Wang Yin was born in Shanghai on 25 June 1911 under the name Wang Chunyuan, to a family of Tianjin origin, and grew up in Shanghai, graduating from Tongfang College. In 1929 he joined Ji'nan Film Company in Shanghai as an actor, making his debut in Burns Green Dragon Temple, and in 1931 he directed his first film, A Strange Monk in the Wild Mountain, thereafter working as both actor and director. From 1932 he acted for Yihua, United Photoplay Service, Star and Hsin Hwa, becoming well known through Raging Waves of China Sea (1933), Paean (1935) and The Perfect Beauty (1940); his performance in Refugees (1935) earned him the nickname 'the iron man of the silver screen'. After the Japanese invasion in 1937 he stayed in Shanghai through the 'Solitary Island' period. From 1942 he worked as both actor and director for Zhonglian and Huaying. He moved to Hong Kong in 1947 and founded Liangyou Film Company, whose opening production was Lady in Distress (1947), and joined Shaw Brothers in 1950, staying a decade. Between 1951 and 1956 he directed for Shaw & Sons titles including Red Rose, Song of the Nightingale and The Double-Faced Man (all 1952), Blue Sky and Black Gloves (both 1953) and Midsummer Night's Romance (1953), with The Young Couple (1954) scripted by himself. He later acted for MP&GI. He won Best Actor at the 7th Asian Film Festival for Li Han-hsiang's Back Door (1960), in which he co-starred with Hu Die, at the 1st Golden Horse Awards for The Pistol and again at the 9th Golden Horse Awards for The Story of Ti Ying (1970), one of the few actors to take the Golden Horse Best Actor prize twice. He also founded Tien Nan Motion Picture Co., remained active into the late 1970s, retired in 1977 and received a special achievement award at the 18th Golden Horse Awards in 1981. He died on 13 April 1988; his wife was the actress Yuan Meiyun.
Wang Yin spanned the silent and sound eras and was a leading man and director in both Shanghai and Hong Kong, admired for his delicate and profound acting. One of the few performers who worked comfortably with both Shaw Brothers and MP&GI, his Best Actor wins at the Asian Film Festival and the Golden Horse Awards, plus a 1981 special achievement award, marked a half-century on screen.
Achievements
- 1929 · Joined Ji'nan Film Company in Shanghai and made his film debut in Burns Green Dragon Temple
- 1931 · Made his directorial debut with A Strange Monk in the Wild Mountain
- 1960 · Won Best Actor at the 7th Asian Film Festival for Back Door
- 1981 · Received a special achievement award at the 18th Golden Horse Awards