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Summary
With character in action mechanism clowning , sword - fight face-off , and Wuxia movies , the bestKung Fu ace appeared in hundreds of rolesacross countless iconic production . While some Kung Fu whizz became menage name , others have not incur as much mainstream recognition but were well - make love by martial liberal arts enthusiasts . The upright soldierly movies ever were awe - revolutionise displays of over - the - top spectacle , and it wasthe nifty Kung Fu sensation who ever go who avail work lead - of - the - factory fighting plastic film into iconic classicsthat have stood the test of clip .
10Fung Hak-on
Years active: 1962–2014
The Hong Kong role player Fung Hak - on was a truly underrated Kung Fu star who made a great bad guy or villain in his many martial arts movie role . Fung began his calling in 1962 with a powerful onscreen bearing , appear in film likeThe Chinese Boxer , Executioners from Shaolin , Dragon Lord , andPolice Story . While he was not as well known as many of his contemporaries , Kung Fu enthusiast have it off Fung as one of the great baddie in martial artistic creation cinema .
Fung ’s eubstance throughout the decades and ability to impersonate a villain like no other performing artist cement his reputation as one of the best Kung Fu movie asterisk ever .
While Fung commence his career as a stuntman , he soon hit great role and began collaborate with the Golden Harvest production company . Fung proceed doing impressive work until in brief before he died in 2016 and had memorable tardy - life history roles like the Baguazhang champion Master Cheng inIp Man 2 in 2010 . Fung ’s consistency throughout the tenner and power to limn a villain like no other performer cemented his reputation as one of the in force Kung Fu movie stars ever .
9Yuen Biao
Years active: 1962–present
As an thespian , stuntman , and action choreographer , Yuen Biao has had an impressive Kung Fu career go out back to the 1970s . As one of the Seven Little Fortunes from the China Drama Academy at the Peking Opera School , Yuen , along with Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung , made up the “ Three Dragons , ” and the friends have seem in legion movies together . With over 130 picture character , Yuen has truly left his mark on martial arts cinema over the past 50 eld .
From starting as Bruce Lee ’s stunt double onEnter the Dragonto later make acclaimed roles inThe Prodigal SonandKnockabout , Yuen was an incredible acrobat and one of the great unknown talents of Kung Fu cinema . While discussions around Yuen ’s talent often got lose among his coeval Chan and Hung , he possessed the same skill and comedic timing as his more well - known peers . With an unbelievable career behind him , Yuen deserved to be remembered as one of the safe Kung Fu movie stars of all time .
8Angela Mao
Years active: 1970s - 1992
The Taiwanese martial creative person Angela Mao , known as ‘ Lady Kung Fu , ’ appeared in many martial graphics films during the seventies . A extremely skilled fighter who develop in hapkido from a very young age , Mao was discovered at just 17 yr old and cursorily went on to seem as the leading peeress in the fantasy action mechanism movieThe Angry River . Mao shortly gained roles in many Golden Harvest production , such asLady WhirlwindandThe Fate of Lee Khan .
However , it was in 1973 thatMao truly gained outside recognition when she asterisk diametrical Bruce Lee inEnter the Dragon . As the cursed babe of Lee ’s character Su - lin , Mao showed off her telling Kung Fu skills as she fought against the ruthless bodyguard O’Hara . Sadly , due to Lee ’s prematurely slip away , the two never make together again , but Mao continued to appear in Kung Fu movies through the seventies and 1980s .
7Lo Lieh
Years active: 1965–2001
The Indonesian martial creative person Lo Lieh first came to excrescence with his starring part inKing Boxer , also known under the titleFive Fingers of Death . Lieh ’s intense style had a lot in common with Bruce Lee , although Lieh seem in many soldierlike movies that predated Lee ’s incredible international succeeder . With roles inExecutionersfrom Shaolinto theClan of the White Lotus , Lieh consistently delivered outstanding functioning in Kung Fu movies throughout the sixties and 1970s .
In 1988 , Lieh team up with other martial humanistic discipline legends Jackie Chan , Sammo Hung , and Yuen Biao for the acclaimed Kung Fu movieDragons incessantly . Asthe first martial art superstar , Lieh often does not get enough credit for his importance to the genre and how trailblazing his early part truly were . Lieh was also credited with popularizing the archetype of the blanched - haired Kung Fu masterseen in many movies through the 1970s , 1980s , and even by and by in Quentin Tarantino’sKill Bill .
6Sammo Hung
Years active: 1961–present
The legendary Kung Fu star Sammo Hung has appeared in more than 200 movie and was trained in stunt flying , dance , and martial arts . As a pivotal digit in front of and behind the camera , Hung worked as Jackie Chan ’s fight choreographer and was one of the most important actors of the Hong Kong New Wave film movement of the eighties . Hung also start the zombie - like jianshi genre and even appeared in the Bruce Lee classicEnter the Dragon .
However , Hung was substantially known for his collaborations with Chan and Yuen Biao , as the three martial artist appeared in six movie together . Known as the “ Three Dragons , " the trio of Chan , Hung , and Yuen was a winning combining whose flick likeWheels on MealsandProject Ahave persist highly beloved . With an staggering career , Hung has earned his place among the dandy Kung Fu stars ever .
