Dean Shek
Dean Shek | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Shek at The Wit and Wisdom of Cinema City event held at the Hong Kong Film Archive in 2016 | |||||||||||
| Born | 17 June 1949[1] Beijing, China | ||||||||||
| Died | 20 September 2021 (aged 72) | ||||||||||
| Occupation(s) | Actor, film producer, film director, screenwriter, film presenter | ||||||||||
| Years active | 1968–1992, 2016–2021 | ||||||||||
| Spouse | Lau Chun-yue (1979–2021) | ||||||||||
| Chinese name | |||||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | |||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | |||||||||||
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| Musical career | |||||||||||
| Also known as | Charlie Shek | ||||||||||
| Origin | Hong Kong | ||||||||||
Dean Shek (17 June 1949[1] – 20 September 2021),[2] also known as Dean Shek Tin, was a Hong Kong film actor and producer with over 72 film credits to his name. Shek was perhaps best known as Professor Kai-hsien in the 1978 film Drunken Master, Lung Sei in the 1987 film A Better Tomorrow II, and Snooker in the 1990 film The Dragon from Russia.
Early life
[edit]With ancestral roots from Tianjin, China, Shek was born as Lau Wai-sing on 17 June 1949, Beijing, before moving to Hong Kong at the age of 3.[3] There, he attended the Shung Tak Catholic English College before studying filmmaking, acting and voice acting at Shaw Brothers Studio's actors training program in 1968.[4]
Career
[edit]Acting
[edit]Shek began his career as a contracted actor at Shaw Brothers Studio in 1968,[5] making his first brief appearance in the film Twin Blades of Doom (1969). He received more substantial roles at Shaws, in musicals such as The Singing Killer, romantic films including A Time For Love (1970), comedies such as The Human Goddess (1972) and martial arts films such as The Fists of Vengeance (1972).
Shek left Shaw Brothers in 1973. The same year, he appeared in Master with Cracked Fingers, the first film to feature Jackie Chan in a starring role. He made his directorial debut in 1975 with The Monk, and worked as assistant director on Black Alice (1975), A Queen's Ransom (1976), Iron Fisted Monk (1977).
Throughout the late 1970s, Shek continued to work with the likes of Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung on period kung fu films including Broken Oath (1977), Warriors Two (1978), Snake in the Eagle's Shadow (1978), Drunken Master (1978), Odd Couple (1979) and Dance of the Drunk Mantis (1979).
Shek is credited as producer on 22 films, most of which were for the production company Cinema City & Films Co., which he co founded with Karl Maka and Raymond Wong in 1980.[6] Throughout the 1980s, he appeared in action, crime and comedy films such as Aces Go Places and John Woo's A Better Tomorrow 2 (1987). He also directed four films during the period, which were The Perfect Wife?! (1983), A Family Affair (1984), Kung Hei Fat Choy (1985) and The Family Strikes Back (1986), which were all box office hits.[4]
Final film and retirement from acting
[edit]Shek played his final role as Uncle Choi in the 1991 action film, The Raid.
In 1992, Shek retired from acting at the age of 42, after working as a producer in 1992 fantasy horror film, Angel Hunter.
Recently, Shek made a return to acting with a cameo appearance in the 2016 film, The Bodyguard, which is directed by and starring Sammo Hung, and also produced by and guest starring Andy Lau.[7]
Shek last made his public appearance with his former Cinema City & Films Co. collaborators at the 36th Hong Kong Film Awards.
