Walter Tso

Walter Tso
Walter Tso
曹達華
	Walter Tso Tat-wah (right) in one of his films
Born	15 September 1915; Taishan, Guangdong, China
Died	10 January 2007 (aged 91); London, England
Other names	Cho Tat-wah, Tso Tat-wah
Years active	1936–1997, 2001 (62 years)
Awards	Hong Kong Film Awards – Professional Spirit Award, 2003 Lifetime Achievement; ; Golden Bauhinia Awards – Life Achievement Award, 2001 Lifetime Achievement; ;
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese	曹達華
Simplified Chinese	曹达华
Hanyu Pinyin
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyin	Cáo Dáhuá
Yue: Cantonese
Jyutping	Cou4 Daat6wah4

Walter Tso Tat-Wah (15 September 1915 – 10 January 2007) was a film actor of Hong Kong, most famous for the roles he played in a number of Wuxia films in the 1950s and 1960s.

The names Cho Tat-wah and Shih Kien were synonymous to "good and evil" in the colloquial language of Hong Kong because of the roles the two actors played in those movies. Yu So-chow co-starred many of Cho's movies. The two names Cho Tat-wah and Yu So-chow symbolized a perfect couple. His well-known roles include Lung Kim-fei (龍劍飛), Leung Foon (梁寛) and Inspector Wah (華探長).

A native of Taishan, Guangdong, (he spoke Cantonese and Taishanese) Cho began his actor career at the age of 15, and eventually starred in more than 700 movies. He was a compulsive gambler. Legend has it that he lost the Wah-tat Studio, which produced most of his movies at the time, at the gambling table. However, it is not certain whether the studio was owned by him.

Filmography

Films

This is a partial list of films.

