By Albert Valentin

The martial arts film world lost a legend. Hong Kong-based martial artist and actor Austin Wai Tin-Chi has died on October 4, 2012 at the age of 55 at his home in Beijing, China.

Wai was the elder brother of kung fu fighting diva Kara Hui Ying-Hung. He was born on August 13, 1957 in Shandong Province, China. At a young age, Wai was sent to learn Peking Opera under Madam Fan Fok-Fa (Fen Juhua), one of the original divas of the martial arts film genre.

In 1972, at the age of fifteen, Wai made his film debut in a small role as the young version of Chuan Yuen’s character in THE THUNDERBOLT FIST (1972). Since then, Austin had made a name as a stuntman, primarily for the Shaw Brothers. Yet, he can be seen in Golden Harvest films such as SHAOLIN PLOT (1977) and THE IRON-FISTED MONK (1977).

In 1978, Wai went from small roles to big roles when he played the character of Cao Gao-Shing in AVENGING EAGLE for Shaw Brothers in 1978. He gained a huge following with fans for his role of the fisherman’s student and pole expert Ah Fu in Lo Mar’s FIVE SUPERFIGHTERS (1979).

Aside from acting, Austin was an accomplished action choreographer. He had worked as an assistant action director on FIVE SUPERFIGHTERS, but had worked both behind and front of the cameras in films like THE FINAL TEST (1987), THE FORTUNE CODE (1990), and GENERATION PENDRAGON (1999), which earned him a Golden Horse award nomination for Best Action Choreography.

Aside from films, Austin was an accomplished television actor for the Shaw Brothers-owned TVB company in the 80’s. After 1988’s BING YUEN, Wai left the Shaw Brothers on a permanent basis and focused on other films and businesses. Though he slowed down a bit during the new millennium, he did appear in both SPL (2005) and FLASH POINT (2007) opposite Donnie Yen. His final film performance was as “Lam Kau” in KUNG FU WING CHUN (2010), starring the late Bai Jing.

Kung Fu Cinema sends its deepest condolences to the family of Austin Wai Tin-Chi.

AUSTIN WAI FILMOGRAPHY

• The Thunderbolt Fist (1972)
• No End of Surprises (1975)
• The Shaolin Plot (1977)
• The Iron Fisted Monk (1977)
• The Four Shaolin Challengers (1977)
• He Has Nothing But Kung Fu (1977)
• The Fatal Flying Guillotines (1977)
• The Game of Death (1978)
• The Voyage of Emperor Chien Lung (1978)
• The 36th Chamber of Shaolin (1978)
• The Avenging Eagle (1978)
• Heaven Sword and Dragon Sabre, Part II (1978)
• Bruce Li – The Invincible (1978)
• Shaolin Hand Lock (1978)
• Strike and Sword (1978)
• Magnificent Spearman (1978)
• Crazy Partner (1979) (actor/assistant action director)
• Kung Fu Vs. Yoga (1979)
• The Incredible Kung Fu Master (1979)
• The Deadly Breaking Sword (1979)
• The Lama Avenger (1979)
• Five Superfighters (1979) (actor/assistant action director)
• Full Moon Scimitar (1979)
• Wonderman From Shaolin (1979) (actor/action director)
• The Ghost Story (1979)
• The Convict Killer (1980)
• Heroes Shed No Tears (1980)
• Swift Sword (1980)
• Ambitious Kung Fu Girl (1981)
• Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils (1982)
• Gang Master (1982)
• Fearless Hyena Part II (1983)
• The Supreme Swordsman (1983)
• Twinkle Twinkle Lucky Stars (1985)
• The Final Test (1987) (actor/action director)
• Vampire Buster (1989)
• Ghostly Love (1989)
• Burning Ambition (1989) (actor/action director)
• Firefox’s Killer (1990)
• The Fortune Code (1990) (actor/action director)
• Whampoa Blues (1990)
• The Banquet (1991)
• Action in Border (1991)
• Pom Pom And Hot Hot (1992)
• The Twilight of the Forbidden City (1992)
• Once a Black Sheep (1992)
• Tri in Triad (1992)
• Woman in Lust (1993) (actor/action director)
• The Unpublicizable File (1993)
• All Men Are Brothers – Blood of the Leopard (1993)
• The Secret File (1993)
• The Sword Stained with Royal Blood (1993) (action director)
• Happy Partner (1993) (action director)
• Deadly Island (1994)
• The True Hero (1994)
• Master of Zen (1994)
• Reincarnated II (1994)
• The Blade (1995)
• No Time for Two (1999)
• Generation Consultant (1999)
• The King of Debt Collecting Agent (1999)
• Moonlight Express (1999)
• High Tension Crime (1999)
• Generation Pendragon (1999) (actor/action director)
• Fist Power (2000)
• D7 SDU (2000)
• One Nite in Mongkok (2004)
• Insuperable Kid Huoyuanjia (2005)
• SPL (2005)
• Flash Point (2007)
• Who’s Next (2007)
• Rebellion (2009)
• I Corrupt All Cops (2009)
• Kung Fu Wing Chun (2010)