Gordon Liu
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Gordon Liu | |
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| Born | November 30, 1955 Guangdong Province,China |
| Occupation | martial arts film actor |
Gordon Liu (劉家輝; Lau Kar-Fai; Liu Jia Hui, formerly spelled Liu Chia-Hui, born Xian Qixi) (born November 30, 1955) is a Chinese martial arts film actor. He was born in Guangdong Province, China and is the adopted brother of famed Shaw Brothers director and actor Lau Kar-leung (Liu Chia-Liang).
Best known by Western moviegoers for his role as Pai Mei in Kill Bill: Volume 2 (2004), and as Johnny Mo in Kill Bill: Volume 1 (2003), the head general of the Crazy 88, O-Ren Ishii's (Lucy Liu) personal army. Elsewhere, Liu is known for his role as San Te from The 36th Chamber of Shaolin and its sequels from which he adopted his shaved head style. Some fans call him the "Master Killer" after the alternate title to The 36th Chamber of Shaolin.
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[edit] Youth
In his youth, he skipped school to train in martial arts without his parents' knowledge. He trained at Lau Charn's martial arts school of Hung Gar discipline, which descended from Wong Fei Hung's grand student (father to Lau Kar Leung). Lau Charn's wife assisted in his training and their friendship eventually led to his adoption into Lau's family, and he received the name Lau Kar Fai. As he grew up, he found a job as a shipping clerk to make ends meet. His interests had always been towards martial arts and he was eventually offered a role by Lau Kar Leung. His name prior to being adopted was Xian Qixi.
[edit] Career
Over the years Gordon's movie roles dwindled as younger and more agile martial artists emerged. During the 80's, he was forced to take smaller roles such as in Lau Kar-leung's Tiger on the Beat. However, Liu has been active in television, and was contracted to Hong Kong's TVB company for many years, continuing playing roles as a martial arts master. Though he still commonly plays roles in some martial arts capacity, he's also at home in playing comedic, self-depreciative or emotional characters. His second common role in TVB has been playing an HK police officer[citation needed].
Quentin Tarantino has long been a fan of Liu, and had one day hoped to find him a role in one of his movies. This eventually came to pass with the roles of Johnny Mo and Master Pai Mei in both Kill Bill movies. His roles in Kill Bill raised Liu's profile again and a renewed interest was shown by Chinese producers. Since Gordon's Kill Bill fame, Gordon has returned to doing movies while continuing to do television for Hong Kong's TVB station.
[edit] Selected Filmography
- 5 Shaolin Masters (1974)
- Shaolin Martial Arts (1974)
- 4 Assassins (1975)
- Challenge Of The Masters (1976)
- 7 Man Army (1976)
- Bloody Avengers (1976)
- He Has Nothing But Kung Fu (1977)
- Executioners from Shaolin (1977)
- Breakout from Oppression (1978, filmed in 1973)
- The 36th Chamber of Shaolin (1978)
- Heroes of the East (1978)
- Deadly Mantis (1978)
- Fury in the Shaolin Temple (1979)
- Dirty Ho (1979)
- Spiritual Boxer II (1979)
- Clan of the White Lotus (1980)
- Return to the 36th Chamber aka Master Killer II (1980)
- Fists and Guts (1980)
- Elders (1981)
- Shaolin and Wu Tang (1981)
- Martial Club (1981)
- Raiders of Buddhist Kung Fu (1982)
- The Shaolin Drunken Monk (1982)
- Legendary Weapons of China (1982)
- Treasure Hunters (1982)
- Young Vagabond (1982)
- Cat Vs Rat (1982)
- Lady Is The Boss (1983)
- Crazy Shaolin Disciples (1983)
- Tales of a Eunuch (1983)
- Eight Diagram Pole Fighter (1983)
- Shaolin Warrior (1984)
- Disciples of the 36th Chamber (1985)
- My Heart Is That Eternal Rose (1987)
- Legend of the Phoenix (1988)
- Tiger on the Beat (1988)
- A Fiery Family (1989)
- Code of Fortune (1989)
- Avenging Trio (1989)
- Ghost Ballroom (1989)
- Killer Angels (1989)
- Tiger on the Beat II (1990)
- A Bloody Fight (1990)
- China Heat (1991)
- Killing in the Dream (1992)
- Cheetah on Fire (1993)
- Flirting Scholar 2 (1993)
- Flirting Scholar (1993)
- Deadly China Hero (1993)
- Legend of the Liquid Sword (1993)
- Bogus Cops (1993)
- Drunken Master III (1994)
- American Shaolin (1994)
- Funny Shaolin Kids (1994)
- Lethal Girls 2 (1995)
- Journey to the West (1996) (TV series)
- Journey to the West II (1998) (TV series)
- Generation Pendragon (1999)
- The Island Tales (1999)
- A Step into the Past (2001) (TV series)
- Drunken Monkey (2002)
- Star Runner (2003)
- The King of Yesterday and Tomorrow (2003) (TV series)
- Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003)Johnny Mo
- Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004)Pai Mei
- Shaolin Vs. Evil Dead (2004)
- Dragon Squad (2005)
- A Chinese Tall Story (2005)
- Mr. 3 Minutes (2006)
- Shaolin Vs. Dead: Ultimate Power (2007)
- Heroes of Shaolin (2008)