1936 Tears of the Reed Catkins - Wong Tin-Wah
1936 Luhua Lei
Xiangxiapo Congjun (1937)
Xihu nu (1937)
Modeng Wu Dalan (1937)
Kuang Dauyan (1937)
Bian fang xue lei (1937)
Roubo (1937)
Longcheng Feijian (1938)
Gong di (1938)
Xuejian Baoshan Cheng (1938)
Babai Zhuangshi (1938)
Shanghai Huoxian Hou (1938)
Sizi Congjun (1938)
Yan Ruisheng (1938)
Liu lang de fu qin (1938)
Chaimi Fuqi (1938)
Jinye Ju Xuji (1939)
Wuyi Dui (1939)
Sa nian ku ming nu (1939)
Toudu Hulang Guan (1940)
Little Guangdong (1940)
Xiao Guang Dong (1940)
Shi gui zai chu shi (1940)
Dayu Sha Jia (1940)
Chayi Hu (1940)
Zhao Zilong (1940)
Xiao Laohu (1941)
Zheng qi ge (1941)
Roar of the People (1941)
Molu Qier (1941)
Yongchun Sannian (1941)
Chu qiang hong xing (1941)
Xuegong Chunse (1941)
Gone Are the Swallows When the Willow Flowers Wilt (1946)
The Lady Escort, Part Two (1947)
Mou furen (1947)
Nu luo bin han (1947)
Qi jian shi san xia Shang ji (1949) - Chui Ming-Go
Qi jian shi san xia xia ji (1949)
Huang Fei-hong zhuan: Bian feng mie zhu (1949) - Leung Foon
Huang Fei Hong zhuan: Da po Ba Wang Zhuang (1949) - Leung Foon
Huang Fei Hong zhuan di san ji xue zhan Liu Hua Qiao (1949) - Leung Foon
Huang Fei Hong zhuan si ji: Liang Kuan gui tian (1950) - Leung Foon
Huo shao Shao Lin si (1950)
Ren hai wan hua tong (1950)
How Ten Heroes of Guangdong Slew the Dragon (1950) - Mak Tai
Lei dian zhui feng jian (1951)
Wu hu duan hun qiang (1951)
Hu dan ying hun (1952) - Fong Tat
Qi xia hei xuan feng (1952) - Black Whirlwind
Ye du Yuan Yang jiang (1953)
The Killing Spear (1953)
Ren tou qi an (1955) - Leung, Tai-yim
Liang Kuan yu Lin Shi Rong (1955) - Leung Foon
Xu Huang Fei Hong zhuan (1955) - Leung Foon
Huang Fei Hong hua di qiang pao (1955) - Leung Foon
Huang Fei Hong wen zhen si pai lou (1955) - Leung Foon
Huang Fei Hong chang ti jian ba (1955) - Leung Foon
Fang Shi Yu yu Hu Hui Qian (1955) - Woo Wai Kin
Huang Fei Hong da nao Fo Shan (1956) - Leung Foon
Huang Fei Hong du bei dou wu long (1956) - Leung Foon
Fang Shi Yu yi jiu Hong Xi Guan (1956) - Hung Hei-guan
Huang Fei Hong san xi nu biao shi (1956) - Leung Foon
Huang Fei Hong yi jiu long mu miao (1956) - Leung Foon
Huang Fei Hong nu tun shi er shi (1956) - Leung Foon
Huang Fei Hong fu er hu (1956) - Leung Foon
Huang Fei Hong xing shi hui qi lin (1956) - Leung Foon
Huang Fei Hong Shamian fu shen quan (1956) - Leung Foon
Huang Fei Hong heng sao Xiao Beijiang (1956) - Wan Tat Tat
Bu xia xiang wei zhui hun biao (1956)
Huang Fei Hong Guan Yin Shan xue hen (1956) - Leung Foon
Huang Fei Hong Guanshan da he shou (1956) - Leung Foon
Bai hao ying xiong chuan (1956)
Huang Fei-hong tian hou miao jin xiang (1956) - Leung Foon
Huang Fei Hong shui di san qin Su Shulian (1956) - Leung Foon
Huang Fei-hong qi dou huo qi lin (1956) - Leung Foon
Huang Fei Hong da nao hua deng (1956) - Leung Foon
Huang Fei-hong Henan yu xie zhan (1957)
Huang Fei Hong shi wang zheng ba (1957)
Huang Fei Hong die xie ma an shan (1957) - Leung Foon
Huang Fei Hong da po fei dao dang (1957) - Leung Foon
Heng ba qi sheng sheng zi qi (1957)
Huang Fei-hong ye tan hei long shan (1957) - Leung Foon
Huang Fei Hong wu du dou shuang long (1958) - Leung Foon
Huang Fei Hong long zheng hu dou (1958)
Huang Fei Hong da po jin zhong zhao (1958)
Huang Fei Hong da nao Feng Huang Gang (1958) - Leung Foon
Huang Fei Hong lei tai dou wu hu (1958) - Leung Foon
She diao ying xiong zhuan (1958)
Huang Fei Hong hu xue jiu Liang Kuan (1958) - Leung Foon
Sword of Blood and Valour (1958–1959) - Yuen Sing-chi
Liang Kuan's Fight at Fiery Tiger Pit (1958)
Huang Fei-hong Saved the Bride at Xiguan (1958)
Story of the Vulture Conqueror (1958–1959) - Kwok Ching
Huo zang Lan Tou He (1959) - Tang Lung
Huang Fei Hong bei kun hei di yu (1959) - Leung Foon
Huang Fei Hong hu peng fu hu (1959) - Leung Foon
Huang Fei Hong yi guan Cai hong qiao (1959) - Lau Cham
Huang Fei Hong lei tai zheng ba zhan (1960) - Leung Foon
Shisan hao xiong sha an (1960)
Xing xing wang da zhan Huang Fei Hong (1960) - Leung Foon
Huang Fei Hong yuan da po wu hu zhen (1961) - Leung Foon
Bu bu jing hun (1961) - Lee Hoi-Ming
Sha ren wang da zhan niu ji tan (1961)
Yi jian jiu lian huan (1961)
Zhui hun tai ji biao (1961)
Mo quan zhui xiong (1961) - Inspector Lui Tat
Kun lun qi jian dou wu long (1961)
Kun Lun san nu xia (1961) - Cha See Hung
