Andy Lau
Template:Chinese name Template:Infobox Chinese-language singer and actor
Andy Lau Tak-Wah, BBS, MH, JP[1] (Chinese: 劉德華, born 27 September 1961) is a Hong Kong actor, singer, lyricist, and film producer. He has been one of Hong Kong's most commercially successful film actors since the mid-1980s, performing in more than 160 films while maintaining a successful singing career at the same time.[2] In the 1990s, Lau was branded by the media as one of the Four Heavenly Kings of Cantopop.[3]
Lau was entered into the Guinness World Records for the "Most Awards Won by a Cantopop Male Artist". By April 2000, he had already won an unprecedented total of 292 awards.[4] Lau also holds numerous film acting awards, having won the Hong Kong Film Award for Best Actor three times and the Golden Horse Award for Best Leading Actor twice. In 2005, Lau received the "No.1 Box office Actor 1985–2005" award of Hong Kong, yielding a box office total of HK$1,733,275,816 for shooting 108 films in the past 20 years, [4][5] and in 2007, he received the "Nielsen Box Office Star of Asia" award by the Nielsen Company (ACNielsen).[1] On 25 June 2018, Lau was invited to be a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.[6][7]
Early life
Andy Lau was born in Tai Po, Hong Kong, a son of a fireman (劉禮). His family was considered to be wealthy as his grandfather was a landowner, but his father left with him to the slums of Diamond Hill when he was six, where the area was full of wooden houses, and was burnt down when he was eleven. As a young boy, Lau had to fetch water for his family up to eight times a day because their house was not equipped with plumbing.[4] He graduated from a Band One secondary school, Ho Lap College in San Po Kong, Kowloon.[8] He was named as Lau Fook-wing (劉福榮) during his academic years. He also practices Chinese calligraphy.[5] Lau converted to Buddhism in the 1980s.[9] He was raised in a nominally Buddhist household and is now a follower of the Lingyan Mountain Temple in Taiwan.[10]
Career
Actor
In 1981, Lau signed up for the artist training program offered by TVB, which is where his acting career began.[11] The lead role which led to his initial popularity was in the 1982 TVB series The Emissary. In 1983, Lau's role as "Yang Guo" in the TVB wuxia series, The Return of the Condor Heroes (神鵰俠侶) further increased his popularity. From then on, he would take on many of the lead roles in many TVB series.
In September 1983, TVB was looking to increase their ratings in competition with Korea and Japan for the best variety show. The station then created the show TVB All-star challenge (星光熠熠勁爭輝) featuring almost the entire line-up of the most popular actors and singers at the time.[12] Lau, along with Tony Leung, Michael Miu, Felix Wong, and Kent Tong were branded as the "Five Tiger Generals of TVB" (無線五虎將) due to their popularity on the show.[12]
In the late '80s, Lau left TVB due to contract problems. TVB wanted to bind him to an exclusive five-year contract which Lau refused to sign, so TVB blacklisted him. He then focused on his film career.[4]
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In 1981, Lau made a guest appearance in one of Susanna Kwan's music videos and caught the eye of the manager Teddy Robin.[13] Teddy Robin then gave Lau a chance to play a small role in the movie Once Upon a Rainbow.[13] This was the first step in Lau's film acting career.[13] He landed a role in Ann Hui's 1982 film Boat People.[11] Later in 1983 he had his first leading role in the Shaw Brothers-produced action film, On the Wrong Track.[14]
One of his early leading roles included the more serious 1988 film, The Truth (法內情). However, Lau is best known in films for his (often) recurring roles as a "Heroic Gangster", such as Wong Kar-wai's 1988 film As Tears Go By, and Benny Chan's 1990 film A Moment of Romance.
Though a respectable actor, Lau was initially known more for his handsome features. Some people he has worked with have called him a matinee idol, but he has claimed to be an artist.[2] Lau has proved his acting skills in many of his films. His first major acting prize came with A Fighter's Blues, which was his first Golden Bauhinia Award for Best Actor.[15] He would win the Hong Kong Film Award for Best Actor award that year for Running out of Time.[16] In 2004, he won the prestigious Golden Horse Award for Best Leading Actor for his performance in Infernal Affairs III, the second sequel to the popular Infernal Affairs.[17] He is also known to Western audiences for starring in wuxia films such as House of Flying Daggers, which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Cinematography.
