Simon Yam

Simon Yam (born 19 March 1955), also known as Yam Tat-wah (任達華), is a veteran Hong Kong-based actor and film producer. He received international acclaim for his performances in international film festival hits and box offices such as Naked Killer, SPL (aka Kill Zone), Election, Election 2 (aka Triad Election), Exiled, Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life, The Thieves.

Background

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.

Career

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 portmaneau horror film Tales From the Dark 1.

Personal life

Yam is married to Sophia Kao, known as Qi Qi, an international model. Born in Shanghai, but raised in Austria, Kao is a spokesperson for SKII. They have a daughter, Ella.

Awards and nominations

Hong Kong Film Awards

• Best Supporting Actor Nomination for The Be No. 1
• Best Supporting Actor Nomination for Juliet in Love
• Best Supporting Actor Nomination for Midnight Fly
• Best Actor Nomination for PTU
• Best Actor Nomination for Election
• Best Supporting Actor Nomination for Election 2
• Best Actor Nomination for Eye in the Sky
• Best Actor Nomination for Sparrow
• Best Actor Nomination for Night and Fog
• Best Actor for Echoes of the Rainbow

(6 Best Actor Nominations, 4 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

Filmography

Films

• Law Don (1979)
• House of the Lute (1980)
• The Informer (1981)
• Twins (1981)
• He Lives By Night (1982)
• Green Killer (1982)
• Goodbye Mammie (1986)
• Tong – A Chinatown Story (1986)
• The Big Brother (1987)
• Tiger Cage (1988)
• Osmanthus Alley (1988)
• Burning Snow (1988)
• Mistaken Identity (1988)
• Woman Prison (1988)
• Live Hard (1989)
• Burning Ambition (1989)
• Lucky Star (1989)
• Chinese Cop Out (1989)
• Framed (1989)
• The Wild Ones (1989)
• Mr. Coconut (1989)
• Final Run (1989)
• Four Loves (1989)
• Miracles (1989)
• Big Man Little Affair (1989)
• Bloodfight (1989)
• Bullet in the Head (1990)
• Killer's Romance (1990)
• Hong Kong Gigolo (1990)
• The Cyprus Tigers (1990)
• Fatal Termination (1990)
• Return Engagement (1990)
• Doctor's Heart (1990)
• The Plot (1991)
• Bullet for Hire (1991)
• Great Pretenders (1991)
• Gigolo and Whore (1991)
• Black Cat (1991)
• Deadly Deal (1991)
• Sea Wolves (1991)
• Queen's High (1991)
• The Good, the Bad, and the Bandit (1991)
• Mission of Condor (1991)
• The Banquet (1991)
• Gun n' Rose (1992)
• Gigolo & Whore II (1992)
• Cash on Delivery (1992)
• Once Upon A Time A Hero in China (1992)
• Dr. Lamb (1992)
• Friday Gigolo (1992)
• The Night Rider (1992)
• Naked Killer (1992)
• Powerful Four (1992)
• Full Contact (1993)
• Holy Weapon (1993)
• Killer's Love (1993)
• The Incorruptible (1993)
• Killer's Love (1993)
• A Day Without Policeman (1993)
• Insanity (1993)
• Can't Stop My Crazy Love For You (1993)
• Love Among the Triad (1993)
• First Shot (1993)
• The Black Panther Warriors (1993)
• Future Cops (1993)
• Prince of Portland Street (1993)
• Final Judgment (1993)
• Run and Kill (1993)
• Raped by an Angel (1993)
• Rose Rose I Love You (1993)
• The True Hero (1994)
• Awakening (1994)
• The Tragic Fantasy - Tiger of Wanchai (1994)
• Drunken Master III (1994)
• Crystal Fortune Run (1994)
• Crossings (1994)
• The Devil's Box (1994)
• Passion 1995 (1995)
• Twist (1995)
• Police Confidential (1995)
• Dragon Killer (1995)
• Because of Lies (1995)
• Love, Guns, and Glass (1995)
• Story of a Robber (1995)
• Farewell to My Dearest (1995)
• Ghostly Bus (1995)
• Man Wanted (1995)
• King of Robbery (1996)
• Bloody Friday (1996)
• To Be No. 1 (1996)
• All of a Sudden (1996)
• Street Angels (1996)
• Scared Memory (1996)
• Young and Dangerous (1996)
• Young and Dangerous 2 (1996)
• Young and Dangerous 3 (1996)

