Kenneth Tsang Kong (Chinese: 曾江; Sidney Lau: Jang1 Kong1; 5 October 1934 – 27 April 2022)[1] was a Hong Kong actor. Tsang's career spanned 50 years and included a variety of acting roles. Tsang won the Best Supporting Actor Award at the 34th Hong Kong Film Awards in 2015.

Kenneth Tsang
曾江
Born
Tsang Koon-yat (曾貫一)

(1934-10-05)5 October 1934
Died27 April 2022(2022-04-27) (aged 87)
CitizenshipSingapore
EducationMcMurry University
University of California, Berkeley (BA)
OccupationActor
Years active1955–2022
Spouses
Lan Di
(m. 1969; div. 1979)
Barbara Tang
(m. 1980; div. 1990)
(m. 1994)
Children2
Chinese name
Chinese曾江
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyinzēng jiāng
Yue: Cantonese
Jyutpingzang1 gong1
Signature
Kenneth Tsang's star on Avenue of Stars, Hong Kong.

Early life and education

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Tsang Koon-yat was born in Shanghai with family roots in Jida [zh], Zhuhai, Guangdong. Tsang attended high school in Wah Yan College, Hong Kong and then Wah Yan College, Kowloon. He attended McMurry College, Abilene, Texas for his freshman year and transferred to University of California, Berkeley, where he received a degree in architecture.[1]

Career

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Tsang returned to Hong Kong in the early 1960s as an architect but was unsatisfied by the work.[1] His younger sister by 2 years, Jeanette Lin (林翠), was a film star at the time and provided Tsang with several connections in the industry which boosted his acting career.[1]

Tsang's film debut was in the movie The Feud (1955) when he was 21 , which was followed by a role in Who Isn't Romantic? (1956). In the mid-1960s, Tsang starred in detective films and classic kung fu movies with Hong Kong teen idols Connie Chan Po-chu and Josephine Siao. Tsang also appeared in a few Wong Fei-Hung movies in the late 1960s.

In 1986, Tsang worked as taxi cab owner, Ken, in John Woo's A Better Tomorrow. Subsequent collaborations with Woo included the role of Ken in A Better Tomorrow 2 in 1987, police officer Danny Lee's murdered partner in The Killer in 1989, and the strict adoptive father of Chow Yun-fat, Leslie Cheung and Cherie Chung in Once a Thief in 1991.

Tsang also filmed several Singaporean Chinese dramas during the 1990s, notably the 1995 epic The Teochew Family and The Unbeatables II in 1996.

Up to this point, Tsang had played roles in mainly Hong Kong movies. His first Hollywood film was The Replacement Killers (1998), also the Hollywood debut of co-star Chow Yun-fat. Tsang appeared alongside Chow once again in Anna and the King as well as Jackie Chan in Rush Hour 2. Tsang played General Moon in the James Bond film Die Another Day (2002), and he continued to appear in films from Hong Kong.[1]

Personal life

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Tsang had a younger sister, Jeanette Lin Tsui [zh] (林翠), who was also a Hong Kong actress.[2]

Tsang was married three times. His first wife was Chan Laidi (張萊娣), stage name Lan Di (藍娣), a Malaysian-Chinese and his co-star in The Big Circus and had a son. They divorced ten years later in 1979 and his son left to live with his mother. They have since resided in Vancouver, Canada. Chan died in 1991.[3]

In 1980, Tsang married columnist and model Barbara Tang (邓拱璧) and had a daughter, Musette. Tsang and Tang divorced 10 years later in 1990.[3]

In 1994 Tsang married Chiao Chiao (焦姣), a Chinese-born Taiwanese actress.[3]

Death

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Tsang departed from Singapore and arrived in Hong Kong on 25 April 2022, where he began a seven-day Covid-19 quarantine at the Kowloon Hotel.[4] On the evening of 26 April, he experienced chest discomfort and asked his family to deliver his medication for chronic hypertension, which they promptly did.[5] However, the following day, he was found unresponsive in his room by health officials who arrived to conduct a PCR test,[5] and paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene.[4][6][7]

