Dean Shek
Shek at The Wit and Wisdom of Cinema City event held at the Hong Kong Film Archive in 2016
Born
Lau Wai-sing
劉偉成 (Traditional)
刘伟成 (Simplified)
Liú Wěichéng (Mandarin)
Lau4 Wai2sing4 (Cantonese)

(1949-06-17)17 June 1949[1]
Beijing, China
Died20 September 2021(2021-09-20) (aged 72)
Occupation(s)Actor, film producer, film director, screenwriter, film presenter
Years active1968–1992,
2016–2021
SpouseLau Chun-yue (1979–2021)
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese石天
Simplified Chinese石天
Musical career
Also known asCharlie Shek
OriginHong Kong

Dean Shek (17 June 1949[1] – 20 September 2021),[2] also known as Dean Shek Tin, was a Hong Kong film actor and producer with over 72 film credits to his name. Shek was perhaps best known as Professor Kai-hsien in the 1978 film Drunken Master, Lung Sei in the 1987 film A Better Tomorrow II, and Snooker in the 1990 film The Dragon from Russia.

Early life

With ancestral roots from Tianjin, China, Shek was born as Lau Wai-sing on 17 June 1949, Beijing, before moving to Hong Kong at the age of 3.[3] There, he attended the Shung Tak Catholic English College before studying filmmaking, acting and voice acting at Shaw Brothers Studio's actors training program in 1968.[4]

Career

Acting

Shek began his career as a contracted actor at Shaw Brothers Studio in 1968,[5] making his first brief appearance in the film Twin Blades of Doom (1969). He received more substantial roles at Shaws, in musicals such as The Singing Killer, romantic films including A Time For Love (1970), comedies such as The Human Goddess (1972) and martial arts films such as The Fists of Vengeance (1972).

Shek left Shaw Brothers in 1973. The same year, he appeared in Master with Cracked Fingers, the first film to feature Jackie Chan in a starring role. He made his directorial debut in 1975 with The Monk, and worked as assistant director on Black Alice (1975), A Queen's Ransom (1976), Iron Fisted Monk (1977).

Throughout the late 1970s, Shek continued to work with the likes of Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung on period kung fu films including Broken Oath (1977), Warriors Two (1978), Snake in the Eagle's Shadow (1978), Drunken Master (1978), Odd Couple (1979) and Dance of the Drunk Mantis (1979).

Shek is credited as producer on 22 films, most of which were for the production company Cinema City & Films Co., which he co founded with Karl Maka and Raymond Wong in 1980.[6] Throughout the 1980s, he appeared in action, crime and comedy films such as Aces Go Places and John Woo's A Better Tomorrow 2 (1987). He also directed four films during the period, which were The Perfect Wife?! (1983), A Family Affair (1984), Kung Hei Fat Choy (1985) and The Family Strikes Back (1986), which were all box office hits.[4]

Final film and retirement from acting

Shek played his final role as Uncle Choi in the 1991 action film, The Raid.

In 1992, Shek retired from acting at the age of 42, after working as a producer in 1992 fantasy horror film, Angel Hunter.

Recently, Shek made a return to acting with a cameo appearance in the 2016 film, The Bodyguard, which is directed by and starring Sammo Hung, and also produced by and guest starring Andy Lau.[7]

Shek last made his public appearance with his former Cinema City & Films Co. collaborators at the 36th Hong Kong Film Awards.

Personal life

In 1979, Shek married Taiwanese actress Lau Chun-yue. They had several children together.[4] Shek's three main personal hobbies were cigar, golf and coffee.[8]

After retiring from the film industry, Shek ventured into and found success in the real estate industry.[3]

Shek died from cancer on 20 September 2021, at the age of 72. He had been diagnosed with the disease two months prior.[9]

