knuckles like scars, and he won several prizes at Hong Kong martial arts tournaments in the 1970s.
This success led him to the film industry, where he, along with Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, and Ti Lung, was called one of the "Four Little Dragons of Hong Kong," ushering in the golden age of action cinema. In particular, he starred as the patriotic protagonist Chen Zhen in the 1981 Hong Kong RTV drama "The Legendary Fok" and its follow-up "Chen Zhen" series, becoming a top star in Greater China. At the time, there was even a saying in mainland China: "When Bruce Leung appears, the streets become empty."
His flourishing acting career was abruptly halted due to a political statement. During a visit to mainland China in the mid-1980s, he remarked, "I am also Chinese. I am moved by the development of my homeland," which angered the Taiwanese authorities, who were strongly anti-communist at the time. Taiwan immediately banned his works from being screened, and the Hong Kong film industry, heavily dependent on the Taiwanese market, turned its back on him.
After living as a recluse and working as a businessman for more than 20 years, he was brought back to the screen by director Stephen Chow, who cast him as the villainous Hua Yunsan in "Kung Fu Hustle." His performance, which included mimicking a toad and showcasing the Toad Style, marked a second heyday in his career.
In interviews during his lifetime, he asserted, "An actor disappears when the body declines, but the spirit of a martial artist is eternal." Known for his rugged yet sincere action style that defined an era, he passed away surrounded by his family. According to the wishes of his surviving family, the funeral will be held in a simple manner.
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