Vincent Wan (born 2 February 1958), originally named Wan Chi-sing, was born in Macao to a family from Dongguan, Guangdong. After finishing primary school he moved to Hong Kong, where he worked as a metalware craftsman, ran a billiards hall and worked as nightclub security before entering films. Spotted by the brothers Nam Yin and Ringo Lam, he made his screen debut with a cameo in Wild Search (1989) and soon took the lead, China Ming, in Rebel from China (1990). Typecast as a bold, aggressive character because of his first gangster role and his macho looks, he played a tough revolutionary in Shanghai Heroic Story (1992) and, most memorably, gang leaders in Love Among the Triad (1993) and The Tragic Fantasy: Tiger of Wanchai (1994). There was a gentler side to his screen persona, such as the nightclub bouncer in Call Girl '92 (1992) and Brother Bill of the Hung Hing Gang in the Young and Dangerous series, the sparring partner of Sister Thirteen. He also played policemen wavering between good and evil, as in a 1995 picture and Chinese Midnight Express (1997). In 2000 he directed and starred in his own film. On television he appeared in Vengeance (1992) and Racing Peak (1993). After 2000 he took many low-budget roles and set up a production company with the actor Tommy Wong; from 2007 he turned mainly to business, appearing only occasionally, as in Isabella (2006), Wong Ka Yan (2015) and Trivisa (2016). He is also chairman of a Hong Kong tai chi association.
Vincent Wan made his name with a tough, macho screen presence in gangster roles, appearing in Rebel from China and The Tragic Fantasy: Tiger of Wanchai in the late 1980s and 1990s and becoming a familiar face in triad films of the period; his Brother Bill of the Hung Hing Gang in the Young and Dangerous series also stayed with audiences. He later turned to business, appearing only occasionally, a common path for character actors after the market shifted.
Achievements
- 1989 · Made his screen debut with a cameo in Wild Search.
- 1990 · Played the lead, China Ming, in Rebel from China.
- 2000 · Made his directorial debut, directing and starring in his own film.