Michael Chow (restaurateur)
| Michael Chow | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1939 (age 72–73) Shanghai, China |
| Occupation | Restaurateur, interior designer, actor |
Michael Chow (simplified Chinese: 周英华; traditional Chinese: 周英華; pinyin: Zhōu Yīnghuá; born 1939) is an actor,[1] interior designer and restaurateur. He is the co-founder and owner of the Mr. Chow restaurant chain.[2][3][4][5][6][7]
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[edit] Life and career
Chow was born in Shanghai. His father was Zhou Xinfang, one of China's most famous actors of his time and the leading figure at the Peking Opera. His sister is actress and erstwhile Bond girl Tsai Chin.[8]
His mother came from a wealthy family whose fortune had been made in tea. He was sent to a British boarding school when he was 12 and grew up in Europe. He studied art in London before setting out on a business career alongside his acting.
Before opening his eponymous restaurant chain, he and his business partner Robin Sutherland opened "Smith and Hawes", a hair salon in London's Sloane Avenue, which they later sold to the famous hairdresser Leonard of Grosvenor Square, when it became Leonard and Twiggy. They then opened the Mr. Chow restaurant. Michael Chow’s concept was for a restaurant to offer Chinese food served by Italian waiters, and with a menu the British could understand.
Chow was born in China but grew up mainly in Europe, and has said his restaurants have always been underlined by “this desire and need to promote the Chinese culture,” which he has done through food. He visits China at least twice a year, and has said he’s thrilled by the country’s economic growth and greater presence on the world stage. “China always has been a great, great nation,” Chow said in a Wall Street Journal interview and added, “Chinese people — I like them. What can I say?”[9]
Sutherland backed the original restaurant idea, raised the money and housed six chefs hired from Hong Kong. Chow designed the restaurant featuring cool green floor tiles and white walls, and it opened in Knightsbridge in February 1968, serving Pekinese cuisine. Mr. Chow was a hit and survives to this day. Chow bought art by Allen Jones, Peter Blake, Patrick Caulfield, David Hockney and Jim Dine[10] for the walls, which became as celebrated as the food. The partners opened three other Mr. Chow restaurants in London before Michael Chow bought Sutherland out and moved to New York.
His restaurant chain has expanded to such places such as Las Vegas, Miami, New York and Beverly Hills.
[edit] Personal life
He has been married three times, first to Grace Coddington (1968–1969) (divorced), then to the American-born Tina Chow (1972–1990) (divorced), and finally to Eva Chun (1992–present). Eva Chun is the niece of Korean singer Patty Kim of South Korea. Michael Chow has three children: China Chow and Maximillian Chow with Tina Chow; and Asia Chow with Eva Chun.
[edit] Filmography
- Violent Playground (1958) - Alexander (appearing with his sister, Tsai Chin)
- The Savage Innocents (1960) - Undik
- Marco Polo (1961) - Ciu-Lin
- 55 Days at Peking (1963) - Chiang
- Modesty Blaise (1966) - Weng
- The Brides of Fu Manchu (1966) - Guard (appearing with his sister, Tsai Chin)
- You Only Live Twice (1967) - SPECTRE #4 (appearing with his sister, Tsai Chin)
- The Touchables (1968) - Denzil
- Joanna (1968) - Lefty
- Who Is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe? (1978) - Soong
- Hammett (1982) - Fong Wei Tau
- Dream Lover (1994) - Mr. Mura
- Basquiat (1996) - Michael Chow
- Lethal Weapon 4 (1998) - Benny's assistant
- Rush Hour (1998) - Dinner Guest
- Rush Hour 2 (2001) - Gambler
- The Circuit (2002)
- Rush Hour 3 (2007) - Chinese Foreign Minister
