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Simon Yam

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Simon Yam
任達華
Simon Yam at the 2010 New York Asian Film Festival
Born (1955-03-19) 19 March 1955 (age 69)
Occupation(s)Actor, producer, director
Years active1977–present
Spouses
Ho Sui-yi
(m. 1981⁠–⁠1986)
Sophia Kao
(m. 1997)
ChildrenElla Yam (daughter)
Awards
Hong Kong Film AwardsBest Actor
2010 Echoes of the Rainbow

Golden Bauhinia AwardsBest Actor
2004 PTU
2006 Election

Chinese name
Traditional Chinese任達華
Simplified Chinese任达华
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinRén Dáhuá
Yue: Cantonese
JyutpingJam6 Daat6-wa4

Simon Yam Tat-wah (Chinese: 任達華; born 19 March 1955) is a Hong Kong actor and film producer. He received international acclaim for his performances in international film festival and box office hits such as Naked Killer, SPL: Sha Po Lang, Election, Election 2 , Exiled, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life and The Thieves.[1]

Career

[edit]

Yam started off as a model before becoming an actor in the mid 1970s. He then signed with the Hong Kong television network TVB, starring and co-starring in a number of television series prior to "apply his trades" in the film industry in 1987. His elder brother is Yam Tak-wing, a retired former Deputy Commissioner of Hong Kong Police.

In 1989, he starred in the Japanese-Hong Kong co-production of Bloodfight. This was the first of its kind in which English was spoken throughout the entire film. In 1992, Yam gained critical acclaim for his role as the maniacal Judge in the crime film Full Contact, where he faced off in a bloody battle against Chow Yun-fat's character. In 1993, he starred as "Dhalsim" in the action-comedy film Future Cops, a parody of Street Fighter directed by Wong Jing. In 1996, Yam began his role as Chiang Tin-Sung, the leader of the Hung Hing triads in the first three instalments of the Young and Dangerous film series.

In 2000, Yam starred as Cheung San, the progenitor of all vampires, in the television series My Date with a Vampire II, produced by ATV. In 2003, Yam made his Hollywood film debut in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life as Shaolin crime lord.

In 2013, Yam directed his first film, as part of the Hong Kong portmanteau horror film Tales from the Dark 1.[2]

In Feb 2021, Yam, Tony Leung and Andy Lau will team up in a new major action movie titled Goldfinger, backed by Emperor Motion Pictures and mainland Chinese partners, with a reported budget of around $30.8 million (RMB200 million).[3]

Personal life

[edit]

Yam was married to his first wife Ho Sui-yi from 1981-86. In 1997, he married Sophia Kao, known as Qi Qi, an international model. She was born in Shanghai but raised in Austria. They have a daughter, Ella.

On 20 July 2019, Yam was stabbed at a promotional event in China.[4] He suffered a minor injury and his manager said, "He was stabbed in the tummy area and also got a cut on his right hand." He got a small operation in Zhongshan and recovered. [5]

Yam's favorite investment is real estate in Hong Kong.[6]

Filmography

[edit]

Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1979 Law Don
1980 House of the Lute
1981 The Informer
Twins
1982 He Lives by Night
Green Killer
1986 Goodbye Mammie
New Heavenly Sword and Dragon Sabre
Tong – A Chinatown Story
1987 The Big Brother
1988 Tiger Cage Michael Wong
Osmanthus Alley Ah Hai
Burning Snow Wah
Mistaken Identity
Women Prison Wayne Lu
1989 Live Hard Senior Inspector Hui Tat-ming
Burning Ambition
Lucky Star
Chinese Cop Out
Framed
The Wild Ones
Mr. Coconut Timothy Hui
Final Run
Four Loves
Miracles Chief Inspector Ho's man
Big Man Little Affair
Bloodfight
1990 Bullet in the Head Luke
Killer's Romance Jeffrey
Hong Kong Gigolo
The Cyprus Tigers
Fatal Termination
Return Engagement Lee Pang
Doctor's Heart
1991 The Plot
Bullet for Hire Hon
Great Pretenders Yam Sai-sung
Gigolo and Whore
Black Cat Brian
Deadly Deal
Sea Wolves
Queen's High
The Good, the Bad, and the Bandit
Mission of Condor
The Banquet Wai's friend
1992 Gun n' Rose Simon Lung
Gigolo and Whore II Jack Cheung
Cash on Delivery
Once Upon A Time A Hero in China
Dr. Lamb Lam Gor-yue
Friday Gigolo
The Night Rider
Naked Killer Tinam
Powerful Four
1993 Full Contact Judge
Holy Weapon Super Sword
Killer's Love
The Incorruptible
Killer's Love
A Day Without Policeman
Insanity
Can't Stop My Crazy Love For You
Love Among the Triad
First Shot Sam Mok
The Black Panther Warriors Black Jack Love
Future Cops Sing (Dhalsim)
Prince of Portland Street
Final Judgment
Run and Kill Ching Fung
Raped by an Angel Tso Tat Wah
Rose Rose I Love You Micky
1994 The True Hero
Awakening
The Tragic Fantasy - Tiger of Wanchai Chan Yiu-hing
Drunken Master III Gay bus passenger
Crystal Fortune Run
Crossings
The Devil's Box
1995 Passion 1995 Dick Wong
Twist
Police Confidential
Dragon Killer
Because of Lies
Love, Guns, and Glass
Story of a Robber Kon Tin-lap
Farewell to My Dearest
Ghostly Bus
Man Wanted Lok Man-wah
1996 King of Robbery Chan Sing
Bloody Friday
To Be No. 1
All of a Sudden Tsui Chin-tun
Street Angels Walkie Pi
Scared Memory
Young and Dangerous Chiang Tin-sung
Young and Dangerous 2
Young and Dangerous 3
1998 The Suspect Dante Aquino
Operation Billionaire
Expect the Unexpected Ken
Casino Giant Wan
Hitman Officer Chan Kwan
1999 The Mission Frank
The Legend of Speed
Night Club
Trust Me U Die
2000 Juliet in Love
Model from Hell
Horoscope II: The Woman from Hell
To Where He Belongs
Deathnet.com
Cold War Ka Hui
Man Wanted 3
2001 Midnight Fly Dr. Tong
Fulltime Killer Albert Lee
Final Romance
2002 My Left Eye Sees Ghosts Ben
Partners
2003 Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life Chen Lo
Looking for Mister Perfect
PTU Sergeant Mike Ho
Eternal Flame of Fatal Attraction
2004 Explosive City Superintendent Charles Cheung
Breaking News Asst. Commissioner Wong Unbilled cameo
Wake of Death Sun Quan
2005 Mob Sister Tsan Gor (Chance)
Election Lam Lok
The Unusual Youth Police Superintendent Unbilled cameo
Outback
SPL (a.k.a. Kill Zone (US)) Inspector Chan Kwok-chung
Dragon Squad Commander Hon Sun
2006 Election 2 (a.k.a. Triad Election (US)) Lam Lok
Exiled Boss Fay Cameo
2007 Eye in the Sky Sergeant Wong Man-chin (‛Dog Head’)
Triangle Lee Bo-Sam
Exodus Sergeant Tsim Kin-yip
2008 Sasori
Ballistic
Fatal Move Lin Ho-tung
Sparrow Ken / The Sparrow
Ocean Flame Detective Zhang Also producer
Tactical Unit – Human Nature Sam
Tactical Unit – No Way Out
Tactical Unit – The Code Lee Wing Sam TV movie
Ip Man Chow Ching-chuen
2009 Tactical Unit – Partners
Tactical Unit - Comrades in Arms Sam TV movie
Night & Fog Lee Sam
Vengeance George Fung
The Storm Warriors Lord Godless
Bodyguards and Assassins Fang Tian
2010 Black Ransom Inspector Mann Cheung
Bad Blood Funky
Echoes of the Rainbow Mr. Law
Ip Man 2 Chow Ching-chuen
The Blood Bond Lompoc
Midnight Beating Gu Zhensheng
2011 The Man Behind the Courtyard House
Coming Back Li Zhenmu
2012 Nightfall George Lam
Design of Death Yi Sheng
Passion Island Simon
The Thieves Chen
Cross Lee Leung
Ripples of Desire
2013 7 Assassins Wu
Cold Eyes Suspect Cameo
Man of Tai Chi Superintendent Wong
Tales from the Dark 1 Kwan Fu-keung Also director
A Chilling Cosplay Fang Youwei
Control Tiger
The Constable Lam Kwok-kuen
Les Jeux des nuages et de la pluie French film
2014 As the Light Goes Out Lee Pui-to
The Midnight After Fat
Iceman Cheung
2015 12 Golden Ducks King Sum
Sara Kam Ho-yin
Two Thumbs Up Chow Tai-po
Lovers & Movies Qiu Guitang
SPL II: A Time for Consequences Chan Kwok-wah
Wild City Wong
Detective Gui
Ulterior Motive Ye Cheng
Magic Card
2016 Inside or Outside Fei Xin
Phantom of the Theatre Gu Ming Shan
The Tenants Downstairs Chang Chia-chun
Mrs K Scarface
2017 Father and Son OK Gen
Legend of the Naga Pearls Xue Lie
Colour of the Game Wah
S.M.A.R.T. Chase Mach Ren
2018 A Beautiful Moment
Air Strike Air Defense Commander Cameo
Iceman II
Operation Red Sea Albert
Justice in Northwest
A or B
House of the Rising Sons Kin's father
2019 Change of Gangster
The Human Comedy Ba Ye
Chasing the Dragon II: Wild Wild Bunch Lee Keung
Thaiflavor
Little Q Li Baoting
My People, My Country Wah
2021 Raging Fire Lok Chi-fai
Fireflies in the Sun Zhang Zhengyi
2022 Death Notice Officer Tsang
Cyber Heist Ben Suen Ban
A Light Never Goes Out Biu
2023 I Did It My Way Chung Kam-mibg
The Goldfinger K.K. Tsang
TBD Under Current

