Charles Heung

Charles Heung
Chinese name	向華強 (Traditional)
Chinese name	向华强 (Simplified)
Pinyin	xiang4 hua2 qiang2 (Mandarin)
Jyutping	heung3 wa4 keung4 (Cantonese)
Born	16 December 1948 (1948-12-16) (age 62)
Other name(s)	Xiang Huaqiang Heung Wa-Keung
Occupation	Actor, film producer, and presenter
Spouse(s)	Tiffany Chen
Children	Jacky Heung (son)
Parents	Heung Chin (father)

Charles Heung Wah-Keung is a Hong Kong actor-turned-film producer and presenter. As founder of Win's Entertainment in the 1980s and China Star Entertainment Group in the 1990s, he has helped established the careers of various cinematic icons in Hong Kong that include Stephen Chow, Chow Yun-fat, Johnnie To, Jet Li and Andy Lau among countless others.

Background

In the 1970s, Charles subsequently married Betty Ting, the actress, who is remembered today primarily because of the "mysterious" death of Bruce Lee in her apartment. The marriage, however did not last, and Charles later married Tiffany Chen, in the early 1980s.

Charles is the older brother of Jimmy Heung, who later became his partner in the formation of Win's Entertainment. The partnership between the two ended in 1992.

Career

Heung started off as an actor making films (mostly martial arts films) in Taiwan during the 1970s, before later becoming a producer. In 1984, he and his brother, Jimmy Heung, formed Win's Entertainment Ltd., which, beside Golden Harvest, became one of the most successful film studios in Hong Kong. Charles was quoted for saying that, "Every film is a battle" when asked why he named the production company Win's.

Heung became a producer and a presenter for films, but he had also gotten fame from acting in supporting roles during the 1990s, with his best known role being as Lung Wu, the God of Gamblers' bodyguard in God of Gamblers and its numerous sequels and spin-offs. He has also appeared in others films, making a cameo appearance in The Prince of Temple Street and co-starring in Casino Raiders, which was co-directed by his brother, Jimmy. In 1993, he received a Hong Kong Film Award nomination for his supporting role in Arrest the Restless.

In 1992, Heung formed China Star Entertainment Group and became the studio's chairman and CEO, with his wife, Tiffany Chen, serving as vice chairman and administrative producer. As a producer, Heung has highlighted a majority of Hong Kong's biggest cinematic icons, including Jet Li, Andy Lau, Sammi Cheng, Cecilia Cheung, Simon Yam, and Lau Ching-Wan. This includes filmmakers, such as Johnnie To, Wai Ka-Fai, Wong Jing, Herman Yau and Dennis Law.

In 1999, Heung established One Hundred Years of Film Co. Ltd., a subsidiary for China Star. His initial plan for the company was to make at least 100 films within three years

Heung plans to continuing producing and presenting films, now aiming for big-budgeted projects. Following the partnership split between himself and his brother, Heung closed down the Win's Entertainment studio in 2000, and continued to produce and distribute films under the China Star label.

External links

• Charles Heung at the Internet Movie Database
• China Star Entertainment Website
• The H.K. Actor Index
• Charles Heung Wah-Keung: Filmography/Biography
• One Hundred Years of Film Co. Ltd. (founders and filmography)
• China Star Entertainment Group (founders and filmography)
• Signs of New Life at AsiaWeek.com
• Kaiji Shakedown: CHINA STAR CLOSING ITS DOORS?

Persondata
Name	Heung, Charles
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Date of birth	December 16, 1948
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