Law Kar Ying

Biography

Law Kar Ying, a Chinese actor from Hong Kong, was born on September 22, 1946, in Shunde District, Guangdong Province, into a family of Cantonese opera performers. His father, Law Kar Chuen, was a famous comic role artist in opera, and his uncles and cousins were also prominent figures in Cantonese opera. He moved with his family to Hong Kong in 1949 and settled in the Wan Chai area. He began learning the basics of Cantonese opera from his father at the age of eight, and made his first stage performance in the second grade of primary school. He left school at the age of fourteen and devoted himself entirely to studying opera under several renowned masters. At the age of twenty-one, he began performing lead roles in opera and formed several opera troupes starting in 1970. With the decline of Cantonese opera's popularity in the 1970s, he transitioned to film work in the 1990s, beginning his film career in 1991. He has served as artistic advisor and director of the Tea House Theatre at the West Kowloon Cultural District Xiqu Centre since 2019. He was awarded the Bronze Bauhinia Star in July 2018 in recognition of his artistic contributions. His wife, Wang Ming Chun, is also a prominent figure in Hong Kong's opera and entertainment world.