Personal life
[edit]In 1979, Shek married Taiwanese actress Lau Chun-yue. They had several children together.[4] Shek's three main personal hobbies were cigar, golf and coffee.[8]
After retiring from the film industry, Shek ventured into and found success in the real estate industry.[3]
Shek died from cancer on 20 September 2021, at the age of 72. He had been diagnosed with the disease two months prior.[9]
Filmography
[edit]Films
[edit]| Year | Title | Chinese Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | Killer Darts | "Tung Kung-long" | ||
| 1969 | Twin Blades of Doom | "Mayor's servant" | ||
| Dark Semester | "Yu Mei-hsiu" | |||
| 1970 | Young Lovers | "Lin Da-cheng" | ||
| A Time for Love | "John Chau" | |||
| The Singing Killer | "Fairy" | |||
| My Son | "Rape gang member" | |||
| Guess Who Killed by Twelve Lovers | "Stephen" | |||
| 1971 | It Takes a Man to Be Henpecked | 怕 |
Actor | |
| The Man with Two Wives | Actor | |||
| Master with Cracked Fingers | 刁手 |
"Landlord" | Re-edit of Little Tiger of Canton | |
| 1972 | Pursuit | "Palace guard" | ||
| Intrigue in Nylons | "Shop clerk" | |||
| The Human Goddess | "Playboy #1" | |||
| The Fugitive | "Siu Ba" | |||
| The Fists of Vengeance | "Doggie" | a.k.a. The Deadly Knives a.k.a. A Life-and-Death Struggle | ||
| The Black Tavern | "Wandering Monk" | |||
| Let's Go to Bed | Actor | |||
| 1973 | The Young Tiger | "Conceited Red Shirt" | ||
| Tales of Larceny | "Yu Jieh" | Two-part anthology film with Shek appearing in the first part. | ||
| The Pirate | "Master Bai" | |||
| The Iron Bodyguard | "Liang Qi-chao" | a.k.a. The Knight and the Scholar | ||
| Illicit Desire | "Little Fairy" | Three-part anthology film with Shek appearing in the third part. | ||
| The Generation Gap | "Club bald waiter" | a.k.a. The Traitor | ||
| The Delinquent | "Cripple" | a.k.a. Street Gangs of Hong Kong | ||
| My Wife, My Love and My Maid | 一嬌二俏三更妙 | |||
| Ambush | "Cold-faced swordsman Hong Lieh" | |||
| The Villains | "Li Deng-yao" | |||
| 1974 | Young Lovers on Flying Wheels | "Xiao Xian" | ||
| Naughty! Naughty! | 綽頭 |
"Auntie Six's husband" | ||
| A Mad World of Fools | Actor | |||
| The Golden Lotus | "Doctor Jiang" | |||
| Games Gamblers Play | "Casino clerk" | |||
| Blood Reincarnation | "Chang" | |||
| The Big Risk | Actor | a.k.a. Kung Fu Conspiracy a.k.a. When Tough Guys Meet | ||
| Tenants of Talkative Street | Actor | |||
| Paris Killers | "Shot messenger" | |||
| Everyday Is Sunday | Actor | |||
| Bravest Fist | Actor | |||
| Call Me Dragon | "Mincing waiter" | a.k.a. Fighting Dragon vs. Deadly Tiger | ||
| April Fool | Actor Screenwriter |
|||
| The Protectors | 鏢旗 |
"Spear Prince" | ||
| 1975 | The Monk | "Si-hung" Director Screenwriter |
Directorial debut a.k.a. The Kung Fu Monk | |
| Kissed by the Wolves | Actor | |||
| The Young Dragons | "Young brothel customer" | |||
| Shantung Man in Hong Kong | Actor | a.k.a. Little Shantung Arrives in Hong Kong | ||
| The Seven Coffins | Actor | |||
| The Last Message | "Hotel clerk" | |||
| My Wacky, Wacky World | "Te Shun" | |||
| Lady of the Law | "Young Master Chen" | |||
| Hong Kong Superman | Actor Assistant director |
a.k.a. Bruce, Hong Kong Master | ||
| Chinese Superior Kung Fu | Actor | |||
| The Bedevilled | "Lin Chi-yao" | |||
| Bald-Headed Betty | Actor | |||
| All in the Family | Actor | |||
| Black Alice | Assistant director | |||
| 1976 | A Queen's Ransom | 鱷潭 |
"Ducky" Assistant director Assistant producer |
|
