Name	Victor Wong
Birthname	Yee Keung Victor Wong
Birthdate	July 30, 1927
Birthplace	San Francisco, California
Deathdate	September 12, 2001
Deathplace	Locke, California
Occupation	Actor
Spouse	Dawn RoseRobin GoodfellowCarol FreelandOlive Thurman

Victor Wong (July 30, 1927 – September 12, 2001) (Chinese: ; pinyin: Huáng Zìqiáng) was an American character actor who appeared in supporting roles throughout the 1980s and 1990s.

Education

Victor Wong studied political science and journalism at the University of California, Berkeley and Theology at the University of Chicago under Paul Tillich, Reinhold Niebuhr and Martin Buber. When he returned to San Francisco, Wong resumed his studies at the San Francisco Art Institute under Mark Rothko.

Acting career

After his news career ended, Wong turned to acting, starting in the local Asian American theatre and later landing larger roles on the stages New York City. In October 1980, Wong made his Asian American Theater Company (AATC) debut in San Francisco by appearing in their production of Paper Angels by Genny Lim. He was on Social Security Disability Insurance at the time.

His stage work led to television work and eventually, into movies. In between film roles, Wong lived in Sacramento, California, where he supported the local performing arts. In 1992, he acted in the Hong Kong film, Cageman (笼民). He later starred as the grandfather in the popular 3 Ninjas franchise, and the cult-classics, Big Trouble in Little China and Tremors.

Film director Wayne Wang called Victor Wong his role model for living life. Director Bernardo Bertolucci had trouble with Victor on the set of The Last Emperor amid arguments over historical authenticity and cut most of Wong's scenes in the film, which won the Best Picture Oscar for 1987.

He retired from acting in 1998 after suffering two strokes, which also contributed to his death on September 12, 2001 from heart failure. Wong was 74 years old.

Association with the Beat Generation

In the 1950s, while studying art under Mark Rothko, Victor Wong had his first art exhibition at the City Lights Bookstore. During this time, Wong befriended Lawrence Ferlinghetti.

He met Jack Kerouac in the early 1960s, who chronicled their meeting in his novel Big Sur (1962). In the novel, Wong is characterised as "Arthur Ma".

Family

Two daughters: Emily and Heather.

Three sons: Anton, Lyon, and Duncan

Married to Olive Thurman Wong, Carol Freeland, Robin Goodfellow and Dawn Rose.

His son, Lyon Wong, died in 1986 after being attacked by a young man while walking home in Sacramento.

Brother of Sara Wong Lum, Zeppelin Wong, Shirley Wong Frentzel, Betty Wong.

Filmography

{| border="2" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 90%;" |- bgcolor="#CCCCCC" align="center" ! colspan="4" style="background: LightSteelBlue;" | Film |- bgcolor="#CCCCCC" align="center" ! Year ! Film ! Role ! Other notes |- | 1975–1976 | Search for Tomorrow | | |- | rowspan="2"|1985 | | Uncle Tam | |- | Year of the Dragon | Harry Yung | |- | rowspan="3"|1986 | Big Trouble in Little China | Egg Shen | |- | Shanghai Surprise | Ho Chong | |- | The Golden Child | The Old Man | |- | rowspan="2"|1987 | The Last Emperor | Chen Pao Shen | |- | Prince of Darkness | Prof. Howard Birack | |- | 1988 | Bloodsport | Fighter | |- | rowspan="3"|1989 | Fatal Vacation | Grandpa | Alternative Title: An le zhan chang |- | Eat a Bowl of Tea | Wah Gay | |- | Life Is Cheap...But Toilet Paper Is Expensive | Blind Man | |- | rowspan="2"|1990 | Tremors | Walter Chang | |- | Solo | Frank | Short film |- | 1991 | Mystery Date | Janitor | |- | rowspan="3"|1992 | 3 Ninjas | Grandpa Mori Tanaka | |- | Cageman | Sissy | Alternative title: Long min |- | The Ice Runner | Fyodor | |- | 1993 | The Joy Luck Club | Old Chong the Piano Teacher | |- | 1994 | 3 Ninjas Kick Back | Grandpa Mori Tanaka | |- | rowspan="4"|1995 | 3 Ninjas Knuckle Up | Grandpa Mori Tanaka | |- | Da mao xian jia | Uncle Nine | |- | The Stars Fell on Henrietta | Henry Nakai | |- | Jade | Mr. Wong | |- | rowspan="2"|1996 | The Devil Takes a Holiday | Chi Chi | |- | Paper Dragons | | |- | 1997 | Seven Years in Tibet | Chinese 'Amban' | |- | 1998 | | Grandpa Mori Tanaka | |- |- bgcolor="#CCCCCC" align="center" ! colspan="4" style="background: LightSteelBlue;" | Television |- bgcolor="#CCCCCC" align="center" ! Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes |- | 1975–1976 | Search for Tomorrow | | |- | 1985 | Nightsongs | Fung Leung | TV-Movie |- | 1988 | Beauty and the Beast | Dr. Wong | Episode: China Moon |- | 1989 | A Fine Romance | Lon Mo Wah | |- | rowspan="3"|1990 | Legacy | Larry Chow | |- | Forbidden Nights | Ho | TV-Movie |- | Midnight Caller | Phil Wong | Episode: Language Barrier |- | 1994 | Due South | Coo | Episode: Chinatown |- | 1996 | | Lee Tzin-Soong | Episode: Fox Spirit |- |}

