Ban Biao (Chinese: 班彪; pinyin: Bān Biāo; Wade–Giles: Pan Piao, 3–54), courtesy name (Chinese: 叔皮; pinyin: Shūpí; Wade–Giles: Shupi), was a Chinese historian, and an official born in what is now Xianyang, Shaanxi during the Han Dynasty. He was the nephew of Consort Ban, a famous poet and concubine to Emperor Cheng.

Ban Biao began the Book of Han, which was completed by his son, Ban Gu and daughter Ban Zhao while their brother Ban Chao was a famous general who contributed his stories to expand the Book of Han.

Ban Biao and his descendants[link]

• Ban Biao (班彪; 3-54; father)
  • Ban Gu (班固; 32-92; first son)
  • Ban Chao (班超; 32-102; second son)
    • Ban Xiong (班雄; ?-after 107; Ban Chao's eldest son)
      • Ban Shi (班始; ?-130; Ban Xiong's son)
    • Ban Yong (班勇; ?-after 127; Ban Chao's youngest son)
  • Ban Zhao (班昭; 45-116; daughter)

See also[link]

• Book of Han

References[link]

• Book of Later Han, vol. 40, part 1.
• Zizhi Tongjian, vols. 33, 40, 41, 42, 44.

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Yuen Biao (born 26 July 1957) is a Hong Kong actor, martial artist. He specialises in acrobatics and Chinese martial arts and has worked on over 80 films as actor, stuntman and action choreographer. Along with Peking Opera School "brothers" at the China Drama Academy, Sammo Hung and Jackie Chan, he was one of the Seven Little Fortunes.

The early years[link]

Born 夏令震 Xià Lìng-Zhèn (Hsia Ling-Jun) in Hong Kong, he was the fifth child in a family of eight children. At the age of six he was enrolled at the Peking Opera School The China Drama Academy. He was given the stage name Yuen Biao (Little Tiger) and trained alongside schoolmates Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung, Corey Yuen, Yuen Wah and several others, under master Yu Jim-yuen, who would later become famous in Hong Kong cinema. He quickly showed a talent for acrobatics. According to Jackie Chan's autobiography when Yuen was first asked by his master, upon his first day with him, to do a backflip, Yuen did a proper backflip on his very first try. He remained at the school until the age of 16.^[1] When he left, Yuen followed his classmate Sammo Hung into a career in the Hong Kong film industry.

Film career[link]

Yuen Biao has appeared in over 130 films. He has played roles in eight television series for Hong Kong channel TVB.

Early 1970s[link]

In the early 1970s, Yuen began work as a stuntman and extra. After working on Fist of Fury, Way of the Dragon, Yuen became a stunt double for Bruce Lee on Enter the Dragon, in 1973. He was also one of the "fake" Bruce Lees in Game of Death (1978), performing the acrobatics and stunts that the Bruce Lee "body double" (Taekwondo expert, Kim Tai Chung) was unable to perform. Yuen continued working as a stuntman, doubling for actors in Hong Kong action films and taking on supporting actor roles.

During his early acting period, he adopted the anglicised name Bill Yuen for use on the Hong Kong films that were released internationally. However, recognising the growing success of Jackie Chan, Golden Harvest were keen to give him a similar name, and on some international film prints, he was credited as Jimmy Yuen. Both anglicised names were later dropped.^[2]

Late 1970s and 1980s[link]

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, thanks to his good friends and former classmates, Sammo Hung and Jackie Chan, he began working more frequently as an actor. After his co starring role in The Dragon, the Odds (1977) and his full lead role debut in Knockabout (1978), he starred in several films in the early 1980s, notably The Prodigal Son (directed by Sammo Hung) and Dreadnaught (directed by Yuen Woo-ping). He later co starred alongside his Peking Opera "brothers", Chan and Hung, in Project A, Wheels on Meals and Dragons Forever, and also appeared in smaller roles in films such as Hung's original Lucky Stars trilogy.

1990s[link]

Yuen's acting roles waned somewhat in the early 1990s, although he notably played a supporting role alongside Jet Li in Once Upon a Time in China (1991). Yuen did not appear in the sequel as he was replaced by Max Mok. In the late 1990s, films such as Hero (1997) co starring Takeshi Kaneshiro and A Man Called Hero (1999) co starring Ekin Cheng saw Yuen return to the big screen. During this time he began to concentrate more on television work and took lead roles in the series Righteous Guards and The Legend of a Chinese Hero in 1998.

