Hwang Jang Lee

Infobox Korean name
hangul=황정리
hanja=黃正利
rr=Hwang Jeong-ri
mr=Hwang Chǒng-ri

Hwang Jang Lee (born December 21, 1944) is a Korean martial artist and film actor. His name is often written as Wong Cheng Lee or Wong Cheng Li, in their Cantonese-Chinese equivalents. He is also nicknamed Silver fox (the name of his most popular movie character), as well as "Thunderleg" or "Thunderfoot" (from his role in Drunken Master) Born in Osaka, Japan, Hwang subsequently moved back to South Korea along with his family.

Hwang began to take up taekwondo lessons at the age of 14. Subsequently, having mastered the seventh rank, he became a martial arts instructor for the Korean and South-Vietnamese armies, specializing in taekwondo from 1965. After acting in Korean movies, he came to work in Hong Kong in 1976 from the invitation of Ng See Yuen, where he starred in a great number of martial art movies, being generally cast as the villain, such as "The Secret Rivals", which was the first to star him as "Silver Fox". His martial arts prowess has earned him a genuine fame among martial arts aficionados, especially due to the fact that he fought almost only with his legs, earning him nicknames such as "King of the Legfighters".

Hwang appeared in "Snake in the Eagle's Shadow", "Drunken Master" (both opposite Jackie Chan) and in "No Retreat, No Surrender 2", "Game of Death II". In 1980, Hwang directed, produced and starred as the hero in "Hitman in the Hand of Buddha".

According to the Internet Movie Database, Hwang killed a man in real life (in self-defense) using his powerful kick. The most reliable story actually unfolds similar to many kung fu movies. Hwang was apparently challenged by a man who wielded a knife against him simply to see if Hwang's martial arts technique was as good as his knife skills. Hwang, only intending to subdue the man, underestimated the power of his kick on the man, unintentionally killing him.

Hwang Jang Lee quit acting in the early 1990s and returned in South Korea on Jeju, where at first he ran a golf-tee manufacturing company and hotel in Seoul. He also ran a bodyguard agency. Hwang only made occasional film appearances, notably two Korean films, "Underworld" (1994) and "Boss" (1996). Hwang has a son, Jason. In January of 2003, Hwang was awarded his 9th-degree black belt in Taekwondo and is now Grandmaster Hwang Jang Lee.

In late 2002, Hwang Jang-lee was interviewed on camera at length by Hong Kong based writer/producer Mike Leeder in an interview intended for the Hong Kong Legends DVD range. The interview continues to remain in the Contender vaults awaiting the release of their much discussed special editions of "Snake in the Eagles Shadow" and "Drunken Master".

Filmography

* "Secret Envoy" (1974)
* "Black Dragon River aka Martial mates" (1975)
* "Year of the Dragon aka Kill the Shogun" (1975)
* "Korean Connection" (1975)
* "Secret Rivals" (1976)
* "Bruce Lee's Secret" (1976)
* "The Invincible Armour" (1977)
* "The Secret Rivals 2" (1977)
* "Instant Kung Fu Man" (1977)
* "Snuff Bottle Connection" (1977)
* "Snake in the Eagle's Shadow" (1978)
* "Drunken Master" (1978)
* "Hell's Wind Staff" (1979)
* "36 Deadly Styles" (1979)
* "Dragon's Claws" (1979)
* "Demon Strike" (1979)
* "Heroes of Shaolin" (1979)
* "Lackey and the Lady Tiger" (1980)
* "Two Fists Against the Law" (1980)
* "Secret Ninja, Roaring Tiger" (1980)
* "Tiger Over Wall" (1980)
* "Young Hero" (1980)
* "Ring of Death" (1980)
* "Buddha Assassinator" (1980)
* "Heroes of Shaolin" (1980)
* "Blood child aka Five Fingers of Steel" (1980)
* "Sangwoon" (1980)
* "Hitman in the Hand of Buddha" (1981)
* "The Eagle's Killer" (1981)
* "The Phantom Thief" (1981)
* "Return of the Deadly Blade" (1981)
* "Game Of Death II", also known as "Tower of Death" (1981)
* "Ninja Strikes Back" (1982)
* "Art of High Impact Kicking" (1982)
* "Ninja in the Dragon's Den" (1982)
* "Kid from Kwangtung" (1982)
* "Secret Executioners" (1982)
* "Raging Masters Tiger Crane" (1982)
* "Eagle vs. Silver Fox" (1982)
* "5 pattern Dragon Claws" (1983)
* "Duel of the Ultimate Weapons" (1983)
* "Ghosts Galore" (1983)
* "Martial Monks of Shaolin Temple" (1983)
* "Canton Viper" (1983)
* "Yong-pal in Shaolin Temple" (1983)
* "Angry Young Man" (1983)
* "Masters of Tiger Crane" (1983)
* "Shaolin: The Blood Mission" (1984)
* "Challenge of the Tiger" (1985)
* "The First Vampire in China" (1986)
* "Innocent Interloper" (1986)
* "Where's Officer Tuba" (1986)
* "Millionaire's Express" aka. "Shanghai Express" (1986)
* "Ninja Terminator" (1986)
* "Angel" (1987)
* "No Retreat, No Surrender II: Raging Thunder" (1987)
* "Magnificent Warriors" (1987)
* "Bed Companion" (1988)
* "Darkside of Chinatown" (1989)
* "Live Hard" (1989)
* "Future Hunters" (1989)
* "Street Soldiers" (1991)
* "Emperor of the Underworld" (1994)
* "Boss" (1996)

ee also

* List of Korea-related topics
* List of Koreans
* Zainichi Korean

External links

*
* [http://www.rarekungfumovies.com/star149.html Selective filmography]
* [http://www.nanarland.com/acteurs/Main.php?id_acteur=hwangjanglee French biography with movie reviews]
* [http://www.cineseoul.com/movies/people.html?peopleID=16543 Cineseoul profile]