in memoriam

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IN MEMORIAM: Shaw Brothers Legend And ‘Boxer From Shantung’ Star CHEN KUAN-TAI Passes Away At 80

The martial arts cinema world is mourning today following the devastating news out of Hong Kong that legendary actor, director, and action choreographer Chen Kuan-tai has passed away at the age of 80. Reports from local media indicate that the revered screen icon, affectionately known to generations of fans as “Brother Tai,” died on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, following a suspected brain hemorrhage. Chen’s passing marks the end of an extraordinary era for kung fu cinema. Spanning over five decades, his career bridged the gap between raw, real-world martial arts mastery and the golden age of cinematic action choreography. Unlike many of his contemporaries who came from operatic backgrounds, Chen was widely celebrated as one of the Shaw Brothers Studio’s very first professionally trained, legitimate martial artists—a distinction that lent an unmistakable, fierce authenticity to every frame of his filmography. Born on September 24, 1945, Chen Kuan-tai’s path to the […]

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In Memoriam: Mel Novak (1934-2025)

TMZ is reporting that actor and screen legend Mel Novak passed away early Wednesday this week. He leaves behind a legacy of well-over eighty film credits dating back to the late 1960s, with titles like Blackploitation classics Truck Turner and Black Belt Jones, as well as in Bruce Lee’s Game Of Death. The actor also appeared in Chuck Norris thrillers A Force Of One and An Eye For An Eye, as well as more recent titles like Gregory Hatanaka’s fan-driven Samurai Cop 2: Deadly Vengeance, Benny Tjandra and Doug Tochioka’s Syndicate Smasher, and Dustin Ferguson’s Space Sharks. Novak is also an awarded martial arts Hall of Famer at several ceremonies, including 2017’s USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame alongside veteran actor Aki Aleong, as well as an ordained minister lauded for his humanitarian efforts. “He had such a zest for life and lived quite an exciting life,” said daughter Nikol […]

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Gordon Liu, Lee Hoi-Sang and Lau Kar Leung on the set of The 36th Chamber Of Shaolin - image via HKMDB

In Memoriam: Lee Hoi-Sang (1941-2024)

It’s a sad day for kung fu cinema as news of Lee Hoi-sang’s death hit the internet this morning. Those that don’t know his name almost definitely know his face as he appeared in over 115 action films over the years, including an absolute wealth of classics. He featured in The 3th Chamber of Shaolin, The Magnificent Butcher, Warriors Two, Dynamo, Heroes of the East, Knockabout, Shaolin Prince, Project A, and Miracles, as well as many, many more. As a Wing Chun master (he was one of Yip Man’s disciples), he found his way into the film industry througfh being a Martial Arts Consultant. This graduated to performing in front of the camera and, eventually, getting meatier roles, mostly as a villain or Shaolin monk – and sometimes both! As well as his movie stardom, he worked a lot in television, and can be seen in TV series’ such as […]

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A photo of James Earl Jones sitting in a chair with his left hand by his chin, smiling for the camera, wearing a black suit and a brown scarf in 2010

In Memoriam: James Earl Jones (1931-2024)

Fans may remember actor James Earl Jones from any number of the near-200 credits he shares in film and television as one of the most celebrated and EGOT-Winning thespians of the last century. In my upbringing, I knew him as either King Jaffe Joffer (Coming To America), TKD Team USA coach Frank Couzo (Best Of The Best), Mustafa (The Lion King), Thulsa Doom (Conan The Barbarian), and the longstanding voice of Darth Vader (Star Wars) in each of his respective film titles for these characters. His most recent screen credits were his return to the role of Vader in the Star Wars saga Disney+ series “Obi-Wan Kenobi” and in Amazon’s Eddie Murphy-led sequel, Coming 2 America. I saw both of those, and I carry those performances with me to this day, especially in light of the sad news coming out of the trades of his passing while at home in Dutchess […]

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[UPDATED] In Memoriam: Corey Yuen Kwai (1951-2022)

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 […]

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In Memoriam: Ray Stevenson (1964-2023)

