Sean Lau

Last updated
Sean Lau
Papacastinterview (Sean Lau).png
Lau in 2024
Born (1964-02-16) 16 February 1964 (age 61)
SpouseAmy Kwok
Awards Hong Kong Film AwardsBest Actor
2007 My Name Is Fame
2015 Overheard 3
2023 Detective vs Sleuths
2025 Papa

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
2024 Papa

Golden Horse AwardsBest Actor
2012 Life Without Principle

Chinese name
Traditional Chinese 劉青雲
Simplified Chinese 刘青云
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyin Liu Qing Yun
Yue: Cantonese
Jyutping Lau Ching Wan

Sean Lau Ching-wan (born 16 February 1964) is a Hong Kong actor who has acted in both films and television series. He is best known for starring in the films C'est la vie, mon chéri (1993), My Name Is Fame (2006), Mad Detective (2007), Overheard film series (2009–2014), and Life Without Principle (2011). Most recently, Lau is known for his role in Detective vs Sleuths (2022), for which he won the Hong Kong Film Award for Best Actor. In 2025, he won a Hong Kong Film Award, a Hong Kong Film Critics Society Award and an Asian Film Award with his performance in Papa (2024). [1] [2] [3]

Contents

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. [4]

Lau joined Milkyway Image production house in the mid-1990s. [5]

Personal life

Lau is married to Miss Hong Kong 1991, Amy Kwok Oi Ming. [6]

Filmography

Lau in 2019 Sean Lau Ching Wan.jpg
Lau in 2019

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
1989 Live 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
1994 Bomb 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
1996 Viva 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
1997 Full 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
1998 A 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
1999 The Victim 目露凶光Manson Ma
The H.K. TriadO記三合會檔案 Ho alternative 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
2002 Fat 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
2004 Three 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
2005 Himalaya Singh 喜馬拉亞星Panic
2006 The 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
2007 Mad Detective 神探Chan Kwai-bun
2009 Overheard 竊聽風雲Johnny Leungalternative title: Wiretap
Written By 再生號Tony Tong
Poker King 撲克王Uno
2011 Life Without Principle 奪命金Pantheralternative title: Death of a Hostage
Overheard 2 竊聽風雲2Manson Lo Man-sang
2012 The 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
2013 Out 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
2014 Overheard 3 竊聽風雲3Luk Kam-keung
2015 Insanity 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
2016 Call of Heroes 危城 / 危城殲霸Yang Kenanalternative title: The Deadly Reclaim
Heartfall Arises 驚心破 / 驚天破Calvin Che
2017 Dealer/Healer 毒。誡Chan Wah
2019My Pet is an Elephant我的寵物是大象Qi WeiPost-production
Integrity 廉政風雲 煙幕Chan King-Chi
2020 Shock Wave 2 拆彈專家2Tung Cheuk-man
2022 Detective vs Sleuths 神探大戰Lee Jun
Warriors of Future 明日戰記Johnson Cheng
2023 The White Storm 3: Heaven or Hell 掃毒3Hong So-chai
2024 Crisis Negotiators 談判專家Cheuk Man Wai
Papa 爸爸Nin Yuen
2025 Sons of the Neon Night 風林火山Police officer

Television series

YearEnglish titleOriginal titleRoleNetworkNotes
1983Woman on the Beat警花出更 TVB Jade Bit part
Hong Kong '83香港八三 TVB Jade Bit part
The Man in the Middle夾心人 TVB Jade
  • Alternative title: Sandwiches
  • Bit part
1984The Fearless Duo天師執位 TVB Jade Bit part
The New Adventures of Chor Lau Heung楚留香之蝙蝠傳奇 TVB Jade Bit part
Rainbow Round My Shoulder畫出彩虹Law Ka-kan TVB Jade
Police Cadet '84 新紮師兄Ngai-fung / Fit Lo TVB Jade
Qiu Jin: A Woman to Remember秋瑾 Yeung Hok-ling TVB Jade
It's a Long Way Home家有嬌妻Dang Hin-coeng TVB Jade
The Smiling, Proud Wanderer 笑傲江湖Mai Wai-ji TVB Jade
The Duke of Mount Deer 鹿鼎記Wan Yau-fong TVB Jade
1985 Take Care, Your Highness! 皇上保重Chiu Nam-sing TVB 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 Lo TVB Jade
The Battle Among the Clans 大香港Lam Cho TVB 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
1987 Genghis Khan 成吉思汗Chilaun TVB 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
1988 Twilight of a Nation 太平天國 Siu Chiu-kwai TVB 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Mike TVB 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
1992 The Greed of Man 大時代Fong Chin-bok TVB Jade
2000 Divine Retribution 世紀之戰Fong San-hap Asia Television

