David Chiang Tai-wai (born Chiang Wei-nien; 29 June 1947) is a Hong Kong actor, director, producer and martial artist. A well-known martial arts actor formerly from Shaw Brothers Studio in the 1970s, he has appeared in over 130 films and 30 television series.
David Chiang | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Chiang interviewed by the press after winning the 42nd Hong Kong Film Awards for Best Supporting Actor by In Broad Daylight on 14 April 2024 | |||||||||||
| Born | 29 June 1947 | ||||||||||
| Other names | John Chiang | ||||||||||
| Occupation(s) | Actor, director, producer | ||||||||||
| Years active | 1952–1963, 1967–2000, 2003–present | ||||||||||
| Spouse |
Maggie Lee (m. 1974) | ||||||||||
| Children | 3 | ||||||||||
| Relatives | Paul Chun (brother) Derek Yee (half-brother) Raymond Cho (son-in-law) | ||||||||||
| Awards | Asia-Pacific Film Festival Best Actor 1970 Vengeance 1973 Blood Brothers | ||||||||||
| Chinese name | |||||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 姜大衛 | ||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 姜大卫 | ||||||||||
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| Chiang Wei-nien | |||||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 姜偉年 | ||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 姜伟年 | ||||||||||
| |||||||||||
Early life
editChiang was born in Shanghai, China on 29 June 1947. Chiang's mother Hung Wei (紅薇; Hóng Wēi; Hung4 Mei4) (real name: Lo Chen 羅珍), and father Yan Fa (嚴化) (real name: Chiang Ko-chi) were popular Chinese movie stars who moved to Hong Kong in the late 1940s during the Chinese Civil War. He has an older brother Paul Chun and a half-brother Derek Yee.
Career
editAt age four, Chiang began his acting career as a child actor. In 1966, while working as a stuntman and fight instructor for the Shaw Brothers Studio, Chiang was spotted by director Chang Cheh, who immediately saw his potential and screen presence, and became his mentor. Chang gave him the stage name David Chiang, even though his real English name was John.
With Wang Yu's sudden departure in 1969, Run Run Shaw and his senior executives were looking for a new leading man and made Chiang an offer. In 1970, under Chang Cheh's guidance, Chiang won the Best Actor award at the 16th Asia-Pacific Film Festival for his role in Vengeance. In 1972, at the 18th Asia-Pacific Film Festival, he won the Best Actor for his role in Blood Brothers. In 1973, at the 19th Asia-Pacific Film Festival, he won the Most Contemporary award for his role in The Generation Gap.
In 1973 Chiang left Hong Kong with his mentor Chang Cheh and set up an independent production company called Chang's Scope Company. With the help of Run Run Shaw, their films continued to be distributed through Shaw's channels. At Chang's Scope Company, Chiang worked as a director, producer, and screenwriter. As the 1970s came to an end and the 1980s approached, Chiang continued acting, working with directors Lee Han Chiang, Hsueh Li Pao, Ho Meng-hua, and Chia-Liang Liu. In 1980 he made his television debut in The Green Dragon Conspiracy, followed by Princess Chang Ping and Dynasty. In the mid-1980s, Chiang worked with his brothers, Paul Chun and Derek Yee, directing, producing and acting in the comedy Legend of the Owl. Chiang also acted in other comedy movies such as The Challenger and The Loot, directed by Eric Tseng. In the late 1980s into the early 1990s Chiang directed the movies Heaven Can Help, Silent Love, The Wrong Couples, Mr. Handsome, Double Fattiness, My Dear Son, Will of Iron, and Mother of a Different Kind. Since 2000 he has continued to work in movies and TV series, including Election, Daisy, Revolving Doors of Vengeance, Lethal Weapons of Love and Passion, Land of Wealth, The Family Link and the 2007 television series The Gem of Life. He was nominated for Best Supporting Actor in 2006 for his role in the TVB series Revolving Doors of Vengeance.
