A tribute site dedicated to the late Chinese actor, martial artist, action director, director, Lam Ching Ying.
Lam Ching Ying (林正英) was a Chinese actor, stuntman, action director and director. He was born in Hong Kong on December 27th 1952, under his real name, Lam Gun Bo (林根寶).
As an actor, action choreographer, director, martial artist, and teacher he touched many people with his candour and uncompromising professionalism. He left behind a lasting cinematic legacy, which can be enjoyed and respected by generations all over the World.
Ching Ying passed away of liver cancer at the St. Theresa Hospital in Hong Kong on the 8th of November, at the age of 45.
Awards
1983 Hong Kong Film Awards
Nominated and won "Best Action Choreography" in Prodigal Son
1984 Hong Kong Film Awards
Nominated and won "Best Action Choreography" in Winners And Sinners
1986 Hong Kong Film Awards
Nominated for "Best Action Choreography" in My Lucky Stars
1986 Hong Kong Film Awards
Nominated for "Best Supporting Actor" in Mr Vampire
His Life
Lam Ching Ying was born in Hong Kong on December 27th 1952. After an elementary school education lasting only two years he enrolled in the Peking Opera School of Madame Fan Fok Fa for a period of five years.
At the age of 17 Ching Ying began his carrier as a stuntman and an action choreographer at the famous Shaw Brothers Studio.
After a two year apprenticeship Ying came to the attention of the team at Golden Harvest Studio and he appeared in a supporting role in 1971's box office hit The Big Boss, starring Bruce Lee. Lee was very impressed with his martial artistry and technical knowledge, and promptly hired him as his personal assistant and co-action-director for Fist Of Fury. Ying also worked with Bruce as assistant-action-director on Enter The Dragon and was stunt double for actor Shek Khin, who played the villain.
After Bruce Lee's death, which greatly saddened him, he joined his good friend Sammo Hung, becoming a core member of his stunt team, Hung Ga Ban. Their friendship and professional respect deepened and they collaborated on classic films such as Enter The Fat Dragon, Warriors Two, The Magnificent Butcher. In the last Lam's fight with Yuen Biao demonstrates his expert skill in fighting with a fan and double knives. It is one of the movie's highlights.
In 1982 Ying won his first award for best action-direction for the matchless action-drama The Prodigal Son. Even today this film plays to full houses on festivals. Ching Ying stole the show as the effeminate, but lethal Leung Yee Tai. His Wing Chun style is precise, powerful, compelling and the audience's empathy for his character is always high.
The following year Winners And Sinners won the award for Best Action Choreography at the Hong Kong Film Awards.
In 1985 for Mr Vampire Lam created his most memorable character, the cool Taoist Priest. This role defined his screen image and brought broader recognition for him. The movie won 5 awards including Best Picture, Best Art Design and Best Cinematography. Ying missed out on the award for Best Supporting Actor. He irreversibly type-casted as the "World's Number-One High-Kicking Vampire-Buster" going on to reprise this role several times. Mr Vampire II and III, The Musical Vampire, Magic Cop, Vampire Vs Vampire etc. followed the first success.
In the following years his excessive talents were used in super-hits such as My Lucky Stars, Encounters Of The Spooky Kind, Millionaire's Express, Eastern Condors. As a respected teacher he often mentored other stars. Most famously he trained Michelle Yeoh, and turned the diva into a female action star.
In 1995 he was approached by Hong Kong media giant ATV to reprise his famous Taoist Priest role for a TV series called The Vampire Expert. The project received rave reviews, and The Vampire Expert II followed its' success.
Sadly Lam developed liver cancer. A quiet and private man, he chose not to reveal his illness to the public or even to his closest friends. Retiring from the public eye he sought seclusion at his sister's house, where he lived out his last weeks.
He passed away at the St. Theresa Hospital on the 8th of November at the age of 45.
On November 13th, the day of his funeral, 50 Buddhist monks officiated at a 3 hour prayer ceremony to honor his passing. His friends acted as pallbearers.
At his request he was cremated and his ashes flown to the United States, where they were buried with his favorite clothes, sunglasses, Priest robe and hat. His calligraphic tribute read: "One Smile Returns To The West".
As an actor, action choreographer, martial artist, and teacher he touched many people with his candor and uncompromising professionalism. He left behind a lasting cinematic legacy, which can be enjoyed and respected by generations all over the World.
