Yuen Cheung-yan

Biography

Yuen Cheung-yan was a Hong Kong director, action choreographer, and martial arts actor, and the son of action choreographer Yuen Siu-tien. He was the younger brother of Yuen Woo-ping and the older brother of Yuen Shun-yi. He learned martial arts from a young age with his brothers under his father's guidance. He began his career as a stuntman in the bodyguard era and became an assistant action choreographer in the late 1960s, working with master Tang Chia on films by director Chang Cheh. He gained prominence at Shaw Brothers by the mid-1970s and collaborated with notable directors like Chor Yuen and Hua Meng-hua. He co-founded the "Yuen Family Troupe" with his brothers and contributed to productions by Peace Films. He was known for his cameo roles, such as the old beggar who sells the "Buddha's Palm" book in "Kung Fu Hustle." He served as action choreographer for the Hollywood film "Daredevil." He passed away on January 1, 2026, at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Hong Kong.