CHAN Sing

When it comes to the 1970’s kung fu film genre, he is known as one of the most powerful karate experts in film. You may know him as “The Head Crusher”. You may even know him as the “Iron-Fisted Monk”. However, Chan Sing has made a name for himself as one of the most respected kung fu film stars of the 1970’s.

Chan Sing was born on March 17, 1940 in Thailand. At a young age, he studied karate and later left for the streets of Hong Kong. In 1959, Chan made his film debut with an uncredited role in the hit film AROUND THE WORLD IN EIGHTY DAYS, starring David Niven and Cantinflas. It was not long after that Chan would begin his successful career in Hong Kong, mainly playing villain roles.

In the late 1960’s and early 1970’s, Chan co-starred in many Shaw Brothers films, mainly as an extra or a villain role. He was also perhaps known for his films with fellow karate expert Yasuaki Kurata in films like RAGE OF THE WIND (1973), A GATHERING OF HEROES (1973), and GOLD SNATCHERS (1973). As opposed to kung fu film stars like the late Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, and Hwang Jang-Lee, Chan had a bulky figure and would be more ferocious in his fight scenes rather than relying on flashy technique. His use of a technique similar to Eagle’s Claw would earn him the nickname “Head Crusher” as he tends to use this move in the films to kill his opponents a lot of times. Chan would also work as a fitness trainer and a martial arts instructor in the Hong Kong prison system while working in films.

In 1976, Chan played the main heavy in the Jackie Chan-led NEW FIST OF FURY. A year later, he would take the titled role in Sammo Hung’s directorial debut, THE IRON-FISTED MONK. The role would be one of the few heroic roles Chan would play as opposed to his trademark villain roles. Chan would take on the likes of Delon Tan Tao-Liang (THE TATTOO CONNECTION, DUAL FLYING KICKS) as well as team up with the likes of Bruce Li (BRUCE LI: THE INVINCIBLE).

As the kung fu film era was coming to an end, Chan decided to slow down his film career. In 1995, Chan made his final film, WIND BENEATH MY WINGS. A few years earlier, Chan married his wife Elizabeth and on January 1, 1994, he became a father when his son, George, was born in Hong Kong. Shortly after making his last film, Chan moved to Indonesia for a few years before setting up a permanent resident in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and then, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Chan’s son George is a young music prodigy and advocate of charity work who has set up his own website, http://www.georgeedwardchan.com, where pictures of George show Chan, who in his 60’s, still looks fit and strong.

Chan Sing will forever be known as perhaps “The Head Crusher”, and his legacy as one of Hong Kong’s biggest and baddest action stars will remain in the hearts of fans everywhere.

SELECTED FILMOGRAPHY
1995 – Wind Beneath My Wings
1993 – Caged Beauties
1992 – Visa to Hell
1990 – Gamblers Heavenly Made
1989 – Underground Warfare
1987 – Supercops
1985 – Last Breath
1985 – Crazy Seventeen
1984 – Death Ring
1984 – Shanghai 13
1983 – Evil Hits Evil
1982 – Qi Bu Gan Ge
1982 – Play Con Game
1982 – My Blade, My Life
1982 – Lone Ninja Warrior
1982 – Blood Brothers
1982 – Little Flying Dragon
1982 – Godfathers of Fury
1982 – Aces Go Places
1982 – Plain Jane to the Rescue
1982 – Underground Wife
1981 – The Desperate Prodigal
1981 – Kung Fu Executioner
1981 – The Casino
1981 – Big Boss
1981 – Shanghai Massacre
1981 – The Legend of the Owl
1981 – The Kung Fu Emperor
1981 – Security Unlimited
1980 – Kung-Fu of Eight Drunkards
1980 – The Legend of Eight Knights
1980 – The Jade Hairpin Alliance
1980 – Treasure of Bruce Le
1980 – Bruce Tuan’s 7 Promises
1980 – A Brotherhood of Heroes
1980 – Beggars Have No Equal
1980 – The Beasts
1980 – Tat Mo Ng Ying Kuen
1980 – Final Mission Final
1979 – Ape Girl
1979 – 13 Styles Strike
1979 – The Magnificent
1979 – Big Boss of Shanghai
1979 – In the Beginning
1979 – Iron Fisted Eagle’s Claw
1979 – The Battle of Guningtou
1979 – Monkey Fist, Floating Snake
1979 – Hero of the Time
1979 – Revenge of the Shaolin Master
1979 – Secret Message
1979 – Silver Spear
1979 – The Winner
1978 – Master and the Kid
1978 – Snaky Knight Fight Against Mantis
1978 – Super Kung Fu Fighter
1978 – Fearless Kung Fu Elements
1978 – Shaolin Devil and Shaolin Angel
1978 – Return of the Kung Fu Dragon
1978 – Shaolin Iron Claws
1978 – Naked Comes the Huntress
1978 – Deadly Strike
1978 – Two Great Cavaliers
1978 – Revenge of the Shaolin Kid
1978 – Right Overcomes Might
1978 – Dual Flying Kicks
1978 – Seven Men of Kung Fu
1978 – 72 Desperate Rebels
1978 – Raging Tiger Vs. Monkey King
1978 – Duel at Tiger Village
1978 – Mantis Combat
1978 – The Tattoo Connection
1978 – The Legendary Strike
1978 – Bruce Li in New Guinea
1978 – Bruce and Shaolin Kung Fu
1978 – Amsterdam Connection
1978 – Amsterdam Kill
1978 – Bruce Li – The Invincible
1977 – Golden Peacock Castle
1977 – The Shaolin Plot
1977 – Hero of the Wild
1977 – 18 Swirling Riders
1977 – Clutch of Power
1977 – Shaolin Monk
1977 – The Iron Fisted Monk
1977 – The Fatal Flying Guillotines
1976 – Jumping Ash
1976 – The Himalayan
1976 – New Fist of Fury
1976 – The Double Crossers
1975 – Born of Fire
1975 – Thou Shall Not Kill … But Once
1975 – Tiger Force
1975 – Dragon from Shaolin
1974 – The Furious Monk from Shaolin
1974 – Four Real Friends
1973 – The Brothers (actor, action director)
1973 – Gold Snatchers
1973 – Black Panther (actor, producer)
1973 – The Two Cavaliers
1973 – A Gathering of Heroes
1973 – Rage of the Wind
1972 – Trilogy of Swordsmanship
1972 – Tiger Vs Dragon
1972 – Angry Guest
1972 – Black List
1972 – Tough Guy
1972 – The Brutal Boxer
1972 – The Bloody Fists
1971 – The Anonymous Heroes
1971 – The Duel
1971 – The New One-Armed Swordsman
1971 – Duel of Fists
1971 – The Deadly Duo
1970 – King Eagle
1970 – The Singing Killer
1970 – Valley of the Fangs
1970 – The Wandering Swordsman
1970 – Heads for Sale
1970 – Vengeance!
1970 – The Chinese Boxer
1970 – The Heroic Ones
1969 – Dead End
1969 – Have Sword, Will Travel
1969 – The Invincible Fist
1969 – Return of the One-Armed Swordsman

Tags: Chan Sing, karate, kung fu films, villain actor