Bolo Yeung
Template:Infobox Chinese-language singer and actor
Yang Sze (simplified Chinese: 杨斯; traditional Chinese: 楊斯; pinyin: Yáng Sī; Jyutping: Yeung4 Si1; born 3 July 1946[1] in Guangzhou), better known as Bolo Yeung, is a former competitive bodybuilder and a martial arts film actor. Primarily cast as the villain in the movies in which he stars, he is best known for his performances as Bolo in Enter the Dragon, as Chong Li in Bloodsport, and for his numerous appearances and long-spanning career in the martial arts filmography for Hong Kong's motion picture industry.
Biography
Bolo began his martial arts training at the age of 10 in Guangzhou, where he studied under several kung fu masters. Growing up, he took an interest in bodybuilding, and later became Mr. Hong Kong bodybuilding champion. He held the title for ten years. Because of his impressively muscular physique, he was chosen for several bad guy roles in films produced by Shaw Brothers Studios, such as The Heroic Ones, The Deadly Duo, Angry Guest and others. He left Shaw Brothers in 1971.
Bolo met Bruce Lee while the two were filming a Winston cigarettes commercial.[2] A friendship emerged and Bruce invited him to star in Enter the Dragon, where he became known as "Bolo", the name of the character he portrayed. The two became close friends during the filming of Enter the Dragon, where Bruce and Bolo worked very closely on technique training. Bolo once stated in an interview, many years after Lee's death, "There will never be another Bruce Lee; and I am privileged to have had the honor of calling him friend."
During the 1970s and '80s, Bolo starred in numerous kung fu films, but his breakout film was Bloodsport, based on the allegedly true story of Frank Dux. Shot on a $US 1.5 million budget, it became a US box-office hit in the spring of 1988. Jean-Claude Van Damme had the leading role as Frank Dux, while Bolo Yeung played the role of Chong Li. A strong friendship formed between the two actors on the set of Bloodsport; and Van Damme wanted no one but Bolo to play opposite him in his film (Double Impact) set in the Orient.
Canadian action film actor, director and producer Jalal Merhi met Bolo in Hong Kong while shooting his first film Fearless Tiger, then again on the set of Double Impact. Jalal was impressed with his personality and ability, and decided to create a part specifically for Bolo.[3] Later Merhi worked with Yeung on more films such as Tiger Claws, TC 2000 and Tiger Claws 2.
In 2007, Bolo made a rare appearance as a protagonist in Blizhniy Boy: The Ultimate Fighter. Jalal Merhi directed the first 60 minutes of the film that was shot in Toronto, but due to other commitments could not complete the remaining part of the film in Russia. Producer Erken Ialgashev directed the remainder of the film. Due to legal issues, the film remains unreleased.
Filmography
| Year | Film | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | The Whole World at Our Feet | |
| 2007 | Blizhniy Boy: The Ultimate Fighter | Erik's Trainer |
| 1997 | Tiger Claws II | Chong |
| 1996 | Fists of Legends 2 Iron Bodyguards | Mongolian fighter |
| 1995 | Shootfighter 2 | Shingo |
| 1994 | Fearless Tiger | Master on mountain |
| 1993 | TC 2000 | Master Sumai |
| 1992 | The Magnificent Duo | Bolo |
| 1992 | Tiger Claws | Chong |
| 1992 | Ironheart | Ice |
| 1992 | Shootfighter: Fight to the Death | Shingo |
| 1992 | Mega Force from Highland | The Wu Tang Swordsman |
| 1991 | Double Impact | Moon |
| 1991 | Breathing Fire (as Bolo Young) | Thunder |
| 1989 | Bloodfight | Chang Lee - The Vietnamese Cobra |
| 1988 | Bloodsport | Chong Li |
| 1988 | One Husband Too Many | Dung Ken - Muscleman |
| 1987 | Killer's Nocturne (No-Evening Day) | ??? |
| 1987 | To Err is Humane (aka To Err is Human) | ??? |
| 1987 | Shanghai Express (aka Millionaire's Express, Wealthy Train, Nobles' Express) | ??? (cameo) |
| 1986 | Legacy of Rage | Thug |
| 1986 | Lucky Stars Go Places (aka Luckiest Stars) | Movie patron |
| 1994 | Seven Angels | Bar customer in green shirt |
| 1985 | Bruce Lee's Dragons Fight Back | ??? |