In 2004, Chiang was inducted into The Avenue of Stars, which honours celebrities of the Hong Kong film industry. It is located along the Victoria Harbour waterfront in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong and modeled on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Personal life
editOn 20 January 1974, Chiang married Maggie Lee Lam Lam (李琳琳), an actress. Chiang and his wife have three children: Elaine Chiang (b. 1974), who is married to actor Raymond Cho; Eve Chiang (b. 1983); and John Chiang, Jr. (b. 1995).
He currently[as of?] lives in Vancouver, Canada with his family, but returns to Hong Kong to film movies and television dramas.
Filmography
editFilms
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1952 | The Closer the Better (近水樓台) | ||
| 1953 | Green Heaven (碧雲天) | ||
| 1954 | Return (歸來) | Siao-ming | |
| 1956 | Blind Love (盲戀) | ||
| The Orphan Girl (梅姑) | |||
| 1957 | A Mellow Spring (春光無限好) | ||
| Little Angel of the Streets (馬路小天使) | |||
| 1958 | The Blessed Family (全家福) | ||
| Young Vagabond (流浪兒) | |||
| 1959 | The Kingdom and the Beauty (江山美人) | ||
| 1960 | Street Boys (街童) | ||
| Twilight Hours (曉風殘月) | |||
| Kiss Me Again (第二吻) | |||
| The Orphan in Distress (苦海孤雛) | |||
| 1961 | Till the Clouds Roll by (雲開見月明) | ||
| The Search of Loved One (萬里尋親記) | Orphan Ngau | ||
| 1962 | Ladies First (好事成雙) | ||
| Unspeakable Truths (有口難言) | |||
| 1963 | The Lady and the Thief (女人與小偷) | ||
| 1967 | Lady in Distress: The Invincible Fighter (無敵女殺手) | ||
| The Black Killer (黑殺星) | Extra | [1] | |
| 1968 | Golden Swallow (金燕子) | ||
| Blue Falcon (藍鷹) | |||
| Red Lamp Shaded in Blood (血影紅燈) | Extra | ||
| The White Dragon (飛俠小白龍) | Extra | ||
| The Sword of Swords (神刀) | |||
| The Silver Fox (玉面飛狐) | |||
| Spring Morning Flying Cloud (春曉雲開) | |||
| 1969 | Dead End (死角) | David Liao Ching-Shui | |
| Have Sword, Will Travel (保鏢) | Lo Yi | ||
| The Invincible Fist (鐵手無情) | |||
| The Flying Dagger (飛刀手) | |||
| Return of the One-Armed Swordsman (獨臂刀王) | Yin | ||
| 1970 | The Heroic Ones (十三太保) | Li Cunxiao | |
| The Singing Killer (小煞星) | |||
| Vengeance (報仇) | Guan Xiaolou | ||
| The Wandering Swordsman (遊俠兒) | |||
| The Winged Tiger (插翅虎) | |||
| The Secret of the Dirk (大羅劍俠) | |||
| 1971 | The Anonymous Heroes (無名英雄) | ||
| The Deadly Duo (雙俠) | |||
| Duel of Fists (拳擊) | |||
| King Eagle (鷹王) | |||
| The Duel (大決鬥) | |||
| New One-Armed Swordsman (新獨臂刀) | |||
| 1972 | Angry Guest (惡客) | ||
| Boxer from Shantung (馬永貞) | |||
| Four Riders (四騎士) | |||
| Trilogy of Swordsmanship (群英會) | Mu Yuqi | Part 3: "White Water Strand" (白水灘) | |
| The Water Margin (水滸傳) | Yan Qing | ||
| Young People (年輕人) | |||
| 1973 | Blood Brothers (刺馬) | ||
