Tang Bik-wan

Tang Bik-wan (Chinese: 鄧碧雲) (1924-1991) was a former Chinese actress and a Cantonese opera singer from Hong Kong.

In this Chinese name, the family name is Tang (鄧).
Tang Bik-wan
Born
Tang Cheuk Foo (鄧芍芙)

(1924-09-27)September 27, 1924
Guangdong, Republic of China
DiedMarch 25, 1991(1991-03-25) (aged 66)
British Hong Kong
Other namesTang Bik Wan, Tang Pik-wan, Tang Big-Wan, Tang Bik-Wun, Deng Shao-Fu
OccupationCantonese Opera singer and television actress
Years active1940s to 1980s
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese鄧碧雲
Simplified Chinese邓碧云
Musical career
Also known asMa-Da (妈打) or
Big Sister Pik (大碧姐)

Early life

On September 27, 1926, Tang was born as Tang Cheuk Fu.[1][2]

Tang Bik Wan was a Cantonese opera actress since she was 13, when she joined a Cantonese opera. She was a disciple of a few Cantonese opera masters and soon became the head actress for her troupe when she was 15. She was very talented and could almost play any role in the opera, hence earning her the nickname the Multi-role actress. During the civil war, she went to Guangzhou, then later to Hong Kong.

Career

In 1950, Tang crossed over as an actress in Hong Kong films. Tang and seven great opera actresses later became sworn sisters who went by the nickname "Eight Peonies". Tang was the Blue Peony and until 1967. Tang is credited with over 250 films.[1][2]

By 1968, Tang became a TV actress, performing in Rediffusion, ATV and in TVB. As age caught up with her, she became the typical actress for the role as the mother of the drama's main characters, some of her most notable roles in Television including the 1977 family soap opera A House Is Not a Home, the 1978 classic drama Chameleon and the popular 1979 drama serial The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. Tang's television career reached its peak when she played the caring and intelligent family matriarch in the late 1980s long-running hit The Seasons (hence, gaining her the nickname "Ma-Da" [Cantonese pronunciation of "mother"]) "Ma-Da" propelled her to fame, and when she continued to take movies and advertisements, she would portray the "Ma-Da" role.

Filmography

Films

This is a partial list of films.

  • 1950 Ciyun's Farewell in Storm and Fire (Part 1)
  • 1950 Ciyun's Farewell in Storm and Fire (Part 2)
  • 1950 The Gardener's Daughter - To Sheung-Yuet
  • 1956 Lady with a Silver and Bitter Tongue [1]
  • 1960 The Love Quadrangle [3][4]
  • 1964 Pigeon Cage (aka The Apartment of 14 Families) [5][6]

Awards

Personal life

Tang's health began to deteriorate during her tenure in The Seasons as a result of throat cancer. Her voice on screen had been noticeably deeper and softer between two seasons of the television series after she had undergone treatment to it during the off-season hiatus. However, Tang Pik Wan, the multi-talented actress died of a liver malfunction on March 25, 1991. Her family in her name has donated to various charity organizations in Hong Kong. There is a nursery and an old folks centre named after her.

References
  1. "Ms Tang Bik Wan, 1926-1991, Actress". avenueofstars.com.hk. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
  2. "Tang Pik-Wan". hkmdb.com. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
  3. "Press Releases - Film Archive's selected films pay tribute to Cantonese opera master Sit Kok-sin (with photos)". info.gov.hk. 2016. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
  4. "The Love Quadrangle". hkmdb.com. March 9, 1960. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
  5. "Pigeon Cage". mask9.com. March 29, 2013. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  6. "Film Screenings – Pigeon Cage". lcsd.gov.hk. March 2013. Retrieved January 1, 2020.
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