External links

Victor Wong

Asian Week obituary

Victor Wong at Find A Grave

References

Category:1927 births Wong, Victory Category:American film actors Category:American television actors Category:American journalists of Chinese descent Category:American actors of Asian descent Category:People from San Francisco, California Category:American television journalists Category:Second City alumni Category:Deaths from heart failure Category:Beat Generation Category:University of Chicago alumni Category:University of California, Berkeley alumni Category:American actors of Chinese descent

Name	Wakin Chau
Tradchinesename	周華健
Simpchinesename	周华健
Pinyinchinesename	Zhōu Huájiàn
Jyutpingchinesename	Zau1 Wa4 Gin6
Ancestry	Chaoyang, Guangdong
Origin	Republic of China (Taiwan)
Birthdate	December 22, 1960
Birthplace	Hong Kong
Othername	Emil Chau, Zhou Huajian, Chow Wah-Kin
Occupation	Singer, Songwriter, Actor
Genre	Mandopop, Cantopop
Instrument	Guitar, piano
Voicetype	strong nasal
Label	Rock Records
Yearsactive	1985-present
Associatedact	Easy Band, Superband
Spouse	Constance (American)
Children	Andrew (周厚安), Anya (周厚恩)
Website	Wakin.com
Goldenmelodyawards	Best Male Mandarin Artist1993

Wakin Chau (born 22 December 1960) is a Hong Kong singer and actor. Chau's popularity has spread throughout Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Mainland China. He was known as Emil Chau through the 1980s and 1990s, and by 2000 he reverted to his given name Wakin. As of August 2007, he has released more than 40 albums and held several international concert tours.

Biography

Wakin Chau was born in a rice store owned by his family in Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong. Growing up as the fourth son in his seven-member family, Wakin learned to play the guitar when he was about 13 years old. In 1979, he left for Taipei to major in mathematics at National Taiwan University. During his college years, he sang and played folk songs in local coffee shops. This activity was a tradition among NTU students, and it is how Wakin learned to sing in Mandarin, which would be key to his future as a music-maker in Taiwan.

Wakin had high hopes to establish a career as a recording artist, and he actively sought out contacts in the music industry. But a persistent lack of interest eventually led him to give up trying to become a performer — instead, he could sign on as an assistant producer at Rock Records, where he wrote marketable pop songs for other artists.

Wakin was later encouraged by Chyi Yu to sing some jingles for commercial advertising spots. One of these tunes was for a car commercial, and it happened to catch the attention of Wakin's boss at Rock, who realized it was the voice of his own assistant producer.

That moment opened the door for Wakin to record and release his first Mandarin album under the Rock Records label in 1987. For a man who had dreamed of performing professionally but had settled on being a record producer, this was a period of particularly good fortune that launched a succession of chart-topping records.

Shortly before his music career took off, Wakin the record producer met an American girl named Constance Woods, whose father was in Taiwan as a Fulbright scholar. Seeming to have plenty in common (including birthdays only one day apart) Wakin and Constance began to date, got engaged and then on 16 November 1986, they married in Taipei. Four months later there was another ceremony with family and friends in the United States of America on 14 March 1987. They have a son named Andrew and a daughter named Anya.

From 1985, Emil Chau — who has been using his given name Wakin since 1999 — has released more than 40 albums in Mandarin, Cantonese and English. He has become a prominent name in the music of Taiwan and has fans of all ages not only around Asia but also in North America, Europe and elsewhere. His platinum albums such as You Make Me Happy and Sad (讓我歡喜讓我憂), Flower's Heart (花心), Music Brings Us Together (有弦相聚), and Friends (朋友) have won awards in Taiwan, Mainland China, Hong Kong and Singapore.

Wakin has appeared in a number of films and made guest appearances on TV and radio programs in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore and Japan. Alongside his singing career, he is a restaurateur and also is active in international charitable causes, such as kidney dialysis charities in Singapore, the January 2002 "Take a Deep Breath" concert in Taipei to raise money for local health-care organizations, Beijing's 4th Grand Charity Drive for Children in 2005, and Jackie Chan's all-star concerts in Las Vegas.

Wakin Chau is currently performing with distinguished artists Jonathan Lee, Chang Chen-yue, and Lo Ta-yu in the four-member "Superband."

