Hwang Jang-lee
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Hwang Jang-lee | |
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| Born | December 21, 1944 |
| Occupation(s) | Martial artist, actor |
| Years active | 1974–1996; 2009 |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul | 황정리 |
| Hanja | 黃正利 |
| Revised Romanization | Hwang Jeong-ri |
| McCune–Reischauer | Hwang Chǒngri |
Hwang Jung-lee (Korean: 황정리; born December 21, 1944), known to many with the spelling of Hwang Jang-lee is a Japanese-born Korean martial artist and film actor. Hwang is perhaps best known for his role as "Thunderleg" in 1978's Drunken Master, "Sheng Kuan" in 1978's Snake in the Eagle's Shadow and Wong Chin in 1981's Hitman in the Hand of Buddha.[1][2] Variations of his name include Wong Cheng-lee and Wong Cheng-li, in the Cantonese Chinese equivalents. His nicknames are Silver Fox (the name of his most popular movie character); "Thunderleg" and "Thunderfoot" (from his role in 1978 film Drunken Master).
Early life
Hwang was born in Aomori, Honshu Island, Japan to Korean parents. His family moved back to Korea when he was a baby.
Martial arts
Hwang took Taekwondo lessons from age 14 and achieved his 7th dan (rank) black belt. In 1965 at age 21, Hwang became a martial arts instructor for the Korean and South Vietnamese Armies, specializing in taekwondo. In January 2003, Hwang received his 9th dan black belt in taekwondo. In addition, he currently holds a 9th dan rank with the World Tang Soo Do General Federation.
Hwang still actively teaches martial arts. He is currently an instructor with the World Tang Soo Do General Federation and serves as Technical Advisor.[3] He recently has completed a tour of the US and Canada in which he, along with other Korean Grandmasters, promoted the study and practice of traditional martial arts.[4]
Career
Acting
Hwang began his acting career in Korean movies. In 1976, Ng See-yuen offered Hwang employment in Hong Kong, where he first appeared in Secret Rivals as the villain Silver Fox.[5]: 249 Hwang took the lead in many martial arts movies, usually playing an antagonist. Hwang's nicknames, "King of the Legfighters" and "Thunderleg" relate to his style of martial arts performance where he uses his legs in a particular way.
In the mid 1970s, Hwang performed in two Jackie Chan movies Snake in the Eagle's Shadow and Drunken Master. as "Sheng Kuan" and "Thunderfoot" ("Thunderleg"). In 2002, Mike Leeder, a writer and producer, interviewed Hwang for the "Contender films" Hong Kong Legends DVD range.
Directing
In 1981, Hwang directed his first movie, Hitman in the Hand of Buddha, and was credited as Wong Chin.
Other films and retirement from acting
In 1987, Hwang trained German actor Matthias Hues in preparation for his film debut as "Yuri, the Russian" in No Retreat, No Surrender 2. Cast at the suggestion of producer Roy Horan, who was also a student of Hwang's, Hues had no martial arts experience and trained in martial arts with Hwang. Hues enjoyed the experience so much that upon his arrival in Los Angeles, Hues would continue training in martial arts throughout his career. In the film, Hwang's opening scene, involving a firing squad, was cut from the U.S. version. Hwang would play Yuri's enforcer, General Ty, who engages in a brief fight against Cynthia Rothrock.
In 1989, taekwondo grandmaster Jun Chong invited Hwang to come to the United States to appear as a villain in the film Street Soldiers. To bring an international flavor to the film, Hwang is credited in the film as "Jason Hwang", named after his son. In the early 1990s, Hwang returned to South Korea, where he ran a golf-tee manufacturing company and an hotel in Seoul. Later on, Hwang managed a bodyguard agency. Since then he has made only occasional film appearances, in movies such as Emperor of the Underworld (1994) and Boss (1996). In July 1996, Hwang retired from acting at the age of 51.
Return to acting
After a long absence from acting, Hwang appeared in the TV Series The Return of Iljimae. Hwang featured in the documentary film, "The Anonymous King" in which Jon James Hodson examines Hwang's personal life in Seoul, Korea and Hong Kong.
