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CYF Fast FAQ

These are the questions I'm asked on a regular basis. I've sorted them by keywords to make the answers easier to find for those using search engines. These are just quick answers, for more in-depth information on CYF's films, I invite visitors to explore the rest of the Free Man site. Thanks. - Leigh

Last update: June 14, 2001.

Personal Data
birthday, wife, marriage, children, romance, girlfriend
When was Chow Yun-Fat born?
May 18, 1955.

Is Chow Yun-Fat married?
Yes. He was married briefly to actress Candice Yu On-On in 1983. He married again in 1987 to Jasmine Tan Hui-Lain, who has also taken on the role of business manager.

Does Chow Yun-Fat have any children?
No. After a tragic miscarriage which endangered Mrs. Chow's life, they have not attempted to have a child.

Other than his two marriages, with whom has CYF been romantically linked?
Three women in particular have been reported to have dated CYF before his marriage(s): Idy Chan Yuk-Lin, Cherie Chung Cho-Hung and Carol "DoDo" Cheng Yu-Ling. Idy Chan is an actress who appeared with CYF in the television show "The Yang's Saga" and took a starring role in other shows, notably "The Return of the Condor Heroes". Cherie Chung Cho-Hung is the Hong Kong beauty who co-starred with CYF in eight films, as early as The Story of Woo-Viet and regularly until Once A Thief, shortly after which she retired. Carol Cheng Yu-Ling has been one of Hong Kong's most popular female stars since she and CYF starred in TVB serials together (such as "The Fate" and "Good Old Times"); they co-starred in four films (The Last Affair, The Eighth Happiness, My Will I Will and Now You See Love, Now You Don't. Her most recent success was in the wildly popular TV show "War of the Genders" in which she starred as Miss Mo.


height, weight, bloodtype
How tall is Chow Yun-Fat?
6 feet, or 180 centimetres.

How much does Chow Yun-Fat weigh?
Approximately 75 kilos or 165 pounds.

What is Chow Yun-Fat's bloodtype?
He is blood type O.


favorites, hobbies, interests, religion
What are Chow Yun-Fat's favorite things?
His favorite saying: "Tomorrow will be better."

His favorite food: Taiwanese pineapple.

His favorite hobby: sleeping.

What makes him happiest: helping other people.

The most unforgettable person in his life: his father.

When he isn't making movies, what does he do?
According to interviews, he enjoys gardening, fishing, playing with his dogs, watching TV, sleeping and eating. He and his wife are also very active with charity work. CYF was the Ambassador for the World Wildlife Fund in 1999, and supports many other charities as well. In recent years he has developed a keen interest in photography, and has had a darkroom built in his home.

What are CYF's religious beliefs, if any?
In a 1999 interview with Turner Network Television, he made this statement: "I'm a Buddhist. In China, we have thousands of Buddhas. Not only one Buddha, but based on one theory. Buddha is always in your heart."


address, languages
Where can I write to Chow Yun-Fat?
Please send your correspondance to his business address in Hong Kong which has been verified by Charlotte G. Please include a properly sized SASE if you are sending something to be signed. Make sure you affix adequate postage to your letter or package.

Mr. Chow Yun-Fat
2F
192 Prince Edward Rd. West
Kowloon
HONG KONG

There are currently no known addresses outside Hong Kong which are reliable for the relay of mail.



Which languages does CYF speak?
Cantonese, Mandarin, English



Film and TV Data
filmography
Can you give me a listing of CYF's films?
100 Ways To Murder Your Wife
A Better Tomorrow
A Better Tomorrow II
A Better Tomorrow III: Love and Death In Saigon
All About Ah Long
An Autumn's Tale
Anna and The King
Bed For Day, Bed For Night
Bloody Money
The Bund I (edited form of the TV series)
The Bund II (cameo only) (edited form of the TV series)
Cherry Blossoms
City On Fire
City War
Code of Honour
The Corruptor
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Diary of A Big Man
Dream Lovers
The Eighth Happiness
Flaming Brothers
Fractured Follies
Full Contact
The Fun, The Luck and The Tycoon
God of Gamblers
God of Gamblers Returns
Goodbye, Hero (a.k.a. Goodbye, My Friend)
The Greatest Lover
Hard Boiled
Head Hunter (a.k.a. The Long Goodbye)
A Hearty Response
Heroic Cops (a.k.a. The Executioner)
Hong Kong 1941
Hot Blood
The Hunter, The Butterfly and The Crocodile
Joy To The World
The Killer
The Last Affair
Learned Bride Thrice Fools the Bridegroom
Love In A Fallen City
Love Unto Waste
The Lunatics
Massage Girls (a.k.a. Club Girl Story)
Miss O
The Missed Date
My Will, I Will (a.k.a. You Will, I Will)
Now You See Love, Now You Don't
The Occupant
Once A Thief
Peace Hotel
Pembunuhan Pursuit
Police Sir
The Postman Strikes Back
Prison On Fire
Prison On Fire 2
The Reincarnation
The Replacement Killers
Rich and Famous (a.k.a. Black Vengeance)
The Romancing Star
The Romancing Star II (brief cameo only)
Scared Stiff
See-Bar (a.k.a. Shanghai Brothers)
The Seventh Curse
Spiritual Love
The Story of Rose (re-released as Lost Romance)
The Story of Woo Viet
Their Private Lives
Tiger On Beat
Tragic Hero
Treasure Hunt
Triads - The Inside Story
Why Me?
Wild Search
The Witch From Nepal
Women

