Wu Ma

Wu Ma
Ngọ mã
Born	Fung Wang-yuen (1942-09-22)22 September 1942 Tianjin,China
Died	4 February 2014(2014-02-04)(aged 71) Hong Kong
Other names	Ng Ma
Occupation(s)	Actor, director
Years active	1964–2014
Height	1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)
Spouse	Ma Yan ​ (m.1995)​
Partner	Agassi Wang (former)
Children	1 daughter
Awards	Golden Horse Awards–Best Supporting Actor 1987A Chinese Ghost Story
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese	Ngọ mã
Simplified Chinese	Ngọ mã
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Wǔ Mǎ Yue: Cantonese Jyutping Ng5 Maa5
Fung Wang-yuen
Traditional Chinese	Phùng hoành nguyên
Simplified Chinese	Phùng hoành nguyên
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Féng Hóngyuán Yue: Cantonese Jyutping Fung4 Wang4jyun4

Fung Wang-yuen(22 September 1942 – 4 February 2014), better known by his stage nameWu Ma,was a Hong Kong actor, director, producer and writer. Wu Ma made his screen debut in 1963, and with over 240 appearances to his name (plus 49 directorial credits within a fifty-year period), he was one of the most familiar faces in the history ofHong Kong Cinemaand is best known as theTaoistghosthunter inA Chinese Ghost Story.

Early years

Born Feng Hongyuan inTianjin,Republic of China.At 16 he moved toGuangzhouand became amachinistbefore migrating toHong Kongin 1960. In 1962, Feng enrolled in theShaw Brothersacting course. Graduating a year later, he became a contract player for the studio and made his first appearance inLady General Hua Mu-lan.He then appeared in such films asTemple of the Red Lotus(1965),The Knight of Knights(1966) andTrail of the Broken Blade(1967). He took on the stage name 'Wu Ma' as it reflected the animal in the year of his birth (the horse), and believed it was short enough for audiences to remember.

During an interview, Wu explained that he had stumbled upon directing when he was offered an unexpected trip to Japan for a movie. The film's originalassistant directorwas unable to clear his visa in time, and Wu was called upon to take his place. After the experience, Wu decided to become a director.

Career

1970s

In 1970, Wu became a director in his own right. His directorial debut,Wrath of the Sword,was released the same year. In 1971, Wu released one of his seminal works,The Deaf and Mute Heroine.He concentrated on directing in the 1970s, directing several movies – such asYoung Tiger(1973) andWits to Wits(1974).Wits to Witshas been noted as one of the precursors of the knockabout comedy kung fu genre that was later made famous bySammo HungandJackie Chan.Another movie Wu directed,Manchu Boxer(1974), featuredSammo Hung,then a young choreographer and later one of the trend-setters of Hong Kong cinema. This marked the beginning of a strong working relationship between the two, which would become prominent towards the 1980s. He co-directed with his former mentor Chang in several movies –The Water Margin(1972),The Pirate(1973),All Men Are Brothers(1975) andThe Naval Commandos(1977).

While most of his output during this period was as a director, Wu continued to appear as an actor and appeared both in his own movies and in several others, although his roles were generally limited to small appearances. During the mid-1970s, Wu joined a small exodus who were leaving Shaw Brothers due to corruption within the studio and became an independent director. Despite becoming an independent director, Wu was still able to work closely with some Shaw Brothers stars such asTi Lung(The Massive(1978)).

1980s

As the 1970s and the era of themartial arts filmmania slowed down albeit very slightly, Wu Ma's output as a director also slowed. His acting output, however, increased as he became increasingly well known as a popular character actor. Wu had made appearances inSammo Hung's 1970s movies (such asThe Iron-Fisted Monk), his association with Hung began in earnest in the early 1980s. Wu appeared inEncounters of the Spooky Kind(1980). Throughout the 1980s, Wu and Hung had a close working relationship, often with Wu as the director and Hung as the producer (such asMy Cousin The Ghost(1986)). Wu worked in Hung's production company Bo Ho as theproduction manager,and made appearances in Hung-directed films during the 1980s, includingMillionaire's Express(1986) andWheels on Meals(1984).