5Donnie Yen
Years active: 1983 - present
For over 40 years , Donnie Yen has catch audiences with his unbelievable Kung Fu skills and telling proficiency across many different martial artistic creation styles . As the Wing Chun grandmaster Ip Manin theIp Manseries , Yen aid popularize the Wing Chun style across Chinaand led one of the best Hong Kong fighting franchises being made today . From hisbreakoutrole inDrunken Tai Chiin 1984 up to collaborations with Jet Li in the acclaimed Wuxia movieHero , Yen has consistently pushed the boundaries of soldierlike arts motion picture and maintained his place at the forefront of the industry .
westerly audiences would sure recognize Yen for his unbelievable theatrical role as the blind assassin Caine inJohn Wick 4 .
Western hearing would surely recognize Yen for his incredible office as the blind assassin Caine inJohn Wick 4 . However , this was not the only Hollywood production where Yen showed off his skillset , as he also appear inRogue One , XXX : regaining of Xander Cage , andMulan . That ’s not to cite all the incrediblyunderrated Donnie Yen moviesout there waiting to be discovered by Kung Fu and martial enthusiast .
4Jet Li
Years active: 1982–present
As one of the most renowned martial artists of his generation , Jet Li has had a noticeable impact on Kung Fu film and found success in both Hong Kong and Hollywood . As a teenage Wushu national champion , Li retired from free-enterprise fighting at 18 and utilized his skill to become one of the bully Kung Fu stars after his 1982 debutShaolin Temple , catapult him to international stardom . With many acclaimed part under his belt , such asFist of Legend , Hero , andFearless , Li help revitalise the wuxia writing style for modern audience .
Li ’s Kung Fu skills were not limited to the Hong Kong Kung Fu industriousness , as after he played a villain inLethal Weapon 4 in 1994 , he soon found major success in the United States and link up franchise likeThe Expendables . Li even appeared with his fellow veteran warriorlike arts whiz Jackie Chan inThe Forbidden Kingdomas he solidify his reputation as a martial fable . Still combat-ready to this day , Li recently played The Emperor of China in Disney ’s live - actionMulan , which blended his passion for Hong Kong movie theater , Wuxia , and Hollywood output .
3Gordon Liu
Years active: 1973–present
The martial arts wizard Gordon Liu was well known for appearing in many Shaw Brothers - produced pic likeChallenges of the MastersandThe thirty-sixth Chamber of Shaolin , one of thebest Kung Fu movies of the seventies . As a highly skilled Kung Fu hero , Liu has taken on over 100 playact rolesand has built a bequest over the past 50 years as one of the greatest martial arts performers ever . combat-ready in both flick and goggle box , Liu excelled in both comedic part and more serious part that utilized his vivid skillset and dramatic power .
In westerly cinema , Liu was best known for this persona in Quentin Tarantino’sKill Bill , which , after being a martial arts champion for X , was his Hollywood unveiling role . Liu hold the honor of being one of the few actors to play multiple roles in theKill Billmovies , as he portrayed Johnny Mo , the leader of the Crazy 88 yakuza gang inKill Bill Vol . 1 . InKill Bill Vol.2 , Liu flirt the Kung Fu master Pai Mei and was one of the most placeable martial arts star who made an appearance in Tarantino ’s court to the music genre .
2Bruce Lee
Years active: 1941 - 1973
Lee was one of the most influential people of the 20th century , and his reputation as a pop culture icon aid bridge the spread between Eastern and Western cultures . With skill in Wing Chun , Tai Chi , boxing , and street combat , Lee ’s life history spanned Hong Kong and the United States , where he train other performers such as Chuck Norris . Sadly , Lee ’s vocation was cut short , and audiences can only ideate the heights it would have make had he survived , but he leave behind an unmatched bequest and put up as one of the most of import Kung Fu stars of them all .
1Jackie Chan
Jackie Chan has been at the forefront of Kung Fu movie theatre since his breakout roles inSnakes in the Eagle ’s ShadowandDrunken Masterin 1978 . From there , he retain to ascertain succeeder in China and around the globe . As a skilled soldierly creative person with immaculate comedic timing , Chan ’s persona differed from the more serious nature of other fighter as he evolve a unique slapstick style that work well in action comedy Kung Fu movies . Throughout his career , Chan has performed most of his stunt , gained worldwide regard , and become an important physical body in global popular culture .
From Formosan comedy series likePolice Storyto Hollywood kids ' picture show such asThe Karate Kid , Chan has taken on about 150 act as roles and has been a defining design in soldierlike art movies . Throughout his life history , Chan has try out with extremely elaborate stunt and even holds the disc for most takes for a exclusive scene , with it taking 2900 takes needed for the infamously brutal pyramid fight inDragon Lord(viaGuardian . ) Beloved by young and quondam likewise , Chan was the swell Kung Fu star ever .
beginning : Guardian
Custom image by Yalin Chacon.
