Sean Lau

Sean Lau Ching-wan (born 16 February 1964) is a Hong Kong actor who has acted in both films and television series. He won Best Actor in the 2007, 2015 and 2023 Hong Kong Film Awards and in the 2000 and 2007 Golden Bauhinia Awards.

Sean Lau
Sean Lau in 2019
Born (1964-02-16) 16 February 1964 (age 60)
AwardsHong Kong Film AwardsBest Actor
2007 My Name Is Fame
2015 Overheard 3
2023 Detective vs Sleuths

Golden Bauhinia AwardsBest Actor
2000
Where a Good Man Goes
2007
My Name Is Fame

Hong Kong Film Critics Society AwardsBest Actor
1997
Full Alert
2001
La Brassiere
2011
Life Without Principle
2014
Overheard 3

Golden Horse AwardsBest Actor
2012
Life Without Principle

Chinese name
Traditional Chinese劉青雲
Simplified Chinese刘青云

Career

Lau was born in Hong Kong in 1964. He joined the TVB acting classes in 1983 and made his first appearance on television in the following year in the drama Draw Out the Rainbow. Dark-skinned with no matinee-idol look, he struggled with minor roles until the immensely popular stock market drama The Greed of Man (1992), where he first achieved his leading man status, and acted opposite Adam Cheng. His wife, Amy Kwok, who won the Miss Hong Kong Pageant in 1991, is also a well-known former television actress and co-starred with him on The Greed of Man. Lau starred in two series with ATV in 1991 and again in 2000.

Lau made his film debut in 1986 and since then has been cast in numerous roles. His critically acclaimed roles include acting opposite Anita Yuen as a down-and-out musician in C'est la vie, mon chéri (1993) and in a number of cop thrillers such as Big Bullet (1996), Full Alert (1997), The Longest Nite (1998), Running out of Time (1999), Running Out of Time 2 (2001) and Mad Detective (2007).

Lau is known for his versatility as an actor, having acted in a variety of genres.[1]

Lau joined Milkyway Image production house in the mid-1990s.[2]

Personal life

Lau is married to Miss Hong Kong 1991, Amy Kwok Oi Ming.[3]

Filmography

Television series

YearEnglish titleOriginal titleRoleNetworkNotes
1983Woman on the Beat警花出更TVB JadeBit part
Hong Kong '83香港八三TVB JadeBit part
The Man in the Middle夾心人TVB Jade
  • Alternative title: Sandwiches
  • Bit part
1984The Fearless Duo天師執位TVB JadeBit part
The New Adventures of Chor Lau Heung楚留香之蝙蝠傳奇TVB JadeBit part
Rainbow Round My Shoulder畫出彩虹Law Ka-kanTVB Jade
Police Cadet '84新紮師兄Ngai-fung / Fit LoTVB Jade
Qiu Jin: A Woman to Remember秋瑾Yeung Hok-lingTVB Jade
It's a Long Way Home家有嬌妻Dang Hin-coengTVB Jade
The Smiling, Proud Wanderer笑傲江湖Mai Wai-jiTVB Jade
The Duke of Mount Deer鹿鼎記Wan Yau-fongTVB Jade
1985Take Care, Your Highness!皇上保重Chiu Nam-singTVB Jade
The Fallen Family武林世家TVB Jade
The Pit Fall種計TVB Jade
Police Cadet '85新紮師兄續集Ngai-fung / Fit LoTVB Jade
The Battle Among the Clans大香港Lam ChoTVB Jade
1986Movie Maze銀色旅途TVB Jade
Destined to Rebel薛剛反唐TVB Jade
The Superlative Affections赤腳紳士TVB Jade
1987Genghis Khan成吉思汗ChilaunTVB Jade
When Silken Hands Get Rough靜待黎明TVB Jade
The Grand Canal大運河TVB Jade
Born to Be a King大明群英TVB Jade
The Dragon Sword天龍神劍TVB Jade
The Runaway血網迷情TVB Jade
1988Twilight of a Nation太平天國Siu Chiu-kwaiTVB Jade
The Story of Two Women藍色時份TVB Jade
And Yet We Live當代男兒TVB Jade
1989The Shanghai Conspiracy上海大風暴TVB Jade
The Fatal Game遊戲邊緣MikeTVB Jade
My Son-In-Law婆媽女婿TVB Jade
1990It Runs in the Family孖仔孖心肝TVB Jade
A Time of Taste燃燒歲月TVB Jade
A World Apart水鄉危情TVB Jade
The Challenge of Life人在邊緣TVB Jade
1991Heartbreak Blues與郎共舞TVB Jade
Generation Empress一代皇后大玉兒Asia Television
1992The Greed of Man大時代Fong Chin-bokTVB Jade
2000Divine Retribution世紀之戰Fong San-hapAsia Television