Towards the mid-1980s, Wu became one of the most prolific character actors in Hong Kong, his now-rubbery face able to shift effortlessly across a spectrum of emotions. During the 1980s, he received threeHong Kong Film Awardnominations for Best Supporting Actor – forRighting Wrongs(1986), where he played a policeman having to deal with his son's death; the classicA Chinese Ghost Story(1987) as Yin Chek-Ha, which is considered one of the greatest films ever made; and inThe Last Eunuch in China(1988), as Lord Ting. He began a working relationship withTsui Hark,and appeared in several of Hark's movies. Aside fromA Chinese Ghost Story,Wu also appeared in the earlier classicPeking Opera Blues(1986).

AfterA Chinese Ghost Story,said by Wu to be among his most favorite movies, Wu began to focus on the supernatural genre. Much of his directorial efforts after 1987 were within that genre, such asPicture of a Nymphlook alike mini sequel fromChinese Ghost Storydirected by Eric Tsang (1988),Burning Sensation(1989) andFox Legend(1991). He also co-directedJust Heroes(1989) withJohn Woo.

1990s

Wu continued his working relationship with Hark, and appeared inOnce Upon A Time in China(1991) andThe Swordsman(1991). The early 1990s were an especially prolific period in Wu's career – with Wu appearing in over 14 movies during one year. As the Hong Kong film industry began to slump, Wu's career also slowed considerably. After appearing inHigh Risk(1995), many of his appearances were either in low-budget movies or in television series.

Personal life

Wu Ma had a relationship with actress Agassi Wang ( vương ngọc hoàn ) from the mid-1980s to early 1990s.

In 1995, Wu went toShenzhento film and met a real estate agent Ma Yan ( mã diễm ), who was 23 years younger than him. After their marriage, she became his agent. They have one daughter.

Death

Wu was diagnosed withlung cancerand it was announced that the disease started to spread ten months ago. His wife stated that "He had enjoyed every precious minute with his family, which explained that he had casually walked his path with pride and dignity." He died peacefully at his home in Hong Kong on 4 February 2014 at the age of 71.

