A previous version of this article was updated to include newly discovered details revealed regarding Corey Yuen Kwai’s passing. Special thanks to @Olyphantastic83 for pointing me in the right direction.
One of the most influential names in action cinema, Corey Yuen Kwai, reportedly passed away two years ago at the age of 71. An exact death date has not been announced, although Yuen’s death was confirmed in a statement by Tin Kai-man, spokesperson for the Federation of Hong Kong Filmmakers, made to news outlet HK01.
“About two years ago, Yuen Kui passed away due to COVID-19, but it has not been made public due to his family’s wishes,” Tin said. “As far as I know, he had immigrated to Canada in his early years.”
The update comes following a tribute post by actor and screen legend Jackie Chan who broke the news on Weibo late Sunday, while commemorating the 65th anniversary of the surviving members of his Peking Opera class.
Yuen’s career comes heralded as a member of the China Drama Academy’s “Seven Little Fortunes” performance troupe, trained under Master Yu Jim Yuen. The Yuen class comprised of Yuen and Chan, as well as Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung, Yuen Biao, Yuen Wah, Yuen Tak, Yuen Qiu, Yuen Tai, and Yuen Mo, and others.
The years that followed would see Yuen take on increasingly demanding roles from character acting to stunts and action directing between the 70s and 80s on films such as The 7 Grandmasters, The Man From Hong Kong, Dragon Lord, Ninja In The Dragon’s Den and Yes, Madam!; One of those would be the first to put the Peking Opera laureate in the director’s chair, in addition to propeling him as one of the earlier driving forces for Hong Kong-style action in Western productions, namely the No Retreat, No Surrender franchise.
Yuen honed in his craft across the world in both Asian and Western markets as well, directing and styling action for a collection of thrillers including Fong Sai-Yuk front man Jet Li’s Hollywood breakout in Lethal Weapon 4 and James Wong’s The One, as well as The Transporter, which put leading man Jason Statham front and center for action fans for years to come.
Some of Yuen’s credits also include but aren’t limited to Broken Oath, She Shoots Straight, Dragons Forever, Eastern Condors, So Close, War, X-Men, Shaolin, Blood: The Last Vampire, D.O.A.: Dead Or Alive, The Man With The Iron Fists, Rise Of The Legend, and Philip Ng headliner, Birth Of The Dragon.
Read more at Dimsum Daily.
Image via Sing Tao