DVD, VCD, VHS, subtitles
Where can I buy these movies?
Many of the above titles are out of print, especially the ones from the 1970s and early 1980s. VCDs and DVDs of in-print titles are easier to find than VHS titles, but using any good search engine such as Google should reveal a plethora of sources. You can also check out the page devoted to commercial links on the Free Man site. Many times used laserdiscs of both in-print and out-of-print titles can be found. Check online auctions such as Yahoo! and eBay and laserdisc shops (if you can find any remaining in your area). Laserdiscs are not the same thing as DVDs or VCDs! They are a totally incompatible format and require a dedicated player.

Are all CYF's movies subtitled in English?
No. Some are, some are not. If in doubt, write the dealer and ask if a specific title is subtitled.

Are there two versions of God of Gamblers?
Yes, the DVD, VCD and laserdisc versions are edited. Some scenes are missing; it is assumed these were cut out for time. The VHS version is not cut.

Are there two versions of The Killer?
Yes, but only one is authorized (the shorter version). There are prints of an unfinished workprint still in existance, but these are not authorized copies which are swapped among movie enthusiasts as an oddity.

Are there two versions of Their Private Lives?
Yes, one has had some original scenes replaced by hardcore pornography. Both versions are out of print.

I've seen movies for sale with titles not on your list. Why are they not included?
A company called Arena Video has put out very poor quality VHS tapes of some of CYF's older movies and has retitled them. Some of these films are not even CYF movies, but simply advertised as such. Buy them at your own risk. Here is a list of these dubious videos and their proper titles. Some are in Cantonese, some in Mandarin. While there are subtitles on these tapes, I have heard many complaints about them being unreadable. One film has been reported to me as not even a CYF movie at all, but Return Engagement with Alan Tang containing CYF footage spliced in so that the tape could be advertised as a CYF film. Again: caveat emptor.

Arena re-title proper title
God of Killers The Story of Woo Viet
Hardboiled Killers Police Sir
Hong Kong Corruptor Return Engagement (an Alan Tang film with CYF footage nonsensically edited in)
Hong Kong Specialist Bloody Money
Killers Two Heroic Cops
Shanghai Killer Goodbye, My Friend


television, TV, TVB
Do you have any info on CYF's TV shows?
For information on CYF's television career, please visit Hong Kong Heartbreaker, which is an annex of the Free Man In Hong Kong site. It is a work in progress, but you will find reviews and screen captures from some of his TVB series there.

What are the TV series in which CYF starred?
Big River South North (a.k.a. The Killer 1)
Small and Alone In The World
Hotel
Family Change (a.k.a. A House Not A Home)
Powerful People (a.k.a. The Giants)
Vanity Fair
Ancient Battle (a.k.a. Conflicts)
Heavenly Rainbow (a.k.a. Over The Rainbow)
The Good, The Bad and The Ugly (a.k.a. Man In The Net)
The Bund (a.k.a. Shanghai Tan, Shanghai Beach)
Family Feelings (a.k.a. Brothers)
The Road Ahead (a.k.a. The Seekers)
The Shell Game II
Flaming Phoenix (a.k.a. The Fate)
Alligator Pool (a.k.a. Good Old Times)
The Maverick
The Legend of Master So
Radio Tycoon
Angels and Devils
The Yang's Saga
Smiling Proud Wanderer
Big Hong Kong (a.k.a. Battle Among The Clans)
Police Cadet '85

TV DVD, TV VCD, TV VHS, TV subtitles
Where can I buy these shows?
As of this writing, three of CYF's television series have been released on VCD: The Bund, The Yang's Saga and The Legend of Master So. To find a dealer of these VCD sets, any good search engine such as Google should reveal a plethora of sources. You can also check out the page devoted to commercial links on the Free Man site.

Are all CYF's TV shows subtitled in English?
No. None of these shows are subtitled in English.

