Corey Yuen

Corey Yuen Kwai(Chinese:Nguyên khuê;pinyin:Yuán Kuí;Cantonese Yale:Yuen4 Kwai1;25 February 1950 – 2022) was a Hong Kong film director, film producer, action choreographer,and actor. Yuen attended theChina Drama Academyand was one of theSeven Little Fortunes.In Hong Kong, he worked on several films such asBruce Lee'sFist of Fury(1972),Hwang Jang-lee'sSnuff Bottle Connection,Secret Rivals 2,The Invincible Armour(all 1977),Dance of the Drunk Mantis(1979),Ninja in the Dragon's Den(1982),Millionaire's Express(1986), andJet Li'sFong Sai-yuk II(1993),The New Legend of Shaolin(1994),High Risk,andMy Father Is a Hero(both 1995).

Corey Yuen Kwai
Nguyên khuê
Born	Ân cảng dân (1950-02-25)25 February 1950 British Hong Kong
Died	2022 (aged 70–71)
Other names	Corey Yuen Yuen Kwai
Occupation(s)	Film director, film producer, action choreographer
Years active	1971–2022
Relatives	Freddie Wong(nephew) Jimmy Wong(nephew)
Chinese name
Chinese	Nguyên khuê
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Yuán Kuí

Yuen gained fame in American cinema beginning with his work as an action director on the 1998 filmLethal Weapon 4,followed by the 2000 blockbusterX-Menand six of Jet Li's English-language works:Romeo Must Die(2000),Kiss of the Dragon,The One(both 2001),Cradle 2 the Grave(2003),War(2007), andThe Expendables(2010). He also served as director and fight choreographer onJason Statham's 2002 action filmThe Transporter.

Life and career

Born on 25 February 1950 in Hong Kong, his parents signed a ten year contract for him to attend theChina Drama Academywhen he was nine years old because they could not afford to raise him.Given the name Yuen Kwai, he became known as one of the Seven Little Fortunes, seven child actors and acrobats who performed together and who also includedJackie Chan,Sammo Hung,Yuen Biao,andYuen Wah.They spent those days training in a harshly disciplined style under the watch of MasterYu Jim-yuen.

Acting

In the 1970s, Yuen had threeHwang Jang-leefilms:Secret Rivals 2(1977) as Silver Fox's henchman;The Invincible Armour(1977) as Assassin; and filmDance of the Drunk Mantis(1979) as Rubber Legs' student.

In the 1980s, Yuen played Devil Disciple Leader in the 1983 filmZu Warriors from the Magic Mountain,alongside Sammo Hung, Yuen Biao and Mang Hoi. Yuen played SWAT Team Member in 1985 filmHeart of the Dragon,alongside Sammo Hung and Jackie Chan. Yuen played Bad Egg in 1986 filmRighting Wrongs(who also directed), along with Yuen Biao, Melvin Wong,Cynthia Rothrock,Peter CunninghamandSiu-wong Fan.Yuen played Judy Wu in 1987 filmEastern Condorsalong with Sammo Hung,Joyce Godenzi,Billy Chow,Yuen Biao,Siu-chung Mok,Yuen Woo-pingand Melvin Wong.

In the 1990s, Yuen played Man in the Boat in the 1990 filmShe Shoots Straight,(who also directed) along with Joyce Godenzi, Sammo Hung andYuen Wah.Yuen played Li Kwon Bon in 1993 filmFong Sai-yuk II(who also directed) alongsideJet Li.Yuen played Uncle Po in 1997 filmHero(who also directed) alongside Yuen Biao andTakeshi Kaneshiro.

In the 2010s, Yuen played Cao Cao's General in the 2010 filmJust Another Pandora's BoxalongsideRonald Cheng,Yuen Biao,Kai-man Tin,Siu-wong Fan andWu Jing.

Filmmaking and choreography films

In July 1981, Yuen made his Hong Kongdirectorial debutin 1982 filmNinja in the Dragon's Den,along withHiroyuki Sanada,Conan Leeand Hwang Jang-lee. In June 1985, Yuen made his American directorial debut in 1986 filmNo Retreat, No Surrender,which marked the film debut of Belgium martial artist actorJean-Claude Van Damme.He has worked with most of Hong Kong's top stars at one time or another, and beganMichelle Yeohand Cynthia Rothrock's career in 1985 withYes, Madam.He directed in 1990 filmAll for the WinneralongsideStephen Chow,followed by its 1991 sequelTop BetalongsideAnita Mui.He has also directed Jackie Chan with Sammo Hung in 1988 filmDragons Forever,and directed Anita Mui,Andy LauandAaron KwokinSaviour of the Soul.

In 1993, he began an alliance and good friendship with actorJet Li.He directed several of Li's films, beginning withFong Sai-yukandFong Sai-yuk II,and continuing throughThe Bodyguard from Beijing,The New Legend of ShaolinandMy Father Is a Hero,and also he choreographed two Jet Li's films:The New Legend of ShaolinandHigh Risk.

In the 2000s, Yuen directed the 2006 filmDOA: Dead or Alive,based on theDead or Alivefighting game series. The film starsHolly Valance,Jaime Pressly,Devon Aoki,Sarah Carterand the formerWCW,TNAandWWEwrestlerKevin Nash.

