Simon Yam

Simon Yam Tat-wah (Chinese: 任達華; born 19 March 1955) is a Hong Kong actor and film producer. He received international acclaim for his performances in international film festival and box office hits such as Naked Killer, SPL: Sha Po Lang, Election, Election 2 , Exiled, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life and The Thieves.[1]

Simon Yam
任達華
Simon Yam at the 2010 New York Asian Film Festival
Born (1955-03-19) 19 March 1955
Occupationactor
Years active1977–present
Spouse(s)
Ho Sui-yi
(m. 19811986)

Sophia Kao
(m. 1997)
ChildrenElla Yam (daughter)
Awards
Hong Kong Film AwardsBest Actor
2010 Echoes of the Rainbow

Golden Bauhinia AwardsBest Actor
2004 PTU
2006 Election

Chinese name
Traditional Chinese任達華
Simplified Chinese任达华

Career

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.

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.[2]

Personal life

Yam was previously married to his first wife Ho Sui-yi from 1981 and they divorced in 1986. In 1997 Yam married Sophia Kao, known as Qi Qi, an international model. Kao was born in Shanghai, but raised in Austria. They have a daughter, Ella.

On 20 July 2019, Yam was stabbed at promotional event in China.[3] He got little injury and as his manager said: “He was stabbed in the tummy area and also got a cut on his right hand”. He got small operation in Zhongshan city and successfully recovered. [4]

