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Lam Ching-ying
林正英
Lam Ching-ying
Born	Lam Gun-bo (林根寶) (1952-12-27)27 December 1952 British Hong Kong
Died	8 November 1997(1997-11-08) (aged 44) St Teresa Hospital,Kowloon City,Hong Kong
Occupation(s)	Actor, Martial artist, Film director and Producer, Action choreographer
Years active	1970–1996
Spouse	Cheng Bing Bing ​ ​ (m. 1983; div. 1988)​
Partner	Kingdom Yuen (1995–1996)
Children	Lam Sik-nga (daughter) Lam Ka-yiu (son)
Awards	Hong Kong Film Awards –Best Action Choreography 1983Prodigal Son (Won) 1984Winners and Sinners (Won) 1986My Lucky Stars (Nominated) Best Supporting Actor 1985Mr. Vampire (Nominated)
Chinese name
Chinese	林正英
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Lín Zhèngyīng Yue: Cantonese Jyutping Lam4 Zing3 jing1
Lam Gun-bo
Traditional Chinese	林根寶
Simplified Chinese	林根宝
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Lín Gēnbǎo Yue: Cantonese Jyutping Lam4 Gan1bou2

Lam Ching-ying (Chinese:林正英;pinyin:Lín Zhèngyĩng; bornLam Gun-bo (simplified Chinese:林根宝;traditional Chinese:林根寶;pinyin:Lín Gēnbǎo); 27 December 1952 – 8 November 1997^[1]) was a Hong Kong stuntman, actor, martial artist andaction director. As a practitioner of martial arts Lam starred in a number of notable films that found recognition outside Hong Kong includingEncounters of the Spooky Kind,The Prodigal Son and his best-known role inMr. Vampire.

He was born Lam Gun-bo (林根寶) on 27 December 1952 in the year of the Dragon, in Hong Kong. His family originated fromShanghai, in thePeople's Republic of China. Both of his parents made a living by doing catering services. Lam was the third child of six children. His family was poor, and his parents weren't educated. Lam attended Shun Yi Association Elementary School in Hong Kong, but eventually dropped out after 2 years. His father sent him to Chun Chau Drama Society to learn thePeking Opera style under the guidance of MadameFan Fok-fa.

Due to his slender and fragile body structure, Lam specialized in female roles and often performed stunt-doubling for actresses. However, he was reported as a mischievous and disobedient child. Thus, after half a year of training, Madame sent him on stage to express himself and control his drive. Lam's first show was called "White Beach", but his Beijing Opera career only lasted for 5 years. He realized that there was not much demand for opera styles anymore. Through a friend's introduction, Lam joined the film industry.

At age 17, Lam became a stuntman and martial arts coach at theShaw Brothers Studio. Due to his slender build, he was often called upon to substitute female actors. He received HK$60 a day, HK$20 of which went to his master, and another HK$20 he took home to his parents. Lam used the remaining money to treat his brothers to snacks. Lam once mentioned those were his happiest days in his life.

There was a story that Lam challengedBruce Lee in a hotel room because he didn't believe Lee was as strong as the rumors said. Lam put a pillow over his chest and stomach, then Bruce struck the pillow and sent him flying across the room.Bruce Lee was so impressed that he hired Lam as his personal assistant. Lam was 19 at the time.^[2]

Lam started to work as an co-action choreographer, and personal assistant to Bruce Lee on Lee's movies includingThe Big Boss,Fist of Fury,Enter the Dragon,Way of the Dragon, andGame of Death.^[3] In his youth, Lam seemed to have quite a temper and always got into fights. During the filming ofThe Big Boss, Lam was arrested for fighting, and Lee had to bail him out of jail.

Despite having little education, Lam impressed Lee with interesting philosophical discussions. Although they hardly talked about their relationship, Lee liked good conversations, and this self-willed young man soon became Lee's favorite.^[4]

When Lee died, Lam was devastated. He later joined Hung's stuntman association (known as theHung Kar Pan).

