Sammo Hung is a prolific Hong Kong actor, martial artist, film producer and director with more than 130 films to his credit, known for his work in many martial arts films and Hong Kong action cinema.
Education
The opera school was run by Master Yu Jim Yuen. He was not sure of Hung's abilities due to his large size (young Kam-bo always had a fondness for food). But soon Yuen was swayed by Hung's acrobatic abilities, and his stern manner, which Yuen felt would help keep the other students in line.
That time was quite hard. The group would rise before dawn and do exercises until noon, when they were finally allowed to clear their bladders. After a small lunch, the students would train until dusk, after which they would have to do chores until around midnight. Anyone caught goofing off or slacking would be dealt swift punishment, but those who impressed sifu Yuen would be allowed into the "Seven Happy Fortunes" troupe, which was the main money-making source for the school. As he moved into his teenage years, Hung became the "big brother" of the group,
Career
Hung appeared as a child actor in several films for Cathay Asia and Bo Bo Films during the early 1960s. His film debut was in the 1961 film, "Education of Love".
In 1962, he made his first appearance alongside Jackie Chan in the film "Big and Little Wong Tin Bar", followed by a role in "The Birth of Yue Fei".
In 1966, at the age of just 14, Hung began working for Shaw Brothers Studio, assisting the action director Han Yingjie, on King Hu's film "Come Drink with Me". Between 1966 and 1974, Hung worked on over 30 wuxia films for Shaw Brothers, progressing through the roles of extra, stuntman, stunt co-ordinator and ultimately, action director.
Sammo's skill and dedication to hard work made him one of Hong Kong's top stunt/action co-ordinators, which led to a signing with the upstart Golden Harvest studio. During his time at Golden Harvest, he began to try his hand at acting as well, often as the bad guy due to his unusual looks.
His popularity soon began to grow, and due to the quality of his choreography and disciplined approach to his work, he again caught the eye of celebrated Taiwanese director, King Hu. Hung choreographed two of Hu's films, A Touch of Zen (1971) and The Fate of Lee Khan (1973).
By 1978, Hung had so much clout in HK film (he and his stunt team were regarded as the best in the business) that he was able to form three production companies --Gar Bo Motion Picture Company , Bo Ho Film Company Ltd and Bojon Films Company Ltd.
Hung's martial arts films of the 1980s helped reconfigure how martial arts were presented on screen.In 1983, the collaboration between the triumverate of Hung, Jackie Chan, and Yuen Biao began with Chan's Project A. Hung, Chan and Yuen were known as the 'Three Dragons' and their alliance lasted for 5 years.
Hung kept on working on both sides of the camera in such films as 1989's Pedicab Driver, widely noted as one of the best martial arts films ever. By the mid 90's, things had cooled down between Hung and Chan. Sammo was the action co-ordinator on Chan's Thunderbolt (1995) and directed 1997's Mr. Nice Guy.
Hung moved over to the US in 1998 to work on TV series called Martial Law. The hour-long shows were a surprise success and installed Hung as the only East Asian headlining a prime time network series. After the show's failure in the ratings, he has moved back to Hong Kong, where he has made several more films, including Highbinders, where he once again directs his old friend Jackie Chan.