• The Suspect (1998)
• Operation Billionaire (1998)
• Expect the Unexpected (1998)
• Casino (1998)
• Hitman (1998)
• The Mission (1999)
• The Legend of Speed (1999)
• Night Club (1999)
• Trust Me U Die (1999)
• Juliet in Love (2000)
• Model from Hell (2000)
• Horoscope II: The Woman from Hell (2000)
• To Where He Belongs (2000)
• Deathnet.com (2000)
• Cold War (2000)
• Man Wanted 3 (2000)
• Midnight Fly (2001)
• Fulltime Killer (2001)
• Final Romance (2001)
• My Left Eye Sees Ghosts (2002)
• Partners (2002)
• Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life (2003)
• Looking for Mr. Perfect (2003)
• PTU (2003)
• Eternal Flame of Fatal Attraction (2003)
• Breaking News (2004)
• Wake of Death (2004)
• Mob Sister (2005)
• Election (2005)
• The Unusual Youth (2005) (unbilled cameo)
• Outback (2005)
• SPL (aka Kill Zone (US)) (2005)
• Dragon Squad (2005)
• Election 2 (aka Triad Election (US)) (2006)
• Exiled (2006)
• Eye in the Sky (2007)
• Triangle (2007)
• Exodus (2007)
• Sasori (2008)
• Ballistic (2008)
• Fatal Move (2008)
• Sparrow (2008)
• Ocean Flame (2008)
• Tactical Unit – Human Nature (2008)
• Tactical Unit – No Way Out (2008)
• Tactical Unit – The Code (2008) (TV movie)
• Ip Man (2008)
• Tactical Unit – Partners (2009)
• Tactical Unit - Comrades in Arms (2009) (TV movie)
• Night & Fog (2009)
• Vengeance (2009)
• The Storm Warriors (2009)
• Bodyguards and Assassins (2009)
• Black Ransom (2010)
• Bad Blood (2010)
• Echoes of the Rainbow (2010)
• Ip Man 2 (2010)
• The Blood Bond (2010)
• Midnight Beating (2010)
• The Man Behind the Courtyard House (2011)
• Coming Back (2011)
• Nightfall (2012)
• Design of Death (2012)
• Passion Island (2012)
• The Thieves (2012)
• Cross (2012)
• Ripples of Desire (2012)
• 7 Assassins (2013)
• Cold Eyes (2013) (cameo)
• Man of Tai Chi (2013)
• Tales from the Dark 1 (2013) (actor / director)
• A Chilling Cosplay (2013)
• Control (2013)
• The Constable (2013)
• Les Jeux des nuages et de la pluie (2013) (French film)
• As the Light Goes Out (2014)
• The Midnight After (2014)
• Iceman (2014)
• 12 Golden Ducks (2015)
• Sara (2015)
• Two Thumbs Up (2015)
• Lovers and Movies (2015)
• SPL II: A Time For Consequences (2015)
• Wild City (2015)
• Detective Gui (2015)
• Ulterior Motive (2015)
• Magic Card (2015)
• Inside or Outside (2016)
• Phantom of the Theatre (2016)
• Iceman II (2016)
• Making Family (2016)
• The Bombing (2016)

Producer

• Ocean Flame (2008)

TV series

• A House Is Not a Home (1977)
• The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1979)
• The Shell Game (1980)
• The Return of the Condor Heroes (1983)
• The New Adventures of Chor Lau-heung (1984)
• Reincarnated Princess (1985)
• New Heavenly Sword and Dragon Sabre (1986)
• The Legend of the Book and the Sword (1987)
• War of the Dragon (1989)
• Heaven's Retribution (1994)
• ICAC Investigators 1996 (1996)
• My Date with a Vampire II (1999)
• Tokyo Juliet (2006)

External links

• Simon Yam at LoveHKFilm.com
• Simon Yam at IMDb
• HK Cinemagic entry
• Simon Yam discusses Ocean Flame