Later and American works

Once Li gained stardom in American cinemas beginning with 1998 filmLethal Weapon 4,Yuen's action direction also received fame in the West. He worked in the 2000 blockbusterX-Menas an action director, and he would also handle the martial arts and action sequences in six of Jet Li's other English-language works:Romeo Must Die,Kiss of the Dragon,The One,Cradle 2 the Grave,War,andThe Expendables.

He also directedSo Close,released in 2002. That same year he was the fight choreographer and second unit director forThe Transporter,having initially been hired as the main director, returning for its 2005 sequelTransporter 2.He held the same positions on both films, however in the United States release he is credited as the first film's director due to being a more marketable name than first time filmmakerLouis Leterrier.

Death

Corey Yuen died fromCOVID-19in 2022. At the time, news of his death was kept private at his family's request. Two years later, in 2024,Jackie Chanpublished a post onWeibopaying tribute to late members of the Seven Little Fortunes, naming Yuen as one of the deceased.Tin Kai-manconfirmed that Yuen had died, and explained the news had been kept secret.

Filmography

Films

This is a partial list of films.

• Deaf and Mute Heroine(1971)
• Fist of Fury(1972)
• The Yellow Killer(1972)
• Tough Guy(1972)
• Intimate Confessions of a Chinese Courtesan(1972)
• The Brutal Boxer(1972)
• The 14 Amazons(1972) (cameo)
• The Rats(1973)
• The Money Tree(1973)
• Death Blow(1973)
• Chinese Hercules(1973)
• The Black Belt(1973)
• Wits to Wits(1974)
• The Tournament(1974)
• The Shadow Boxer(1974)
• Naughty! Naughty!(1974)
• The Evil Snake Girl(1974)
• Valiant Ones(1975)
• The Man from Hong Kong(1975)
• The Himalayan(1976)
• Bruce Lee and I(1976)
• To Kill a Jaguar(1977)
• Snuff Bottle Connection(1977)
• Six Directions of Boxing(1977)
• Secret Rivals 2(1977)
• Pursuit of Vengeance(1977)
• The Mighty Peking Man(1977)
• Last Strike(1977)
• The Invincible Armour(1977)
• Instant Kung Fu Man(1977)
• Heroes of Shaolin(1977)
• The Fatal Flying Guillotines(1977)
• Death Duel(1977)
• Broken Oath(1977)
• The Vengeful Beauty(1978)
• Flying Guillotine 2(1978)
• Massacre Survivor(1978)
• Dance of the Drunk Mantis(1979)
• We’re Going to Eat You(1980)
• Ring of Death(1980)
• The Buddha Assassinator(1980)
• Perils of the Sentimental Swordsman(1982)
• Zu Warriors from the Magic Mountain(1983)
• Heart of Dragon(1985)
• Righting Wrongs(a.k.a.Above the Law) (1986)
• Millionaire's Express(1986)
• Eastern Condors(1987)
• Spooky, Spooky(1988)
• In the Blood(1988)
• Couples, Couples, Couples(1988)
• She Shoots Straight(1990)
• The Raid(1990)
• The Nocturnal Demon(1990)
• Mortuary Blues(1990)
• All for the Winner(1990)
• Top Bet(1991)
• Saviour of the Soul(1991)
• Red Shield(1991)
• Fist of Fury 1991(1991)
• Bury Me High(1991)
• Saviour of the Soul 2(1992)
• A Kid from Tibet(1992)
• Fist of Fury 1991 II(1992)
• Women on the Run(1993)
• Kick Boxer(1993)
• Fong Sai-yuk II(a.k.a.The Legend of Fong Sai Yuk IIandThe Legend 2) (1993)
• The New Legend of Shaolin(a.k.a.Legend of the Red Dragon) (1994)
• High Risk(a.k.a.Meltdown) (1995)
• Hero(a.k.a.Ma Wing Jing) (1997)
• Just Another Pandora's Box(2010)
• A Chinese Odyssey Part Three(2016)

Director

Year	English title		Notes
	International	Philippines
1982	Ninja in the Dragon's Den
1985	Yes, Madam	The Super Cops	a.k.a.Police AssassinsandIn the Line of Duty 2
1986	No Retreat, No Surrender
	Righting Wrongs	Fight to Win II	a.k.a.Above the Law
1987	No Retreat, No Surrender 2	Raging Thunder	a.k.a.No Retreat, No Surrender II: Raging Thunder
1988	In the Blood
	Dragons Forever	Super Dragon
1990	She Shoots Straight
	All for the Winner
1991	Top Bet
	Saviour of the Soul	The Good and the Bad
1992	Ghost Punting
	Saviour of the Soul II
	Fist of Fury 1991 II
1993	Women on the Run
	Fong Sai-yuk	The Prodigal Fighter	a.k.a.The Legend of Fong Sai YukandThe Legend
	Fong Sai-yuk II	Once Upon a Time in China-6	a.k.a.The Legend of Fong Sai Yuk IIandThe Legend 2
1994	The Bodyguard from Beijing		a.k.a.The Defender
1995	My Father Is a Hero		a.k.a.The EnforcerandJet Li's The Enforcer
1997	Mah-jong Dragon
	Hero
	97 Legendary La Rose Noire
1998	Enter the Eagles
2001	The Avenging Fist
2002	So Close
	The Transporter
2004	The Twins Effect II	Blade of the Rose
2006	DOA: Dead or Alive

External links

• Corey YuenatIMDb
• Chinese Actors
• Kung Fu Cinema: Corey Yuen Filmography (complete)
• Corey Yuenat theHong Kong Movie Database