In Memoriam: Ringo Lam (1955-2018)
Dim Sum Daily is reporting that celebrated Hong Kong film auteur Ringo Lam abruptly passed away on Saturday at his home in Hong Kong. According to the article, his wife called an ambulance though Lam was pronounced dead by then, while an autopsy report remains to be seen per the details of his death.
It’s a devastating blow to the world of Asian film fandom in the wake of Lam’s legendary career in cinema which began in 1976, with Lam taking the helm for titles like Espirit d’amor in 1983, and serial action comedy Aces Go Places IV in 1986. A year later he would set fire to the genre beginning with gritty Hong Kong actioners like City On Fire and Full Contact starring Chow Yun-Fat.
Lam would continue his career stride convening with the likes of Sammo Hung for Touch And Go (1991) and Jackie Chan for Twin Dragons (1992) and Lau Ching-Wan for Full Alert (1997). In 1996, he crossed over to helm the first of what would be several collaborations with Jean-Claude Van Damme: Maximum Risk (1996), Replicant (2001), and prison action drama In Hell (2003).
He recently directed Sky On Fire starring Daniel Wu, and reconvened once more a year earlier in 2015 with his star of The Suspect, Louis Koo, for Wild City. That same year, Lam attended a screening of City On Fire during the 14th installment of the New York Asian Film Festival where he received a Lifetime Achivement Award to add to his accolades.
Lam was 63.
Native New Yorker. Lover of all things pizza, chocolate, pets, and good friends. Karaoke hero. Left of center. Survivor. Fond supporter of cult, obscure and independent cinema - especially fond of Asian movies and global action cinema. Author of the bi-weekly Hit List. Founder and editor of Film Combat Syndicate. Still, very much, only human.
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