News broke on Monday that actor Ray Stevenson passed away at the age of 58. The actor’s death was confirmed according to The Wrap’s Scott Mendelsohn but the cause remains undisclosed as of this post. A veteran TV and film actor since the 90s, Stevenson is most prolifically known for the cult fandom grown for his titular portrayal in Lexi Alexander’s Punisher: War Zone (2008), with credits also extending to the MCU’s Thor franchise. He also starred in 2009’s The Book Of Eli and in Jonathan Hensleigh’s 2011 crime pic, Kill The Irishman and Jon Chu’s G.I. Joe: Retaliation in the role of Cobra villain, Firefly. Stevenson would also appear in the Telugu smash action epic, RRR, as well as opposite Scott Adkins in the hit graphic novel adaptation, Accident Man (2018) from Jesse V. Johnson, as well as last year’s sequel directed by The Kirby Brothers. The actor already […]

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In Memoriam: Fumio Demura (1938-2023)

Shihan Fumio Demura, actor, martial arts expert and film consultant, passed away on Monday at the age of 84. Word spread throughout multiple posts in social media with the news shared by martial arts entertainment laureates like Scott Adkins, Cynthia Rothrock, and Douglas Wong. “I just received word that our close family friend the great Karate Pioneer Fumio Demura has passed away,” wrote Wong in a Facebook post. “Master Demura was one of the greatest and kindest Karate Master that we have known for over 50 years. He will be missed but will live on in our hearts and minds. Rest in Peace and Paradise until we meet again…” An expert in karate and kobudo, the Yokohama-born Demura began training at the age of nine and started training in multiple disciplines before plying his trade in the U.S. after moving in 1965, and becoming a staple in the Western world […]

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[UPDATED] In Memoriam: Pearry Reginald Teo (1978-2023)

Article update as of March 12, 2023: Italia Gandolfo, who represented Pearry Teo, confirmed the filmmaker’s death on Thursday March 9, in and Sunday report published by The Hollywood Reporter‘s Mike Barnes. The cause of death remains unknown. Originally published March 10, 2023: Filmmaker and actor Pearry Reginald Teo has died at the age of 44. The details of his death are unknown as of late Friday as word began circulating through the posts of mutual friends sending their condolences via his personal Facebook page. Teo was always an interesting filmmaker to follow in the 20+ years I’ve followed his work. I firstly learned of him through the official trailer release of his 2009 sci-fi action thriller The Gene Generation starring Bai Ling. My connection with Teo on social media lasted almost a decade with us both chatting once in a blue moon. I’ve had the privilege of learning details […]

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In Memoriam: Albert Pyun (1953-2022)

If there’s one regret that I have, it’s never getting to meet legendary filmmaker Albert Pyun. The 69-year-old Hawaii-born filmmaker died on Saturday according to his wife Cynthia Curnan, after years of battling dementia and multiple sclerosis. Pyun rose to excellence since his 1982 feature debut, The Sword And Ths Sorcerer, and continued churning out low-budget films with brevity and success that made him a star in the independent film arena. That legacy ultimately continued with films like one of Jean-Claude Van Damme’s earlier breakout hits, Cyborg, the Matt Salinger-led 1990 rendition of Captain America, two DTV sequels to 1989’s Kickboxer starring Sasha Mitchell, and all four installments of the action-packed cyberpunk franchise, Nemesis, among others. He had directed over three dozen features, and even had plans to remake Cyborg at one point, as well as pay a revisit to the Kickboxer franchise that would have hopefully seen Mitchell back […]

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In Memoriam: Jason David Frank (1973-2022)

If you’re like me and you’ve grown up with the Americanized suit action series incarnation that is the “Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers,” then chances are you share an equal fondness for its cast, including and especially actor Jason David Frank. I remember always trying to replicate the number of jump spinning-hook kicks, as he’s seen doing in the show, as well as its opening credits. It’s because of this that I credit him as producer Haim Saban’s answer to Donnie Yen, as fun as he was to watch between his multiple occurrences and phases of the show as in some form or fashion. Frank shares screen credits on other projects as well, so it will come often as no surprise that these will be topical discussions in the immediate future on numerous fan forums and blogs in the wake of the sudden news of the actor and mixed martial artist’s […]

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