Filmography

Film

Year English title Chinese title Role Notes
1979 Law Don
1980 House of the Lute
1981 The Informer
Twins
1982 He Lives by Night
Green Killer
1986 Goodbye Mammie
New Heavenly Sword and Dragon Sabre
Tong – A Chinatown Story
1987 The Big Brother
1988 Tiger Cage Michael Wong
Osmanthus Alley
Burning Snow
Mistaken Identity
Women Prison Wayne Lu
1989 Live Hard Senior Inspector Hui Tat-ming
Burning Ambition
Lucky Star
Chinese Cop Out
Framed
The Wild Ones
Mr. Coconut
Final Run
Four Loves
Miracles
Big Man Little Affair
Bloodfight
1990 Bullet in the Head Luke
Killer's Romance Jeffrey
Hong Kong Gigolo
The Cyprus Tigers
Fatal Termination
Return Engagement Lee Pang
Doctor's Heart
1991 The Plot
Bullet for Hire Hon
Great Pretenders Yam Sai-sung
Gigolo and Whore
Black Cat Brian
Deadly Deal
Sea Wolves
Queen's High
The Good, the Bad, and the Bandit
Mission of Condor
The Banquet Wai's friend
1992 Gun n' Rose Simon Lung
Gigolo and Whore II
Cash on Delivery
Once Upon A Time A Hero in China
Dr. Lamb Lam Gor-yue
Friday Gigolo
The Night Rider
Naked Killer Tinam
Powerful Four
1993 Full Contact Judge
Holy Weapon Super Sword
Killer's Love
The Incorruptible
Killer's Love
A Day Without Policeman
Insanity
Can't Stop My Crazy Love For You
Love Among the Triad
First Shot Sam Mok
The Black Panther Warriors Black Jack Love
Future Cops Sing (Dhalsim)
Prince of Portland Street
Final Judgment
Run and Kill Ching Fung
Raped by an Angel Tso Tat Wah
Rose Rose I Love You Micky
1994 The True Hero
Awakening
The Tragic Fantasy - Tiger of Wanchai Chan Yiu-hing
Drunken Master III Gay bus passenger
Crystal Fortune Run
Crossings
The Devil's Box
1995 Passion 1995
Twist
Police Confidential
Dragon Killer
Because of Lies
Love, Guns, and Glass
Story of a Robber Kon Tin-lap
Farewell to My Dearest
Ghostly Bus
Man Wanted Lok Man-wah
1996 King of Robbery Chan Sing
Bloody Friday
To Be No. 1
All of a Sudden Tsui Chin-tun
Street Angels Walkie Pi
Scared Memory
Young and Dangerous Chiang Tin-sung
Young and Dangerous 2
Young and Dangerous 3
1998 The Suspect Dante Aquino
Operation Billionaire
Expect the Unexpected Ken
Casino
Hitman Officer Chan Kwan
1999 The Mission Frank
The Legend of Speed
Night Club
Trust Me U Die
2000 Juliet in Love
Model from Hell
Horoscope II: The Woman from Hell
To Where He Belongs
Deathnet.com
Cold War
Man Wanted 3
2001 Midnight Fly
Fulltime Killer Albert Lee
Final Romance
2002 My Left Eye Sees Ghosts Ben
Partners
2003 Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life Chen Lo
Looking for Mr. Perfect
PTU Sergeant Mike Ho
Eternal Flame of Fatal Attraction
2004 Explosive City Superintendent Charles Cheung
Breaking News Asst. Commissioner Wong Unbilled cameo
Wake of Death Sun Quan
2005 Mob Sister Tsan Gor (Chance)
Election Lam Lok
The Unusual Youth Police Superintendent Unbilled cameo
Outback
SPL (a.k.a. Kill Zone (US)) Inspector Chan Kwok-chung
Dragon Squad Commander Hon Sun
2006 Election 2 (a.k.a. Triad Election (US)) Lam Lok
Exiled Boss Fay Cameo
2007 Eye in the Sky Sergeant Wong Man-chin (‛Dog Head’)
Triangle Lee Bo-Sam
Exodus Sergeant Tsim Kin-yip
2008 Sasori
Ballistic
Fatal Move Lin Ho-tung
Sparrow Ken / The Sparrow
Ocean Flame
Tactical Unit – Human Nature
Tactical Unit – No Way Out
Tactical Unit – The Code TV movie
Ip Man Chow Ching-chuen
2009 Tactical Unit – Partners
Tactical Unit - Comrades in Arms Sam TV movie
Night & Fog Lee Sam
Vengeance George Fung
The Storm Warriors Lord Godless
Bodyguards and Assassins
2010 Black Ransom Inspector Mann Cheung
Bad Blood Funky
Echoes of the Rainbow Mr. Law
Ip Man 2 Chow Ching-chuen
The Blood Bond Lompoc
Midnight Beating Gu Zhensheng
2011 The Man Behind the Courtyard House
Coming Back
2012 Nightfall George Lam
Design of Death
Passion Island
The Thieves Chen
Cross Lee Leung
Ripples of Desire
2013 7 Assassins Wu
Cold Eyes Suspect Cameo
Man of Tai Chi Superintendent Wong
Tales from the Dark 1 Also director
A Chilling Cosplay
Control
The Constable
Les Jeux des nuages et de la pluie French film
2014 As the Light Goes Out
The Midnight After
Iceman Cheung
2015 12 Golden Ducks
Sara
Two Thumbs Up
Lovers and Movies
SPL II: A Time For Consequences Chan Kwok-wah
Wild City
Detective Gui
Ulterior Motive
Magic Card
2016 Inside or Outside Fei Xin
Phantom of the Theatre Gu Ming Shan
The Tenants Downstairs Chang Chia-chun
Mrs K Scarface
2017 Father and Son
Legend of the Naga Pearls Xue Lie
Colour of the Game
S.M.A.R.T. Chase Mach Ren
2018 A Beautiful Moment
Air Strike Air Defense Commander Cameo
Iceman II
Operation Red Sea Albert
Justice in Northwest
A or B
House of the Rising Sons
2019 Change of Gangster
The Human Comedy
Chasing the Dragon II: Wild Wild Bunch
Thaiflavor
Little Q
My People, My Country我和我的祖国Wah

Producer

Year English title Chinese title Notes
2008 Ocean Flame

Television series

Year English title Chinese title Role Notes
1977 A House Is Not a Home
1979 The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
1980 The Shell Game
1983 The Return of the Condor Heroes
1984 The New Adventures of Chor Lau-heung
1985 Reincarnated Princess
1986 New Heavenly Sword and Dragon Sabre
1987 The Legend of the Book and the Sword
1989 War of the Dragon
1994 Heaven's Retribution
1996 ICAC Investigators 1996 To Wing-fat Episode: The Eagle in the web
1999 My Date with a Vampire II Cheung San
2006 Tokyo Juliet Chu Xing
2018 The Great Adventurer Wesley
Dancing in the Storm Mu Chuan
2019 The Thunder 破冰行动 Undercover Officer Li Jianzhong (alias Zhao Jialiang)
One Dream One Home 澳门人家 Liang Dingwen

Awards and nominations

Hong Kong Film Awards

(6 Best Actor Nominations, four 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

References

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