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Edmund Lee

Sometimes dubbed “Big Tony” in English to avoid confusion with his namesake Leung Chiu-wai, Hong Kong film star Tony Leung Ka-fai, who turns 60 today, has enjoyed a distinguished acting career which more than differentiates him from his peers.





A winner of the best actor prize at the Hong Kong Film Awards in each of the last four decades – for Reign Behind a Curtain in 1983, 92 The Legendary la Rose Noire in 1992, Election in 2005 and Cold War in 2012 – Leung has made nearly 150 films, establishing himself as one of the city’s most recognisable screen legends.




‘I am very lucky’: Tony Leung Ka-fai on the three women in his life

The actor has starred in films by most of Hong Kong’s best filmmakers, from Ringo Lam (Prison on Fire), Stanley Kwan (Centre Stage), Johnnie To (Election) and Wong Kar-wai (Ashes of Time) to Tsui Hark (The Taking of Tiger Mountain) and Ann Hui (the recent Our Time Will Come), among others.



Although he has been describing himself as a “semi-retired” actor for years, Leung still appears in feature films every year. The next major Hong Kong production that he will feature in is likely to be Juno Mak’s Sons of the Neon Night, a star-studded crime thriller also starring Takeshi Kaneshiro, Lau Ching-wan and Louis Koo.


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In pictures: Tony Leung Ka-fai, four-time Hong Kong Film Awards best actor, turns 60

Tony Leung Ka-fai poses on the red carpet during the 35th Hong Kong Film Awards in 2016, in which he received a best actor nomination for his role in The Taking of Tiger Mountain. Photo: Edward Wong

Actor Tony Leung Ka-fai has been nominated as best actor for "King of Chess" and "'92 The Legendary Rose Noire" at the 12th Hongkong Film Awards.

Actor Tony Leung Ka-fai (seated, right) and singer-actress Sally Yeh Chen-wen (seated, left) in a film shooting.

Hong Kong actor Tony Leung Ka-fai and actress Miriam Yeung Chin-wah pose with their Best Actor and Best Actress awards backstage at the Hong Kong Film Awards presentation ceremony in at Cultural Centre in Tsim Sha Tsui. 13APR13

Best Leading Actor and Leading Actress: Tony Leung Ka-fai and Cecilia Ip pose with their trophies after the presentation ceremony of the Third Hong Kong Film Awards.

(LEFT) Kenny Bee, Maggie Cheung Man-yuk and Tony Leung Ka-fai arrive at the 18th annual Hong Kong Film Awards in the Cultural Centre.

Tong Leung Ka-fai (right) and Maggie Cheung Man-yuk, who are the Best Actor and the Best Actress respectively, at the 12th Hong Kong Film Awards presentation ceremony.

4 of 10 local film industry professionals (from L) Anthony Wong Chau-sang, Tony Leung Ka-fai, Eric Tsang Chi-wai and Karl Maka, make handprints to join the league of stars being honoured at the Avenue of Stars at the Hand Imprint Ceremony 2006 at the Renassance Kowloon Hotel, Tsim Sha Tsui. 22 November 2006

Actor Tony Leung Ka-fai (Middle) and Nicholas Tse Ting-fung (Right) attends the red carpet event for the 4th annual Asian Film Awards presentation ceremony at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. 22MAR10

Interview with actor Tony Leung Ka-fai. 12 May 2005

This image may be republished, Aaron Kowk Fu-shing as Sean Lau(left) and Tony Leung Ka-fai as Waise Lee(right) in Hong Kong's police drama, Cold War

Hong Kong actor Tony Leung in a scene from the film "the Lover " directed by Jean Jacques Annaud and starring Jane March, 1992. COURTESY FILM

Hong Kong actor Tony Leung Ka-fai (R) and Chinese actress Zhou Xun celebrate at the 25th Hong Kong Film Awards April 8, 2006. Leung won the Best Actor award for his role in "Election" while Zhou won the Best Actress award for her role in "Perhaps Love". REUTERS/Bobby Yip

Actress Maggie Cheung Man-yuk and actor Tony Leung Kar-fai surrounded by the press when they arrive at the Academy for Performing Arts for the 13th Hong Kong Film Awards.

Film review: Cold War 2 – Aaron Kwok, Tony Leung renew power struggle in political thriller

With a stellar cast, tight plot and sharp editing, this Hong Kong-made sequel about crooked cops and terrorism outshines the award-winning original

This handout image shows a stills of Eddie Peng Yu-yan reprises his troublemaker role. Photo / HANDOUT [07JULY2016 FEATURES FILM REVIEW]

This handout image shows a stills of Aaron Kwok Fu-shing (L) and Tony Leung Ka-fai (R) reprise their roles in the star-studded sequel. Photo / HANDOUT [07JULY2016 FEATURES FILM REVIEW]

This handout image shows a stills of Charlie Young Choi-nei in a scene from Cold War 2. Photo / HANDOUT [07JULY2016 FEATURES FILM REVIEW]

Chow Yun-fat gives everyone a lesson about power in Cold War 2 (category IIB, Cantonese) directed by Sunny Luk and Longman Leung. The film also stars Tony Leung Ka-fai and Aaron Kwok Fu-shing

Once upon a dream: Stage production Tonnochy captures the spirit of the 1970s

Leung, Lau and Tse have been busy promoting the play. Photos: Hu Wencheng, Ringo Ma

Toast of the town: (from left) Gardner Tse, Carina Lau and Tony Leung. Photo:  K.Y. Cheng

Lau performs in Red Boat in 2000.

The Tonnochy name lives on in Wan Chai. ,


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One of Hong Kong’s most recognisable screen legends, Tony Leung Ka-fai has made nearly 150 films in an incredible career that has spanned 35 years. We take a look at some of his best moments
