Chow Yun-fat Family Tree: The Story Behind Hong Kong's Gun Fu King

Chow Yun-fat, born 18 May 1955 in Lamma Island, British Hong Kong, is Hong Kong's most-decorated actor of his generation — A Better Tomorrow (1986), God of Gamblers (1989), The Killer (1989), Hard Boiled (1992), Anna and the King (1999), Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000), Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007); nicknamed "God of Actors" in Chinese cinema.

The Family's Roots: A Poor Lamma Island Family

Family were farmers; Chow grew up in a village without electricity.

His Parents

Father: Chow Yat-shui — sailor on Shell Oil tankers; died 1969 when Chow was 14.

Mother: Chan Lai-fun — vegetable farmer, cleaning lady.

His Siblings

Chow Sing-fung — elder brother.

Chow Chun-yuk — younger sister.

His Wives

Candice Yu (m. 1983, div. 1984) — Hong Kong actress; 9-month marriage.

Jasmine Tan Rong Chi, born 1958 (m. 1986) — Singaporean businesswoman.

Children

No children (one miscarriage; Chow said publicly the couple decided not to try again).

The Chow Family Tree at a Glance

Father: Chow Yat-shui (d. 1969) — Shell Oil sailor.

Mother: Chan Lai-fun — farmer/cleaner.

Siblings: Chow Sing-fung; Chow Chun-yuk.

Wives: Candice Yu (1983-84); Jasmine Tan (b. 1958; m. 1986).

No children.

Chow Yun-fat:

  • Born 18 May 1955, Lamma Island
  • Father died 1969; Chow left school at 17 to work
  • TVB acting class 1973
  • 80+ films
  • Announced 2018: pledged entire $700M fortune to charity

What the Chow Family Story Teaches Us

A sailor father lost at 14. A vegetable-farming mother. Two siblings. Two marriages — the first only 9 months. No children. A career that combined Hong Kong stardom with a pledge to donate his entire $700M fortune to charity.

For every family — large or small, famous or otherwise — the Chow story carries the same lesson. Some careers earn $700M and pledge it all to charity.

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