Film

YearEnglish titleOriginal titleRoleNotes
1986Silent Love聽不到的說話Kelly Mak
1988Set Me Free!我要逃亡
Police Story 2警察故事續集CID in restaurant
1989Live Hard鐵膽雄風Fai / Chief
My Dear Son我要富貴Maddy
1991The Roar of the Vietnamese越青Fan Wan-tin
1992Angel Hunter女校風雲之邪教入侵Jack Chow Man-kit
The Happy Massage Girls快樂按摩女郎
Tulips in August八月鬱金香
The Shootout危險情人Liu
1993Thou Shalt Not Swear七月十四Chow's sidekick
C'est la vie, mon chéri新不了情Kit
Executioners現代豪俠傳Tak
The Gods Must Be Crazy IV香港也瘋狂 / 非洲先生Johnalternative title: Crazy Hong Kong
All Men Are Brothers: Blood of the Leopard水滸傳之英雄本色Tso Wu
Pink Bomb人生得意衰盡歡Daniel
1994Bomb Disposal Officer: Baby Bomb拆彈專家寶貝炸彈Peter Chan
I Wanna Be Your Man!!!神探磨轆 / 聰明笨探Liu Che-mo
The Most Wanted龍虎新風雲Black Cat / Ho Chi-yung
Don't Shoot Me, I'm Just a Violinist!山雞變鳳凰Mozart
Oh! My Three Guys三個相愛的少年Ching Yu-hoi
Beginner's Luck運財童子 / 狂賭一族出頭天Mark
Tears and Triumph昨夜長風Xie Shi-wen
The Tragic Fantasy - Tiger of Wanchai醉生夢死的灣仔之虎Deealternative title: The Tragic Fantasy - Tiger of Waichai
Return to a Better Tomorrow新英雄本色Lobster Tsui
Shanghai Fever股瘋Alan Tam
The Third Full Moon正月十五之一生一世Inspector Lau
Hello! Who Is It?喂,搵邊位?Officer Ma Fai
I've Got You, Babe!!! 播種情人Charcoal Lau
It's a Wonderful Life大富之家Hou Chung
1995Sea Root海根 / 後現代男女Sea Root
The Golden Girls山水有相逢Chun Wai
Romantic Dream追女仔95之綺夢Hung Chi-lung
Loving You無味神探Lau Chun-hoi
Once in a Lifetime終身大事Kei-on
Happy Hour歡樂時光Chong Tsang
Tricky Business整蠱王Ko Hing
Mother of a Different Kind不一樣的媽媽Cheung Hung
Mack the Knife流氓醫生Chiualternative title: Dr. Mack
Only Fools Fall in Love呆佬拜壽 / 新威龍闖天關—傻瓜與野丫頭Chiu Ford
New Tenant新房客JoeCameo
The World of Treasure富貴人間Lion Dancer
  • alternative title: Land of Treasure
  • Cameo
1996Viva Erotica色情男女 / 聲色男女Yee Tung-sing
Black Mask黑俠Shek Wai-ho
Muto Bontie摩登菩呢提 / 錯體陽謀Lam Chak-chi
Big Bullet衝鋒隊─怒火街頭 / EU衝鋒隊Sergeant Bill Chualternative title: EU Strike Force
Tristar大三元Lau Ching-fatt
Beyond Hypothermia攝氏32度Long
1997Full Alert高度戒備Inspector Pao
Too Many Ways to Be No. 1一個字頭的誕生Kau
Final Justice最後判決Father Li Chi-ho
Lifeline十萬火急 / 烈火雄心119Chief Yau Sui
My Dad Is a Jerk!對不起,多謝你Li Lap-cheong
1998A Hero Never Dies真心英雄Martin
Expect the Unexpected非常突然Sam
Step Into the Dark夜半無人屍語時Dr. Care Kwan
The Longest Nite暗花 / 暗花之殺人條件Tonyalternative title: The Longest Night
1999The Victim目露凶光Manson Ma
The H.K. TriadO記三合會檔案Hoalternative title: The Hong Kong Triad
Where a Good Man Goes再見阿郎Michael Cheung
Running Out of Time暗戰Inspector Ho Sheung-sang
2001Lunch with Charles與查理斯午餐Tong
Running Out of Time 2暗戰2Inspector Ho Sheung-sang
La Brassiere絕世好BraJohnny
2002Fat Choi Spirit嚦咕嚦咕新年財Ching Wan
Mighty Baby絕世好BJohnny Hung
My Left Eye Sees Ghosts我左眼見到鬼Ken Wong / Sam Wong
20031:99 Shorts1:99 電影行動 / 一比九十九電影行動alternative title: 1:99 Short Film Series
Lost in Time忘不了Hale
Good Times, Bed Times戀上你的床Magistrate Raymond
Colour of the Truth黑白森林7 Up
2004Three of a Kind煎釀三寶Frankie
The Attractive One身驕肉貴Hugo
Driving Miss Wealthy絕世好賓 / 窈窕淑女Mario
Itchy Heart七年很癢 / 7年很癢Poon Chi-man
Fantasia鬼馬狂想曲Director Man
2005Himalaya Singh喜馬拉亞星Panic
2006The Shopaholics最愛女人購物狂 / 購物狂Choosey Lee Kan-yan
My Name Is Fame我要成名Poon Kar-fai
2007Mad Detective神探Chan Kwai-bun
2009Overheard竊聽風雲Johnny Leungalternative title: Wiretap
Written By再生號Tony Tong
Poker King撲克王Uno
2011Life Without Principle奪命金Pantheralternative title: Death of a Hostage
Overheard 2竊聽風雲2Manson Lo Man-sang
2012The Fairy Tale Killer追凶 / 完美童話 / 索命童話Inspector Wong Wai-hanalternative title: Perfect Fairy Tale
The Great Magician大魔術師General Lei
The Bullet Vanishes消失的子彈Inspector Song Donglualternative title: Ghost Bullets / Disappeared Bullets / Lost Bullets
2013Out of Inferno逃出生天 / 逃出生天3DMak Tai-kwanalternative title: Inferno 3D
The White Storm掃毒 / 變役Ma Ho-tinalternative title: Metamorphosis / The Cartel War
2014Overheard 3竊聽風雲3Luk Kam-keung
2015Insanity暴瘋語Fan Kwok-sang
Tale of Three Cities三城記Fang Daolong
The Vanished Murderer消失的兇手Song Donglualternative title: The Bullet Vanishes 2 / The Murderer Vanishes
2016Call of Heroes危城 / 危城殲霸Yang Kenanalternative title: The Deadly Reclaim
Heartfall Arises驚心破 / 驚天破Calvin Che
2017Dealer/Healer毒。誡Chan Wah
2019'My Pet is an Elephant我的寵物是大象Qi WeiPost-production
Integrity廉政風雲 煙幕Chan King-Chi
2020Shock Wave 2拆彈專家2Tung Cheuk-man
2022Detective vs Sleuths神探大戰
Warriors of Future明日戰記Johnson Cheng
2023The White Storm 3: Heaven or Hell掃毒3Hong So-chai
TBDSons of the Neon Night風林火山Post-production

