Stephen Chow

The comedic style known as mo lei tau found its greatest exponent in Stephen Chow, a performer who transitioned from television extra to the dominant force of the Hong Kong box office. His influence on popular culture remains substantial, marked by a career shift from lead actor to a director of international hit productions.

Early Career and Television

Born in Hong Kong in 1962, Chow attended the ELCHK Lutheran Secondary School. He entered the industry as an extra for Rediffusion Television. After being rejected from a training course in 1980, he was accepted into the 1982 TVB artist training class. He gained early public visibility while hosting the children's program 430 Space Shuttle for five years. His breakthrough in television dramas occurred in 1989 with The Final Combat and The Justice of Life, the latter initiating a long-term collaboration with actor Ng Man-tat.

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Box Office Dominance

Chow secured his first major film role in the 1988 crime drama Final Justice, which earned him a Golden Horse Award for Best Supporting Actor. He set box office records in 1990 with All for the Winner and in 1991 with Fight Back to School. Throughout the 1990s, he maintained a high output, appearing in over 40 films and holding the number one spot at the Hong Kong box office multiple times.

Directorial Transition

In the early 1990s, Chow expanded into writing and directing. While he served as a de facto director for Flirting Scholar in 1993, his first formal directorial credit arrived with 1994's From Beijing with Love. His international profile grew significantly following the release of Shaolin Soccer in 2001, for which he received both Best Director and Best Actor awards at the Hong Kong Film Awards. He furthered his global reach with Kung Fu Hustle in 2004.

Later Filmmaking

After his final acting role in the 2008 film CJ7, Chow focused exclusively on filmmaking. This period yielded commercial successes such as the 2013 film Journey to the West and the 2016 release The Mermaid. His work throughout this era was recognized by bodies including the Broadcast Film Critics Association, which awarded him Best Foreign Language Film in 2005, the same year he secured a Golden Horse Award for Best Director.