Andy Lau
The Eternal Heavenly King
In this day and age, the most important thing for a performer is professionalism.
A Hong Kong triple-threat superstar of film, television, and music who emerged from TVB's actor training class. Together with Jacky Cheung, Leon Lai, and Aaron Kwok, he is known as one of the "Four Heavenly Kings." Active across film and music for more than forty years, he is a household name and an evergreen workhorse throughout the Chinese-speaking world.
Biography
Andy Lau was born in 1961 into a farming family in Tai Po, in Hong Kong's New Territories. Originally named Lau Fuk-wing, he was one of many siblings and grew up in poverty. As a youth, he moved with his family to the urban area to make a living, working part-time to help support the household while attending school; he tasted the hardships of life early on, which honed the diligence and resilience for which he would later be praised.
At the age of twenty, he was admitted to TVB's actor training class, thereby stepping into show business. After graduating, he started with bit parts and supporting roles, and soon rose to fame with the role of Yang Guo in The Return of the Condor Heroes, becoming a leading young star heavily promoted by the station. He then also entered the music world, laying out the two paths of screen and music at once, with his popularity climbing steadily.
Entering the 1990s, he, together with Jacky Cheung, Leon Lai, and Aaron Kwok, was collectively dubbed the "Four Heavenly Kings" by the media, flourishing fully across film, television, and music, and becoming an iconic figure of Chinese-language pop culture. With hit records, sold-out concerts, and one film after another, his career reached its peak during this period.
After the turn of the century, he completed a transformation in his acting. He won Best Actor at the Hong Kong Film Awards for the first time with Running Out of Time, and starred in Infernal Affairs, A World Without Thieves, A Simple Life, and others, taking the Best Actor crown multiple times and steadily evolving from an idol into a serious, accomplished actor. At the same time, he set up a production house and took part in schemes to support new directors, actively yielding resources to the younger generation and nurturing a batch of newcomers.
Nearing sixty, he remained prolific. He starred in and produced blockbuster hits such as Shock Wave, and kept his concert tours going without pause; even after being accidentally injured on stage during one, he soon returned to work. His marriage and family life have always been low-key and rarely made public. Whether in front of the camera or behind it, the industry regards him as a dedicated and self-disciplined "model worker" and a rare evergreen.
Life Timeline
Tai Po Youth1961–1980
Born into a farming family in Tai Po, New Territories, Hong Kong, he grew up in poverty; as a youth he moved with his family to the urban area and worked part-time to help the household while attending school.
Debut from the Training Class1981–1984
He was admitted to TVB's actor training class and, after graduating, made his debut in television dramas, starting with bit parts and supporting roles.
Television Fame1982–1985
He rose to fame with dramas such as The Return of the Condor Heroes, becoming a leading young star heavily promoted by TVB.
Rise in the Music Scene1985–1992
He entered the music world, with record sales and popularity climbing steadily, gradually joining the ranks of top-tier singers.
The Four Heavenly Kings1992–1999
Dubbed one of the "Four Heavenly Kings" by the media, he flourished fully across film, television, and music, with his career reaching its peak.
The Best Actor Era2000–2012
He won Best Actor repeatedly with works such as Running Out of Time, Infernal Affairs, and A Simple Life, earning wide acclaim for his acting, and took up film producing and the cultivation of newcomers.
The Evergreen Workhorse2013–
He remained prolific, starring in blockbusters such as Shock Wave and touring without pause; low-key about his family, he is regarded as an evergreen of the industry.