Andy Lau

Andy Lau Tak-wah is a highly influential actor and singer from Hong Kong.

Over a career spanning four decades, he has become one of the most successful artists in the Chinese-speaking world. He is recognized for his massive commercial impact and critical acclaim in both film and music. His achievements include winning numerous prestigious honors, such as the Hong Kong Film Award for Best Actor three times. He also received the Golden Horse Award for Best Leading Actor twice. Lau's influence is so significant that he became a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 2018.

Lau's professional journey began in the television industry. In 1980, he enrolled in the actor training program at TVB. After graduating in 1981, he signed a contract with the network. He gained rapid fame through series like The Emissary and The Return of the Condor Heroes. His popularity led to him being named one of the "Five Tiger Generals of TVB" in the 1980s. This group included other famous actors like Tony Leung, Michael Miu, Felix Wong, and Kent Tong. Later, in the 1990s, his musical success earned him the title of one of the "Four Heavenly Kings" of Cantopop.

His acting career involves a wide variety of genres and scales. He transitioned from television to film, making a guest appearance in a music video in 1981. He landed his first minor film role in Once Upon a Rainbow. By 1983, he achieved his first leading role in the action film On the Wrong Track. Lau has starred in many different types of productions, including wuxia films and big-budget historical epics. Notable examples include House of Flying Daggers, The Warlords, and Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame. He also successfully moved into film production. In 1991, he established Teamwork Motion Pictures, which later became Focus Group Holdings Limited.

As a singer, Lau has achieved massive international success. His 1990 album, Would It Be Possible, brought him mainstream recognition. His 1991 single, "The Days We Spent Together," became an international hit across Asia. Some critics even described the song as being like a national anthem. His musical impact is reflected in his many awards. By the year 2006, he had won a total of 444 music awards. This feat earned him a place in the Guinness World Records for the "Most Awards Won by a Cantopop Male Artist."

Lau's early life in Hong Kong was marked by both privilege and hardship. He was born Lau Fook-wing in Tai Po to a fireman named Lau Lai. While his grandfather was a wealthy landowner, his family moved to the Diamond Hill slums when he was six. This move was intended to provide him with a bilingual education to improve his English. Life in the slums involved living in wooden houses that lacked plumbing. Lau had to fetch water for his family up to eight times every day. Tragically, the wooden houses where he lived burnt down when he was eleven years old.

Beyond entertainment, Lau is deeply involved in philanthropy and other art forms. He established the Andy Lau Charity Foundation in 1994 to help people in need and support youth education. He also played a major role in the Artistes 512 Fund Raising Campaign for victims of the 2008 Sichuan earthquake. Lau has also served as a goodwill ambassador for the 2008 Summer Paralympics. In addition to acting and singing, he practices Chinese calligraphy and hair styling. In 2023, he held his first art exhibition, which featured his own sculptures, paintings, and calligraphy.

Lau's commercial success is backed by impressive statistics. Between 1985 and 2005, he was named the "No.1 Box office Actor." During those twenty years, he starred in 108 films. These films earned a total box office sum of HKD 1,733,275,816. This total was higher than other famous stars like Stephen Chow and Jackie Chan. His cultural importance is also noted by his presence on the Avenue of Stars.