Jimmy Wang Yu was an American actor best known for his roles in “Master of the Flying Guillotine,” “Dragon,” and “Soul.” Born on March 28, 1943, in Shanghai, China, he became famous for his unique contributions to the kung fu genre and was known as “The Asian Steve McQueen.”
Personal and Family Life
Wang was married to Jeanette Lin Tsui from 1969 until their divorce in 1975, and they had three children together. His early career in Hong Kong saw him gaining fame while working with Shaw Brothers Studio. Wang’s impact on the martial arts film industry was significant, creating a new genre of kung fu movies with “The Chinese Boxer,” which showcased hand-to-hand combat.
Career Achievements
He achieved great success as both an actor and director, earning a reputation for his work in films produced by Golden Harvest. Despite legal troubles and a ban from making films in Hong Kong, he continued to thrive in Taiwan’s independent film scene. Throughout his career, Wang’s films set box office records in Hong Kong for four consecutive years and inspired future legends of martial arts cinema, including Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan.
Death and Legacy
Jimmy Wang Yu passed away on April 5, 2022, in Taipei, Taiwan, due to complications from a stroke. His legacy endures in the martial arts film genre, and he was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014 from the New York Asian Film Festival, recognizing his contributions to cinema.
Filmography
| Title | Release Date | Character |
|---|---|---|
| The Man from Hong Kong | 1975-07-31 | Fang |
| 金燕子 | 1968-04-03 | Silver Roc Xiao Pang |
| 新座頭市 破れ！唐人剣 | 1971-01-13 | Wang Kang |
| 龍虎鬪 | 1970-11-27 | Lei Ming |
| 上海灘十三太保 | 1984-02-04 | Black Hat |
| 邊城三俠 | 1966-11-08 | Lu Fang |
| 獨臂刀王 | 1969-02-28 | Fang Gang |
| 武俠 | 2011-07-04 | The Master |
| 獨臂拳王 | 1972-08-02 | Yu Tien-Lung |
| 獨臂刀 | 1967-07-26 | Fang Kang |
| 英雄本色 | 1973-04-01 | Lin Hao-Shan |
| 火燒島 | 1990-03-28 | Kui / Lucas |
| 神刀 | 1968-08-23 | Lin Jenshiau |
| 黑白道 | 1971-02-01 | Bai Sifeng |
| Kung Fu Killers | 1974-01-01 | Self (archive footage) |
| Doctor’s Innocence | 2015-02-11 | Boss Yan |