Filmography

Films

Year Title Chinese Title Role Notes
1968Killer Darts追魂鏢"Tung Kung-long"
1969Twin Blades of Doom陰陽刀"Mayor's servant"
Dark Semester桃李春風"Yu Mei-hsiu"
1970Young Lovers青春戀"Lin Da-cheng"
A Time for Love那個不多情"John Chau"
The Singing Killer小煞星"Fairy"
My Son春火"Rape gang member"
Guess Who Killed by Twelve Lovers噴火美人魚"Stephen"
1971It Takes a Man to Be Henpecked怕老婆是大丈夫Actor
The Man with Two Wives齊人樂Actor
Master with Cracked Fingers刁手怪招"Landlord"Re-edit of Little Tiger of Canton
1972Pursuit林沖夜奔"Palace guard"
Intrigue in Nylons少奶奶的絲襪"Shop clerk"
The Human Goddess凡下女仙"Playboy #1"
The Fugitive亡命徒"Siu Ba"
The Fists of Vengeance落葉飛刀"Doggie"a.k.a. The Deadly Knives
a.k.a. A Life-and-Death Struggle
The Black Tavern黑店"Wandering Monk"
Let's Go to Bed我們要洞房Actor
1973The Young Tiger小老虎"Conceited Red Shirt"
Tales of Larceny牛鬼蛇神"Yu Jieh"Two-part anthology film with Shek appearing in the first part.
The Pirate大海盜"Master Bai"
The Iron Bodyguard大刀王五"Liang Qi-chao"a.k.a. The Knight and the Scholar
Illicit Desire風流韻事"Little Fairy"Three-part anthology film with Shek appearing in the third part.
The Generation Gap叛逆"Club bald waiter"a.k.a. The Traitor
The Delinquent憤怒少年"Cripple"a.k.a. Street Gangs of Hong Kong
My Wife, My Love and My Maid一嬌二俏三更妙
Ambush埋伏"Cold-faced swordsman Hong Lieh"
The Villains土匪"Li Deng-yao"
1974Young Lovers on Flying Wheels電單車"Xiao Xian"
Naughty! Naughty!綽頭狀元"Auntie Six's husband"
A Mad World of Fools怪人怪事Actor
The Golden Lotus金瓶雙豔"Doctor Jiang"
Games Gamblers Play鬼馬雙星"Casino clerk"
Blood Reincarnation陰陽界"Chang"
The Big Risk虎鬥虎Actora.k.a. Kung Fu Conspiracy
a.k.a. When Tough Guys Meet
Tenants of Talkative Street街知巷聞Actor
Paris Killers巴黎殺手"Shot messenger"
Everyday Is Sunday天天報喜Actor
Bravest Fist一山五虎Actor
Call Me Dragon神龍小虎闖江湖"Mincing waiter"a.k.a. Fighting Dragon vs. Deadly Tiger
April Fool出乎意料Actor
Screenwriter
The Protectors鏢旗飛揚"Spear Prince"
1975The Monk出家人"Si-hung"
Director
Screenwriter
Directorial debut
a.k.a. The Kung Fu Monk
Kissed by the Wolves狼吻Actor
The Young Dragons鐵漢柔情"Young brothel customer"
Shantung Man in Hong Kong小山東到香港Actora.k.a. Little Shantung Arrives in Hong Kong
The Seven Coffins驅魔女Actor
The Last Message天才與白痴"Hotel clerk"
My Wacky, Wacky World大千世界"Te Shun"
Lady of the Law女捕快"Young Master Chen"
Hong Kong Superman香港超人Actor
Assistant director
a.k.a. Bruce, Hong Kong Master
Chinese Superior Kung Fu中國神打Actor
The Bedevilled心魔"Lin Chi-yao"
Bald-Headed Betty光頭蓓蒂Actor
All in the Family花飛滿城春Actor
Black Alice盲女奇緣Assistant director
1976A Queen's Ransom鱷潭群英會"Ducky"
Assistant director
Assistant producer
My Funny Intern鬼馬俏醫生Actora.k.a. Hour of the Wolf
a.k.a. Typical Admirable Doctor
I Want More...官人我要 ...Actora.k.a. Confession of a Concubine
a.k.a. Injustice! My Lord
The Girlie Bar酒帘"Xiao Kang"a.k.a. The Finger Bar
The Simple-Minded Fellow大懵成Actor
Divorce Hong Kong Style香港式離婚Actor
Gonna Get You溫拿與教授Planning
1977Mantis Fists and Tiger Claws of Shaolin血海螳螂仇Hung Chun-piao
The Iron-Fisted Monk三德和尚與舂米六"Manchu"
Assistant director
Broken Oath破戒"Brothel manager"
The Discharged出冊"Toast waiter" (cameo)
Winner Takes All!面懵心精Actor
1978Warriors Two贊先生與找錢華"Master Yao"
Spiritual Kung Fu拳精"Shaolin student"
Snake in the Eagle's Shadow蛇形刁手"Teacher Li"
Snake Crane Secret蛇鶴丹心震九州"Shao Ting-shan"a.k.a. Secrets of the Dragon
a.k.a. Snake & Crane Secrets
Half a Loaf of Kung Fu一招半式闖江湖"Man with cane"a.k.a. Karate Bomber
Filthy Guy臭頭小子Actora.k.a. Return of the Secret Rivals
a.k.a. Emperor of Filthy Guy
Drunken Master醉拳"Professor Kai-shien"a.k.a. Drunk Monkey in the Tiger's Eye
