陳錦棠

简介

Chan Kam Tong was a Chinese Cantonese opera performer and film actor born in 1906 in Guangdong Province. He learned martial arts from a young age under the tutelage of master Xin Bei in Guangzhou, initially performing under the stage name "Xin Liang Yu." He began his artistic career by joining various theatrical troupes, including the New Era Troupe in 1924 and the Great Heaven Net Troupe in 1925. He caught the attention of master Xue Jue Xian, who took him as both a disciple and adopted son, after which he adopted his current stage name. He earned the title "Martial Arts Champion" for his excellence in martial and villain roles. In 1937, he founded the Jin Tian Hua Troupe, which became the longest-running Cantonese opera troupe in Hong Kong after World War II. He began his film career in 1934, with his first leading role in "The Heroic Mouse Bandit" in 1941, and appeared in over one hundred films. His final film was "Empress Li" in 1968, and he retired from the stage in 1973 due to a foot injury. Known in the industry as "Elder Brother" and later "Uncle" in his later years, he passed away in 1981.