Alexander Fu Sheng
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Template:Infobox Chinese-language singer and actor Alexander Fu Sheng (20 October 1954 – 7 July 1983), born Cheung Fu-Sheng (張富聲),[1] also known as Fu Sheng was a Hong Kong martial arts film star in the 1970s.
Life and career
Born as Cheung Fu-Sheng in Hong Kong, Alexander Fu-Sheng was the son of a wealthy New Territories indigenous inhabitant businessman. As a child, his family lived in Hawaii for a few years and there he began training in judo and karate.
In 1971, he enrolled at Shaw Brothers Southern Drama School and instantly drew the attention of director Chang Cheh. Cheh had Fu Sheng train with Lau Kar-leung for 6 months. Fu Sheng made his film debut as an extra in the 1972 film The Fourteen Amazons. His first lead role was in Cheh's Police Force. Some of his other films include Heroes Two, Five Shaolin Masters, Shaolin Temple and the Brave Archer series. He eventually made a total of 23 films with Cheh.
In 1976, he married singer and actress Jenny Tseng, who had appeared with him in the film New Shaolin Boxers.[2]
He suffered a series of injuries in 1978 and 1979. On the set of The Deadly Breaking Sword a wire suspending him snapped and he fell eight feet landing on his head. While working on Heroes Shed No Tears, he shattered bones in his right leg.
Fu Sheng was supposed to star in Snake in the Eagle's Shadow but was refused by Run Run Shaw; head of the Shaw Brothers Studio. Jackie Chan was eventually cast in the role.
On 7 July 1983, Fu Sheng died as the result of an automobile accident.[3] At the time, he was filming The Eight Diagram Pole Fighter in which he was to be the hero. The film was partially re-written and the remainder of the film was shot. In the finished film, Fu Sheng's character abruptly disappears and the focus was put on co-star Gordon Liu's character.[3]
His funeral was organised by the Shaw Brothers committee. His remains were cremated.[4]
He made his final film appearance the film Wits of the Brats which was also the only film he directed and was released almost a year after his death.
Filmography
- Young People (1972)
- Four Riders a.k.a. Hellfighters of the East and Strike 4 Revenge (1972), GI at Jukebox
- Man of Iron a.k.a. Warrior of Steel (1972)
- Generation Gap (1973)
- Police Force (1973)
- Heroes Two a.k.a. Kung Fu Invaders (1974), Fang Shih Yu
- Three Styles of Hung School's Kung Fu – A Demonstration Film of the Chinese Kung Fu (1974), himself
- Na Cha The Great (1974), Na-Cha
- Men from the Monastery a.k.a. Disciples of Death and Dragon's Teeth (1974), Fang Shih Yu
- Friends (1974)
- Shaolin Martial Arts a.k.a. Five Fingers of Death (1974)
- 5 Shaolin Masters a.k.a. The 5 Masters of Death (1974), Ma Chao-Hsing
- Disciples of Shaolin a.k.a. The Invincible One (1975)
- Marco Polo a.k.a. The Four Assassins (1975)
- Boxer Rebellion a.k.a. The Bloody Avengers (1976)
- The Seven Man Army (1976)
- The Shaolin Avengers a.k.a. Invincible Kung Fu Brothers (1976), Fang Shih Yu
- New Shaolin Boxers a.k.a. Demon Fists of Kung Fu (1976)
- Shaolin Temple a.k.a. Death Chamber (1976), Fang Shih Yu
- The Naval Commandos (1977)
- Magnificent Wanderers a.k.a. Magnificent Kung Fu Warriors (1977)
- The Brave Archer a.k.a. Kung Fu Warlords (1977), Kuo Tsing
- The Chinatown Kid (1977), Tang Tong
- The Brave Archer 2 a.k.a. Kung Fu Warlords Part II (1978), Kuo Tsing
- Avenging Eagle (1978)
- Life Gamble (1979)
- The Proud Twins (1979)
- The Deadly Breaking Sword (1979), Xiao Dao
- Heroes Shed No Tears (1980)
- Heaven and Hell a.k.a. Shaolin Hellgate (1980)
- Ten Tigers from Kwangtung (1980), Tam Ming
- Return of the Sentimental Swordsman (1981)
- The Brave Archer 3 a.k.a. Blast of the Iron Palm (1982), Kuo Tsing
- Legendary Weapons of China a.k.a. Legendary Weapons of Kung Fu (1982)
- The Brave Archer and His Mate a.k.a. Mysterious Island (1982), Yang Kuo
- The Fake Ghost Catchers (1982)
- Cat vs Rat (1982), the Rat Bai Yu Tong
- My Rebellious Son a.k.a. Raging Tiger (1982)
- Treasure Hunters a.k.a. Master of Disaster (1982), Chi Ta Po
- Hong Kong Playboys (1983)
- Eight-Diagram Pole Fighter a.k.a. The Invincible Pole Fighters (1983), 6th Yang
- Wits of the Brats (1984) released posthumously
References
- ^ "Alexander Fu Sheng-3". Archived from the original on 20 August 2007. Retrieved 19 August 2007.
{{cite web}}
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suggested) (help) - ^ Stokes, Lisa Odham (5 February 2007). Historical Dictionary of Hong Kong Cinema. Scarecrow Press. pp. 413–. ISBN 9780810864580. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
- ^ a b Meyers, Ric (March 2011). Films of Fury: The Kung Fu Movie Book. Eirini Press. pp. 109–. ISBN 9780979998942. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
- ^ Documentary about Shaw Bros actor Fu Sheng – With Subtitles on YouTube