Johnny Ngan Kwok Leung

Biography

Johnny Ngan Kwok Leung was born in Hong Kong in 1953, the youngest son in his family with one older brother. His father taught English and Bible at Ying Wa College on Oxford Road in Kowloon. Johnny spent his early childhood as a boarding student at a primary school in Macau before returning to Hong Kong in 1966 to attend Ying Wa College. He dropped out after Form 2 due to lack of interest in studies, and in 1968 at the age of 14 he enrolled in the 8th training course of Shaw Brothers' Nan Kwok Experimental Theatre Group, studying alongside notable actors such as Ti Lung, Yu Yang, Pai Pao, and Kao Tsai. After graduation, he briefly worked at Shaw Brothers Film Company before joining Hong Kong Commercial Broadcasting in 1969. Johnny moved between various careers, working as a broadcaster, then as an auxiliary police officer for three years before becoming a regular police officer in 1979, stationed at Yau Ma Tei Police Station. In 1979 he left the police force and turned to acting as a freelance performer, later joining TVB in 1980 through a friend's recommendation. He gained fame for his role as "Chan Jik" in the long-running comedy series "Hong Kong 81 to Hong Kong 86" during the 1980s, making him one of the most recognizable actors of that era. He continued his career with notable works including "A Time of Taste" and "Justice Bao". He left TVB in 2008 and retired from the entertainment industry to pursue other careers. He passed away on 25 May 2024 at the age of 71.