In 2005, Lau received the "No.1 Box office Actor 1985–2005" award of Hong Kong, yielding a box office total of HKD 1,733,275,816 for shooting 108 films in the past 20 years.[4][5] The aforementioned figure is as compared to the first runner-up Stephen Chow's (HKD 1,317,452,311) and second runner-up Jackie Chan's (HKD 894,090,962). "I've never imagined that it would be as much as 1.7 billion!" he told reporters. For his contributions, a wax figure of Lau was unveiled on 1 June, 2005 at the Madame Tussauds Hong Kong.[18] In 2007, Lau also received the "Nielsen Box Office Star of Asia" award by the Nielsen Company (ACNielsen).[1]
Film producer
In 1991, Lau set up his own film production company, Teamwork Motion Pictures, which in 2002 was renamed to Focus Group Holdings Limited. His contributions in the film industry as well as his involvement in nurturing new talent in the Asian film industry led him to winning the "Asian Filmmaker of the Year" award in the Pusan International Film Festival in 2006.[1] Some of the films Lau has produced include award-winning films, Made in Hong Kong and A Simple Life, his 100th film, A Fighter's Blues the Chinese digital film Crazy Stone, and big budget action blockbusters, Firestorm and Shock Wave.
Musical career
Lau released his first album "Only Know that I Still Love You" (只知道此刻愛你) under Capital Artists in 1985.[4] This album was not a big hit,[4] but despite having a voice not traditionally associated with popular music, Lau's hard work and perseverance resulted in him becoming one of the most successful singers in Cantopop. His singing career reached stellar status in 1990 with the release of the album entitled "Would It Be Possible" (可不可以), and his subsequent releases only solidified his status as a marketable singer.[4] For that song, he would win his first 1990 RTHK Top 10 Gold Songs Awards. He would then win at least one RTHK award category every year consecutively until the year 2007.
From Jade Solid Gold Top 10 Awards he has won the "Most Popular Hong Kong Male Artist" award 7 times and the "Asia Pacific Most Popular Hong Kong Male Artist" award 15 times.[4] He was also entered into the Guinness World Records for "Most Awards Won by a Cantopop Male Artist". By April 2000, he had already won an unprecedented total of 292 awards.[4]
Many of Lau's songs quickly topped the music charts not only in Hong Kong, but also in Taiwan, Mainland China, and in many different parts of Asia. Some of his most notable hits include "The Days We Spent Together" (一起走過的日子), "If You Are My Legend" (如果你是我的傳說), "The Tide" (潮水), "Forget Love Potion" (忘情水), "True Forever" (真永遠), "Chinese people" (中國人), "Love You Forever" (愛你一萬年), "You Are My Woman" (你是我的女人), and "Secret Admiration" (暗裡著迷). Besides singing in Cantonese and Mandarin, he has also sung in other languages such as English, Japanese, Malay, and Taiwanese Hokkien. One example of a Hokkien song was (世界第一等), and he has also performed a Cantonese cover of Joan Jett's "I Hate Myself for Loving You" (我恨我痴心).
Since the early 1990s, Lau, along with Jacky Cheung, Aaron Kwok, and Leon Lai have been referred to by the Chinese media as the Cantopop Four Heavenly Kings.[3]
Lau sang alongside Jackie Chan during a part of the 2008 Summer Olympics closing ceremony on 24 August, 2008. In addition, Lau, who has been supporting disabled athletes in Hong Kong for more than a decade, was appointed as the Goodwill ambassador for the 2008 Summer Paralympics.[19] He led other performers in singing and performing the song "Everyone is No.1" at the Beijing National Stadium just a few hours before the 2008 Paralympics opening ceremony began.[20] He also sang the theme song "Flying with the Dream" with Han Hong during the Paralympics opening ceremony on 6 September 2008.[19]
As a songwriter, Lau's only creative works are as a lyricist. Most of the songs he has written have been for himself.
Appearance in other media
Lau is alleged to have been featured as a non-player character (NPC) as a random pedestrian in a sandbox-style action video game called Prototype. On 6 July, the Hong Kong local newspapers Headline Daily and Sing Tao Daily reported on Lau's cameo.[21]
Lau was severely injured on 16 January 2017, when he was thrown off and stomped on by a horse during a commercial shoot in Thailand. The commercial was released in March, but with all horses and horse-riding scenes cut from the final version. By the end of 2017, Lau had fully recovered from his injuries.
Community service
In 1994, Lau established the Andy Lau Charity Foundation which helps people in need and promotes a wide range of youth education services.[1] In 1999, he received the Ten Outstanding Young Persons of the World award, being the third person from Hong Kong at that time to receive this distinguished honour.[1] In 2008, Lau took a main role in putting together the Artistes 512 Fund Raising Campaign for relief toward the victims of the 2008 Sichuan earthquake.[22] It was one of the largest and most ambitious charity events ever assembled in the territory.
