Yuen Biao

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Yuen Biao is regarded as one of the most acrobatic martial arts stars in film history. While not as popular as his fellow Chinese opera schoolmates, Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung, Yuen has distinguished himself as dedicated performer who has gathered a loyal cult following around the world.

Yuen Biao was born to his father, Ha Kwong-Tai and mother, Ha Sau-Ying on July 26th, 1957 in Hong Kong. He was enrolled in the China Drama Academy at the age of 5, the youngest at the school. There, he met Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung, all of whom would become lifelong friends. At the age of 16, Yuen moved to the United States to pursue a career in film but returned shortly, having found Hollywood to be uninterested in the young performer.

Hung, who had been the first to find success in the Hong Kong film industry proved to be instrumental in jumpstarting Yuen's career. After a series of bit parts in various films, Hung cast Yuen as the lead in Knockabout (1979). However, the role that propelled him into stardom came two years later when Yuen starred in the critically acclaimed Prodigal Son, directed by and co-starring Hung. By this time, Jackie Chan had risen to become the top martial arts star in Hong Kong. In 1984, the three friends joined forces to star in the hugely successful Project A. It was this same year that Yuen met his future wife DiDi Phang Sau-Ha while working as a stunt co-coordinator on the film Carry On Pickpocket.