Filmography

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Films

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Year Title Role Notes Ref
1955 The Feud 同林鳥 Liang Zuyi
1956 Love Is Everywhere 那個不多情 Cheng Jia-Shu
1962 Who Is Not Romantic? 那個不多情(續集)
1964 The Big Circus 大馬戲團 Han Ying Chieh
1965 Blundering Woman Detective 糊塗女偵探
Master Cute 老夫子
A Brave Young Girl's Spirit (Part 1) 玉女英魂(上集)
A Brave Young Girl's Spirit (Part 2) 玉女英魂(下集) Wu Yan-lung
Book Without Words 無字天書 White Wolf
1966 The Dark Heroine Mu Lanhua Ko Cheung
The Golden Cup and the Wandering Dragon 金鼎游龍
The Golden Cup, the Wandering Dragon and the Decree to Kill 金鼎游龍勾魂令
The Woman in Black and the Black Dragon Ko Cheung
1967 Lady in Black Cracks the Gate of Hell Ko Cheung
Green-Eyed Demon 碧眼魔女 Gold Hand Scholar
She Is Our Senior 大師姐 Lei Hou-Yin
My Fair Lady
The Young Daughter-in-Law Ah Cyun
Romance of a Teenage Girl Tai-Wai/David
The Golden Swallow
Lady with a Cat's Eyes 貓眼女郎 Sit Bong
Good Wife Chan Ngau
Sister's Lover Cheung Wei-Ming/piano teacher
Every Girl a Romantic Dreamer 那個少女不多情 Leung
A Girl's Secret 玉女的秘密
Tragedy in a Fishing Village
Wong Fei-Hung Against the Ruffians 黃飛鴻虎爪會群英 Ling Wan-Gai
The Black and the White Cats
Rocambole 殺手粉紅鑽 Luk Ting-Bong
Paragon of Sword and Knife 天劍絕刀
My Darling Wife 嬌妻
1968 Bride in Chains
Lady Songbird Lee Wai-Hon
Wong Fei-Hung: The Incredible Success in Canton 黄飛鴻威震五羊城
Orchid, the Songstress 歌女白蘭花
The Deadly Dragon Sword 毒龍刀 Kong Fan-ching
Buddhist Spiritual Palm Returned 如來神掌再顯神威
Buddhist Spiritual Palm 如來神掌劈魔平九派
Wong Fei-Hung: The Invincible "Lion Dancer" 黄飛鸿醒獅獨霸梅花樁
Purple Night 紫色風雨夜 Kong Chi-Wai
A Romantic Thief 多情妙賊 Tsang Tai-Hsiung
The Flower and the Sword 紅花血劍
Hotel Blues 藍色酒店 Jimmy Mak Jim-Mei
The Grand Duel 武林大決鬥
Three Heroines (Part 1) Chu-kot Foon
The Killing Sword 奪命刀 Tin-Ngan
Wong Fei-Hung: The Eight Bandits 黃飛鴻醉打八金剛 Ling Wan-Gai
The Magic Whip 神鞭俠
The Magic Bow 神弓
Wong Fei-Hung: The Duel Against the Black Rascal 黃飛鴻肉搏黑霸王 Ling Wan-Gai
Paragon of Sword and Knife (Grand Finale) 天劍絕刀(大結局)
Three Heroines (Part 2) Chu-kot Foon
The Magnificent Five 小五義大破銅網陣
Wong Fei-Hung: Duel for the Championship 黃飛鴻拳王爭霸 Ling Wan-Gai
The Dragon Fortress 天狼寨 Lung
The Vengeful Spirit
1969 The Twin Swords 奪命雌雄劍 Ho Tin-Sang
Colourful Paradise 七彩天堂
Wong Fei-Hung: The Duel for the 'Sha-Yu-Qing' 黃飛鴻巧奪鯊魚青
The Joys and Sorrows of Youth 冷暖青春 Chow Hoi-Kit
The Little Warrior 小武士 General Sheung Kwun Hung
Flying Thief, White Flower 飛賊白菊花
Wise Wives and Foolish Husbands 聰明太太笨丈夫 Alan Lee Si Kong
Teddy Girls 飛女正傳 To Shu-Yan
Sky Dragon Castle 天龍堡
The Strange Couple Who Steal Cheung Wai-Man
Wong Fei-Hung: The Conqueror of the 'Sam-hong Gang' 黃飛鴻神威伏三煞 Ling Wan-Kai