Lau was noted for his active involvement in charity works throughout his 30 years in showbiz and honoured as a "Justice of Peace" by the Hong Kong SAR government in 2008.[23] In May 2010, he received the "World Outstanding Chinese" award and an "honorary doctorate" from the University of New Brunswick, Canada.[24] On 14 December, 2017, Lau was awarded a Doctor of Letters degree from the Hong Kong Shue Yan University, with the citation highlighting his popularity among locals which stated: “His low-key, modest, friendly and approachable personality has endeared him to millions of fans and ordinary folks alike, who also consider him to be a ‘heartthrob’ and the ‘unofficial Chief Executive of [Hong Kong].”[25]
Lau was also named in the Panama Papers leak.[26]
Personal life
In 2008, Lau married Malaysian Chinese Carol Chu after 24 years of speculation over their relationship.[27] The couple married in Las Vegas.[27] On 9 May, 2012, Chu gave birth to their first child, a daughter, Hanna.[28] In January 2017, Lau was seriously injured after being thrown off and stomped by a horse during a commercial shoot in Khao Lak, an area three hours outside of Thailand’s capital city, Bangkok.[29][30] However, Lau was able to make a full return to work in August 2017, stating he has recovered 95 per cent from his injuries and has fully recovered by the end of the year.[31][32]
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Hong Kong Film Awards | Best New Performer | Boat People | Nominated |
| 1989 | Best Actor | As Tears Go By | Nominated | |
| 1990 | Golden Horse Film Festival | Best Supporting Actor | Kawashima Yoshiko | Nominated |
| 1992 | Hong Kong Film Awards | Best Actor | Lee Rock | Nominated |
| Best Original Film Song (Singer) | Casino Raiders II | Nominated | ||
| 1995 | Best Original Film Song (Singer) | Tian Di | Nominated | |
| 1996 | Best Actor | Full Throttle | Nominated | |
| Best Original Film Song (Singer/Lyricist) | Nominated | |||
| 1998 | Best Film (Producer) | Made in Hong Kong | Won | |
| Best Original Film Song (Singer) | Island of Greed | Nominated | ||
| 1999 | Best Original Film Song (Singer) | The Longest Summer | Nominated | |
| A True Mob Story | Nominated | |||
| Best Film (Producer) | The Longest Summer | Nominated | ||
| 2000 | Best Actor | Running Out of Time | Won | |
| Golden Bauhinia Awards | Nominated | |||
| 2001 | Hong Kong Film Awards | Best Actor | A Fighter's Blues | Nominated |
| Golden Bauhinia Awards | A Fighter's Blues | Won | ||
| Golden Horse Film Festival | Love on a Diet | Nominated | ||
| 2002 | Hong Kong Film Awards | Nominated | ||
| Best Original Film Song (Singer/Lyricist) | Shaolin Soccer | Nominated | ||
| 2003 | Best Actor | Infernal Affairs | Nominated | |
| Best Original Film Song (Singer with Tony Leung) | Nominated | |||
| Golden Horse Film Festival | Best Actor | Nominated | ||
| Golden Bauhinia Awards | Nominated | |||
| 2004 | Hong Kong Film Awards | Best Actor | Running on Karma | Won |
| Golden Horse Film Festival | Infernal Affairs III | Won | ||
| Golden Bauhinia Awards | Nominated | |||
| Running on Karma | Nominated | |||
| 2005 | Golden Bauhinia Awards | A World Without Thieves | Nominated | |
| 2006 | Hong Kong Film Awards | Wait 'Til You're Older | Nominated | |
| Best Original Film Song (Singer/Lyricist) | Nominated | |||
| Golden Bauhinia Awards | Best Actor | Nominated | ||
| 2007 | Hong Kong Film Awards | Best Asian Film (Producer) | Crazy Stone | Nominated |
| Golden Bauhinia Awards | Best Actor | Battle of Wits | Nominated | |
| 2008 | Hong Kong Film Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Protégé | Won |
| Best Actor | The Warlords | Nominated | ||
| Best Original Film Song (Singer with Eason Chan/Lyricist) | Brothers | Nominated | ||
| 2011 | Best Film (Producer) | Gallants | Won | |
| Golden Horse Film Festival | Best Actor | A Simple Life | Won | |
| 2012 | Hong Kong Film Awards | Best Film (Producer) | Won | |
| Best Actor | Won | |||
| Best Original Film (Singer/Lyricist) | Shaolin | Nominated | ||
| 2014 | Best Original Film (Singer with Sammi Cheng) | Blind Detective | Nominated | |
| 2016 | Best Actor | Lost and Love | Nominated | |
| 2015 | Golden Rooster Awards | Best Actor | Lost and Love | Nominated |
| 2007 | Asian Film Awards | Best Actor | Battle of Wits | Nominated |
| 2012 | Asian Film Awards | Best Actor | A Simple Life | Nominated |
| 2018 | Hong Kong Film Awards | Best Film (Producer) | Shock Wave | Nominated |
| Chasing the Dragon | Nominated | |||
| Best Actor | Shock Wave | Nominated |
Honors
In 2018, asteroid 55381 Lautakwah, discovered by Bill Yeung at the Desert Eagle Observatory in 2001, was named for Lau. The asteroid measures approximately 8.5 kilometers (5.3 miles) in diameter and is located in the outermost region of the asteroid belt, just inside the Hecuba gap. The official naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 11 July 2018.[33]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f "Andy Lau profile". focusgroup.cc. Focus Film. Retrieved 31 January 2010.