| The Generation Gap (叛逆) | |||
| The Pirate (大海盜) | General Wu Yee | ||
| 1974 | The Two Faces of Love (小孩與狗) | ||
| Five Shaolin Masters (少林五祖) | |||
| Friends (朋友) | |||
| The Savage Five (五虎將) | |||
| The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires | |||
| 1975 | All Men Are Brothers (蕩寇誌) | Yan Qing | |
| The Empress Dowager (傾國傾城) | |||
| The Imposter (七面人) | |||
| The Taxi Driver (的士大佬) | |||
| Temperament of Life (嬉笑怒罵) | |||
| The Young Rebel (後生) | |||
| 1976 | The Condemned (死囚) | Also director | |
| The One-Armed Swordsmen (獨臂雙雄) | Also director | ||
| 7-Man Army (八道樓子) | |||
| Shaolin Temple (少林寺) | |||
| 1977 | Death Duel (三少爺的劍) | ||
| Judgment of an Assassin (決殺令) | |||
| Magnificent Wanderers (江湖漢子) | |||
| The Naval Commandos (海軍突擊隊) | |||
| Whirlwind Kick (旋風踢) | |||
| Strife for Mastery (水月門) | |||
| 1978 | Shaolin Handlock (十字鎖喉手) | ||
| Shaolin Mantis (螳螂) | |||
| The Red Phoenix (火鳳凰) | |||
| Sensual Pleasures (子曰:食色性也) | |||
| 1979 | Abbot of Shaolin (少林英雄榜) | ||
| Blooded Treasury Fight (血肉磨坊) | |||
| The Challenger (踢館) | |||
| The King of Fists and Dollars (王拳王鍰) | |||
| Murder Plot (孔雀王朝) | |||
| A Sword Shot at the Sun (一劍刺向太陽) | |||
| 1980 | Heaven and Hell Gate (第三類打鬥) | ||
| The Loot (賊贓) | |||
| Fight for Glory (絕代英雄) | |||
| The Lost Kung Fu Secrets (鈑公雞) | |||
| Six Directions of Boxing (六合八法) | |||
| 1981 | The Legend of the Owl (貓頭鷹) | Also director | |
| Night of the Assassins (刺客列傳) | |||
| Red Phoenix | |||
| Yee Dang Bing Chuk Chap (二等兵續集) | |||
| Return of the Deadly Blade (飛刀‧又見飛刀) | |||
| Funny Soldier (傻兵立大功) | |||
| 1982 | Play Con Game (十張王牌) | ||
| The Challenger (彈指神功) | |||
| Strife for Mastery | |||
| Till Death Do We Scare (小生怕怕) | |||
| 1983 | Play Catch (少爺威威) | ||
| Sword with the Windbell (風鈴中的刀聲) | |||
| 1984 | Heaven Can Help (上天救命) | ||
| Shanghai 13 (上海灘十三太保) | |||
| 1985 | Twinkle Twinkle Lucky Stars (夏日福星) | Cameo | |
| Yes Madam (皇家師姐) | |||
| 1986 | Soul (老娘夠騷) | ||
| From Here to Prosperity (奪寶計上計) | |||
| Where's Office Tuba? (霹靂大喇叭) | |||
| 1987 | Angel (天使行動) | ||
| It's a Mad, Mad, Mad World (富貴逼人) | John | [2] | |
| The Wrong Couples (不是冤家不聚頭) | |||
| 1988 | Double Fattiness (雙肥臨門) | Cameo, Also director | [3] |
| Tiger on Beat (老虎出更) | |||
| The Revenge Ghost of the Tree (林投姐) | |||
| 1989 | Just Heroes (義膽群英) | ||
| Mr. Sunshine (開心巨無霸) | |||
| 1991 | Will of Iron (黑雪) | Also director | |
| The Banquet (豪門夜宴) | Cameo | ||
| 1992 | Mary From Beijing (夢醒時分) | ||
| Once Upon a Time in China II (黃飛鴻之二男兒當自強) | Luk Hou-dung | ||
| The Twin Dragons (雙龍會) | |||
| 1994 | What Price Survival ('94獨臂刀之情) | ||
| 1995 | The Adventurers (大冒險家) | ||