Filmography

Films

Year	English title	Chinese title	Role as actor	Function	Notes
1965	Temple of the Red Lotus
1969	Return of the One-Armed Swordsman	Độc tí đao
1971	The Deaf and Mute Heroine			Director
1972	The Water Margin	Thủy hử truyện
1974	Wits to Wits			Director	a.k.a.From China With Deatha.k.a.Conman and the Kung Fu Kid
1977	The Iron-Fisted Monk	Tam đức hòa thượng dữ thung mễ lục	Boatman in brothel
1978	The Massive
1978	Showdown at the Cotton Mill			Director
1980	The Heroes			Co-director
1980	By Hook or by Crook
1980	Encounters of the Spooky Kind	Quỷ đả quỷ
1981	Prodigal Son	Bại gia tử	Iron Palm
1982	The Dead and the Deadly	Nhân hách nhân	Ma Lun Cheung	Director	Nominated –Hong Kong Film Award for Best Director
1983	Project A	A kế hoa	Mahjong cheat
1984	Wheels on Meals	Khoái xan xa	Mental patient
1984	Hong Kong 1941	Đẳng đãi lê minh	Liu Yan-mau
1984	Hocus Pocus	Nhân hách quỷ		Production manager
1984	Pom Pom	Thần dũng song hưởng pháo	Police station employee
1985	Twinkle, Twinkle Lucky Stars	Hạ nhật phúc tinh	Witch-doctor
1985	Mr Vampire	Cương thi tiên sinh	Rice shop boss
1986	Peking Opera Blues	Đao mã đán	Mr. Wong
1986	Righting Wrongs	Chấp pháp tiên phong	Uncle Tsai		Nominated –Hong Kong Film Award for Best Supporting Actor
1986	Millionaire's Express	Phú quý liệt xa	Security officer / convict / bank robber
1987	A Chinese Ghost Story	Thiến nữ u hồn	Yin Chek Hsia		Nominated –Hong Kong Film Award for Best Supporting Actor WonGolden Horse Award for Best Supporting Actor
1987	Scared Stiff
1988	Mr Vampire IV
1988	Picture of a Nymph
1988	Last Eunuch in China	Trung quốc tối hậu nhất cá thái giam	Lord Ting, the head eunuch		Nominated –Hong Kong Film Award for Best Supporting Actor
1988	Police Story 2	Cảnh sát cố sự tục tập	Shopping Center Security Guard
1989	Miracles	Kỳ tích	Uncle Hoi
1989	Just Heroes	Nghĩa đảm quần anh	Ma	Also co-director
1990	Magic Cop	Khu ma cảnh sát	Ma
1990	A Chinese Ghost Story II	Thiến nữ u hồn II: Nhân gian đạo	Yin Chek Hsia
1990	Story of Kennedy Town	Tây hoàn đích cố sự	Detective Sergeant Huang	Also writer and director
1990	Spooky Family	Tróc quỷ hợp gia hoan II – ma y truyện kỳ	Ma Yi ancestor Priest
1991	The Gambling Ghost
1991	The Magnificent Scoundrels	Tình thánh	Fatt
1991	The Swordsman	Tiếu ngạo giang hồ	Liu Zhengfeng
1991	Once Upon a Time in China	Hoàng phi hồng	So
1992	Painted Skin	Họa bì chi âm dương pháp vương	Zhang's Senior
1993	The Buddhist Spell	Bồ tát giới	Mong Fa Da
1993	The Sword Stained with Royal Blood	Tân bích huyết kiếm	Suen Chung-Sau
1994	The Chinese Ghostbuster	Chung quỳ giá muội	Zhong Kui,the Older Brother
1994	Deadful Melody
1994	Master of Zen	Đạt ma tổ sư	Shenguang's master
1995	High Risk	Thử đảm long uy	Frankie's father
1996	Iron Monkey 2	Nhai đầu sát thủ	Jin's father
2005	House of Fury	Tinh võ gia đình	Uncle Chiu
2008	Ticket	Xa phiếu
2009	Chongqing Girl
2010	Here Comes Fortune
2010	Jeet Kune Do
2010	14 Blades	Cẩm y vệ	Qiao Yong
2011	White Vengeance	Hồng môn yến	Grand Tutor
2011	I Love Hong Kong
2011	Legendary Amazons	Dương môn nữ tương chi quân lệnh như sơn	Imperial Tutor Pang
2011	What's Under the Bed
2011	Hand in Hand
2011	My Own Swordsman
2012	If I Were You	Biến thân nam nữ
2012	Common Heroes
2012	Pen Fairy	Họa thánh			Won –Shanghai International Film Festivalfor Best Male Actor
2012	No Retreat
2012	Moonlight Love
2012	Decrepit Dream
2012	The Immemorial Magic
2013	Mark of Youth
2013	Don't Talk about High – Rich and Handsome
2013	A Funny Wedding
2014	Shigeshoshi			Also director
2014	Fighting
2014	A Stupid Journey
2015	Love Will Be Back	Đẳng ái quy lai
2016	Ya Hai Er	Ách hài nhi

Television

Year	English title	Chinese title	Role	Notes
2003	Diao Man Gong Zhu Xiao Yao Wang	Điêu man công chủ tiêu dao vương	Tie Wencheng
2005	Lost City in Snow Heaven	Tuyết vực mê thành	Yang An
2007	The Legend and the Hero	Phong thần bảng chi phượng minh kỳ sơn	Shang Rong
2007	Sword Stained with Royal Blood	Bích huyết kiếm	Wen Fangda
2008	When East Meets West	Đông biên tây biên
2008	Taste of Happiness	Hạnh phúc đích vị đạo	Mei Lan's grandfather
2008	The Qin Empire	Đại tần đế quốc	Baili Yao
2008	Bing Sheng	Binh thánh	Yan Ying
2010	Journey to the West	Tây du ký	Elder Jinchi
2012	Cong Ming De Kong Kong	Thông minh tiểu không không	Monk of Black Mountain

See also

• Chang Cheh
• Sammo Hung
• Lam Ching-ying

External links

• A short biography and filmography
• A detailed biography – bottom of page
• Wu MaatIMDb
• A Chinese Ghost Story– commentary by Bey Logan
• Interview in Chinese