2000s[link]

In 2000, Yuen went to the United States to work with Jackie Chan as the action choreographer on Shanghai Noon. In 2001, he co starred alongside Hung in The Avenging Fist. Yuen also starred in a more comedic role in the 2002 Japan HK film No Problem 2.

He is best known for his acrobatic action scenes which often overshadow the work of his more famous co-stars, especially in films such as Eastern Condors (co starring Sammo Hung) and Dragons Forever.

In 2005, Yuen starred in a TVB series called Real Kung Fu with Yuen Wah, Maggie Siu, Leung Kar Yan, Jack Wu and one of Sammo Hung's real life son, Timmy Hung.

In 2006, Yuen plays Inspector Steve Mok in Robin B Hood along with his long time friend Jackie Chan.

In 2007 he finished filming the Wing Chun TV series (a remake of the 1994 series that had preceded the film Wing Chun) alongside Nicholas Tse, Sammo Hung and another of Hung's sons, Sammy Hung. Biao plays an elder version of the character Leung Jan, the role he played 25 years earlier in The Prodigal Son, and father to Tse's character.^[3] The series has since been re-edited for release as a film, entitled Shuang Long Ji (aka Legend of Twins Dragon). However, the film's release has been delayed as it has been banned in Mainland China for containing too much violence.^[4]

Yuen appeared as a guest judge on the China Beijing TV Station reality television series The Disciple, which airied in Mainland China and was produced by, and featured Jackie Chan. The aim of the program was to find a new star, skilled in acting and martial arts, to become Chan's "successor", the champion being awarded the lead role in a film. It concluded on June 7, 2008, with the series winner being announced in Beijing.^[5]

Yuen will also be starring alongside Bryan Leung and Ji Chun Hua in Legend of Shaolin Kung-fu II: Thirteen Cudgel Monks, a new film directed by Yuen Bun.

Directing and producing[link]

Though mainly known as an actor, Yuen co-directed Peacock King with Lam Ngai Kai in 1989 and made his full directorial debut with A Kid from Tibet in 1992. Yuen also has a co-directing credit on the 2004 film Boxer's Story, with Ivan Lai (Lai Kai-Ming).

Yuen set up his own film production company, Yuen Biao Films Limited, which produced his films A Kid from Tibet and Once Upon a Chinese Hero aka Kickboxer (1993).^[6]

Personal life[link]

In 1984, Yuen married Didi Pang (Pang Sau Ha). They have two children. Yuen has a second home in Canada where he enjoys golf.

References[link]

External links[link]

• Yuen Biao at the Internet Movie Database
• Fan site
• Jade Screen: The Hong Kong Movie Magazine
• Yuen Biao Australian fan site
• Yuen Biao Korean fan site
• Yuen Biao at the Hong Kong Movie DataBase

Billy Chow (born Chow Bei-lei August 24, 1958 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada), (also credited as Billy Chau and Billy Chow Bei-lei) is a Canadian born-Hong Kong actor, martial artist, and entrepreneur. He is the former world kickboxing champion. Chow is perhaps best known for his role as General Fujita in 1994 film Fist of Legend and Wong, Great Kick of the North in 1996 film Tai Chi Boxer.

Kickboxing career[link]

World Kickboxing Association[link]

Billy Chow
Born	Chow Bei-lei (1958-08-24) August 24, 1958 (age 53) Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Residence	Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Style	Kickboxing

Chow was the WKA super welterweight kickboxing champion of the world from 1984 to 1986,^[1] his final match came on November 20, 2007, in which he lost via decision to Akarn Sanehha of Thailand.^[2]

History and early career[link]

Acting[link]

In 1980s, Chow played third member of General’s Elite Soldier in 1987 film Eastern Condors alongside Sammo Hung, Yuen Biao and Yuen Woo-ping. Chow played Thug in both Jackie Chan movies they were 1988 film Dragons Forever and 1989 film Miracles.

