[2025.11.02] STANLEY FUNG PASSED AWAY IN TAIWAN AT AGE 81

After decades in the entertainment business, Stanley Fung succumbed to illness

Bosco Wong is deeply honored to have worked with Stanley Fung

The "Lucky Stars" once brought a lot of laughter to movie audiences, but now it has now become a memory

Stanley Fung and Chow Yun Fat's comedic performance in ROMANCING and his funny expression after using "minimizer" would always remain with fans
courtesy of on.cc

After years in film and television, Stanley Fung left a lot of memorable work

Stanley Fung and Benz Hui have known each other for years. When the latter passed away days ago, he mourned him with past photos on social platforms.

The Taiwan media claims that Stanley Fung recently has been in and out of the hospital

Chor Yuen 7 years ago received the Hong Kong Film Awards Lifetime Achievement Award. Stanley Fung made the trip to Hong Kong to support his mentor.

Stanley Fung in THE ROMANCING STAR played a garage boss Lau Ting Kin, Chow Yun Fat played his foul mouthed employee. The former's "misuse" of "minimizer" has already become a classic

Stanley Fung joined TVB in the late 1960's and made many series like playing the Devil in YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE

Stanley Fung played a role in the Chor Yuen directed film TO ROSE WITH LOVE

Stanley Fung played a social worker in THE LUNATICS
courtesy of mingpao.com

Senior artist Stanley Fung Shui Fan died of illness in Taiwan the night before at the age of 81. He has been plagued by illness for many years and needed to rely on an oxygen machine to live, but he was conscious and recently even posted a message to mourn the late artist Benz Hui Siu Hung. In his 60 years in film and television, he has performed in countless classic film and television works. Many friends in the circle, such as Lau Tan and Ha Yu, expressed their condolences yesterday and expressed their reluctance.

In film and television for 60 years, Fung Shui Man was born to a Chinese opera family. His parents Fung Kan Wah and Ng Wai Nung were both famous Cantonese Opera actors. He was their fifth child. In 1950 he came to Hong Kong with his family. Fung Shui Fan entered the entertainment industry in the 1960s. In 1965 after performing in a RTV drama Chor Yuen invited him to participate in the film TO ROSE WITH LOVE (HUNG FA HUP DOH) and enter the film industry. Fung Shui Fan recalled that he offered his services his mentor Chor Yuen as he wanted to become a director. Chor Yuen told him, "Kid, you really want to be a director? Come on, I haven't had an assistant director. Just follow me."

Fung Shui Fan said that at first he learned from production assistants and cinematographers until Chor Yuen directed VIOLET CLOVE AND FIREBIRD, when he officially became a paid assistant director. In 1974 when he made his directing debut with the film THE LOOKS OF HONG KONG (HEUNG GONG UK SIM HA), Chor Yuen personally came to the set and positioned the cameras for his first shot. He joined RTV as an artist in 1965 and switched to TVB in 1968, making many classic dramas like CONFLICT (FUN DAU), IN LOVE AND WAR (FUNG FOR FEI FA), THE RADIO TYCOON (BOR YUM YUN), WOMEN ON THE BEAT (GAING FA CHOOK GAN), DON'T LOOK NOW (JUP DOH BO) and YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE (FEI YUET SUP BAK CHUN), etc. In YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE his devil character's curse "Jo Jo You!" has become classic. He also served as a TV producer and director. In the 80s, Fung Shui Fan focused on developing his film career and starred in a number of blockbuster comedies, including the "Lucky Stars" film series, THE CRAZY COMPANIES (JUI GAI SUEN YAU) and THE ROMANCING STAR (JING JONG JUI NUI JAI), which also established his status as a comedian. In CRAZY COMPANIES his use of fruit names to replace foul language "orange your grape" also became very popular at the time. Derek Yee Tung Sing's directing debut THE LUNATICS (DIN LO JING JUEN) starred Fung Shui Fan. In his twilight years in HOOKED ON YOU he played Miriam Yeung Chin Wah's father; in ACCIDENT he played an assassination team member with dementia and even received a Hong Kong Film Awards Best Supporting Actor nomination.

Spending over half his life in the Hong Kong entertainment business, in the 90s he decided to settle in Taiwan. In recent years he had been troubled by lung problems, high blood pressure and diabetes, and was admitted to the hospital for two months in May this year. Due to low blood oxygen level, he needed to rely on a ventilator to live. According to Taiwanese sources, because he had signed the "do not resuscitate form" before his death, the hospital only provided basic "life-sustaining" care and did not perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation and other treatments.