Xiao Gan Luo bai xiang da jie ju (1962)
Ru yan jing hun (1962) - Woo Chi-Hung
Shuang jian meng (1962)
Shuang jian meng xia ji da jie ju (1962)
Nu du shou (1962) - Inspector To
Huang mao guai ren (1962) - Inspector To
Xian he shen zhen xin zhuan shang ji (1962)
Chain Murder (1962) - Yeung Sum
Huo shao gong lian si Shang ji (1963) - Gwai Mo
Huo shao gong lian si Xia ji (1963) - Gwai Mo
The Black Centipede (1963)
Gu rou en chou (1963) - Tse Jun-Wan
Zhui hun bai gu dao (1963)
Ye ban ren lang (1963)
Hong Xian Nu ye dao bao he (1963)
Lei dian tian xian jian (1963) - Ma Fei-Wan
Wan jian zhi wang (1963)
Yin jian jin dao (1964) - Ho Man-Kai / Ho Luk-Long
Ru lai shen zhang shang ji (1964) - Lung Kim Fai
Ru lai shen zhang xia ji da jie ju (1964) - Lung Kim Fai
Ru lai shen zhang san ji da jie ju (1964)
Ru lai shen zhang si ji da jie ju (1964)
Man tang ji qing (1964)
Qian shou shen quan shang ji (1965)
Qian shou shen quan xia ji (1965)
Gui gu shen nu (1965) - Lau Tin-Chi
Ru lai shen zhang nu sui Wan Jian Men (1965)
Te wu yi ling yi (1965)
Mi mi ke (1966)
Qi jian shi san xia (1967) - Chui Ming-Go
Kun Lun san sha shou (1967)
1969 Supreme Sword - Fang Tien Hung. Also Producer. ^[1]
1970 Secret Agent No. 1 - Inspector. Also as Director. ^[2]^[3]
1970 The Young Girl Dares Not Homeward (aka Girl Wanders Around) - Inspector Tao. ^[4]
Dai heung lei bak min wai fung (1974)
Hua hua gong zi (1974)
Shen nu dang fu chuo tou wang (1975) - Chao Chen-tung
The Legend of the Condor Heroes (1976, TV Series) - Luk Sing-fung
The Return of the Condor Heroes (1976, TV Series) - Luk Sing-fung
Avenging Warriors of Shaolin (1979) - Chun's Teacher
Hui feng hao huang jin da feng bao (1979)
Za ji wang ming dui (1979) - Leung's Father
Qi sha (1979) - Yang Chun Yu
Cha chi nan fei (1980) - Chou Yi Shan
Wan ren zan (1980) - Liu Jing-Tian
Shao Lin yu Wu Dang (1980) - Feng Te
Long li ji (1980)
A Deadly Secret (1980) - Wan Zhenshan
Tai Chi Master (1980, TV Series) - Buddhist Monk Hong-ming
Si yiu (1981) - Chief inspector Liu
Gui ma zhi duo xing (1981) - Gang Boss
The Duel of the Century (1981) - Monk Kugua
Da qiao ying xiong zhuan (1981)
My Young Auntie (1981) - Ching Fu, Iron Man of Canton
Aces Go Places (1982) - Uncle Hua
Carry On Pickpocket (1982)
Jut zai yau che (1982) - Farmer
San shi nian xi shuo cong tou (1982) - Gangster extra
Nan xiong nan di (1982)
Nan xiong nan di (1982)
Bat sap yee ga fong hak (1982) - Jealous husband
Ru lai shen zhang (1982) - Tathagata
2.5 CM (1982)
Xiao sheng pa pa (1982)
Bo jin (1982)
Xiao zi you zhong (1982)
Aces Go Places 2 (1983) - Hua
Jui gwai chat hung (1983) - Drunken Husband
Tian ji guo he (1983)
Shao ye Wei Wei (1983)
Feng sheng shui qi (1983)
Wu Song (1983)
Winners and Sinners (1983) - Medicine Man
Mad Mission 3: Our Man from Bond Street (1984) - Hua
Huang huo (1984)
Zi jin xiong di (1984)
A Friend from Inner Space (1984)
Fan dau mui (1984) - Principal
Ai nu xin zhuan (1984) - Old Man in House
Duo qing zhong (1984)
My Lucky Stars (1985) - Supt. Walter Tsao
Gong xi fa cai (1985) - Police Supt.
Ge wu sheng ping (1985)
Juk nei ho wan (1985)
Twinkle, Twinkle Lucky Stars (1985) - Supt. Walter Tsao
Mo cuo gu (1985)
Aces Go Places 4 (1986) - Hua
The Millionaire's Express (1986) - Shanghai Chief Inspector
Huan le ding dong (1986) - Captain Chan
1986 The Family Strikes Back
1986 Lucky Stars Go Places - Supt. Walter Tsao
1986 Mr. Vampire 2- Police Chief
1988 Three Against the World - Detective
Fat lut mo ching (1988)
Wu long zei ti shen (1988) - Supt. Walter Tso
Aces Go Places 5: The Terracotta Hit (1989) - Uncle Wah
Fa da xian sheng (1989)
Mang gwai dai ha (1989) - Buddhist God
Huo bao xing dong (1989)
Return of the Lucky Stars (1989) - Supt. Walter Tso
Meng gui zhuang gui (1989)
Do si lip yan (1989) - Ma Sir
Huang jia fei feng (1989) - Joe Tso
Funny Ghost (1989)
The Iceman Cometh (1989) - Zheng's uncle instructor
Zhi ming de you huo (1990)
Hu dan nu er hong (1990) - Yong's Father
Meng gui ba wang hua (1990) - Officer Chan
Biao jie, ni hao ye! (1990) - Tzu's ex-comrade
Ma deng ru lai shen zhang (1990) - Master Koo
Demoness from Thousand Years (1990) - The Retard's Father
Wu ye tian shi (1990) - Inspector Chao
1994 It's a Wonderful Life - Dai-Foon Yum
1996 How to Meet the Lucky Stars - Supt. Walter Tso
2001 A Gambler's Story