Dubbing

Lau has also done voiceover work for films:

YearEnglish titleOriginal titleRoleNotes
1994Over the Rainbow, Under the Skirt記得香蕉成熟時II初戀情人Narratoralternative title: Yesterday You, Yesterday Me II
1997Yesterday You, Yesterday Me記得…香蕉成熟時3為妳鍾情Yeung Shing-bo at 32Voice
1999Toy Story 2Buzz LightyearHong Kong version
2002Black Mask 2: City of Masks黑俠 IIWolf
  • alternative title: Black Mask II
  • Cantonese voice
2003Finding NemoMarlinHong Kong version
2004Garfield: The MovieGarfieldHong Kong version
2006Garfield: A Tail of Two KittiesGarfieldHong Kong version
2007The Secret of the Magic Gourd寶葫蘆的秘密 / 魔法小葫蘆Magic Gourdalternative title: The Magic Gourd
2009Garfield's Pet ForceGarfieldHong Kong version
2010Toy Story 3Buzz LightyearHong Kong version
2011The Lost Bladesman關雲長Cao CaoHong Kong version
2016Finding DoryMarlinHong Kong version
2017The Lego Batman MovieBruce Wayne / BatmanHong Kong version
2019Toy Story 4Buzz LightyearHong Kong version

Host

YearEventNotes
201635th Hong Kong Film AwardsMaster of ceremonies

[4][5]

Awards and nominations

Lau has won Best Actor Awards at the Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards in 1997, 2001, 2011, 2014 and the Golden Bauhinia Awards in 1999 and 2007. He also won his first Best Actor award at the Hong Kong Film Awards in 2007 for his performance in the film My Name Is Fame. He won his first Golden Horse Award in 2012 for his performance in Life Without Principle.

YearAwardCategoryNominated workResult
199414th Hong Kong Film AwardsBest ActorThou Shalt Not SwearNominated
C'est la vie, mon chériNominated
199616th Hong Kong Film AwardsBest ActorBig BulletNominated
199717th Hong Kong Film AwardsBest ActorFull AlertNominated
Hong Kong Film Critics Society AwardsBest ActorWon
199818th Hong Kong Film AwardsBest ActorThe Longest NiteNominated
199919th Hong Kong Film AwardsBest ActorThe VictimNominated
36th Golden Horse AwardsBest ActorNominated
Golden Bauhinia AwardsBest ActorNominated
Best ActorWhere a Good Man GoesWon
2001Hong Kong Film Critics Society AwardsBest ActorLa BrassiereWon
200323rd Hong Kong Film AwardsBest ActorLost in TimeNominated
200626th Hong Kong Film AwardsBest ActorMy Name Is FameWon
Golden Bauhinia AwardsBest ActorWon
200727th Hong Kong Film AwardsBest ActorMad DetectiveNominated
200929th Hong Kong Film AwardsBest ActorOverheardNominated
201131st Hong Kong Film AwardsBest ActorLife Without PrincipleNominated
Overheard 2Nominated
201249th Golden Horse AwardsBest ActorLife Without PrincipleWon
55th Asia Pacific Film FestivalBest ActorNominated
201451st Golden Horse AwardsBest ActorThe White StormNominated
201521st Hong Kong Film Critics Society AwardsBest ActorOverheard 3Won
34th Hong Kong Film AwardsBest ActorWon
Best ActorInsanityNominated
202341st Hong Kong Film AwardsBest ActorDetective vs SleuthsWon

References

External links