| 1985 | My Lucky Stars (aka Lucky Stars Superior Shine or Winners and Sinners 2) | Millionaire Chan |
| 1985 | Working Class (aka Hit Work Emperor) | Giant kickboxer |
| 1985 | Lucky Diamond (aka Wish You Good Luck) | ??? |
| 1985 | Way of the Dragon 2 (as Sze Yang) | ??? |
| 1984 | Silent Romance | ??? |
| 1983 | Just for Fun | ??? |
| 1983 | The Boxers Omen (aka Mo) | Mr Bu Bo - The Thai Boxer |
| 1982 | The Supergang | Big King |
| 1982 | The Ninja Strikes Back (aka Bruce Le Fights/Strikes Back or Eye of the Dragon) | ??? |
| 1981 | All the Wrong Clues (for the Right Solution) | ??? |
| 1980 | Enter the Game of Death (aka The King of Kung Fu) | ??? |
| 1980 | The 36 Deadly Styles | Cheungs Brother |
| 1980 | (Bruce) the King of Kung Fu (aka Revenge of the Dragon/s) | ??? |
| 1980 | Fearless Hyena 3 (as Yang Tze) (aka Fearless Master) | ??? |
| 1980 | Challenge of the Tiger (as Yang Sze) (aka Dragon Bruce Le or Gymkata Killer) | ??? |
| 1980 | Invincible (aka Fighting Dragon) | ??? |
| 1980 | Treasure of Bruce Lee (aka King Boxer 2) | ??? |
| 1979 | Bruce the Superhero (as Yang Sze) | Peter Sze The Bullkiller |
| 1979 | Ruthless Revenge (aka Invincible Kung Fu or The Two Tricky Kids) | ??? |
| 1979 | (The) Dragon, the Hero (aka Dragon on Fire) | ??? |
| 1979 | Enter Three Dragons (aka Three Avengers) | Bolo |
| 1979 | The Fists, the Kicks, and the Evil | Master Lung |
| 1979 | Snake Deadly Act | The Giant |
| 1979 | Writing Kung Fu (as Sze Yang) | Ah Yen |
| 1978 | Bruce (Li/Lee) in New Guinea (aka Last Fist of Fury) | ??? |
| 1978 | Amsterdam Connection (as Yang Sze) | Big Louie |
| 1978 | Way of the Dragon 2 | ??? |
| 1978 | Black Belt Jones 2 (aka Tattoo Connection) | - |
| 1977 | 10 Magnificent Killers (as Yang Szu) | Ling Chu |
| 1977 | Bolo the Brute (aka Bolo) | Bolo |
| 1977 | The Clones of Bruce Lee | Martial arts trainer |
| 1977 | Bruce and Shaolin Kung Fu (aka Bruce vs Black Dragon) | Lam Chi Chu |
| 1977 | Soul of Chiba (as Yang Sze) | Nepal |
| 1976 | A Queen's Ransom (aka International Assassin(s)) | Ram |
| 1975 | Hong Kong Superman (aka Bruce: Hong Kong Master) | ??? |
| 1975 | Seven Blows of the Dragon 2 (aka 108 Heroes, 7 Soldiers of Kung Fu, All Men are Brothers 2, 7 Kung Fu Assassins, Turbulent Invade Record) | ??? |
| 1975 | Kung Fu Massacre (as Yang Sze) | ??? |
| 1975 | G-Men '75 (TV series) | ??? |
| 1975 | He Loved Once Too Many (as Bolo Yeung Tze) | ??? |
| 1975 | The Fighting Dragon (TV series) (aka The Fighting Dragon) | Red Tiger |
| 1974 | Super Kung Fu Kid (as Sze Yang) | Tiger |
| 1973 | Chinese Hercules | Chinese Hercules |
| 1973 | Thunderkick | ??? |
| 1973 | Kung Fu's Hero (as Sze Yang) | ??? |
| 1973 | Enter the Dragon | Bolo |
| 1973 | Freedom Strikes A Blow (as Yang Sze) | Chiang Tai |
| 1973 | Greatest Thai Boxing | ??? |
| 1973 | Tiger | ??? |
| 1973 | Ninja Killer (as Yang Sze) | Mr Yang |
| 1972 | Man of Iron (aka Iron Man or Warrior of Steel) | Jin Xi Fu |
| 1972 | Trilogy of Swordsmanship | ??? |
| 1972 | Young People | ??? |
| 1972 | King Boxer (aka 5 Fingers of Death, Invincible Boxer, Iron Palm, Hand of Death) | Pa Tu Er, Mongolian fighter |
| 1972 | The 14 Amazons | Western Xia wrestler |
| 1972 | Angry Guest (aka Kung Fu Killers) | Sze Yang |
| 1971 | The Rescue | Chief Cha Te |
| 1971 | The Lady Professional | Bald Killer |
| 1971 | The Oath of Death | Officer Shi |
| 1971 | The Deadly Duo | The River Dragon of Jin |
| 1970 | The Heroic Ones (aka Shaolin Masters, 13 Fighters, 13 Warlords) | General Meng Juehai |
| 1970 | The Wandering Swordsman | Unicorn Du Kuo Lung |
See also
References
- ^ Bolo Yeung reveals his real age at Budo Gala 2010 in Basel on YouTube
- ^ Logan, Bey Hong Kong Action Cinema (Overlook Press, 1995)
- ^ "Jalal Merhi Exclusive Interview".
Further reading
- Hong Kong Action Cinema by Bey Logan (21 Sep 1995)
- Martial Arts Illustrated (UK), 1990 September, Vol 3, Num 4
- Inside Kung Fu, 1991 September, Vol 18, Num 9
- Inside Kung Fu, 1992 June, Vol 19, Num 6
- Martial Arts Illustrated (UK), 1992 November, Vol 5, Num 6
- Inside Karate, 1993 January, Vol 14, Num 1
- Masters of Kung Fu, 1993 December, Vol 1, Num 7
- Inside Karate, 1994 March, Vol 15, Num 3