Law Kim-long (1922–2003), born Law Fu-man in Panyu, Guangdong, was a Cantonese opera actor, film actor and producer. Educated at a Guangzhou middle school in Shanghai, he took up opera at thirteen and studied under the renowned actor Wong Hok-sing. During the war he appeared with the Liang Siu-fung troupe, and he made his formal opera debut in Singapore; he came to notice in a leading role and became a celebrated star after substituting for Kwai Ming-yeung in a signature play, also performing with the Chun Sin May troupe opposite Hung Sin-nui. He entered films in 1949 in a supporting part and, up to 1966, starred in more than 240 pictures, among them The Beauty of Penang (1954) and The Red Maid (1958) with Fong Yim-fun, and Bitter Heart Lotus (1960). In 1955 he founded the Guozhen Film Company, whose first production was The Spring Silkworm Spins till Death (1955); its titles included Four Seas, One Family (1963), the first Cantonese film co-produced with Taiwan. His last film was Gold Can't Buy a Beautiful Heart (1965). He emigrated to the United States in 1967 and ran a catering business until 1989, and died in San Francisco in 2003.
Moving from Cantonese opera stardom to the screen, Law starred in over 240 films between 1949 and 1966 and ran his own Guozhen studio, producing Cantonese pictures such as Four Seas, One Family with Taiwan partners, tracing post-war links between the Guangdong, Hong Kong and Taiwan film industries.
Achievements
- 1949 · Entered the film industry, appearing in a supporting role
- 1955 · Founded the Guozhen Film Company, whose first production was The Spring Silkworm Spins till Death
- 1963 · Produced Four Seas, One Family, the first Cantonese film co-produced with Taiwan