Bryan Leung Ka-yan, born in Hong Kong on 20 January 1948 with ancestral roots in Boluo, Guangdong, is a Hong Kong actor, director and screenwriter. A 1967 graduate of Hon Wah College, he was a member of the school basketball team and a classmate of future TVB producer Poon Ka-tak. Inspired by Bruce Lee, he trained hard in martial arts and studied Hung Kuen under Lau Kar-leung, a successor of Wong Fei-hung, before being discovered by the martial-arts director Chang Cheh. He made his debut in the 1970s, joining the Chang Gong Film Company and appearing as a martial-arts actor; he had a memorable fight with Sammo Hung in the early film 'Enter the Fat Dragon' and later took the lead in 'Sleeping Fist'. In 1979 he co-founded Chaoli (Hong Kong) Film Company with actor-director Lee Chiu. From 1981 he began working in television, and in 1982 his portrayal of Qiao Feng in TVB's 'Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils' was praised as matchless and made him famous across Hong Kong and Taiwan; he also played Guo Jing in 'The Return of the Condor Heroes' and twice played Hong Qigong, most recently in 2008. As martial-arts films declined, he was willing to play comic supporting roles, including Chow Sing-chi's father in 'Twin Brothers', and appeared in Chow's films such as 'The Unmatchable Match', 'Justice, My Foot!', 'Flirting Scholar' and 'Legend of the Dragon', his 'Flirting Scholar' turn as the martial champion and his '9527' line becoming fan favourites. In 1982 he co-founded two entertainment ventures with Phillip Ko, Lee Lai-lai and Wong Lung-wai. From 1992 he ran a production company making films and series for overseas markets. Since the 2000s he has worked across mainland China and Hong Kong, also serving as action director, screenwriter, producer and planner. He registered his marriage to Taiwanese Liu Suk-wai at the Taipei District Court in 1978 and again in Hong Kong in 1979; his elder son works in finance and his younger son in film production, the father and son appearing together in 2005. He applied for Taiwanese nationality in 1985 and is a member of the Hong Kong Celebrity Football Team; his nephew is TVB artiste Leung Lit-wai.
Starting as a martial-arts actor, Leung became a household name across Hong Kong and Taiwan as Qiao Feng in the 1982 television series Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils. When martial-arts films faded he turned to comic supporting roles in Stephen Chow's films, extending his career, and worked across acting, action direction, screenwriting and production.
Achievements
- 1979 · Co-founded Chaoli (Hong Kong) Film Company with Lee Chiu
- 1982 · Played Qiao Feng in TVB's 'Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils', called matchless in the role
- 1992 · Founded a production company making films and series for overseas markets
- 1993 · Appeared in 'Flirting Scholar' as the Hwa mansion martial champion, his '9527' line becoming a fan classic