In 1990s, Chow had three Jet Li movies they were 1994 film Fist of Legend as General Fujita, and 1995 film Meltdown as Kong, and 1996 film Dr. Wai in "The Scripture with No Words" as Chan / Japanese Embassy Guard. Chow played Jade Tiger’s Brother in 1995 film Iron Monkey 2 alongside Donnie Yen. Chow played Wong, Great Kick of the North in 1996 film Tai Chi Boxer along with Jacky Wu.

Retired from acting[link]

In 2006, Chow has retired from acting at the age of 48, after final film Dragon in Fury.

Business[link]

Chow is currently his own company Billy's Gym at his hometown Calgary Alberta Canada.

Filmography[link]

Movies[link]

References[link]

1. ^ Billy Chow Star Profile
2. ^ Billy Chow's Farewell Match HL 周比利告別戰精華

External links[link]

• Billy's Gym (Chinese language site)
• Hong Kong Cinemagic list of films
• Billy Chow at the Internet Movie Database

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Dick Wei (狄威, born c.1953) is a Taiwanese actor, director and writer who specializes in martial arts and action films.

Early life & career[link]

He was born in the town of Pingdong in southern Taiwan^[1] and began studying martial arts in Junior High School, winning numerous competitions.^[2] Later, he served in the Taiwanese army, attaining the rank of Captain, and was an instructor in unarmed combat, especially Tae Kwon Do.^[3]

His first films were made while he was still in the army (mostly low budget Taiwanese productions). His earliest movie appearance may be a brief fight scene with Ti Lung in the Shaw Brother's Iron Chain Assassin from 1974.

Discovery[link]

While operating a martial arts studio in Taipei, he was spotted by Chang Cheh, who persuaded him to have a screen test which was shown to Sir Run Run Shaw. He later signed with the Shaw Brothers and moved to Hong Kong in 1977. Here he made several films under the name "Tu Lung". These included The Five Venoms, Kid With a Tattoo and Kid with the Golden Arm.

From the Shaw Brothers he moved to Golden Harvest where he joined Sammo Hung's team of actor/stuntmen along with such notables as Yuen Wah and Lam Ching-ying. The characters he played many include "Lo San Pao" (the pirate king in Project A), Bandit number 6 in Millionaire's Express, and one of Frankie Chan's henchmen in The Prodigal Son. Sammo also used him to help train Joyce Godenzi (the future Mrs. Hung) for the movie Eastern Condors. He was also involved in Michelle Yeoh's training when she first began to make martial arts movies. Yuen Biao included him as a co-star in two of his projects - The Champions and Rosa.

Later roles and directing[link]

He moved on to play a variety of honorable villains and driven cops in films with stars such as Cynthia Khan and Cynthia Rothrock (whose jaw he is reputed to have broken). Other notables he has worked with include Chow Yun-fat, Chow Sing Chi and Simon Yam. Later, he was the action director and co-star on one of Jet Li's earlier films, Dragon Fight.

More recently he has moved back home to Taiwan where he has turned his hand to directing and producing. He is working in Taiwanese television and has starred in a number of movies, including some made-for-television. It is rumored that he is currently (2009) involved in a Magnificent Seven type project along with such veteran film actors as Leung Kar Yan.^[4]

Selected filmography[link]

• Brave Archer (1977)
• Carry On Pickpocket (1982)
• Chinatown Kid (1977)
• Crippled Avengers (1978)
• Dragon Fight (1989)
• Dragons Forever (1988)
• Eastern Condors (1987)
• Five Venoms (1978)
• Heart of Dragon (1985)
• Invincible Shaolin (1978)
• Kid with the Golden Arm (1978)
• Lightning Kung Fu (1980)
• My Lucky Stars (1985)
• Owl vs Bombo, The (1984)
• Pedicab Driver (1989)
• Pom Pom (1984)
• Prodigal Son, The (1981)
• Project A (1983)
• Rosa (1986)
• Seventh Curse, The (1986)
• Millionaire's Express (1986)
• Shaolin Handlock (?)
• Twinkle, Twinkle Lucky Stars (1985)
• Winners and Sinners (1983)
• Yes Madam (1985)

References[link]

1. ^ Encyclopedia of Asian Stars
2. ^ Japanese Dick Wei fan website
3. ^ Article in "The Best of Eastern Heroes" by John Brennan
4. ^ Asian Film Bulletin