- ^ a b "The rule of Lau". Time.com. Retrieved 31 January 2010.
- ^ a b "四大天王 蓦然回首十五年". Xinhuanet.com. Retrieved 12 April 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Andy Lau: From tiger to heavenly king". Radio86.co.uk. Archived from the original on 10 June 2015. Retrieved 31 January 2010.
- ^ a b c "Andy Lau". Madametussauds.com. Archived from the original on 9 January 2010. Retrieved 31 January 2010.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|deadurl=(help) - ^ "Andy Lau among Motion Picture Academy invitees". Retrieved 28 June 2018.
- ^ "Motion picture academy invites largest class ever in continued push for diversity". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
- ^ "五虎"恩怨：李家乘和劉德華的終極PK". Sina.com. Retrieved 31 January 2010.
- ^ "Buddhist blockbuster". Global Times. 20 January 2011. Archived from the original on 6 May 2011. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|dead-url=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "组图：娱乐圈明星信佛知多少". QQ News. 27 February 2007. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
- ^ a b "Andy Lau – The Face of Hong Kong". Yesasia.com. Retrieved 1 January 2010.
- ^ a b "[Unknown]". Big5.china.com.[permanent dead link]." 第二章 影視新星 無線電視臺的五虎將. Korea referred as Goryeo (高麗). Retrieved on 31 January 2010.
- ^ a b c "劉德華 一張老臉 還擄少女心". Sina.com. Retrieved 27 January 2010.
- ^ "Film review". Lovehkfilm.com. Retrieved 31 January 2010.
- ^ Dianying.com. "Dianying.com." 第 6 屆金紫荊獎頒獎. Retrieved on 31 January 2010.
- ^ "19th Hong Kong Film Awards" (in Chinese). Official website of Hong Kong Film Awards.
- ^ "第41屆金馬獎 劉德華稱帝楊貴媚封后". Dajiyuan.com. Retrieved 31 January 2010.
- ^ "Wax figure of Andy Lau unveiled". Xinhuanet.com. Retrieved 31 January 2010.
- ^ a b "Beijing Paralympic theme song shows love for life". Sina.com. 6 September 2008.
- ^ "Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games". peopledaily.com.cn.
- ^ "頭條日報 頭條網 - 變種戰士易容鬥法". hkheadline.com.
- ^ "Artistes 512 preparation pictures". Sina.com. Retrieved 31 May 2008.
- ^ "[Unknown]". Xinhuanet.com. 2 July 2008.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Ta Kung Pao[permanent dead link]." Retrieved on 6 May 2010.
- ^ "Hong Kong superstar Andy Lau receives honorary doctorate, hopes to be role model for young people". 15 December 2017. Retrieved 25 June 2018.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "LAU TAK WAH ANDY". icij.org. ICIJ Offshore Leaks Database.
- ^ a b "Andy Lau admits to marrying Carol Chu last year". Channel News Asia. MediaCorp. 30 August 2009. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
- ^ "Andy Lau is now a dad". Xin MSN Entertainment. 11 May 2012. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
- ^ "Andy Lau injured after being thrown off a horse". scmp.com. 19 January 2017. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
- ^ "Hong Kong star Andy Lau's recovery to take up to nine months after being thrown from horse on shoot". SCMP/News/Hong Kong/Education. 23 January 2017. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
- ^ "Andy Lau says he has recovered 95 per cent from his horse-riding accident".
- ^ "Andy Lau speaks out about his recovery process".
- ^ "(55381) Lautakwah = 2001 SX264 = 1978 WY3 = 1992 EP35 = 1998 FA86 - IAU Minor Planet Center".
External links
- Andy Lau Official Website Template:Zh icon
- Andy Lau at the Hong Kong Movie Database
- Andy Lau at IMDb
- 1961 births
- 20th-century Hong Kong male actors
- 20th-century Hong Kong singers
- 21st-century Hong Kong male actors
- 21st-century Hong Kong singers
- Cantopop singers
- Converts to Buddhism
- Hong Kong billionaires
- Hong Kong Buddhists
- Hong Kong businesspeople
- Hong Kong film presenters
- Hong Kong film producers
- Hong Kong idols
- Hong Kong lyricists
- Hong Kong male film actors
- Hong Kong male singers
- Hong Kong male television actors
- Hong Kong Mandopop singers
- Hong Kong philanthropists
- Hong Kong people of Xinhuiese descent
- Living people
- Recipients of the Bronze Bauhinia Star
- TOYP Awardees
- World record holders
- TVB veteran actors