| 1999 | The Legend of Speed (烈火戰車2極速傳說) | ||
| 2003 | Star Runner (少年阿虎) | ||
| 2005 | Election (黑社會) | ||
| 2 Young (早熟) | |||
| 2006 | Daisy (데이지) | ||
| 2009 | Look for a Star (遊龍戲鳳) | ||
| 2012 | Love on Gallery Bridge (愛在廊橋) | Lin Fukun | |
| 2013 | The Rooftop (天台) | ||
| 2014 | Kung Fu Jungle (一個人的武林) | Master Chan Pak-Kwong | |
| 2015 | From Vegas to Macau II | Victor | |
| 2016 | From Vegas to Macau III | Victor | |
| 2017 | 20:16 | ||
| 2019 | Jade Dynasty 诛仙 | Cangsong Daoren | |
| 2025 | LUZ 《花明渡》 | Mr. Qiu |
Film (as director)
edit- The Drug Addict (1974)
- A Mad World of Fools (1974)
- The One-Armed Swordsmen (1976)
- The Condemned (1976)
- Whirlwind Kick (1977)
- The Legend of the Owl (1981)
- Heaven Can Help (1984)
- Silent Love (1986)
- Mr. Handsome (1987)
- The Wrong Couples (1987)
- Double Fattiness (1988)
- My Dear Son (1989)
- When East Meets West (1990)
- Will of Iron (1991)
- Mother of a Different Kind (1995)
Television dramas
edit| Year | Network | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | RTV | Dynasty (大內群英) | Cang Zang | |
| 1981 | RTV | Princess Cheung Ping (武俠帝女花) | Jyun Joek-fei | |
| 1982 | RTV | The Green Dragon Conspiracy (琥珀青龍) | Ziu Hin | |
| ATV | The Conqueror (雄霸天下) | |||
| TTV | The Return of Swords Lady Riding West on White Horse (白馬嘯西風) | Ma Jiajun | ||
| 1984 | TTV | Jagged Generals of the Yang Family (鐵血楊家將) | Liu Tianchi | |
| 1992 | TTV | Ma's Assassination (刺馬) | Ma Xinyi | |
| 1993 | TVB | The Mystery of the Condor Hero (射鵰英雄傳之九陰真經) | Wong Yeuk-see | |
| 1994 | TVB | Fate of the Clairvoyant (再見亦是老婆) | ||
| 1995 | TVB | The Fist of Law (大捕快) | ||
| TVB | A Good Match from Heaven (天降奇緣) | |||
| 1996 | ATV | The Snow is Red (雪花神劍) | Luo Xuan | |
| 1998 | ATV | A Lawyer Can Be Good (流氓·律師) | ||
| TVB | War and Remembrance (乾隆大帝) | |||
| 1999 | CETV | The Love Story in the Fantasyland (鏡花緣傳奇) | ||
| 2000 | ATV | Hong Kong Police (非常好警) | ||
| CTV | State of Divinity (笑傲江湖) | Qu Yang | ||
| ATV | Wonder Bar (快活谷) | |||
| 2005 | TVB | Wong Fei Hung - Master of Kung Fu (我師傅係黃飛鴻) | Wong Kei-ying | |
| TVB | Revolving Doors of Vengeance (酒店風雲) | Cheung Wing-fat | Nominated - TVB Award for Best Supporting Actor (Top 5) | |
| 2006 | TVB | Lethal Weapons of Love and Passion (覆雨翻雲) | Long Fan-wun | |
| TVB | Face to Fate (布衣神相) | Sum Sing-nam | ||
| TVB | Land of Wealth (滙通天下) | Kiu Bun-yip | Nominated - TVB Award for Best Supporting Actor (Top 20) | |
| 2007 | TVB | The Family Link (師奶兵團) | Ko Wing-kuen | Nominated - TVB Award for My Favourite Male Character (Top 24) |
| Mediacorp | Making Miracles (奇迹) | Chen Guanlin | ||
| 2008 | TVB | The Master of Tai Chi (太極) | Mo Chik | |
| 2008-2009 | TVB | The Gem of Life (珠光寶氣) | Hong Ching-yeung | |