Fung Shui Fan was unmarried and had no children. His family was all in Hong Kong. During his death, the hospital contacted his nephew in Hong Kong, and several friends of many years also rushed to the hospital to accompany him. His life index once showed signs of return, but then it further deteriorated. A few minutes after friends left the hospital, they were suddenly called back but unfortunately they were not able to see him one last time. Fung Shui Fan's nephew is already in Taiwan and would assist in his funeral arrangements. Some said that Fung Shui Fan had said before his death that he wanted to be buried at sea in Kinmen, Taiwan, and the mourning hall is located in Taoyuan for now. Fung's nephew said on social platforms that he would follow Fung Shui Fan's final wishes and only family and friends would see him off on his last journey.

Fung Shui Fan had decent relationships with many in the business. He and Benz Hui Siu Hung worked together as early as in the 1970s. Privately they were close like brothers. A few days before his death, he mourned Hui Siu Hung on social platforms and said, "When I turned on the phone in the morning I was surprised to see the text messages; 'He passed' my siblings informed me, my good brother Hui Siu Hung passed away this morning; without saying whether he was in Singapore or Hong Kong. I was not too surprised, because earlier the siblings have already hinted at it. In addition in the past year the siblings have been sending messages on my behalf, which became another type of 'message'. I am reluctant that he truly passed ahead of me, with a light touch of sadness! Life is like this: in our fifty year old friendship, half the time we were in two different places and we have not seen each other in a very, very long time. Sigh, in the end we must part; I am older than you, and I am also terminally ill and on my last breath...... Amitabha......Wait over here Honorable Brother, this foolish brother will follow soon!" Unexpectedly his words came true.

Former deputy director of the Publicity Division of TVB's corporate communications department who has known Fung Shui Fan for more than 40 years, Tsang Sing Ming was sad to learn the bad news right away the night before and could not be more heartbroken. They last saw each other two years ago. He said that Fung Shui Fan rarely returned to Hong Kong in recent years. In 2018 when the Hong Kong Film Awards presented the Lifetime Achievement Award to Chor Yuen, as his disciple Fung Shui Fan made the trip to Hong Kong; but only stayed for one night before returning to Taiwan. Tsang Sing Ming said that two years ago when he went to Taiwan he finally had the chance to see him. He said that Fung Shui Fan was tough and unyielding, and only had few friends in the business. "Back then this idea of 'sending coal to Northern Thailand' came from chatting at Ah Gung (Fung Shui Fan)'s home. We wanted to help the Chinese in the mountain area of Northern Thailand, so we discussed a goodwill visit plan. During preparation he helped a lot, including making contacts for donations. He was an important driving force behind the scenes." Also known Fung Shui Fan for decades, Lau Tan bluntly said that it was difficult to accept, because the day before the death of his old friend they were still exchanging messages. At the time he also said that the situation had improved and that he had the opportunity to film again. Lau Tan said, "He has been ill for a while, and he has improved a lot this month. He even said that a Taiwanese director wanted to film with him, and I was even happy for him. I didn't expect to be like so soon after"

Fung Shui Fan's another old friend Ha Yu revealed that they just saw each other this year. Although he knew that birth, old age, illness and death were inevitable in life, he would still be always reluctant to let him go. "He was one of my best friends, and we have known each other for more than half a century. I would meet him every time I go to Taiwan. Only when I contacted him in Taiwan in the middle of this year, I learned that he was hospitalized for two months due to pneumonia and needed to be on a ventilator to help him breathe. I regret not being able to see him one last time."

Having worked with Fung Shui Fan in TVB's first feature drama, Gigi Wong Suk Yee praised his professionalism. Fully prepared for filming, he never had to bring scripts into the studio. He was very strict about his own performance. "I am fortunate to work with him, and his professionalism has benefited me a lot on the road of acting. I remember once he screwed up a dialogue, and suddenly 'whack' as he slapped himself. 'Am I dead? How can I mess up like this!' I was surprised! Of course I would dare to relax even less when I rehearsed with him in the future! He is rigorous, whether it was dubbing, acting or directing he has demands for himself."

Fung Shui Fan passed away suddenly, and many artists who have worked with him in the past expressed their regret. Miriam Yeung Chin Wah once formed a relationship with this senior in the movies LITTLE BIG MASTER (NG GOR SIU HAI DIK HAU JEUNG) and HOOKED ON YOU (MUI DONG BIN WAN SI), especially in the LITTLE film where they even played father and daughter; the family scene was quite touching. As for Bosco Wong Chung Chak who has filmed a number of Lunar New Year films with Fung Shui Fan, he said in an interview yesterday: "It's so sad, it's a pity that another good senior has left us. I grew up with them when I was young, and I never expected to work with them when I grew up, it was my honor! May they have a safe journey and I will always miss them."

