Alexander Fu Sheng

Alexander Fu Sheng
Chinese name 傅聲 (traditional)
Chinese name 傅声 (simplified)
Pinyin Fù Shēng (Mandarin)
Jyutping Fu6 Sing1 (Cantonese)
Born 20 October 1954
Hong Kong
Died 7 July 1983 (aged 28)
Hong Kong
Occupation Actor
Years active 1972–1983
Spouse(s) Jenny Tseng (1976 – 7 July 1983)

Alexander Fu Sheng (20 October 1954 – 7 July 1983), born Cheung Fu-Sheng (張富聲),[1] also known as Fu Sheng was a Hong Kong martial arts film star in the 1970s.

Life and career

Born as Cheung Fu-Sheng in Hong Kong, the son of a wealthy New Territories indigenous inhabitant businessman. As a child, his family lived in Hawaii for a few years and there he began training in judo and karate.

In 1971, he enrolled at Shaw Brothers Southern Drama School and instantly drew the attention of director Chang Cheh. Cheh had Fu Sheng train with Lau Kar-leung for 6 months. Fu Sheng made his film debut as an extra in the 1972 film The Fourteen Amazons. His first lead role was in Cheh's Police Force. Some of his other films include Heroes Two, Five Shaolin Masters, Shaolin Temple and the Brave Archer series. He eventually made a total of 23 films with Cheh.

In 1976, he married singer and actress Jenny Tseng, who had appeared with him in the film New Shaolin Boxers.[2]

He suffered a series of injuries in 1978 and 1979. On the set of The Deadly Breaking Sword a wire suspending him snapped and he fell eight feet landing on his head. While working on Heroes Shed No Tears, he shattered bones in his right leg.

Fu Sheng was supposed to star in Snake in the Eagle's Shadow but was refused by Run Run Shaw; head of the Shaw Brothers Studio. Jackie Chan was eventually cast in the role.

Fu Sheng bought and lived in Bruce Lee's house in Kowloon. On 7 July 1983, Fu Sheng died as the result of an automobile accident.[3] At the time, he was filming The Eight Diagram Pole Fighter in which he was to be the hero. The film was partially re-written and the remainder of the film was shot. In the finished film, Fu Sheng's character abruptly disappears and the focus was put on co-star Gordon Liu's character.[3]

His funeral was organised by the Shaw Brothers committee. His remains were cremated.[4]

Filmography

References

  1. Alexander Fu Sheng-3
  2. Stokes, Lisa Odham (5 February 2007). Historical Dictionary of Hong Kong Cinema. Scarecrow Press. pp. 413–. ISBN 9780810864580. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Meyers, Ric (March 2011). Films of Fury: The Kung Fu Movie Book. Eirini Press. pp. 109–. ISBN 9780979998942. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
  4. Documentary about Shaw Bros actor Fu Sheng – With Subtitles on YouTube

External links