| 2009 | TVB | The Threshold of a Persona (ID精英) | Mak Kai-ming | |
| TVB | A Chip Off the Old Block (巴不得爸爸 ... ) | Cho Tsuen | Nominated - Best Supporting Actor (Top 15) | |
| Room to Let I (有房出租) | Li Linlin | |||
| 2010 | Room to Let II (有房出租II) | Li Linlin | ||
| 2011 | TVB | Men with No Shadows (不速之約) | Tong King-tin | |
| TVB | Grace Under Fire (女拳) | Wong Fei-hung | Nominated - Mingpao's 43rd Anniversary Award | |
| 2012 | TVB | Gambler (賭海迷徒) | Chuen | Episode 7: "Fight for Your Life" (搏老命) |
| Her Whole Life (她的一生) | Li Datong | |||
| HBS | The Magic Blade (天涯明月刀) | Xiang Yingtian | ||
| 2014 | HBS | The Loving Home (把爱带回家) | Xia Lieyang | |
| 2015 | HKTV | Incredible Mama | Chung Hok-saang | |
| RCTI | Preman Pensiun | 'Kang Saef | ||
| HKTV | The Wicked League | |||
| HKTV | Hidden Faces (三面形醫) | |||
| 2017 | TVB | My Ages Apart (誇世代) | Sung Lai | |
| 2018 | TVB | Birth of a Hero (翻生武林) | Ren Wofei | |
| TVB | Daddy Cool (逆緣) | He Heping | ||
| 2019 | TVB | Big White Duel (白色強人) | Dr. Lui Chung-hok | Nominated — TVB Anniversary Award for Best Supporting Actor |
| 2020 | TVB | Of Greed and Ants | Mah Sing Leih/ Sing Suk / Sing Jay
Guest Role | |
| TVB | On-Lie Game (迷網) | Sze To -cham | ||
| TVB | Al Cappuccino (反黑路人甲) | So Wai-sun | Nominated — TVB Anniversary Award for Best Supporting Actor | |
| 2021 | TVB | The Forgotten Day (失憶24小時) | Mung Kwan-sui | Nominated — TVB Anniversary Award for Best Supporting Actor Nominated — TVB Anniversary Award for Most Popular Male Character |
| 2022 | TVB | Stranger Anniversary (雙生陌生人) | Lee Kwun-hang | |
| TVB | Touch the Sky (究竟天有多高) | Wing Kit | Nominated — TVB Anniversary Award for Best Actor Nominated — TVB Anniversary Award for Most Popular Male Character Nominated — TVB Anniversary Awards for Favourite TVB Actor in Malaysia | |
| TVB | Big White Duel II (白色強人II) | Dr. Lui Chung-hok | ||
| TVB | The War of Beauties (美麗戰場) | Pong Kwok-tung | Nominated — TVB Anniversary Award for Best Supporting Actor Nominated — TVB Anniversary Award for Most Popular Male Character | |
| 2023 | TVB | My Pet, My Angel (寵愛 Pet Pet) | Kam Ching-chung | |
| TBA | Flying Swords of Dragon Gate (龍門飛甲) | |||
| Filming | TVB | Big Biz Duel (企業強人) | Ying Man-ho |
Gallery
edit
References
edit- ^ "The Black Killer". hkmdb.com. 8 March 1967. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
- ^ "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad World". hkmdb.com. 28 January 1987. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
- ^ "Double Fattiness". hkmdb.com. 19 May 1988. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
- ^ David Chiang at douban.com
- ^ David Chiang at chinesemov.com