# Chow Yun-fat

> Hong Kong actor

**Wikidata**: [Q181425](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q181425)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chow_Yun-fat)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/chow-yun-fat

## Summary

Chow Yun-fat is a Hong Kong actor born on May 18, 1955, renowned for his roles in Hong Kong cinema and international films. He began his career in 1973 and has worked as an actor, screenwriter, film actor, television actor, singer, and model. Chow Yun-fat received the Silver Bauhinia Star in 1997, a Hong Kong honor awarded for distinguished service to the territory.

## Biography

- **Born**: May 18, 1955
- **Nationality**: Hong Kong (British Hong Kong until 1997; People's Republic of China thereafter)
- **Education**: Available data indicates attendance at educational institutions (Q11064326, Q10943787, Q393822) — specific institutions not detailed in source material
- **Known for**: Acting in Hong Kong film and television; notable presence in cantopop music
- **Employer(s)**: Not specified in source material
- **Field(s)**: Film acting, television acting, screenwriting, singing, modeling
- **Work period start**: 1973

## Contributions

Based on available source material, Chow Yun-fat's specific film works, television productions, musical releases, and screenwriting projects are not enumerated in the provided data. His career spans multiple decades beginning in 1973, encompassing work in dramatic and comic productions across film, television, theatre, and radio. The source material indicates his occupation categories include actor, screenwriter, film actor, television actor, singer, and model, suggesting a multifaceted entertainment career. His recognition with the Silver Bauhinia Star in 1997 represents a formal acknowledgment of his contributions to Hong Kong.

## FAQs

**What is Chow Yun-fat's primary profession?**
Chow Yun-fat is primarily known as a Hong Kong actor, with additional experience in screenwriting, television acting, singing, and modeling.

**When did Chow Yun-fat begin his career?**
Chow Yun-fat began his entertainment career in 1973, according to the documented work period start date.

**What awards has Chow Yun-fat received?**
Chow Yun-fat received the Silver Bauhinia Star in 1997, a Hong Kong award recognizing distinguished service to the territory.

**What other roles has Chow Yun-fat held beyond acting?**
Beyond acting, Chow Yun-fat has worked as a screenwriter, singer, and model throughout his career in the entertainment industry.

**What is Chow Yun-fat's connection to cantopop?**
Chow Yun-fat is associated with cantopop, a genre of popular music in the Cantonese language, as indicated by the related entity classification.

## Why They Matter

Chow Yun-fat matters as a prominent figure in Hong Kong cinema who has contributed to the territory's cultural identity both before and after the 1997 handover. His multifaceted career spanning acting, screenwriting, singing, and modeling reflects the diverse entertainment industry that emerged from British Hong Kong. The Silver Bauhinia Star award he received in 1997 symbolizes recognition of his artistic contributions during a pivotal transitional period in Hong Kong's history. His work in multiple disciplines—film, television, and music—demonstrates the interconnected nature of Hong Kong's entertainment industry and its ability to produce versatile performers.

## Notable For

- **Silver Bauhinia Star recipient (1997)**: Hong Kong's second-highest honor, awarded for distinguished service
- **Multi-disciplinary entertainer**: Worked as actor, screenwriter, film actor, television actor, singer, and model
- **Long career span**: Active since 1973, representing over five decades in the entertainment industry
- **Hong Kong cultural icon**: Associated with cantopop and Hong Kong cinema during both colonial and post-handover periods

## Body

### Early Life and Background

Chow Yun-fat was born on May 18, 1955, in Hong Kong, which at the time of his birth was a British colony under British rule. The territory of British Hong Kong existed from 1841 to 1997, when sovereignty was transferred to the People's Republic of China. Specific details about his early life, family background, and childhood are not enumerated in the provided source material.

### Education

The source material indicates that Chow Yun-fat received education at institutions corresponding to database entries Q11064326, Q10943787, and Q393822. However, the specific names and details of these educational institutions are not provided in the available data. This limitation prevents a comprehensive account of his formal training or academic background.

### Career Overview

Chow Yun-fat's professional career in entertainment began in 1973, marking the start of a lengthy and diverse career spanning more than five decades. His work encompasses multiple roles within the entertainment industry, including:

**Acting**: As both a film actor and television actor, Chow Yun-fat has appeared in dramatic and comic productions across various media. The source material classifies him under multiple acting-related occupation categories, indicating versatility in his performing career.

**Screenwriting**: His occupation as a screenwriter suggests involvement in the creative writing process for films, television shows, comics, and games, though specific works are not enumerated.

**Singing**: Chow Yun-fat's association with cantopop—a genre of popular music in the Cantonese language—indicates involvement in the music industry, likely recording songs for film soundtracks or independent releases.

**Modeling**: His classification as a model indicates work in display, advertising, and promotional roles, common in the entertainment industry.

### Awards and Recognition

The primary documented recognition for Chow Yun-fat is the Silver Bauhinia Star, awarded in 1997. This Hong Kong award was established in 1997 following the territory's transition to Chinese sovereignty. The Silver Bauhinia Star is the second-highest honor in Hong Kong's award system, recognizing individuals who have made distinguished contributions to the territory. The award's inception in 1997 and Chow Yun-fat's receipt of it in the same year places this recognition at the historic moment of Hong Kong's handover from British to Chinese rule, symbolizing continuity in the recognition of artistic achievement under the new administrative framework.

### Cultural Significance

Chow Yun-fat's career intersects with significant historical periods in Hong Kong's development. His work occurred during the British colonial period and continued into the post-handover era under the People's Republic of China. The association with cantopop links him to a distinctly Hong Kong cultural form that emerged from the territory's unique position as a British colony with predominantly Cantonese-speaking population.

His multifaceted career reflects the integrated nature of Hong Kong's entertainment industry, where performers commonly transition between film, television, music, and other media. This versatility was a hallmark of Hong Kong cinema's golden age and contributed to the territory's distinctive cultural output in the late 20th century.

### Professional Attributes

The source material indicates Chow Yun-fat holds various professional identifiers across multiple databases, including IMDB (nm0000334), suggesting involvement in international film productions beyond Hong Kong. His classification under multiple occupation types—actor, screenwriter, film actor, television actor, singer, model—demonstrates a breadth of engagement with entertainment industry disciplines.

### Legacy and Historical Context

Chow Yun-fat represents the generation of Hong Kong entertainers who developed their careers during the final decades of British rule and continued into the post-colonial period. His recognition with the Silver Bauhinia Star in 1997 specifically ties his legacy to the transition period, marking him as an artist recognized by the new administrative order while having been formed by the colonial entertainment industry.

The absence of detailed filmography, specific works, or comprehensive career milestones in the source material limits the ability to fully document his artistic achievements. However, the documented occupation categories and award recognition establish his status as a significant figure in Hong Kong entertainment.

## References

1. Integrated Authority File
2. BnF authorities
3. datos.bne.es
4. [Buddhist Movie Star Chow Yun-fat Vows to Donate Fortune to Charity](https://www.buddhistdoor.net/news/buddhist-movie-star-chow-yun-fat-vows-to-donate-fortune-to-charity)
5. [Source](http://www.goldenhorse.org.tw/awards/nw?serach_type=award&sc=8&search_regist_year=1985)
6. [Source](http://www.goldenhorse.org.tw/awards/nw?serach_type=award&sc=8&search_regist_year=1987)
7. [Source](https://www.tatlerasia.com/people/chow-yun-fat)
8. International Standard Name Identifier
9. MusicBrainz
10. SNAC
11. Encyclopædia Britannica Online
12. filmportal.de
13. Munzinger Personen
14. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
15. Virtual International Authority File
16. Autoritats UB