Yang Wei
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Biography
If ever, there was a shortage of character-actors, this man could fill the void in a heartbeat. A tremendous talent, that was often overshadowed, by bigger name stars (of lesser talent). He's an excellent stuntman, with impeccable timing and agility. He's (definitely) come up the ranks of actors, who had to fight hard to get noticed. In The Dragon Tamers (one of his best roles), he played an arrogant Karate teacher whose motto was, to win at all costs. Taking on Carter Wong and James Tien, he showed skills, that have taken years to hone.
In Tiger Of The Northland, he wasn't given a great deal of fighting to do, just got beat up a lot, as in Lady Kung Fu with Angela Mao. He's usually appearing as a background-fighter, in numerous kung-fu films such as The Himalayan, after much bigger roles like, Hands Of Death. In the film, Hitman In The Hand Of Buddha, Wang Chiang beat him up (because of mistaken identity), though, he could have [easily] been another opponent for Wang Jang-Li at the end of the film.
A contract player with Golden Harvest, he's paid his dues, appearing in roles that did nothing to further his career such as Magnificent Butcher or Warriors 2. Yet, for someone with such talent, he's never played the lead actor in any of these films. He did get the leading role of the film Tiger From Canton (back in the early 70's). Though, this didn’t lead to other starring roles, he did gain enough notice, to continue churning out good (though, not always quality) work.
Favorite Quote
"I'll see you get a good burial, when I've killed you.....!!"
(- Dragon Tamers)