Charles Heung

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Charles Heung
Chinese name 向華強 (traditional)
Chinese name 向华强 (simplified)
Pinyin xiang4 hua2 qiang2 (Mandarin)
Jyutping heung3 wa4 keung4 (Cantonese)
Born (1948-12-16) 16 December 1948
Other name(s) Xiang Huaqiang
Heung Wa-Keung
Occupation film producer, film presenter, Chairman of China Star Entertainment Ltd
Spouse(s) Tiffany Chen
Children Jacky Heung (son), Johnathan Heung (son),
Parents Heung Chin (father)

Charles Heung Wah-Keung is a Hong Kong actor-turned-film producer and presenter. As founder of Win's Entertainment in the 1980s and China Star Entertainment Group in the 1990s, he has helped established the careers of various cinematic icons in Hong Kong that include Stephen Chow, Chow Yun-fat, Johnnie To, Jet Li and Andy Lau among countless others.

Background

In the 1970s, Charles subsequently married Betty Ting, the actress, who is remembered today primarily because of the "mysterious" death of Bruce Lee in her apartment. The marriage, however did not last, and Charles later married Tiffany Chen, in the early 1980s.

Charles is the older brother of Jimmy Heung, who later became his partner in the formation of Win's Entertainment. The partnership between the two ended in 1992.

Career

Heung started off as an actor making films (mostly martial arts films) in Taiwan during the 1970s, before later becoming a producer. In 1984, he and his brother, Jimmy Heung, formed Win's Entertainment Ltd., which, beside Golden Harvest, became one of the most successful film studios in Hong Kong. Charles was quoted for saying that, "Every film is a battle" when asked why he named the production company Win's.

Heung became a producer and a presenter for films, but he had also gotten fame from acting in supporting roles during the 1990s, with his best known role being as Lung Wu, the God of Gamblers' bodyguard in God of Gamblers and its numerous sequels and spin-offs. He has also appeared in others films, making a cameo appearance in The Prince of Temple Street and co-starring in Casino Raiders, which was co-directed by his brother, Jimmy. In 1993, he received a Hong Kong Film Award nomination for his supporting role in Arrest the Restless.

In 1992, Heung formed China Star Entertainment Group and became the studio's chairman and CEO, with his wife, Tiffany Chen, serving as vice chairman and administrative producer. As a producer, Heung has highlighted a majority of Hong Kong's biggest cinematic icons, including Jet Li, Andy Lau, Sammi Cheng, Cecilia Cheung, Simon Yam, and Lau Ching-Wan. This includes filmmakers, such as Johnnie To, Wai Ka-Fai, Wong Jing, Herman Yau and Dennis Law.

In 1999, Heung established One Hundred Years of Film Co. Ltd., a subsidiary for China Star. His initial plan for the company was to make at least 100 films within three years

Heung plans to continuing producing and presenting films, now aiming for big-budgeted projects. Following the partnership split between himself and his brother, Heung closed down the Win's Entertainment studio in 2000, and continued to produce and distribute films under the China Star label.

Heung is the Director of Jet Li One Foundation (Hong Kong) and the Director of Beijing Normal University One Foundation Philanthropy Research Institute. Apart from focusing its effort on the relief programs for the Poverty and Victims of Natural Disaster, Jet Li One Foundation also established the Beijing Normal University One Foundation Philanthropy Research Institute, the first of its kind in China to conduct trainings, formal education programs in Philanthropy.

After survived from the 2004 South Asian Tsunami in Maldives, Jet Li started his long-time vision to action, i.e. to help the people in need. In 2005, Jet Li then established the Jet Li One Foundation in Hong Kong, a charity organization to help the Poverty and Victims of Natural Disaster. Heung and his wife shared the same view of Jet after such a severe disaster and decided to support One Foundation. Heung and his wife not simply make the donations, they also take an active role in organizing and proceeding the Fund Raising events.

In year 2007, One Foundation was geographically extended to Mainland China. Apart from making donation, Heung and his wife also raised funds from their friends Pierre Chen, Choi Chi Ming, Chu Yuet Wah, Mr Li Chi Keung and his wife for the startup of Jet Li One Foundation in China. In year 2010, Jet Li One Foundation (Hong Kong) had donated an amount of HK$1 million to Project Vision Charitable Foundation to provide free cataract surgery for senior patients.

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