Hong Kong action choreographer and actor Yuen Cheung-Yan dies at 69

Hong Kong actor, director, stuntman, and fight choreographer Yuen Cheung-Yan (袁祥仁) has passed away at the age of 69. He died on 1 January 2026 at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Hong Kong following an undisclosed illness.

Born in 1957 in British Hong Kong, Yuen was raised in a family deeply embedded in traditional Chinese martial arts and performance. He trained from an early age alongside his brothers under the strict guidance of his father, Yuen Siu-Tin, absorbing the fundamentals of kung fu and Peking opera–influenced movement that would define his work on screen. He entered the film industry as a young stunt performer and, by the late 1960s, was already earning credited roles as an assistant martial arts director, laying the groundwork for a lifelong career in cinema.

Over nearly six decades, Yuen Cheung-Yan became a familiar and respected presence in martial arts films, working as an actor, director, stunt performer, and action choreographer. Frequently collaborating with his elder brother, Yuen Woo-Ping, he contributed to genre favourites of the 1970s and 1980s such as ‘The Miracle Fighters’ and ‘Shaolin Drunkard’, while also directing and appearing in a wide range of fantasy kung fu and action comedies. Many fans will remember his standout character work — including the beggar who sells the “Buddha’s Palm” manual in ‘Kung Fu Hustle‘ — as well as his behind-the-scenes contributions to classics like ‘Once Upon a Time in China’ and later Hollywood productions including ‘Charlie’s Angels’ and ‘Daredevil’.

Yuen Cheung-Yan leaves behind a body of work that helped bridge generations of Hong Kong action cinema, from old-school kung fu to modern global blockbusters. Our thoughts are with his family and friends.