Lam worked behind the camera as assistant director and becameSammo Hung's right-hand man of the stunt team. His talent as an actor and martial artist was revealed inThe Magnificent Butcher. Lam played the fan-wielding assassin who fought againstYuen Biao.

In 1982, Lam won theHong Kong Film Award for Best Action Director, in the filmProdigal Son. Lam played the strict kung fu masterLeung Yee-tai.

He also played a frail, elderlyTaoist priest inThe Dead and the Deadly (1983).

Lam's star did not rise until 1985, with the release ofMr. Vampire, the movie that fueled thehopping vampire genre. Lam was nominated for Best Actor for his role as the Taoist priest. The character was an engaging mixture of naivety and stoic authority, and became a favorite for audiences. Lam was to reprise this role many times throughout his career.

In the following years, Lam starred as the Taoist Priest in countless sequels and spin-offs of Mr. Vampire such asMr. Vampire II (1986),Mr. Vampire III (1987),Vampire Vs. Vampire (1989),Magic Cop (1990),Encounters of the Spooky Kind II (1990)

He also appeared in different movie genres such asThe Return of Pom Pom (1984),School on Fire (1988),Painted Faces (1988), andHer Vengeance (1988).

In 1989, Lam directed his first movieVampire Vs. Vampire. The movie starred him as the usual One Eyebrow Priest,Chin Siu Ho andLiu Fong as his naughty disciples. Due to the production cost going over budget, he didn't take his director's fee. The movie showed light of his moving-making style which was prone to realistic fights and dark humor.^[4]

The success ofMr. Vampire eventually became burdensome on Lam, who found himself typecast in the role. As the Hong Kong movie industry began to experience a decline, quality roles for Lam also began to dry. However, he continued to take on his usual role as the Taoist priest as well as supporting roles in low budget movies.

In 1990, Lam became the film producer forMagic Cop (1990). He starred in and action directed the movie.

Some of his other ghost movies during these years areCrazy Safari (1991),An Eternal Combat (1991),The Ultimate Vampire (1991)Spiritual Trinity (1991),Mad Mad Ghost (1992),Banana Spirit (1992). Again, his serious acting side can be seen inPom Pom and Hot Hot (1992),Lover's Tear (1992).

In 1995, although the film market was in depression,ATV offered Lam the starring role in a television series calledVampire Expert (殭屍道長). He was hired with a million HK dollars salary to work in the series. It was a far cry from his time as HK$60 a day stuntman. The series was a success and revived Lam's career. The story followed Mo Siu Fong (Lam Ching Ying) who destroyed ghosts and saved the day. During the filming, Lam developed a relationship with his co-starKingdom Yuen. In the series, Yuen played a female priest who fell in love with Mo Siu Fong (Lam Ching Ying). At the end of the filming, they were actually in love.

The second series was filmed and aired in 1996. The series starred Lam Ching Ying again as the humble priest,Mang Hoi,Frankie Lam andAnnie Man as his disciples. Like the first series, the second series received high ratings and support from China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Soon after that, Lam signed for another TV series calledCoincidentally (情定阴阳界). The series borrowed the cast ofVampire Expert and had Lam in a supporting role. Lam played a priest who tried to prevent a man from becoming a cruel spirit. However, this series didn't mark the end of his career. Lam's last role was inA Monk at Thirty (一枝花和尚).

In 1996, production on the third series ofVampire Expert began. The production was halted due to Lam's health condition.

During the filming ofVampire Expert in 1995, Lam and his co-starKingdom Yuen developed a relationship. However in 1996, Lam broke up with Yuen when they were in love. He then packed up and moved to his sister's house. Yuen talked about Lam after his death:

"In fact, he was sick. I always knew it. But he didn't want to be disturbed, so he moved to a place where no-one could see him. He also didn't allow me to visit him. Before leaving, he said: "I cannot stay by your side anymore. Take good care of yourself. If you have problems, ask your brother to help you." I was reluctant to let him leave, but I respected his choice. He was the kind of man that when he decided something, it would be impossible to stop him... As an actor, he wanted people to see the most beautiful, brilliant moments. He didn't allow me to visit him. Because he knew that if I had seen him like this, it would have been very painful".^{[citation needed]}

During the summer of 1997 Lam had been repeatedly going to the hospital for tests. Rumours were spreading that he had liver cancer. He stubbornly insisted on leaving the hospital immediately and finishing his job, unwilling to be hospitalised. He received worried phone calls from friends, but he told them not to listen to gossip.