Discography

Mandarin albums

(Feb 1985) (Jul 1987) (Aug 1988) (Jan 1989) (Nov 1989) (Nov 1990) (Nov 1991) (Apr 1993) (Jan 1994) (Jun 1994) (Jan 1995) (Jul 1995) (Feb 1996) (Sep 1996) (Apr 1997) (Aug 1998) (Nov 1999) (Oct 2001) 329 (Mar 2003) (Jul 2003) (Mar 2006)

Cantonese albums

(Oct 1994) (Apr 1995) (Dec 1995) (Dec 1996) (Oct 1997) (Dec 1998)

English albums

Sad Without You (Sep 1988)

Blue Bird (Feb 1991)

I Remember (May 1992)

Songs of Birds (Aug 1993)

Forever Young - Best Collection (1996)

My Oh My (Feb 2001)

My Favorite Songs (May 2002)

Filmography

1987 - Osmanthus Alley (桂花巷)

1987 - The Game They Called Sex (黃色故事)

1993 - Once a Cop aka. Project S

1994 - Right Here Waiting (等愛的女人)

1995 - Just Married (橫紋刀劈扭紋柴)

1995 - I Want To Go On Living (我要活下去)

1995 - Faithfully Yours (叛逆情緣)

1995 - Rumble in the Bronx (Ice Cream Man)

1996 - Who's the Woman, Who's the Man? (金枝玉葉2)

1997 - All's Well, Ends Well 1997

1997 - Walk In (奪舍)

1997 - ''Mr. Nice Guy'(Ice Cream Man)

1997 - 知解時空

1997 - Spicy Love Soup (愛情麻辣燙)

1999 - Gorgeous

1999 - Purple Storm (紫雨風暴)

1999 - Tarzan

2001 - Headlines (頭號人物)

2003 - Homerun

2003 - The Pawnshop No. 8

References

External links

Wakin.com (Big5-code; his personal website in Taiwan)

Rock Records (Gogorock) (Big5-code)

Zhou Huajian International Database 周華健國際資料庫 (In'tl, English & JIS-code)

Stars Ferry's Friends (Taiwan, Big5-code)

True Blue Emil's Page (Hong Kong, Big5-code)

Sunny Stars Ferry — Wakin Chau (China, GB-code)

Wakin's Malaysia Friends (Malaysia, English)

Emil Chau Elite Team (Malaysia, English)

Emil Chau Fan Club Japan (JIS-code)

Every Wakin's Moment (Singapore, English & GB-code)

Wakin Chau U.S. (America, English)

Wakin Oz (Australia, English)

(English)

Super Band (BBS, Chinese)

Super Band on YouTube

Category:1960 births Category:Hong Kong male singers Category:Cantopop singers Category:Hong Kong English-language singers Category:Hong Kong Mandopop singer-songwriters Category:Hong Kong film actors Category:Hong Kong people of Chaoshanese descent Category:Cantonese people Category:Living people Category:National Taiwan University alumni

Jaymee Ong (born 21 September 1979 in Australia) is an Australian model and actress. She is currently the co-host of The Contender Asia and the host of AXN's eBuzz in Singapore.

Personal life

Ong was born and raised in Australia. In her late teens she began her modelling career.

Film career

In 1999, Ong was signed by Jackie Chan to Media Asia in Hong Kong where she started a film career. She starred in her debut film Gen-X Cops. The success of Gen-X Cops was followed by a lead role in Rave Fever, an independent movie that established her as a serious actress.

She went to Hollywood where she had a small part in Pearl Harbor in 2001, but then shifted her acting career to Los Angeles where she was cast for several guest appearances in US TV series Las Vegas and Entourage.

Based in Singapore since 2004, Ong has co-starred with Thai actor Gof Akara and Sharon Au in Channel 5 drama Tiramisu (TV show). She is also the host of AXN, currently hosting and writing for eBuzz, a weekly entertainment magazine programme where she interviews international celebrities.

In 2007 she was chosen as the host for The Contender Asia, a reality programme about Muay Thai that is produced by Mark Burnett Productions.

Other work

Ong became the spokesperson for Silkygirl in 2005 and she is ambassador of Mitsubishi i (i-Play edition), a multiple award-winning car.

She is a World Vision Singapore Goodwill Ambassador, travelling to Phuket, Thailand to learn more about poverty, HIV/AIDS and child prostitution issues. On her return, she participated in various World Vision events to help promote the charity. In December 2007, she was involved in a nation-wide campaign for World AIDS Day called "One Life Experience".

She was the host of the global press conference for the Samsung Omnia SGH i-900 smart phone. and was the 2008 Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix Ambassador.

References

External links

http://www.kosmicfilm.com.sg/jaymee.html

Category:1979 births Category:Living people Category:Australian female models Category:Australian film actors Category:Australian television actors