Filmography
Movies
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | Secret Envoy | ||
| Black Leopard | Tortured Hero | ||
| Korean Connection | Yamamoto's Guard | ||
| Korean Connection 2 | |||
| Left Foot of Wrath | |||
| 1975 | Viper | Venomous Snake | |
| Year of the Dragon | Hero's Father / Final Challenge Fighter | Kill the Shogun | |
| Invitation From Hell | |||
| Fury of the Sun | |||
| Death Game | Mortal Battle | ||
| Jailhouse | |||
| 1976 | Secret Agent | Drunkard Student | |
| Secret Rivals | Silver Fox | ||
| Bruce Lee's Secret | Jin Yong Ji | ||
| Bruce Lee Fights Back from the Grave | |||
| Shaolin Wooden Men | |||
| Black Dragon River | The Martialmates | ||
| 1977 | Invincible Armor | ||
| Secret Rivals 2 | Gold Fox | ||
| Heroes of Shaolin | Tien Lung-Chong | ||
| Snuff Bottle Connection | General Shantung | ||
| The Instant Kung Fu Man | Yi Lang | ||
| 1978 | Snake in the Eagle's Shadow | Master Shang Kuan Yin | |
| Drunken Master | Thunderleg Yen Tieh Hsin (Thunderfoot) | ||
| 1979 | The Fearless Duo | Ghost Leg Killer | Fearless Master Fighter |
| Dance of the Drunk Mantis | Rubber Legs | ||
| Hell's Wind Staff | Lu Shan Tu | ||
| 36 Deadly Styles | First Brother | ||
| Dragon's Claws | Ling Ko Fung | ||
| 1980 | Lackey and the Lady Tiger | Sek Ba | |
| Two Fists Against the Law | Master Tai | ||
| Tiger Over Wall | Chu | ||
| Young Hero | Leader of Japanese Invaders | ||
| The Ring of Death | Russian Fighter | ||
| Buddha Assassinator | Prince | ||
| Challenge of the Tiger | Yang | ||
| Eagle vs. Silver Fox | Silver Fox | ||
| 1981 | Hitman in the Hand of Buddha | Wong Chin | Director, Producer |
| The Eagle's Killer | Ghost Hand Lo Hsin | ||
| The Phantom Thief | (as Jeong-ri Hwang) | ||
| Buddhist Fist & Tiger Claws | Half Piece of Map | ||
| Return of the Deadly Blade | Kam (Invincible Golden Rings) | ||
| Hard Bastard | Raging Rivals | ||
| Game of Death II | Chin Ku | ||
| 1982 | Blood Child | Wong Hung | Five Fingers of Steel |
| Ninja Strikes Back | Wang Fei | ||
| Ninja in the Dragon's Den | Wizard Kung Fu Master | ||
| Secret Ninja, Roaring Tiger | Tiger So | ||
| Kid from Kwangtung | Luo Yihu | ||
| Secret Executioners | |||
| Masters of Tiger Crane | Villain | ||
| 1983 | Five Pattern Dragon Claw | Kam Fu | Thunderfist |
| Duel of the Ultimate Weapons | Dong Wan / Ki-ryong | ||
| Ghosts Galore | Japanese Magician | ||
| Martial Monks of Shaolin Temple | Kurt Wong, Chief of Wudong School | ||
| Canton Viper | Kwangdong Viper | ||
| Angry Young Man | Master Kang | ||
| 1984 | Demon Strike | Chai Chau-Tien | Death Duel of Silver Fox |
| Shaolin: The Blood Mission | |||
| 1985 | Ninja Terminator | Tiger | Uninvited Guest (Footage) |
| 1986 | The First Vampire in China | Ghost | |
| Innocent Interloper | Paleface | ||
| Where's Officer Tuba | Extortion Gang Member | ||
| Millionaire's Express | Yukio Fushiki | ||
| 1987 | Angel | Boss Chang Lung | |
| No Retreat, No Surrender 2 | Ty | ||
| Magnificent Warriors | General Toga's Henchman | ||
| 1988 | Bed Companion | Lee Chiu Sin | |
| 1989 | Darkside of Chinatown | Sheung Siu Tung's Hitman | |
| Live Hard | Chief Inspector Terry Chiu | ||
| Future Hunters | |||
| 1991 | Street Soldiers | ||
| 1994 | Emperor of the Underworld | ||
| 1996 | Boss |
Director
- Hitman in the Hand of Buddha (1981)
- Canton Viper (1983)
- Not Again! (1990)
- Emperor of the Underworld (1994)
Documentaries
- Art of High Impact Kicking (1982)
- The Good Bad Boy (2014)
Television series
- Shaolin Temple (Taiwanese TV series) (1984)
- Mighty Weapon (1985)
- The Return of Iljimae (2009)
References
- ^ "Exclusive: Interview with Hwang Jang-lee" (PDF). Cityonfire.com. Retrieved 2016-09-17.
- ^ "Hwang Jang-lee interview - easternkicks.com". Easternkicks.com. 18 September 2014. Retrieved 2016-09-17.
- ^ "THE WORLD TANG SOO DO GENERAL FEDERATION : List of Board of Directors" (PDF). Moodukwonkorea.org. Retrieved 2016-09-17.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-11-02. Retrieved 2013-10-30.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ Rovin, Jeff; Tracy, Kathy (1997). The Essential Jackie Chan Sourcebook. New York: Pocket Books. ISBN 9780671008437.
External links
- Hwang Jang-lee at IMDb
- Hwang Jang-lee at the Hong Kong Movie Database
- Selective filmography
- French biography with movie reviews
- Cineseoul profile
| International | |
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| National | |
| Other | |