| My Funny Intern | Actor | a.k.a. Hour of the Wolf a.k.a. Typical Admirable Doctor | ||
| I Want More... | Actor | a.k.a. Confession of a Concubine a.k.a. Injustice! My Lord | ||
| The Girlie Bar | "Xiao Kang" | a.k.a. The Finger Bar | ||
| The Simple-Minded Fellow | Actor | |||
| Divorce Hong Kong Style | Actor | |||
| Gonna Get You | Planning | |||
| 1977 | Mantis Fists and Tiger Claws of Shaolin | Hung Chun-piao | ||
| The Iron-Fisted Monk | 三德和尚與舂米六 | "Manchu" Assistant director |
||
| Broken Oath | "Brothel manager" | |||
| The Discharged | "Toast waiter" (cameo) | |||
| Winner Takes All! | Actor | |||
| 1978 | Warriors Two | "Master Yao" | ||
| Spiritual Kung Fu | "Shaolin student" | |||
| Snake in the Eagle's Shadow | "Teacher Li" | |||
| Snake Crane Secret | "Shao Ting-shan" | a.k.a. Secrets of the Dragon a.k.a. Snake & Crane Secrets | ||
| Half a Loaf of Kung Fu | 一招半式闖江湖 | "Man with cane" | a.k.a. Karate Bomber | |
| Filthy Guy | Actor | a.k.a. Return of the Secret Rivals a.k.a. Emperor of Filthy Guy | ||
| Drunken Master | "Professor Kai-shien" | a.k.a. Drunk Monkey in the Tiger's Eye | ||
| Dirty Tiger, Crazy Frog | "Panther" | |||
| Deadly Strike | "Cheung Tsai" | a.k.a. Breakout from Oppression | ||
| Dirty Kung Fu | "Criminal who sells women" | a.k.a. Kung Fu Expert | ||
| 18 Fatal Strikes | "Tai-pan" | a.k.a. 18 Deadly Strikes | ||
| My Life's on the Line | "Master Handsome" | a.k.a. 60 Second Assassin | ||
| The Adventure of the Heaven Mouse | Actor | a.k.a. Force 3 From Shanghai a.k.a. Snake in the Crane's Shadow | ||
| Crazy Guy with Super Kung Fu | 戇頭 |
Actor | ||
| 1979 | Story of Drunken Master | "Little Master" (cameo) | ||
| Love and Sword | Actor | a.k.a. The Samurai | ||
| Odd Couple | 搏命 |
"Master Rocking" | a.k.a. Shaolin Sabre vs Wu Tang Spear | |
| Kung Fu on Sale | "Kung fu instructor" | a.k.a. King of Money and Fists | ||
| His Name Is Nobody | "Sting" | |||
| The Fearless Hyena | "Undertaker" (guest star) | |||
| Dance of the Drunk Mantis | "Money Bags" | a.k.a. Drunken Master Part 2 | ||
| Crazy Couple | "Yan" | |||
| Four Invincibles | Actor | |||
| Dance of Death | "Bird Egg" | a.k.a. Eternal Conflict | ||
| 1980 | Ring of Death | "Chu" | a.k.a. Bastard Kung Fu Master | |
| Crazy Crooks | 瘋狂 |
"Mo-pei Chai" Presenter |
||
| By Hook or by Crook | 鹹魚 |
"Skinny Gee" | ||
| Laughing Times | "Chinese Charlie Chaplin" | |||
| 1981 | Emperor of Shaolin Kung Fu | 闖王 |
Actor | a.k.a. Lord Chuang, Li Tzu-cheng a.k.a. The Snake, the Tiger, the Crane |
| Chasing Girls | "Robert" | |||
| Beware of Pickpockets | "Extra Hand" | |||
| Life After Life | Producer | |||
| All the Wrong Clues for the Right Solution | Producer | a.k.a. All the Wrong Clues | ||
| No U-Turn | Producer | |||
| Spooky Kookies | Producer | |||
| 1982 | It Takes Two | "Shek" Producer |
||
| Can't Stop the War | "Soldier" (cameo) Producer |
|||
| Aces Go Places | "Giglo Joe" (special appearance) Producer |
|||
| Till Death Do We Scare | Presenter | |||
| He Lives by Night | Presenter | |||
| 1983 | The Perfect Wife?! | "Dean Shek" Director Presenter |
||
| Fearless Hyena Part II | "Shek Earth" (guest star) | |||
| All the Wrong Spies | "Japanese soldier in intro" (cameo) Presenter |
|||
| Ghost Bustin' | Presenter | |||
| Esprit D'armour | Presenter | Re-edit of the 1970 film | ||
| Aces Go Places 2 | Presenter | |||
| Play Catch | Presenter | |||
| Papa, Can You Hear Me Sing? | 搭錯 |
Producer | ||
| Send in the Clowns | Producer | |||
| Kidnapped | Producer | |||
