According to Taiwan media reports, renowned Hong Kong martial arts director and actor Yuen Cheung-yan passed away yesterday (Jan. 1) at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in HK. His wife confirmed the news in an obituary, announcing that his funeral will be held on Feb. 1 at the Universal Funeral Parlour.
From a young age, Yuen trained in martial arts alongside his siblings under the guidance of their father. Throughout his career, he worked behind the scenes on more than a hundred film and television productions as a martial arts choreographer.
He was nominated four times for Best Action Choreography at the Hong Kong Film Awards and won the award in 1992 for "Once Upon a Time in China". In the 1990s, he ventured into Hollywood, designing martial arts sequences for films such as "Charlie's Angels", "Daredevil", and "The Matrix".
Yuen often played supporting roles in Stephen Chow's films. He portrayed the beggar selling the "Buddha's Palm" technique in "Kung Fu" and the beggar who taught the "Sleeping Arhat Fist" in "King of Beggars".
Despite having limited screen time, his exceptional acting and mysterious guidance that altered the protagonists' fates left a lasting impression on audiences.
In his later years, Yuen faced health issues but remained deeply passionate about the film industry. Last year, he was seen completing his work on "Red Wedding Dress" even while confined to a wheelchair.
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