[2025.01.03] KUNG FU HUSTLE'S YUEN CHEUNG YAN PASSED AWAY AT AGE 68

Yuen Cheung Yan in the later years continued to make movies and often interacted with fans on social media

Yuen Cheung Yan once starred with Stephen Chow in the classic KUNG FU HUSTLE
courtesy of mingpao.com

Famous director, action director and actor Yuen Cheung Yan on New Year's Day (the 1st) passed away at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. He was 68. The funeral would take place at the Universal Funeral Parlor on February 1st. Director Lee Lik Chi yesterday announced the news of his passing on Weibo. "Master Yuen Cheung Yan's wife gave grave news, Master Cheung Yan passed away due to illness at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital this afternoon (the 1st).....may Master Cheung Yan have a safe journey." Jackie Chan, Donnie Yen Chi Tan, Kara Wai Ying Hung and others eulogized him on social media. Jackie Chan posted, "Brother Yuen Cheung Yan was not only an excellent action director, but also shaped many classic characters."

Yuen Cheung Yan came form a martial art family. His father was DRUNKEN MASTER (JUI KUEN)'s Yuen Siu Tin, brother is the renowned "Number One Action Director in the World" Yuen Woo Ping, and he was a core member of the "Yuen Stunt Team". He followed Yuen Woo Ping to develop in Hollywood, serving as the fight choreographer on DAREDEVIL. He once joked in the interview, "Everyone says that Yuen Woo Ping is the Number One Action Director in the World, then as the second child do I count as the number two action director in the world?" He participated in on screen performance, one of his classic character had to be the beggar in KUNG FU HUSTLE (GONG FU). "I see your shockingly unique bone structure, an one in a million martial art training material. It's up to you to maintain world peace!" Through those words he sold the BUDDHA'S PALM secret manual to Stephen Chow Sing Chi's character in his childhood. In his later years he continued to make movies. The Shu Qi starred GOOD AUTUMN, MOMMY was his final work.

Jackie Chan eulogized Yuen Cheung Yan. "Brother Yuen Cheung Yan has left us......when I was little and just started at the Opera School and studied with Master Yu Jim Yuen, I knew that we had two elder brothers: Yuen Woo Ping and Yuen Cheung Yan. They entered the film industry very early on, later became other elders in the business and lent a helping hand to many. Brother Yuen Cheung Yan was not only an excellent action director, but also shaped many classic character. Sometimes with only a few shots, he was still able to leave a deep impression, became a stroke of genius and kept these characters in the hearts of the audience. Brother, have a safe journey. We will miss you."

Yen Chi Tan posted a still from his film with Yuen Cheung Yan DRUNKEN TAI CHI (SIU TAI GIK) and wrote. "From my green first encounter at DRUNKEN TAI CHI, to the farewell to martial art world in the recent SAKRA (KIU FUNG JUEN), Brother Cheung Yan contributed to the light and the shadow. Your spirit will endure. We will forever miss you. Have a safe journey."