Mysterious Weapon
Bloody Handkerchief 血羅巾
Red Rose, the Beautiful Avenger Ah Kong
Wong Fei-Hung's Combat with the Five Wolves 黃飛鴻虎鶴鬥五狼 Ling Wan-Gai
Mother Wants Me to Get Married Suen Kwok-Wai
The Swinging Bunch (Colour) 七彩紅男綠女
Girls Are Flowers
Three Encounters 三招了 Wong Chun-Sing
The Virgin Sword 玉女劍 Kam Chung-Yu
Sword of Emei 峨嵋霸刀 Au Gong
The Prodigal 浪子 Chan Oi-Lun
Wong Fei-Hung in Sulphur Valley 黃飛鴻浴血硫磺穀 Ling Wan-Gai
Let's Build a Family
Famous Swordsman Tin Kiu 名劍天驕
My Sweetheart 相思甜如蜜 Tong Chi-Hung
1970 The Magic Bowl 聚寶盆
The Naked Runner
The Lonely Rider 小金剛
The Young Patrol
The Young Girl Dares Not Homeward 不敢回家的少女 Peter Kuo
To Crack the Dragon Gate 獨掌震龍門 Sun Kim-Chiu
I'll Get You One Day 總有一天捉到你 Wong Dai Wai
The Wedding Gown 嫁衣 Tang Tien Chi
Flying Sword and the Smart Lad 飛劍神童
I Will Remember You Always Yiu Kwok-Kei
Choi Lee Fat 蔡李佛勇擒色魔 Hung
Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow 昨天今天明天 Health Department chief Zhou
1971 The Brave and the Evil 黑白道 Bandit Hsi Fei
Demonstrator Thao Kimalayo
My Beloved 昨夜梦魂中 Eu Lieh
The Playful Girl 淘氣姑娘
1972 Flash Boxer 閃電拳 Wei Li
Love Is Smoke 輕烟 Mr. Tseng
The Naughty Couples 淘氣夫妻
The Perfect Match 門當戶對
Narrow stairs 窄梯
1973 The Call Girls 應召女郎 TV moderator
The Awaken Punch 石破天驚
The Money-Tree 搖錢樹 Hsiao-cheung
We Visited Southeast Asia 福祿壽遊南洋 Boss of SEA Detective Agency
1974 Bravest Fist 一山五虎 Teacher
The Paradise 天堂
Everyday Is Sunday 天天報喜
Blood Reincarnation [zh] 陰陽界
1975 The Hooker and the Hustler 神女蕩婦綽頭王 Wang Kuo-Chun
Where Have the Lovers Gone 晨星
Sup Sap Bup Dup 十三不搭 Philandering man
The Playboy 二世祖
Frigidity
1976 The Eternal Obsession 未了緣 Wong Yat-Bun
Divorce Hong Kong Style
1978 The Extras 茄哩啡 Ting Chung
1979 The Secret 瘋劫 Policeman
1982 Wild Cherry 野蜜桃
Trap 大鱷 Ma Man-Rei
1983 My Mother
The Body Is Willing 狂情 Francis Chao
1986 Silver Dragon Ninja ['Trap' Footage]
Royal Warriors 皇家戰士 Captain Lau Chi-Shing
A Better Tomorrow Ken
Peking Opera Blues General Cho
My Will, I Will 你情我願 Paul Wu Ke Jen
1987 Amnesty Decree 魔鬼天使 Tsai
A Better Tomorrow II Uncle Ken
1988 The Story of Hay Bo 喜寶
Goodbye My Friend 再見英雄
Last Romance 流金歲月 Li Chi Cheng
Reunion 一樓一故事
1989 Return of the Lucky Stars Uncle Kin
Darkside of Chinatown 西雅圖大屠殺 Uncle Kwan
The Immigrant Policeman 警察也移民
The First Time Is the Last Time 第一繭 Jenny's father (cameo)
The Killer Sgt Tsang Yeh
Triads – The Inside Story 我在黑社會的日子 Supt. Chan Tin-Lok
Thank You, Sir 壯誌雄心 Mr Tsang
I Am Sorry 說謊的女人 Edward Sung
Shadow of China Mr Lau
Princess Madam 金牌師姐
1990 Return to Action Officer Ng
Brief Encounter in Shinjuku 錯在新宿 Mr Tseng
Promising Miss Bowie Mr. Chow
Sleazy Dizzy 小偷阿星 Chief Inspector Lee