Dirty Tiger, Crazy Frog老虎田雞"Panther"
Deadly Strike最佳搏殺"Cheung Tsai"a.k.a. Breakout from Oppression
Dirty Kung Fu鬼馬功夫"Criminal who sells women"a.k.a. Kung Fu Expert
18 Fatal Strikes十八羅漢拳"Tai-pan"a.k.a. 18 Deadly Strikes
My Life's on the Line賭命走天涯"Master Handsome"a.k.a. 60 Second Assassin
The Adventure of the Heaven Mouse通天老鼠下江南Actora.k.a. Force 3 From Shanghai
a.k.a. Snake in the Crane's Shadow
Crazy Guy with Super Kung Fu戇頭呆佬笨徒弟Actor
1979Story of Drunken Master醉俠蘇乞兒"Little Master" (cameo)
Love and Sword要命的小方Actora.k.a. The Samurai
Odd Couple搏命單刀奪命槍"Master Rocking"a.k.a. Shaolin Sabre vs Wu Tang Spear
Kung Fu on Sale功夫大拍賣"Kung fu instructor"a.k.a. King of Money and Fists
His Name Is Nobody無名小卒"Sting"
The Fearless Hyena笑拳怪招"Undertaker" (guest star)
Dance of the Drunk Mantis南北醉拳"Money Bags"a.k.a. Drunken Master Part 2
Crazy Couple無招勝有招"Yan"
Four Invincibles四大跛拳Actor
Dance of Death舞拳"Bird Egg"a.k.a. Eternal Conflict
1980Ring of Death龍形摩橋"Chu"a.k.a. Bastard Kung Fu Master
Crazy Crooks瘋狂大老千"Mo-pei Chai"
Presenter
By Hook or by Crook鹹魚翻生"Skinny Gee"
Laughing Times滑稽時代"Chinese Charlie Chaplin"
1981Emperor of Shaolin Kung Fu闖王李自成Actora.k.a. Lord Chuang, Li Tzu-cheng
a.k.a. The Snake, the Tiger, the Crane
Chasing Girls追女仔"Robert"
Beware of Pickpockets歡樂神仙窩"Extra Hand"
Life After Life再生人Producer
All the Wrong Clues for the Right Solution鬼馬智多星Producera.k.a. All the Wrong Clues
No U-Turn不准掉頭Producer
Spooky Kookies神檯貓Producer
1982It Takes Two難兄難弟"Shek"
Producer
Can't Stop the War大追擊"Soldier" (cameo)
Producer
Aces Go Places最佳拍檔"Giglo Joe" (special appearance)
Producer
Till Death Do We Scare小生怕怕Presenter
He Lives by Night夜驚魂Presenter
1983The Perfect Wife?!專撬牆腳"Dean Shek"
Director
Presenter
Fearless Hyena Part II龍騰虎躍"Shek Earth" (guest star)
All the Wrong Spies我愛夜來香"Japanese soldier in intro" (cameo)
Presenter
Ghost Bustin' 抓鬼特攻隊Presenter
Esprit D'armour陰陽錯PresenterRe-edit of the 1970 film
Aces Go Places 2最佳拍檔大顯神通Presenter
Play Catch少爺威威Presenter
Papa, Can You Hear Me Sing?搭錯車Producer
Send in the Clowns台上台下Producer
Kidnapped等劍的小孩Producer
That Day on the Beach海灘的一天Production manager
1984A Family Affair全家福"Alex"
Director
Presenter
Banana Cop英倫琵琶Presenter
Happy Ghost開心鬼Presenter
Lifeline Express鴻運當頭Presenter
Heaven Can Help上天救命Presenter
Merry Christmas聖誕快樂Presenter
Aces Go Places 3最佳拍檔女皇密令Presenter
The Occupant靈氣逼人Presenter
Run, Tiger, Run兩隻老虎Producer
Presenter
Pom Pom神勇雙響炮Presenter
My Sentimental Little Friend多情種Presentera.k.a. My Little Sentimental Friend
The Time You Need a Friend笑匠Presenter
1985Kung Hei Fat Choy恭喜發財"Mr. Fung"
Director
Producer
Presenter
City Hero飛虎奇兵"Trainer Lee"
Mummy Dearest四眼仔Presenter
For Your Heart Only為你鍾情Presenter
Why Me?何必有我Presenter
Happy Ghost II開心鬼放暑假Presenter
Cupid One愛神一號Presenter
The Isle of Fantasy開心樂園Presenter
Super Citizen超級市民Presenter
Lone, Lone Flower孤戀花Presenter
Happy Union天生一對Presenter
Happy Union 2天生寶一對Presenter
1986The Family Strikes Back烏龍大家庭"Shek La-mai"
Director
Producer
Abracadabra天靈靈‧地靈靈Presenter
Happy Ghost III開心鬼撞鬼Presenter
Aces Go Places IV最佳拍檔千里救差婆Presenter
A Book of Heroes歡樂龍虎榜Presenter
1987A Better Tomorrow 2英雄本色II"Lung Sei"
Lady in Black奪命佳人Producer
Presenter
1988City War義膽紅唇Presenter
Fractured Follies長短腳之戀Producer
1989They Came to Rob Hong Kong八寶奇兵"Sherlock False"
Screenwriter
Presenter
1990The Dragon from Russia紅場飛龍"Snooker" (guest star)
Producer
Presenter
1991The Raid財叔之橫掃千軍"Uncle Choi"
Presenter
1992Angel Hunter女校風雲之邪教入侵Producer
Presenter
2016The Bodyguard特工爺爺"Old man" (guest appearance)Final film role