Are there two versions of The Bund on VCD?
Yes, one is abridged. Be sure to look for the 24 disc set when buying, as the 16 disc set has been edited. CoolVCD.com is one retailer which carries the full version.

I bought Shanghai Grand on DVD and it doesn't have CYF in it. Why?
Shanghai Grand is a feature film, starring Leslie Cheung and Andy Lau, based on the same book from which The Bund TV series was made.

Where can I get the other shows not on VCD?
Ask around in your local Chinatown at video rental shops, you may find rental copies there. They are not readily available outside such establishments (you will not find them, for example, at places such as NetFlix or Blockbuster).



Miscellaneous

awards, prizes, recognition, stamps
What awards have been given to Chow Yun-Fat?
CYF has received numerous personal awards for everything from being Asia's top boxoffice draw to being part of the "Couple of the Millenium". He is the recipient of three Hong Kong Film Awards for Best Actor and has been nominated by the HKFA many times. Here is a listing of the awards for which he has been nominated.

film title nomination
A Better Tomorrow Best Actor (prizewinner)
All About Ah Long Best Actor (prizewinner)
An Autumn's Tale Best Actor
City On Fire Best Actor (prizewinner)
God of Gamblers Best Actor
Hong Kong 1941 Best Actor
Love Unto Wastes Best Supporting Actor
Once A Thief Best Actor
Peace Hotel Best Actor
Prison On Fire Best Actor
Treasure Hunt Best Actor
Women Best Actor


I've seen stamps with CYF's face on them. Are these real postage stamps?
Yes, they are real postage stamps. Both the Special Administrative Region of Hong Kong and the nation of Guyana have issued postage stamps bearing CYF's likeness. The Hong Kong stamps were issued as part of a new series of stamps (the "Personal Greetings" campaign) and to commemorate CYF's appointment as Philatelic Ambassador for the Hong Kong post office. Guyana is famous for printing stamps of famous people; CYF is one of many actors which have appeared on their postage stamps. As of this writing they are readily available; you can buy these from online stamp retailers and online auctions for reasonable prices.

singing, songs, albums, records
Is it true CYF has released music albums?
Yes. He has released various discs in Hong Kong and Japan. He is mainly a comedic singer, but has also done other genre as well. These discs are hard to come by outside Asia, but can be found now and then. Many of his songs have been digitized into .mp3 format and can be found online. The songs which he has sung for his feature films can be found on the Free Man site as links off the page dedicated to that title. Some of these movie themes have been re-recorded in different verions for the album release, so you may find differences in songs of the same name.

modeling, advertising, commercials, ads
Has CYF ever done any endorsements?
Yes, for various concerns over the years. Milkiss Soft Drinks, SmarTone Cellular, Guy LaRoche and Solvil et Titus are just a few.

Has CYF ever done any modeling?
Yes, for various magazines over the years. One of the most recent and famous was the "Sweaters for Spring" feature in Esquire magazine in 1997.

magazines, posters, memorabilia
Where can I get backissues of Hong Kong magazines featuring CYF?
Backissues of major magazines such as TIME and Newsweek are available for a limited time and in limited quantities. Unless you are trying to access these issues within a few weeks of their newsstand date, your best bet is to find a private collector who has one to sell.

Where can I get CYF movie posters?
To find a dealer of HK movie posters, any good search engine such as Google should reveal a plethora of sources. You can also check out the page devoted to commercial links on the Free Man site. Reproduction posters are less expensive, but are usually only found for the movies which are most popular in the West (such as The Killer or Anna and The King). Movie posters can also be found at online auctions. Caveat emptor.

biography, books about
Is there an official CYF biography?
There are none in English. There is one questionable volume entitled "The Secret Legend of A Chinese Super Movie Star" which was published in Taiwan in 1998 but is certainly not an authorized biography.

Do you have a bio somewhere on the Free Man site?
Not yet. You may be interested in the essay "Chow Yun Fat: True Colors of a Hero" which I wrote specifically for this site; it contains an overview of his career. A link to this essay is on the top page of the site here.

Free Man site etc.
Has CYF ever looked at the Free Man In Hong Kong site?
I really have no idea.

Have you ever met Chow Yun-Fat?
No, I have not.

Will you send me...
pictures of CYF? If you can tell me specifically what you want, and if I have that specific picture.
copies of CYF movies? No.
copies of CYF's albums? No.
CYF's phone number? I'm amazed at the number of people who ask this. I do not have CYF's phone number.
CYF's email address? If he has one, I don't know what it is.


I have a question not answered here.
Please feel free to email me and I will try to answer if I can! I'm always happy to hear from you.



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Original content copyright 2001 by Leigh Melton for nbi