奔向USA
Point of No Return 都市煞星 Uncle Min
1991 Drugs Area 毒網
Bury Me High [zh] 衛斯理之霸王卸甲 President of Carrinan
Queen's High 紅粉至尊 Fan Yau Tim
Once a Thief Mr Chow
Au Revoir, Mon Amour 何日君再來 Mui-Yi's father
To Be Number One Chief Inspector Tiger Lui
The Plot 佈局 Kiu (The Boss)
Inspector Pink Dragon Chief Insp Pao
Legend of the Brothers 四大家族之龍虎兄弟 Detective Lui Kwok Tin
The Banquet Waiter
1992 Megaforce from Highland 血染紅塵 Sgt Lau
The Thief of Time
The Story of Taipei Women 胭脂
Changing Partner 夜夜伴肥嬌 Chief Inspector Wong Kwok Wing
Police Story 3: Supercop Khun Chaibat
The Prince of Temple Street San (cameo)
Second to None 阿二一族 Julian's father
Angel Terminators 轟天皇家將 Sawa Da / Zeng Jian
The Night Rider 車神 Superintendent
1993 The Top Lady of Sword 葵花聖女
Combat at Heaven Gate 決戰天門 Proefessor Chen
Shadow Cop 神探乾濕褸 Officer Chiang
The Bare-Footed Kid 赤脚小子 Ke Hu Pu
Lover of the Swindler 千王情人 Doctor Wong
Remains of a Woman 郎心如鐵
No Regret, No Return 走上不歸路 Lau Sin
The Trail 大路
1994 Dead End 死角 王達龍 Telemovie
Long and Winding Road 錦繡前程 Bosco Chow
1997 Up for the Rising Sun抱擁朝陽 Kwok Yi Song
1998 The Replacement Killers Terence Wei
The Blacksheep Affair 碧血藍天 Lone
Bishonen 美少年之戀 Sam's father
1999 Anna and the King Justice Phya Phrom.
2000 Killer 刀手 Prince
2001 Rush Hour 2 Captain Chin
Rude Husband
Funeral March [zh] Wong Cheuk Kong
2002 The Touch 天脈傳奇 Uncle Ping
Die Another Day General Moon
2004 6 Strong Guys 六壯士 Mr Lau
Colour Blossoms Inspector Cheung
Butterfly Flavia's father
2005 Memoirs of a Geisha The General
2006 The Tokyo Trial 东京审判 Hsiang Che Chun
2007 追捕
The Drummer Stephen Ma
2008 Kung Fu Dunk Wang Yiwuan
2009 The Treasure Hunter Master Tu
Formosa Betrayed General Tse
Prince of Tears General Liu (劉將軍)
Blood Ties Woon Sir
Motherland Stanley Tang
The Treasure Hunter Tu Lao-dai
2010 East Wind, Rain 東風雨 Gentleman Yu
Here Comes Fortune
2011 My Wedding and Other Secrets Dr Chu
Overheard 2 Tony Wong Sai-Tung
Inseparable Mr Wang
Starry Starry Night Xiao Mei's grandfather
2012 Joyful Reunion Tang Shizhe
Supercapitalist Victor Chang
37 Board Director
2013 The Truth of Love
The Mercury Conspiracy Mr. Feng
2014 The Eyes of Dawn
You Are My Sassy Girl Shen's father
The Summer of Our Graduation
Overheard 3 Uncle To
2015 Fight Up
Wonder Mama
2016 Good Night 爱上试睡师
Legend of Poker King
Return of the Heroes
For a Few Bullets Oda Koki
2017 Baby Task Group
The Express 恐怖快递
Chasing the Dragon Sir Chow
2018 Detective Chinatown 2 Uncle Seven
Napping Kid Chik Kuen
2019 Baby Task Group 2
Dearest Anita Night club boss
2020 Super Me
2021 Man on the Edge 邊緣行者 Senior LegCo member
Daily Fantasy 日常幻想指南 Bubble car
The Attorney 級指控 Tsang Kwok-Shan
2022 Deliverance 源生罪