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
1999 Toy Story 2 Buzz Lightyear Hong Kong version
2002 Black Mask 2: City of Masks 黑俠 IIWolf
  • alternative title: Black Mask II
  • Cantonese voice
2003 Finding Nemo MarlinHong Kong version
2004 Garfield: The Movie Garfield Hong Kong version
2006 Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties Garfield Hong Kong version
2007 The Secret of the Magic Gourd 寶葫蘆的秘密 / 魔法小葫蘆Magic Gourdalternative title: The Magic Gourd
2009 Garfield's Pet Force GarfieldHong Kong version
2010 Toy Story 3 Buzz Lightyear Hong Kong version
2011 The Lost Bladesman 關雲長 Cao Cao Hong Kong version
2016 Finding Dory MarlinHong Kong version
2017 The Lego Batman Movie Bruce Wayne / Batman Hong Kong version
2019 Toy Story 4 Buzz Lightyear Hong Kong version

Host

YearEventNotes
2016 35th Hong Kong Film Awards Master of ceremonies

[7] [8]

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
1994 14th Hong Kong Film Awards Best Actor Thou Shalt Not Swear Nominated
C'est la vie, mon chéri Nominated
1996 16th Hong Kong Film Awards Best Actor Big Bullet Nominated
1997 17th Hong Kong Film Awards Best Actor Full Alert Nominated
Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards Best ActorWon
1998 18th Hong Kong Film Awards Best Actor The Longest Nite Nominated
1999 19th Hong Kong Film Awards Best Actor The Victim Nominated
36th Golden Horse Awards Best Actor Nominated
Golden Bauhinia Awards Best ActorNominated
Best Actor Where a Good Man Goes Won
2001 Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards Best Actor La Brassiere Won
2003 23rd Hong Kong Film Awards Best Actor Lost in Time Nominated
2006 26th Hong Kong Film Awards Best Actor My Name Is Fame Won
Golden Bauhinia Awards Best ActorWon
2007 27th Hong Kong Film Awards Best Actor Mad Detective Nominated
2009 29th Hong Kong Film Awards Best Actor Overheard Nominated
2011 31st Hong Kong Film Awards Best Actor Life Without Principle Nominated
Overheard 2 Nominated
201249th Golden Horse Awards Best Actor Life Without Principle Won
55th Asia Pacific Film Festival Best ActorNominated
201451st Golden Horse Awards Best Actor The White Storm Nominated
201521st Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards Best Actor Overheard 3 Won
34th Hong Kong Film Awards Best Actor Won
Best Actor Insanity Nominated
202329th Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards Best Actor Detective vs Sleuths Nominated
41st Hong Kong Film Awards Best Actor Won
202531st Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards Best Actor Papa Won
18th Asian Film Awards Best Actor Won
43rd Hong Kong Film Awards Best Actor Won

References

  1. Lim, Ruey Yan (28 April 2025). "HK Film Awards: Sean Lau is Best Actor for 4th time, Michelle Wai is first-time Best Actress". The Straits Times . Retrieved 29 April 2025.
  2. Lim, Ruey Yan (14 January 2025). "Sean Lau named Best Actor by Hong Kong Film Critics Society for record fifth time". The Straits Times . Archived from the original on 22 January 2025. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
  3. Mok, Danny (16 March 2025). "Hong Kong's Sean Lau named best actor at Asian Film Awards for role in Papa". South China Morning Post . Archived from the original on 12 April 2025. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
  4. Havis, Richard James (2022-09-18). "'I am not Jackie Chan': actor Lau Ching-wan on Hollywood dreams, his roles". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 2022-09-23.
  5. Havis, Richard James (2022-09-18). "'I am not Jackie Chan': actor Lau Ching-wan on Hollywood dreams, his roles". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 2022-09-23.
  6. Lee, Edmund (2015-08-19). "Tough-guy Hong Kong actor Lau Ching-wan at home in romances too". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 2022-09-23.
  7. Sean Lau at hkmdb.com
  8. Sean Lau at chinesemov.com