Yeung Sze (simplified Chinese: 杨斯; traditional Chinese: 楊斯; pinyin: Yáng Sī; Jyutping: Yeung4 Si1; born July 3, 1946[4]), better known as Bolo Yeung, is a Hong Kong former competitive bodybuilder, martial artist, and actor. Primarily known for playing villains in action and martial arts films, he is regarded as one of the most influential actors in martial arts cinema.[5]
| Bolo Yeung | |
|---|---|
 Bolo Yeung in 2010 | |
| Born | Yeung Sze July 3, 1946 Guangzhou, Guangdong, Republic of China |
| Native name | 楊斯 |
| Other names | Yang Si Yang Sze Chinese Hercules[1] |
| Height | 5 ft 6 in (168 cm)[2][3] |
| Years active | 1970–present |
| Occupation | Actor, martial artist, bodybuilder |
| Children | 3 |
Born in Guangzhou, Sze learnt kung fu, namely Tai chi and Wing Chun, from the age of 10. After relocating to Hong Kong to escape the famine and communism of mainland China, he developed an interest in bodybuilding and in 1970 he was crowned Mr. Hong Kong, a title he would hold for 10 years. He would become an actor and stuntman for the Shaw Brothers with notable early performances in films like The Heroic Ones (1970) and The Deadly Duo (1971). In 1973, he appeared as the henchman "Bolo" in Bruce Lee's Enter the Dragon, which catapulted him to international fame.[6] Throughout the 1970s and 80s he appeared in many Bruceploitation films, including The Clones of Bruce Lee (1977) and Enter the Game of Death (1978). He made his directorial debut in 1977 with the film Fists of Justice.[7]
He would later surface in the Golden Harvest action comedies of the 1980s including the Sammo Hung films My Lucky Stars (1985) and Millionaires Express (1986), and duelled with Bruce Lee's son, Brandon Lee, in the action film Legacy of Rage (1986). He gained further popularity in the West following the international success of the 1988 martial arts film Bloodsport, in which he played the villain Chong Li, opposite Jean-Claude Van Damme. His work in Hollywood also includes the 1991 films Double Impact, also opposite Van Damme, and Breathing Fire, Ironheart (1992) and work with Lebanese-Canadian filmmaker Jalal Merhi, beginning with Fearless Tiger (1991).[8]
Biography
editYeung began his martial arts training at the age of 10 in Canton, where he trained under several kung fu masters. Growing up, he took an interest in bodybuilding, and later became Mr. Hong Kong bodybuilding champion. He held the title for ten years. Because of his muscular physique, he was chosen for several bad guy roles in films produced by Shaw Brothers Studios, such as The Heroic Ones, The Deadly Duo, Angry Guest and others.
Yeung met Bruce Lee while the two were filming a Winston cigarettes commercial.[9] A friendship emerged and Lee invited him to star in Enter the Dragon, after which he became known as "Bolo", the name of the character he portrayed. The two became close friends during the filming of Enter the Dragon, during which Lee and Yeung worked very closely on technique training. Yeung once stated in an interview, many years after Lee's death, "There will never be another Bruce Lee; I am privileged to have had the honour of calling him my friend."[citation needed]
During the 1970s and 1980s, Yeung starred in numerous martial arts films, but his breakout film was Bloodsport. Shot on a 1.5 million USD budget, it became a box office hit in the spring of 1988. Jean-Claude Van Damme had the leading role as Frank Dux, while Yeung played the role of Chong Li. A strong friendship formed between the two actors on the set of Bloodsport, and Van Damme invited Yeung to appear in his subsequent film Double Impact.[citation needed]
Canadian action film actor, director and producer Jalal Merhi met Yeung in Hong Kong while shooting his first film Fearless Tiger, then again on the set of Double Impact. Merhi was impressed with Yeung's personality and ability, and decided to create a part specifically for him.[10] Later Merhi worked with Yeung on more films such as Tiger Claws, TC 2000 and Tiger Claws 2.