Sources:[8][9]

Television

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Year Title Role Notes Ref
1982 Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils Western Xia king
1983 The Superpower Cheung Siu-san
1983 The Legend of the Condor Heroes Wong Yeuk-si
1983 The Return of the Condor Heroes Wong Yeuk-sze
1984 The Smiling, Proud Wanderer Ngok But-kwan
1984 The Duke of Mount Deer Chan Kan-nam
1985 Sword Stained with Royal Blood Yun Sung-wan
1985 The Flying Fox of Snowy Mountain Tin Kwai-nung
1986 New Heavenly Sword and Dragon Sabre Tse Shun
1989 Deadly Secret Ting Tin
1990 Blood of Good and Evil [zh] 我本善良 Chai Kiu Jing
1992 The Greed of Man Lung Sing-bong
1995 The Teochew Family Cai Qing-yang
1996 The Unbeatables II Ye Zhong
1998 The New Adventures of Wisely Chief Bai
1998 Legend of the Crow 乌丫传说 [10]
1998 Riding The Storm 陌生人 [11]
2005 The Great Adventure
2007–2008 Parental Guidance Patrick Seto
2010 Who's the Hero [zh] 勝者為王
2011 ICAC Investigators 2011
2016 Stan Lee's Lucky Man Freddie Lau
2019 The Great Craftsman [zh] 筑梦情缘 Chang Bingkun

Awards and nominations

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Year Organisation Category Nominated work Result Ref
1999 Star Awards Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes Top 20
2015 Hong Kong Film Award Best Supporting Actor Overheard 3 竊聽風雲3
(as Uncle To)
Won [12]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Ramzy, Austin (28 April 2022). "Kenneth Tsang, Veteran Hong Kong Actor, Dies at 87". The New York Times. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  2. ^ "老婆胞妹外甥都做娛圈 曾江全家都係星 | 蘋果日報 | 娛樂 | 20170120". 22 January 2017. Archived from the original on 22 January 2017. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  3. ^ a b c Auto, Hermes (28 April 2022). "Kenneth Tsang dies at 87: 10 things to know about the Hong Kong actor | The Straits Times". www.straitstimes.com. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  4. ^ a b "Veteran actor Kenneth Tsang found dead in Hong Kong quarantine hotel room". AsiaOne. 27 April 2022. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
  5. ^ a b Tsang tragedy hits home with health bosses, The Standard, by Jane Cheung, 29 Apr 2022
  6. ^ "Tributes pour in for veteran Hong Kong actor Kenneth Tsang". South China Morning Post. 27 April 2022.
  7. ^ "Kenneth Tsang Dies: Golden Age Hong Kong Film Actor Who Later Entered Hollywood Was 87". Deadline. 27 April 2022.
  8. ^ "Hong Kong Cinemagic – Kenneth Tsang Kong". www.hkcinemagic.com. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  9. ^ "曾江 Kenneth Tsang Kong".
  10. ^ 管雪梅 (3 November 1998). 《乌丫传说》 ["Legend of the Crow"]. Shin Min Daily News. p. 14. 演员方面,除了周莉的演出,让观众感觉她比在《真命小和尚》里的皇后有发挥外,曾江的演技仍有他的魅力,此外,几位本地演员秦伟、洪昭容、陈传之、李美玲和沈倾¤都表现不差的。¤-此符号代表非标准汉字,恕无法显示。
  11. ^ 钟雁龄 (20 November 1998). 新视前艺人纷回巢 谁说好马不吃回头草?. Lianhe Zaobao. p. 8. 最近,好几名新视前艺人纷纷回巢,重新投入新视剧集的演出。例如,钱治钢在《陌生人》里头饰演大亨、李文海饰演曾江儿子、王沺裁演出《错体双宝》、林惠婵则参与了环境剧《我家楼下口多多》的演出。
  12. ^ Migration (20 April 2015). "Full list of Hong Kong Film Awards | The Straits Times". www.straitstimes.com. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
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