Chow Yun-Fat: Giving to A BETTER TOMORROW

Written by Alexis Lion.

Chow Yun-Fat started as a TV actor in the 70s and and rose to become one of the most popular and respected film actors in Asia. He is also well-known in the West for his role as Li Mu-Bai in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) and as Sao Feng in Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End (2007). He has won two Golden Horse Awards, three Hong Kong Film Awards, and was also awarded the San Diego Critics Award and Asia-Pacific Film Award.

Chow may have played gangsters and powerful mafia bosses in movies like The Last Tycoon (2012), but he is far from those arrogant characterss in real life. He remembers his modest beginning doing odd jobs as a bellboy, postman, camera salesman, and taxi driver. He found early success in TV, but his first few forays into films were poorly received. Though many did not think he had a future within the industry, he did not throw in the towel. He excelled in his role in John Woo’s A Better Tomorrow II (1987), and that propelled him into the most unforgettable action hero in everyone’s hearts. While many stars allow success to get into their heads, Chow remains a very humble man. He shops for groceries in public markets, very amicably takes snapshots with his fans and frequently takes public transport.

Chow often stars in films where he plays the assassin, like in The Killer (1989), or hard-as-nails cop who does nasty things to people, like in Hard-Boiled (1992). But underneath those sunglasses and trench coat, he is a soft-hearted and compassionate man. Photography is Chow’s passion, and six years ago, he published a photography book, Moving Pictures, which showcased photos he took during filming on various movie sets. The proceeds that he received from the sales of the book were donated to the Hong Kong Red Cross in aid of the Sichuan earthquake victims. Chow also donated a portion of the box office profits from his movies to One Foundation, an independent public fund-raising organisation founded by Chinese actor Jet Li.

Dubbed by the Los Angeles Times as the “The Coolest Actor in the World”, Chow’s boyish good looks, action hero image and considerable charm makes him especially popular among female audiences. Yet after a failed first marriage, he has been faithfully married and committed to his second wife for 28 years. This is so different from many other male hearthrobs with their “merry-go-round” dating life and extra-marital scandals. His faithfulness and commitment extends to others who have been in his life as well. He believes in 饮水思源 (‘to be grateful’ in Mandarin). When Hong Kong movie mogul and philanthropist Sir Run Run Shaw passed away early this year, Chow eulogized that he would not have been successful if not for the help of the late Shaw.

Leaving a legacy is more than just a reel of highlights in our life. Chow has set the benchmark of not only having great acting chops, but also giving back to the society that has made him what he is. Chow recently announced that he would donate his HK$1 billion (US$129 million) fortune to charity after his death. He says, “I feel that the money does not really belong to me. I am just in charge of keeping it temporarily!” That’s giving to A BETTER TOMORROW for the less fortunate people in the world.