Television series

Year Title Chinese title Role Country and channel Notes
1976Saga of Sui & Tong Dynasty隋唐風雲"Lee Yuen-kat" Hong Kong - CTV
1977Sword Stained with Royal Blood碧血劍"Ha Suet-yee" Hong Kong - CTV

References

  1. 1 2 SHEK Dean — 石天 — (1949.6.17−2021.9.20) director, screenwriter., In: filmarchive.gov.hk, Hong Kong Film Archive, pdf-file; 161 kB. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
  2. "細仔證實石天已逝 黃百鳴尊重亡友遺願未搞追思會". Oriental Press Group. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  3. 1 2 "搜房网:地产人物----石天 - 深圳搜房网". Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 "Hong Kong Film Directors' Guild - Directors - Dean SHEK". Hong Kong Film Directors' Guild. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  5. "Dean Shek Tin". Short Biographies. HKFilm.net. Retrieved 13 August 2009.
  6. "Sammo Hung (洪金宝)". biography. Jongo Knows. Archived from the original on 15 January 2009. Retrieved 13 August 2009.
  7. "Sammo Hung does some serious damage in 'The Bodyguard'". City on Fire. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
  8. "他是影壇大佬,曾力捧哥哥張國榮,和黃百鳴等人共同創造影壇神話". Da Liu Lian. Retrieved 26 December 2015.
  9. "新藝城」元老石天10月已癌逝 家人盼低調 暫不辦追思". 噓!星聞. 2 November 2021. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
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