Filmography
Monk At Thirty 1997
Coincidentally 1996-1997
The Vampire Expert II 1996
The Vampire Expert I 1995
Shaolin Avengers 1994
Green Hornet 1994
The Chinese Ghostbuster 1994
Sad Story Of Saigon/Rape in Public Sea 1993
Exorcist Master 1993
Painted Skin 1993
The East is Red 1993
Banana Spirit 1992
Legend Of Wong Tai Sin 1992
Martial Arts Master Wong Fei Hung 1992
China Dolls 1992
Forced Nightmare 1992
Mr Vampire '92 1992
Mad Mad Ghost 1992
Pom Pom And Hot Hot 1992
The Musical Vampire 1992
Wizard's Curse 1992
Lover's Tear 1991
The Skin Striperess 1991
Midnight Conjure 1991
Shyly Spirit 1991
Slickers Vs Killers 1991
The Ultimate Vampire 1991
Money Maker 1991
The Tantana 1991
Red And Black 1991
Gambling Ghost 1991
Crazy Safari 1991
An Eternal Combat 1991
Spiritual Trinity 1991
Prince Of The Sun 1990
Magic Cop 1990
Stage Door Johnny 1990
Encounter Of The Spooky Kind 2 1990
Swordsman 1990
Goodbye Hero 1990
Pedicap Driver 1989
A city of sadness 1989
Vampire Vs Vampire 1989
Painted Faces 1988
Her Vengeance 1988
School On Fire 1988
I Love Maria 1988
Lai Chi, China's Last Eunuch 1988
Mr Vampire III 1987
Eastern Condors 1987
Cold-blooded Man 1987 ?
Heroes Shed No Tears 1986
Mr Vampire II 1986
Where's Officer Tuba? 1986
The Millioners' Express 1986
Mr Vampire 1985
Heart Of The Dragon 1985
Those Merry Souls 1985
My Lucky Stars 1985
The Return Of Pom 1984
Pom Pom 1984
Hocus Pocus 1984
Winners and Sinners 1983
The Dead And The Deadly 1983
Prodigal Son 1982
Encounter Of The Spooky Kind 1980
Two Toothless Tigers 1980
By Hook Or By Crook 1980
From Riches To Rags 1980
The Victim 1980
The Magnificent Butcher 1979
His Name Is Nobody 1979
Odd Couple 1979
Knockabout 1979
The Incredible Kung Fu Master 1979
Warriors Two 1978
Dirty Tiger, Crazy Frog 1978
Game Of Death 1978
Enter The Fat Dragon 1978
Legend Of The Bat 1978
Amsterdam Connection 1978
The Proud Youth 1978
Strike and Sword 1978
Clan Of Amazons 1978
Amsterdam Kill 1977
Broken Oath 1977
Judgment of an Assassin 1977
Sea God And Ghosts 1977
He Has Nothhing But Kung Fu 1977
The Sentimental Swordsman 1977
The Iron-Fisted Monk 1977
Money Crazy 1977
The Shaolin Plot 1977
Executioners From Shaolin 1977
Bruce's Deadly Fingers 1976
End Of Wicked Tigers 1976
Hot Potato 1976
Challenge Of The Masters 1976
Kung Fu Stars 1975
The Spiritual Boxer 1975
The Man From Hong Kong 1975
The Association 1974
Tornado Of Pearl River 1974
Yellow Faced Tiger 1974
Black Alley Princess In Chinatown 1974
The Skyhawk 1974
Bloody Ring 1974
Dynamite Brothers 1974
Bruce Lee: The Man, The Legend 1973
Enter The Dragon 1973
The Rendezvous Of Warriors 1973
When Taekwondo Strikes 1973
Seaman No. 7. 1973
Black Alley Princess 1973
A Man Called Tiger 1973
Treasure Castle 1972
Way Of The Dragon 1972
Hapkido 1972
The Deadly Knives 1972
The Casino 1972
Fist Of Fury 1972
The Fugitive 1972
The Imperial Swordman 1972
The Thuderbolt Fist 1972
A Touch Of Zen 1971
The Big Boss 1971
The Angry River 1971
The Golden Seal 1971
The Lady Hermit 1971
The Blade Spares None 1971
Swordsman at Large 1971
The Lady with a Sword 1971
The Invincible Eight 1971
The Crimson Charm 1970
Six Assassins 1970
Brothers Five 1970
The Golden Knight 1970
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