Corey Yuen

Corey Yuen Kwai (Chinese: 元奎; pinyin: Yuán Kuí; Cantonese Yale: Yuen4 Kwai1; 15 February 1951 – 2022) was a Hong Kong film director, film producer, action choreographer,^[1] and actor. Yuen attended the China Drama Academy and was one of the Seven Little Fortunes. In Hong Kong, he worked on several films such as Bruce Lee's Fist of Fury (1972), Hwang Jang-lee's Snuff Bottle Connection, Secret Rivals 2, The Invincible Armour (all 1977), Dance of the Drunk Mantis (1979), Ninja in the Dragon's Den (1982), Millionaire's Express (1986), and Jet Li's Fong Sai-yuk II (1993), The New Legend of Shaolin (1994), High Risk, and My Father Is a Hero (both 1995).

Yuen gained fame in American cinema beginning with his work as an action director on the 1998 film Lethal Weapon 4, followed by the 2000 blockbuster X-Men and six of Jet Li's English-language works: Romeo Must Die (2000), Kiss of the Dragon, The One (both 2001), Cradle 2 the Grave (2003), War (2007), and The Expendables (2010). He also served as director and fight choreographer on Jason Statham's 2002 action film The Transporter.

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Born on 15 February 1951 in Hong Kong, his parents signed a ten year contract for him to attend the China Drama Academy when he was nine years old because they could not afford to raise him.^[2] Given the name Yuen Kwai, he became known as one of the Seven Little Fortunes, seven child actors and acrobats who performed together and who also included Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung, Yuen Biao, and Yuen Wah.^[3] They spent those days training in a harshly disciplined style under the watch of Master Yu Jim-yuen.

In the 1970s, Yuen had three Hwang Jang-lee films: Secret Rivals 2 (1977) as Silver Fox's henchman; The Invincible Armour (1977) as Assassin; and film Dance of the Drunk Mantis (1979) as Rubber Legs' student.

In the 1980s, Yuen played Devil Disciple Leader in the 1983 film Zu Warriors from the Magic Mountain, alongside Sammo Hung, Yuen Biao and Mang Hoi. Yuen played SWAT Team Member in 1985 film Heart of the Dragon, alongside Sammo Hung and Jackie Chan. Yuen played Bad Egg in 1986 film Righting Wrongs (who also directed), along with Yuen Biao, Melvin Wong, Cynthia Rothrock, Peter Cunningham and Siu-wong Fan. Yuen played Judy Wu in 1987 film Eastern Condors along with Sammo Hung, Joyce Godenzi, Billy Chow, Yuen Biao, Siu-chung Mok, Yuen Woo-ping and Melvin Wong.

In the 1990s, Yuen played Man in the Boat in the 1990 film She Shoots Straight, (who also directed) along with Joyce Godenzi, Sammo Hung and Yuen Wah. Yuen played Li Kwon Bon in 1993 film Fong Sai-yuk II (who also directed) alongside Jet Li. Yuen played Uncle Po in 1997 film Hero (who also directed) alongside Yuen Biao and Takeshi Kaneshiro.

In the 2010s, Yuen played Cao Cao's General in the 2010 film Just Another Pandora's Box alongside Ronald Cheng, Yuen Biao, Kai-man Tin, Siu-wong Fan and Wu Jing.

In July 1981, Yuen made his Hong Kong directorial debut in 1982 film Ninja in the Dragon's Den, along with Hiroyuki Sanada, Conan Lee and Hwang Jang-lee. In June 1985, Yuen made his American directorial debut in 1986 film No Retreat, No Surrender, which marked the film debut of Belgium martial artist actor Jean-Claude Van Damme. He has worked with most of Hong Kong's top stars at one time or another, and began Michelle Yeoh and Cynthia Rothrock's career in 1985 with Yes, Madam. He directed in 1990 film All for the Winner alongside Stephen Chow, followed by its 1991 sequel Top Bet alongside Anita Mui. He has also directed Jackie Chan with Sammo Hung in 1988 film Dragons Forever, and directed Anita Mui, Andy Lau and Aaron Kwok in Saviour of the Soul.

In 1993, he began an alliance and good friendship with actor Jet Li. He directed several of Li's films, beginning with Fong Sai-yuk and Fong Sai-yuk II, and continuing through The Bodyguard from Beijing, The New Legend of Shaolin and My Father Is a Hero, and also he choreographed two Jet Li's films: The New Legend of Shaolin and High Risk.

In the 2000s, Yuen directed the 2006 film DOA: Dead or Alive, based on the Dead or Alive fighting game series. The film stars Holly Valance, Jaime Pressly, Devon Aoki, Sarah Carter and the former WCW, TNA and WWE wrestler Kevin Nash.

Once Li gained stardom in American cinemas beginning with 1998 film Lethal Weapon 4, Yuen's action direction also received fame in the West. He worked in the 2000 blockbuster X-Men as an action director, and he would also handle the martial arts and action sequences in six of Jet Li's other English-language works: Romeo Must Die, Kiss of the Dragon, The One, Cradle 2 the Grave, War, and The Expendables.

He also directed So Close, released in 2002. That same year he was the fight choreographer and second unit director for The Transporter, having initially been hired as the main director, returning for its 2005 sequel Transporter 2. He held the same positions on both films, however in the United States release he is credited as the first film's director due to being a more marketable name than first time filmmaker Louis Leterrier.^[4]

Corey Yuen died from COVID-19 in 2022. At the time, news of his death was kept private at his family's request. Two years later, in 2024, Jackie Chan published a post on Weibo paying tribute to late members of the Seven Little Fortunes, naming Yuen as one of the deceased. Tin Kai-man confirmed that Yuen had died, and explained the news had been kept secret.^[5][6][7]

This is a partial list of films.^[8]

• Corey Yuen at IMDb
• Chinese Actors
• Kung Fu Cinema: Corey Yuen Filmography (complete)
• Corey Yuen at the Hong Kong Movie Database