Veteran actor, director and martial arts choreographer Yuen Cheung-yan has died on the age of 69.
He was finest identified by movie followers for showing in Stephen Chow’s 2004 motion comedy Kung Fu Hustle, however was additionally a member of famend Hong Kong household the Yuens, who confirmed a exceptional expertise for motion and martial arts choreography.
His work in Hollywood additionally noticed him contribute to traditional blockbusters like Charlie’s Angels and The Matrix franchise.
Yuen died at noon on January 1 at Hong Kong’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital, in response to movie director and actor Lee Lik-chi.
He shared the information on his Weibo web page on Thursday, in a submit seen by the South China Morning Publish.
Native media additionally cited an obituary shared by his widow.
‘Could Grasp Yuen relaxation in everlasting peace,’ Lee added, of Yuen.
A wake for the star shall be held on February 1 at Common Funeral Parlour, with a funeral to comply with the following day, however no additional particulars have but been given concerning the reason for Yuen’s demise.
Yuen performed the tricksy Beggar in Kung Fu Hustle, who manages to promote Chow’s character the Buddha’s Palm handbook, but in addition appeared in movies together with 1973’s Police Girl – reverse Jackie Chan in an earlier supporting function – and 1992’s King of Beggars, in addition to 2014’s As soon as Upon a Time in Shanghai.
Nevertheless, his work off-screen as an motion and martial arts choreographer alongside directing a number of films in Hong Kong, made a fair higher influence.
He was awarded a prize on the eleventh Hong Kong Movie Awards for finest motion choreography for As soon as Upon a Time in China (1991), starring Jet Li, as considered one of its three choreographers.
The son of the late martial arts actor and choreographer Yuen Siu-tien, Yuen’s profession started within the late Nineteen Sixties.
Older brother Yuen Woo-ping, 80, can also be a martial arts choreographer and director in Hong Kong and later Hollywood, with whom Yuen initially fashioned the Yuen Household manufacturing group.
One other brother, Yuen Shun-yi, is known to be a martial artist, actor, and stuntman as nicely.
Yuen’s spectacular Hollywood portfolio included iconic combat choreography for Charlie’s Angles in 1999, starring Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore and Lucy Liu, in addition to its 2003 follow-up, Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle.
He was additionally credited with work on Daredevil in 2003, which starred Ben Affleck within the titular superhero function and Jennifer Garner as Elektra.
Yuen additionally labored on a franchise virtually outlined – and definitely immediately recognised – by its combat choreography, The Matrix, engaged on its 2003 sequels The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions.
Motion star Donnie Yen additionally paid tribute to Yuen on social media, posting: ‘From our youthful encounter in Drunken Tai Chi (1984) to our latest collaboration in Sakra (2023). Brother Cheung Yan, your legacy shines in cinema as your spirit lives on.
‘We’ll cherish your reminiscence eternally. Relaxation in peace.’
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