In 2007, Yeung made an appearance in Blizhniy Boy: The Ultimate Fighter. Merhi directed the first 60 minutes of the film that was shot in Toronto. Due to other commitments, he could not complete the remaining part of the film in Russia. Producer Erken Ialgashev directed the remainder of the film.[citation needed]
Filmography
edit| Year | Film | Role | Note(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Diamond Cartel (a.k.a. The Whole World at Our Feet)[11] | Bula | |
| 2007 | Blizhniy Boy: The Ultimate Fighter | Erik's Trainer | |
| 1997 | Tiger Claws II | Chong | |
| 1996 | Fists of Legends 2 Iron Bodyguards | Mongolian fighter | |
| 1995 | Shootfighter 2 | Shingo | |
| 1994 | Fearless Tiger | Master on mountain | |
| 1993 | TC 2000 | Master Sumai | |
| 1992 | The Magnificent Duo | Bolo | |
| 1992 | Tiger Claws | Chong | |
| 1992 | Ironheart | 'Ice' | |
| 1992 | Shootfighter: Fight to the Death | Shingo | |
| 1992 | Mega Force from Highland | The Wu Tang Swordsman | |
| 1991 | Double Impact | Moon | |
| 1991 | Breathing Fire | 'Thunder' | Credited as Bolo Young |
| 1989 | Bloodfight | Chang Lee, The Vietnamese Cobra | |
| 1988 | Bloodsport | Chong Li | |
| 1988 | One Husband Too Many | Dung Ken, Muscleman | |
| 1987 | Killer's Nocturne | Pit fighter | |
| 1987 | To Err is Humane (a.k.a. To Err is Human) | Unknown | |
| 1986 | Legacy of Rage | Thug | |
| 1986 | Lucky Stars Go Places (a.k.a. Luckiest Stars) | Movie Patron | |
| 1986 | Millionaires Express (a.k.a. Shanghai Express) | Millionaire Chan | Uncredited, cameo |
| 1985 | Seven Angels | Bar Customer In Green Shirt | |
| 1985 | Bruce Lee's Dragons Fight Back | Unknown | |
| 1985 | My Lucky Stars | Millionaire Chan | |
| 1985 | Working Class (a.k.a. Hit Work Emperor) | Giant Kickboxer | |
| 1985 | Lucky Diamond (a.k.a. Wish You Good Luck) | Unknown | |
| 1984 | Silent Romance | Unknown | |
| 1983 | Just for Fun | Unknown | |
| 1983 | The Boxers Omen (a.k.a. Mo) | Mr. Bu Bo, The Thai Boxer | |
| 1982 | The Supergang | 'Big King' | |
| 1982 | The Ninja Strikes Back (a.k.a. Bruce Le Fights/Strikes Back or Eye of the Dragon) | Unknown | |
| 1981 | All the Wrong Clues (for the Right Solution) | Unknown | |
| 1980 | Way of the Dragon 2 (a.k.a. Bruce Le's Greatest Revenge) | Unknown | Credited as Yang Sze |
| 1980 | The 36 Deadly Styles | Cheung's Brother | |
| 1980 | Bruce, the King of Kung Fu (a.k.a. The Young Bruce Lee) | Unknown | |
| 1980 | Fearless Master (a.k.a. Fearless Hyena 3) | Unknown | Credited as Yang Sze |
| 1980 | Challenge of the Tiger (a.k.a. Dragon Bruce Le or Gymkata Killer) | Unknown | Credited as Yang Sze |
| 1980 | Invincible (a.k.a. Fighting Dragon) | Unknown | |
| 1980 | Treasure of Bruce Lee (a.k.a. King Boxer 2) | Unknown | |
| 1979 | Bruce the Superhero | Peter Sze, The Bullkiller | Credited as Yang Sze |
| 1979 | Ruthless Revenge (a.k.a. Invincible Kung Fu or The Two Tricky Kids) | Unknown | |
| 1979 | The Dragon, the Hero (a.k.a. Dragon on Fire) | Unknown | |
| 1979 | Enter Three Dragons (a.k.a. Three Avengers) | Bolo | |
| 1979 | The Fists, the Kicks, and the Evil | Master Lung | |
| 1979 | Snake Deadly Act | The Giant | |
| 1979 | Writing Kung Fu | Ah Yen | Credited as Yang Sze |
| 1978 | Enter the Game of Death (a.k.a. Cross Hands Martial Arts or The King of Kung Fu) | Yang See | |
| 1978 | Enter Three Dragons | Bolo | |
| 1978 | Bruce Li in New Guinea | Unknown | |
