Alexander Fu Sheng (; born Cheung Fu-sheng <small>張富聲</small>; 20 October 1954 – 7 July 1983), also known as Fu Sing, His mother, Angela Liu Fung-wo, was a devout Buddhist. He left school when he was 15 and became a construction worker for his uncle before applying to the Shaw Brothers Southern Drama School after seeing it in a newspaper advertisement. Prior his graduation, he had had some acting experience, appearing primarily in background roles in films such as Cheung Kong's The 14 Amazons (1972) (his debut) and Chang Cheh's Young People (1972), and was shooting Police Force (1973) at the time of his graduation. His total earnings at this time were around HK $500 (USD $63).

Career

Upon leaving Shaw's drama school, Fu signed a 3-5 year contract with the Shaw Brothers Studio and received a monthly salary of HK $650 (USD $83). He quickly became one of the director's favorite actors and protégés, going on to make 28 movies with him, many of which he starred in lead or major supporting roles. The actor later credited Chang as a mentor and father figure and the main reason for his successful film career. Shot in San Francisco's Chinatown, his performance as the migrant worker-turned-criminal Tan Tung was praised by one American critic as being the actor's most mature as well as most heartbreaking work.

Towards the late 70s, Fu collaborated with close friend Ti Lung in Sun Chung's The Avenging Eagle (1978) and The Deadly Breaking Sword (1979), once more to critical and commercial success. However, Fu suffered a series of injuries on set that temporarily impeded his career: on September 17, 1978 while filming The Deadly Breaking Sword, he fell eight feet and smashed head-first into an urn from which he suffered bouts of dizziness for several months, and on September 19 the following year, while filming an action sequence in Heroes Shed No Tears, a harness suspending him broke, causing him to fall and shatter his right leg. Fu's parents reportedly tried pressuring him to quit the film industry as a result of these injuries but were unsuccessful. Fu later became a topic of interest when rumor spread of him having purchased Bruce Lee's former residence in Hong Kong. A post mortem revealed the actor had died from chest injuries and shock. A stone cenotaph was later erected at the site of his crash by Sir Run Run Shaw. A bronze bust of the actor was erected there the following year to mark the 30th anniversary of his death.

Filmography

  • The 14 Amazons (1972) - soldier (extra)
  • Young People (1972) - drum player (extra)
  • Four Riders a.k.a. Hellfighters of the East and Strike 4 Revenge (1972) - soldier at Jukebox (extra)
  • Man of Iron a.k.a. Warrior of Steel (1972) - young man with a bicycle (extra)
  • The Thunderbolt Fist (1972) - (extra)
  • Generation Gap (1973) - Ah Qiang
  • Police Force (1973) - Liang Kuan
  • Heroes Two a.k.a. Kung Fu Invaders (1974) - Fong Sai-yuk
  • 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) - Fong Sai-yuk
  • Friends (1974) - Du Jiaji
  • Shaolin Martial Arts a.k.a. Five Fingers of Death (1974) - Li Yao
  • 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) - Guan Fengyi
  • Marco Polo a.k.a. The Four Assassins (1975) - Li Xiongfeng
  • Boxer Rebellion a.k.a. The Bloody Avengers (1976) - Tsang Hin Hon
  • 7-Man Army (1976) - Private He Hong Fa
  • The Shaolin Avengers a.k.a. Invincible Kung Fu Brothers (1976) - Fong Sai-yuk
  • New Shaolin Boxers a.k.a. Demon Fists of Kung Fu (1976) - Zhong Jian
  • Shaolin Temple a.k.a. Death Chamber (1976) - Fong Sai-yuk
  • The Naval Commandos (1977) - Xiao Liu
  • Magnificent Wanderers a.k.a. Magnificent Kung Fu Warriors (1977) - Lin Shao You
  • 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) - Double Sword Sleeve Cheuk Yi Fan
  • Life Gamble (1979) - Yun Xiang
  • The Proud Twins (1979) - Jiang Xiaoyu (Xiaoyu'er)
  • The Deadly Breaking Sword (1979) - Xiao Dao
  • Heroes Shed No Tears (1980) - Kao Chien Fei
  • Heaven and Hell a.k.a. Shaolin Hellgate (1980) - Chen Ding
  • Ten Tigers from Kwangtung (1980) - Tam Ming
  • Return of the Sentimental Swordsman (1981) - Jing Wuming
  • 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) - Mo
  • The Brave Archer and His Mate a.k.a. Mysterious Island (1982) - Yang Kuo
  • The Fake Ghost Catchers (1982) - Wu Shunchao
  • Cat vs Rat (1982), the Rat Bai Yu Tong
  • My Rebellious Son a.k.a. Raging Tiger (1982) - Chang Siu Tai
  • Treasure Hunters a.k.a. Master of Disaster (1982) - Chi Ta Po
  • Hong Kong Playboys (1983) - Yan Quan Sheng
  • Eight-Diagram Pole Fighter a.k.a. The Invincible Pole Fighters (1983) - 6th Yang (final film role)
  • Wits of the Brats (1984) - Che Zai (released posthumously; also director)

References

  • Alexander Fu Sheng at Hong Kong Cinemagic