Actor Simon Yam Tat Wa and Fung Shui Fan became acquainted with movies such as VENGEANCE (FOOK SAU). Yam Tat Wah lamented, "He was an old-timer in the film industry, just as humorous and straightforward both on and off scream. His passing is a loss to the industry. His memory was extraordinary, and he was familiar with all the workings of film. I had a lot of pressure while working with him in the past. May he have a safe journey."

In the early years the Fung Shui Fan, Richard Ng Yiu Hon, Eric Tsang Chi Wai, Sammo Hung Kam Bo, and Charlie Chin (Chun Cheung Lam) starred "Lucky Stars" film series was very popular, and the series alone made 7 consecutive films, including WINNERS AND SINNERS (KEI MAU MIU GAI NG FOOK SING), MY LUCKY STARS (FOOK SING GO JIU) and HOW TO MEET THE LUCKY STARS (WON CHOI NG FOOK SING). Now Ng Yiu Hon and Fung Shui Fan respectively passed away; Chun Cheung Lam have retired from the film industry long ago and rarely appeared in public.

Although Hung Kam Bo has been said to have limited mobility in recent years, his health has still been good. He has said that he would not give up, and he has publicly expressed his intention to make the "Lucky Stars" film series again in the past. Unfortunately he would no longer be able to bring the people together. "Actually I really want to make another one, but some stars have already left and I feel very sad inside. I just want people to be happy when I make these movies, and all the performances of the actors in "Lucky Stars" have made people very happy. They were bad guys, but they were good bad guys." He also pointed out that he has thought of filming a new version, but cultivating 5 newcomers would be difficult.

Speaking of classic comedy, Fung Shui Fan could be said to have achieved countless classic funny scenes. In THE ROMANCING STAR he played a demanding garage boss "Lau Ting Kin" whose entire body went into convulsions due to the misuse of "minimizer", and the reenactment of AN AUTUMN'S TALE scene with Wong Wan Sze, all of which have become collective memories of movie fans.

Fung Shui Fan worked on many comedies with director Wong Jing, but in 2023 he expressed that the rotten films he made has become the shame of his lifetime. At the time he even publicly blasted Wong Jing. "Wong Jing this X! The movies he made are too absurd! I don't understand why Hong Kong viewers like to watch them so much. I call them rotten films! I really feel this is the shame of my life!" Responsible for directing the series of films, Wong Jing posted on social networks to mourn Fung Shui Fan. "'Ah Gung' Fung Shui Fan also passed; only one day away from Hui Siu Hung. They and Ng Man Tat were the three comedy catalysts I used to always use. It's really a pity that almost all of them have left in the past few years!" He recalled the incident of getting yelled at earlier, "I don't blame him, after all he as old and lived alone, so his mind might be a little confused. Brother Gung, have a safe journey, your work would not be forgotten!" Another frequent collaborator, Nat Chan Pak Cheung praised Fung Shui Fan for being very professional, doing things in his own way, and having quite a character of his own.

Fung Shui Fan never married or had children. In 1981 he fell in love with actress Regina Tsang Hing Yu while filming the TV series IN LOVE AND WAR, but broke up due to personality incompatibility. Fung Shui Fan once revealed that his first girlfriend was Liza Wang Ming Chuen. At the time he often waited for her outside the dance studio and admitted that he stole her from her then boyfriend Chow Sai Hau. Yet to avoid affecting her development, they did not continue on. After Wang Ming Chuen and Law Kar Ying got married in 2009, the three of them had a good relationship. Fung Shui Fan even said, "When Law Kar Ying runs into me, he would call Wang Ming Chuen and then hand me the phone." However Wang Ming Chuen said in an interview yesterday, "I was good friends with him when we were young, but I can't say that we were dating. (Reports say he said you were his first love?) There is no such thing." She pointed out that they had collaborated on TVB to make dramas back then. She praised him for his talent, but his ideas were more radical and his personality were more fiery. They had no contact in recent years.

Regarding marriage, Fung Shui Fan had his own opinion. "What would an old companion do? Women get old easily. I advise women when marrying husbands, marrying someone who is more than 10 years older than themselves would be the best. If the difference is 2 or 3 years, the woman would die." He pointed out that he saw that many of his friends' wives aged very quickly after marriage. They did not look like husband and wife in appearance, but more like older sister and younger brother. He knew that he had a withdrawn personality and found getting along with others difficult. He joked that if he got married, he might quarrel with his partner everyday, so it was okay not to get married.