| 1978 | Amsterdam Connection | Louie 'Big Louie' | Credited as Yang Sze |
| 1978 | Black Belt Jones 2 (a.k.a. Tattoo Connection) | Tan Yu Lu's Henchman | |
| 1978 | The Image of Bruce Lee (a.k.a. Storming Attacks) | Kimura | |
| 1977 | 10 Magnificent Killers | Ling Chu | Credited as Yang Sze |
| 1977 | Bolo the Brute (a.k.a. Bolo) | Bolo | |
| 1977 | The Clones of Bruce Lee | Martial Arts Trainer | |
| 1977 | Bruce and Shaolin Kung Fu (a.k.a. Bruce vs Black Dragon) | Lam Chi Chu | |
| 1977 | Soul of Chiba | Nepal | Credited as Yang Sze |
| 1976 | A Queen's Ransom (a.k.a. International Assassin(s)) | Ram | |
| 1975 | Hong Kong Superman (a.k.a. Bruce: Hong Kong Master) | Unknown | |
| 1975 | Kung Fu Massacre | Unknown | Credited as Yang Sze |
| 1975 | G-Men '75 | Unknown | TV series |
| 1975 | He Loved Once Too Many | Unknown | Credited as Bolo Yang Sze |
| 1975 | All Men Are Brothers (a.k.a. Seven Soldiers of Kung Fu) | Si Xingfang | |
| 1975 | The Fighting Dragon | Red Tiger | TV series |
| 1974 | Super Kung Fu Kid | Tiger | Credited as Yang Sze |
| 1973 | Chinese Hercules | Chinese Hercules | |
| 1973 | Thunderkick | Unknown | |
| 1973 | Kung Fu's Hero | Unknown | Credited as Yang Sze |
| 1973 | Enter the Dragon | Bolo | Credited as Yang Sze |
| 1973 | Freedom Strikes A Blow | Chiang Tai | Credited as Yang Sze |
| 1973 | Greatest Thai Boxing | Unknown | |
| 1973 | Tiger | Unknown | |
| 1973 | Ninja Killer | Mr. Yang | Credited as Yang Sze |
| 1972 | Man of Iron (a.k.a. Iron Man or Warrior of Steel) | Jin Xi Fu | |
| 1972 | Trilogy of Swordsmanship | Unknown | |
| 1972 | Young People | Unknown | |
| 1972 | King Boxer (a.k.a. Five Fingers of Death) | Pa Tu Er, Mongolian Fighter | |
| 1972 | The 14 Amazons | Western Xia Wrestler | |
| 1972 | Angry Guest | Yang Sze | |
| 1971 | The Rescue | Chief Cha Te | |
| 1971 | The Lady Professional | Bald Killer | |
| 1971 | The Oath of Death | Officer Shi | |
| 1971 | The Deadly Duo | The River Dragon of Jin | |
| 1970 | The Heroic Ones | General Meng Juehai | |
| 1970 | The Wandering Swordsman | Unicorn Du Kuo Lung |
References
edit- ^ "Profile of Bolo Yeung". April 3, 2014.
- ^ "Profile of Bolo Yeung". April 3, 2014.
- ^ Freese, Gene (September 11, 2017). Classic Movie Fight Scenes: 75 Years of Bare Knuckle Brawls, 1914-1989. McFarland. ISBN 978-1-4766-2935-3.
- ^ Bolo Yeung reveals his real age at Budo Gala 2010 in Basel on YouTube
- ^ "Actor Spotlight: Bolo Yeung". January 16, 2024.
- ^ "Actor Spotlight: Bolo Yeung". January 16, 2024.
- ^ "Profile of Bolo Yeung". April 3, 2014.
- ^ "Actor Spotlight: Bolo Yeung". January 16, 2024.
- ^ Logan, Bey Hong Kong Action Cinema (Overlook Press, 1995)
- ^ "Jalal Merhi Exclusive Interview". Budomate.com. June 5, 2010. Archived from the original on January 22, 2011.
- ^ JJ Bona (April 27, 2017). "Diamond Cartel - DVD (Cleopatra Entertainment)". cityonfire.com. Archived from the original on December 22, 2017. Retrieved May 7, 2018.
Further reading
edit- Hong Kong Action Cinema by Bey Logan (Sep 21, 1995)
- Martial Arts Illustrated (UK), 1990 September, Vol 3, Num 4
- Inside Kung Fu, 1991 September, Vol 18, Num 9
- Inside Kung Fu, 1992 June, Vol 19, Num 6
- Martial Arts Illustrated (UK), 1992 November, Vol 5, Num 6
- Inside Karate, 1993 January, Vol 14, Num 1
- Masters of Kung Fu, 1993 December, Vol 1, Num 7
- Inside Karate, 1994 March, Vol 15, Num 3
External links
edit- Bolo Yeung at IMDb
- Bolo Yeung Biography (Wayback Machine copy)