Kim Tai-chung
Born(1957-06-05)June 5, 1957
South Korea
DiedAugust 27, 2011(2011-08-27) (aged 54)
South Korea
Other namesKim Tai-jong
Tong Lung (唐龍; Chinese stage name)
Occupation(s)Actor, martial artist
Years active1977–1986
Korean name
Hangul
김태정
Hanja
金泰靖
Revised RomanizationGim Tae-jeong
McCune–ReischauerKim T'aejŏng

Kim Tai-chung (June 5, 1957 – August 27, 2011), also known as Kim Tai-jong or Tong Lung (唐龍; Chinese stage name), was a South Korean martial artist, actor and businessman. A Taekwondo practitioner, he is best known for his martial arts films.

Born in Pusan,[1] Kim made his first Hong Kong movie debut in the 1977 film Snuff Bottle Connection, along with Hwang Jang-lee and Roy Horan. He went on to star in Raymond Chow’s Golden Harvest classics Game of Death (1978) and Game of Death II (1981). He also starred in the South Korean romantic comedy action Miss, Please Be Patient (1981), the Taiwanese Bruceploitation martial arts film Jackie and Bruce to the Rescue (1982), and the martial arts film No Retreat, No Surrender (1986), along with Jean-Claude Van Damme and Kurt McKinney. Kim was one of two stand-ins for Bruce Lee (along with Yuen Biao) used to complete Game of Death after Lee died during filming. Kim also played the ghost of Bruce Lee in No Retreat, No Surrender.

History and early career

Acting

In the 1970s, Kim made his first Hong Kong movie debut in 1977 film Snuff Bottle Connection, along with Hwang Jang-lee and Roy Horan. Kim played Bruce Lee's character Billy Lo in 1978 film Game of Death, alongside Yuen Biao (who performed the acrobatics and stunts), Kim played Lee's character so well that the producers used him again a few years later.

In the 1980s, Kim played Bobby Lo in 1981 film Game of Death II alongside Hwang Jang-lee, Roy Horan, To Wai-wo and Lee Hoi-san. After Game of Death II, Kim returned to Korea and made his one and only local Korean film Miss, Please Be Patient (아가씨 참으세요) along with the former Korean beauty romance film star Jeong Yun-hui. However the film was a commercial failure despite its praise from the film critiques.

Then he joined the Korean and Taiwanese co-production film to play the role of Bruce Lee once again in 1982 film Jackie vs. Bruce to the Rescue (also known as Fist of Death) along with Lee Siu-ming (a Taiwanese Stuntman and Jackie Chan look alike.), which was a commercial and critical failure. Soon he took a break from acting after the release of this film.

In June 1985, Chinese film producer Ng See-yuen was looking for an actor to play the ghost of Bruce Lee in 1986 film No Retreat, No Surrender in his American debut and final film, which marked the film debut of Belgian martial arts actor Jean-Claude Van Damme as Ivan Kraschinsky. Kim played Bruce Lee’s ghost who trains Kurt McKinney's character.

Retired from acting

After No Retreat, No Surrender, Kim returned to Korea and retired from acting at the age of 29 and became a businessman.

In 2008, Kim made a rare public appearance in Korea as part of a screening of Miss, Please Be Patient (아가씨 참으세요),[2] which had originally been released in 1981. Kim had played a leading role in that film.

Death

On August 27, 2011, Kim died of stomach hemorrhage at the age of 54.[3][4]

Filmography

Movies

Documentary

References

  1. ↑ http://www.clonesofbrucelee.info/kim-tai-chung/
  2. ↑ The Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival History: Miss, Please be Patient Archived 2011-07-21 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on 22 July 2009.
  3. ↑ "Hong Kong Cinemagic - Kim Tai Jung".
  4. ↑ "R.I.P. Kim Tai Chung". cityonfire.com.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.