Television series

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1977 A House Is Not a Home Lok Wah
1979 The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
1980 The Shell Game
1983 The Return of the Condor Heroes
1984 The New Adventures of Chor Lau-heung
1985 Reincarnated Princess
1986 New Heavenly Sword and Dragon Sabre
1987 The Legend of the Book and the Sword
1989 War of the Dragon
1994 Heaven's Retribution
1996 ICAC Investigators 1996 To Wing-fat Episode: "The Eagle in the web"
1999 My Date with a Vampire II Cheung San
2006 Tokyo Juliet Chu Xing
2018 The Great Adventurer Wesley
2019 The Thunder Undercover Officer Li Jianzhong (alias Zhao Jialiang)
One Dream One Home Liang Dingwen
2021 The Dance of the Storm Mu Chuan

Awards and nominations

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Hong Kong Film Awards

(6 Best Actor Nominations, four Best Supporting Actor Nominations)

Golden Horse Awards

  • Best Actor Nomination for PTU

Golden Bauhinia Awards

  • Best Actor for PTU
  • Best Actor for Election

Asia Pacific Screen Awards

  • Best Performance by an Actor for Sparrow

References

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  1. ^ Simon Yam at chinesemov.com
  2. ^ Elley, Derek (14 October 2013). "Tales from the Dark 1". Film Business Asia. Archived from the original on 19 October 2013. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
  3. ^ "Tony Leung and Andy Lau to Team Up in New Action Film 'Goldfinger'". 19 February 2021. Variety. 2021-02-19
  4. ^ "Hong Kong actor Simon Yam stabbed on stage in China". BBC News. 20 July 2019.
  5. ^ "Hong Kong actor Simon Yam stabbed in stomach in China". TheGuardian.com. 20 July 2019.
  6. ^ "鍾情磚頭唔聲唔聲密密出擊 任達華疫市擲5000萬上月掃豪宅工廈". SCMP. 2021-05-23
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