[2024.11.20] CANTONESE FILM STAR JAMES LUI KAY RUMORED TO HAVE PASSED AWAY

Lui Kay made many classic movies as a top young actor in the Cantonese film era

Veteran media person Wang Man Ling visited Lui Kaymany times in Taiwan, but has started to lose contact with him two years ago.
courtesy of mingpao.com.com

Top Cantonese film actor James Lui Kay eased out of the screen in late 1980s and moved to the Taiwan. Over the years his life has been in low profile. Veteran media person Wang Man Ling yesterday on her online platform expressed that Lui Kay has lived reclusively in Taipei for over 20 years. She visited him there numerous times. The last time they saw each other was in 2019, but starting in 2022 she has been unable to contact Lui Kay. Wang Man Ling said that in March or April this year she received news from Lui Kay's friends and family in Taiwan and Hong Kong that Lui Kay has passed away. The news has yet to be confirmed.

Wang Man Ling wrote, "(Missing Lui Kay) In April 2024, friends in Hong Kong and Taiwan came across rumors of Lui Kay's death. I have always been found them dubious, tried to spend time to verify it from various sources continuously. However, Brother Kay has settled down for more than thirty years in Taiwan, had a low-key style and rarely communicated with the outside world except close relatives and friends. So far I haven't found any verified answer." Connie Chan Bo Chu's son Dexter Young Tin King said in an interview with the media that his mother has no contact with Lui Kay and has no news; Nancy Sit Ka Yin also said that she has not heard from him for a long time and did not know about the rumors.

Lui Kay was originally namd was Tang Juemin. He was admitted to the Union Film Enterprise Ltd.'s actors training course in 1959. In July of the following year, he joined the Shaw Brothers Cantonese film team with his sister Lee Man and starred in the film THE TRAGEDY OF NINE LIVES (GAU MING KEI YUEN) for the first time. Lui Kay became an instant hit with MY DARLING WIFE (GUNG JI DOR CHING) in 1964. Later, he was pair with Chan Bo Chu numerous times and made them the ideal screen couple. Lui Kay was versatile and has made 99 movies, directed 29 films, wrote 35 works, and served as the producer of two movies. His classic works include TEARS OF LOVERS (CHING YUN DIK NGAN LUI), FORGET NOT TONIGHT (MOK MONG GUM SIU), MOVIE FANS (YING MAI GUNG JU), THE PREGNANT MAIDEN (YUK NUI TIM DING), MAIDEN THIEF (YUK NUI SUN TAU), LOVE WITH A MALAYSIAN GIRL (LEUNG YEH JI LUEN) and THE HEART-STEALER (TAU SUM CHAK).

In 1974, Lui Kay founded the Golden Film (Lui Chi) Company that specialized in directing and producing soft-core erotica, including THE FOXY LADIES(GAU GAK NUI LONG), STARLETS FOR SALE (CHOI JI MING FA SING MA), THE STUD AND THE NYMPH (YUEN FU, YUM WA, FUNG SAT SAU), etc. The movies were criticized for being pornographic and vulgar, and their reputation and box office were getting worse and worse.

With the decline of Cantonese films, Lui Kay directed his last erotic work THE SEDUCTRESS (MING DAI TOH FA) in 1987 and retired from the entertainment industry. He moved to Taiwan with his second wife Ling Tai to open a restaurant, while investing in stocks and buying properties to collect rent. Lui Kay was once rumored to be living in poverty and working as a taxi driver in Taiwan. In 2003, he denied this in a radio interview.

Lui Kay had a son with his first wife, Kwan Wai Shan; but they later divorced. Lui Kay later fell in love with actress Ling Tai, whom he had collaborated with many times; and they had two sons.