Lo Lieh

Biography

Lo Lieh (羅烈), born Wang Li-da on June 29, 1938 in Xien-ta, Dutch East Indies (present-day Indonesia), was an overseas Chinese whose family operated farming businesses. He moved to Hong Kong and joined Shaw Brothers in 1962, graduating from the first class of the "Southern Training Troupe." Director Chang Cheh noticed his dark complexion and cast him in loyal character roles. His early films included Butterfly Cup (蝴蝶盃), Tiger Justice (虎俠殲仇), Golden Swallow (金燕子), Flying Dagger (飛刀手), and Iron Hand (鐵手無情), establishing him as an action film actor. In the 1970s he transitioned to villain roles in films by other directors. His 1972 film King Boxer (天下第一拳) was the first Hong Kong film screened in American theaters with strong box office results, making him a sought-after villain and leading to numerous European and American B-movies. In the 1990s he shifted to television with ATV, appearing in many series. He later moved into business in mainland China and opened an acting academy to train newcomers. He passed away on November 2, 2002 in Shenzhen from a sudden heart attack at the age of 64.