Television series

1985 The Legendary Prime Minister – Zhuge Liang (TV Series) - Pong Tak-gung
1986 Rise of the Great Wall (TV Series) - King Chiu-seung
1986 The Romance of the White Hair Maiden (TV Series) - Taoist Pak-shek

Personal life

In 1990, Tso emigrated to London, England, with his son. In 1993, Tso returned to Hong Kong to join TVB. In 1997, Tso returned to England as his wife was then suffering kidney disease. In 2000, Tso's wife died, he returned alone to Hong Kong. In August 2006, Tso was hospitalised for a month after falling down stairs at his home. In November 2006, Tso returned to England. Tso's son lives in England and his daughter lives in the United States.

In January 2007 Tso died of haemorrhage of stomach in a hospital in London, England.^[5]

One of his goddaughters is Connie Chan.

References

^ "Supreme Sword". hkmdb.com. 24 September 1969. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
^ "Secret Agent No. 1 (1970)". senscritique.com. 1970. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
^ "Secret Agent No. 1". hkmdb.com. 3 June 1970. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
^ "The Young Girl Dares Not Homeward". hkmdb.com. 25 April 1970. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
^ Mok, Danny (16 January 2007). "Walter Tso, legendary action man of the screen, dies at 91". scmp.com. Retrieved 20 April 2021.(Required paid subscription)

Apple Daily [1], 16 January 2007

External links

[1] "Supreme Sword". hkmdb.com. 24 September 1969. Retrieved 13 August 2021.

[2] "Secret Agent No. 1 (1970)". senscritique.com. 1970. Retrieved 20 April 2021.

[3] "Secret Agent No. 1". hkmdb.com. 3 June 1970. Retrieved 20 April 2021.

[4] "The Young Girl Dares Not Homeward". hkmdb.com. 25 April 1970. Retrieved 21 April 2021.

[5] Mok, Danny (16 January 2007). "Walter Tso, legendary action man of the screen, dies at 91". scmp.com. Retrieved 20 April 2021.(Required paid subscription)

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