It is unknown when Lam was diagnosed with cancer for the first time since he forbid his close family to reveal his illness. Some of his close friends stated that they noticed his illness, but no-one dared to ask him directly.Chin Kar Lok said in an interview:

"One time I had to break through a 10 ft glass wall and before that, I had to work on a ship to jump from the 2nd floor to the 1st floor. Everyone knew it was a painful shot.Hung Kam Bo wanted me to do that job. But Lam refused to let me do that and he took that action…it was really a big pain shot. He was hurt after he did that shot. Like what I said before, working as a stuntman in the 80s is like a family and there is no selfishness.

He was very kind to me, even in a later movie, he found me for the main actor. He really took care of me. He had the spirit. He was not a smooth talker. But he used his brain a lot. He taught us not to be lazy, to give 100% every time, no tricks. He set a very good example to us. He had a good heart for movies, even when he was sick at the end of his life. He didn't show to us he was in pain. He was even shooting a movie with us. I think he is really the real hero. I miss him very much."^[5]

Lam broke up with his girlfriendKingdom Yuen. Two weeks before his death, Lam moved to his sister's house. He refused visits from his children and friends. Lam started to lose his consciousness over and over again at the beginning of November. His family moved him to theSt. Teresa's Hospital in Kowloon. He was already in a semi-comatose state, and his situation gradually declined.

Lam died on November 8, 1997, at 12:30 am at St. Theresa's Hospital in Hong Kong, the cause of death being cancer of the liver. He was 44 years old.Ricky Hui who was Lam's partner in "Mr. Vampire", died on November 8, 2011, the same date, 14 years later.

Lam's request was to have a low-profile funeral. His funeral was attended by his parents, close family and school-mate friends. The Buddhist ceremony was held in the evening of the 13th at around 7 am. His Priest robe, shoes and top-hat were buried with him, along with his favorite clothes and sunglasses.Lam's pallbearers were Yuen Shiu Hung, Chin Yuet Sun, Ng Ming Hoi, Lam King Chu, Chan Wui Ngai, Chung Fat,Sammo Hung, Chan Wing Hong,Chin Kar Lok andWu Ma.^[4]

After the funeral his remains were cremated and buried in the U.S. with a calligraphy:

"One Smile Returns To The West"

The first series ofMy Date with a Vampire produced by ATV was dedicated to him, and the entire series was loosely based in the future ofVampire Expert.

1983 Hong Kong Film AwardsNominated and won"Best Action Choreography" in Prodigal Son

1984 Hong Kong Film AwardsNominated and won"Best Action Choreography" in Winners And Sinners

1986 Hong Kong Film AwardsNominated for "Best Action Choreography" in My Lucky Stars

1986 Hong Kong Film AwardsNominated for "Best Supporting Actor" in Mr Vampire

• Sammo Hung
• Wu Ma
• Chin Kar Lok

• Lam Ching Ying Memorial network
• Lam Ching Ying, Master For All Seasons - Unofficial Site
• Memory of Lam Ching Ying
• The Place For Lam Ching Ying Fans - Forum
• Lam Ching Ying's channel onYouTube
• Lam Ching Ying Tribute Page on Myspace
• Top Classic Kung Fu Artist of all time at KungFuMovieMadness.com
• Lam Ching-ying atIMDb

• 1952 births
• 1997 deaths
• Action choreographers
• 20th-century Hong Kong male actors
• Hong Kong Taoists
• Hong Kong kung fu practitioners
• Hong Kong film directors
• Deaths from cancer in Hong Kong

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