| That Day on the Beach | Production manager | |||
| 1984 | A Family Affair | "Alex" Director Presenter |
||
| Banana Cop | Presenter | |||
| Happy Ghost | Presenter | |||
| Lifeline Express | Presenter | |||
| Heaven Can Help | Presenter | |||
| Merry Christmas | Presenter | |||
| Aces Go Places 3 | Presenter | |||
| The Occupant | Presenter | |||
| Run, Tiger, Run | Producer Presenter |
|||
| Pom Pom | Presenter | |||
| My Sentimental Little Friend | Presenter | a.k.a. My Little Sentimental Friend | ||
| The Time You Need a Friend | Presenter | |||
| 1985 | Kung Hei Fat Choy | "Mr. Fung" Director Producer Presenter |
||
| City Hero | "Trainer Lee" | |||
| Mummy Dearest | Presenter | |||
| For Your Heart Only | Presenter | |||
| Why Me? | Presenter | |||
| Happy Ghost II | Presenter | |||
| Cupid One | Presenter | |||
| The Isle of Fantasy | Presenter | |||
| Super Citizen | Presenter | |||
| Lone, Lone Flower | Presenter | |||
| Happy Union | Presenter | |||
| Happy Union 2 | Presenter | |||
| 1986 | The Family Strikes Back | "Shek La-mai" Director Producer |
||
| Abracadabra | Presenter | |||
| Happy Ghost III | Presenter | |||
| Aces Go Places IV | Presenter | |||
| A Book of Heroes | Presenter | |||
| 1987 | A Better Tomorrow 2 | "Lung Sei" | ||
| Lady in Black | Producer Presenter |
|||
| 1988 | City War | Presenter | ||
| Fractured Follies | Producer | |||
| 1989 | They Came to Rob Hong Kong | "Sherlock False" Screenwriter Presenter |
||
| 1990 | The Dragon from Russia | "Snooker" (guest star) Producer Presenter |
||
| 1991 | The Raid | "Uncle Choi" Presenter |
||
| 1992 | Angel Hunter | Producer Presenter |
||
| 2016 | The Bodyguard | "Old man" (guest appearance) | Final film role |
Television series
[edit]| Year | Title | Chinese title | Role | Country and channel | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Saga of Sui & Tong Dynasty | "Lee Yuen-kat" |  Hong Kong - CTV |
||
| 1977 | Sword Stained with Royal Blood | "Ha Suet-yee" | Hong Kong - CTV |
References
[edit]- ^ a b SHEK Dean —
石 天 — (1949.6.17−2021.9.20) director, screenwriter., In: filmarchive.gov.hk, Hong Kong Film Archive, pdf-file; 161 kB. Retrieved November 8, 2021. - ^ "
細 仔 證 實 石 天 已 逝黃 百鳴尊重亡友遺願未搞追思會". Oriental Press Group. 2 November 2021. Retrieved 2 November 2021. - ^ a b "
搜 房 网：地 产人物 ----石 天 -深 圳搜房 网". Retrieved 22 December 2015. - ^ a b c "Hong Kong Film Directors' Guild - Directors - Dean SHEK". Hong Kong Film Directors' Guild. Archived from the original on 19 September 2020. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
- ^ "Dean Shek Tin". Short Biographies. HKFilm.net. Retrieved 13 August 2009.
- ^ "Sammo Hung (
洪 金宝 )". biography. Jongo Knows. Archived from the original on 15 January 2009. Retrieved 13 August 2009. - ^ "Sammo Hung does some serious damage in 'The Bodyguard'". City on Fire. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
- ^ "
他 是 影 壇 大 佬，曾力捧 哥哥張 國榮 ，和 黃 百鳴等人共同創造影壇神話". Da Liu Lian. Retrieved 26 December 2015. - ^ "
新 藝 城 」元老 石 天 10月 已 癌 逝家人 盼低調 暫不辦追思 ". 噓！星 聞. 2 November 2021. Archived from the original on 5 November 2021. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
External links
[edit]
- 1949 births
- 2021 deaths
- Hong Kong male film actors
- Hong Kong film producers
- Hong Kong film directors
- Hong Kong film presenters
- Hong Kong screenwriters
- Hong Kong male comedians
- Male actors from Beijing
- 20th-century Hong Kong male actors
- Chinese male film actors
- Film directors from Beijing
- Screenwriters from Beijing