Hwang Jang-Lee obit

In Memoriam: Hwang Jang-Lee (1944-2026)

 

He was not on the list.

Actor and martial arts star Hwang Jang-Lee reportedly passed away at the age of 81 at now Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital. News of Hwang’s death was announced on Thursday by Alessandro Jinyong Kim, Hwang’s PR representative.

Hwang was born in 1944 to Korean parents on December 21 at Aomori Prefecture on Honshu Island in Japan, and began martial arts at the age of 14, and held a ninth dan rank with the World Tang Soo Do General Federation. He began showcasing his craft in film by the 70s, more notably under the stewardship of producer Ng See Yuen, launching him into a career of Hong Kong stardom for the next twenty years opposite the likes of  Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung, Cynthia Rothrock, Michelle Yeoh, and many more.

“Hwang Jang Lee, who left a significant mark on the history of martial arts films beyond Korea,” said Kim in a statement. “His unparalleled kicks and intense performances, shown in numerous works including the films ‘The Takeover’ and ‘The Executioner,’ will remain forever in the memories of world martial arts enthusiasts and martial artists.”

Kim added in part that the late Korean film star “was not just a film actor; he dedicated his life to promoting the excellence of Korean taekwondo to the world and promoting the exchange and development of Eastern and Western martial arts culture. We will remember the legacy of the legendary martial arts film that defined an era and the pride of Korean martial arts for a long time.”

Hwang was best known for portraying some of the best and most formidable films in Hong Kong cinema history including the Ng See-Yuen-produced Drunken Master and Snake In The Eagle Shadow opposite Jackie Chan. Other select credits include Magnificent Warriors and No Retreat No Surrender 2: Raging Thunder for which he also trained actor and bodybuilder Matthias Hues for his role as the villain, as well as Where’s Officer Tuba, The Invincible Armour, and Game Of Death II.

Our condolences go out to Hwang’s friends and family.

Filmography

Movies

Year     Title     Role     Notes

1974    Secret Envoy              

Black Leopard Tortured Hero

Korean Connection     Kazio (Yamamoto's Guard)   

Korean Connection 2             

Left Foot of Wrath                 

1975    Viper               Venomous Snake

Year of the Dragon      Hero's Father / Final Challenge Fighter          Kill the Shogun

Invitation From Hell              

Fury of the Sun                      

Death Game    Paeng Mar Kow          Mortal Battle

Jailhouse                     

Secret Rivals   Silver Fox      

1976    Secret Agent    Drunkard Student       

Bruce Lee's Secret       Jin Yong Ji      

Bruce Lee Fights Back from the Grave                     

Shaolin Wooden Men             Brief Appearance

Black Dragon River                The Martialmates

1977    Secret Rivals 2            Chin Hu (Gold Fox)   

Invincible Armour       Minister Cheng          

Heroes of Shaolin       Tien Lung-Chong       Heroes of the Wild

Snuff Bottle Connection         General Shantung (Magistrate)          

The Instant Kung Fu Man       Yi Lang          

1978    Great Martial Arts Teacher                

Snake in the Eagle's Shadow  Master Shang Kuan Yin         

Drunken Master          "Thunderleg" Yen Tieh Hsin (Thunderfoot)  

1979    The Fearless Duo        Ghost Leg Killer         Fearless Master Fighter

Dance of the Drunk Mantis     Rubber Legs   

Hell's Wind Staff         Lu Shan Tu     The Dragon and the Tiger Kids

36 Deadly Styles         Cheung Sze (First Brother)    

Dragon's Claws           Ling Ko Fung

The Eagle's Killer       Ghost Hand Lo Hsin  

Demon Strike  Chai Chau-Tien (Lord)           Death Duel of Silver Fox

1980    Lackey and the Lady Tiger     Sek Ba

Game of Death II        Chin Ku         

Two Fists Against the Law     Master Tai      

Tiger Over Wall          Chu    

Young Hero     Leader of Japanese Invaders  

Two Heroes                 Sangwoong

The Ring of Death      Russian Fighter          

Buddha Assassinator   Prince Yi        

Challenge of the Tiger Comrade Yang

Eagle vs. Silver Fox    Sa Sung (Silver Fox)  

Martial Monks of Shaolin Temple      Kurt Wong, Chief of Wudong School Champ vs. Champ

1981    Hitman in the Hand of Buddha           Wong Chin      Director, Producer

The Phantom Thief     (as Jeong-ri Hwang)  

Buddhist Fist & Tiger Claws              Half Piece of Map

Return of the Deadly Blade    Kam (Invincible Golden Rings)         Guest Star (Brief Appearance)

Hard Bastard               Raging Rivals

1982    Blood Child     Wong Hung     Five Fingers of Steel

Ninja Strikes Back      Wang Fei        

Ninja in the Dragon's Den      Wizard Kung Fu Master         

Secret Ninja, Roaring Tiger    Tiger So         

Kid from Kwang Tung            Luo Yihu        

Secret Executioners                

Masters of Tiger Crane           Silver Fox / Keum-wung (Villain)     

Eagle Claw vs. Butterfly Palm            Sing Kun's Master      

1983    Five Pattern Dragon Claw      Kam Fu           Thunderfist

Duel of Ultimate Weapons      Dong Wan / Ki-ryong

Ghosts Galore Japanese Magician     

Canton Viper   Kal Ma-ryong  Director

Angry Young Man      Master Kang  

1984    Shaolin: The Blood Mission   Dan Bang / General Yuen Fong         

1985    Ninja Terminator         Tiger    Uninvited Guest (Footage)

1986    The First Vampire in China    Ghost of March          

The Innocent Interloper           Paleface          

Where's Officer Tuba  Extortion Gang Member (Blackmailer)         

Millionaire's Express  Yukio Fushiki 

Future Hunters            Silverfox         

1987    Iron Angels     Boss Chang Lung       Fighting Madam

Magnificent Warriors  General Toga's Henchman (Collaborator)       Dynamite Fighters

No Retreat, No Surrender 2    Ty       

1988    Bed Companion          Lee Chiu Sin  

1989    Darkside of Chinatown           Sheung Siu Tung's Hitman     

Live Hard        Chief Inspector Terry Chiu    

1991    Street Soldiers Tok     

1994    Emperor of the Underworld    Yoo, Deok-pal Director

1996    Boss    Seong Cheon  

Director

Hitman in the Hand of Buddha (1981)

Canton Viper (1983)

Not Again! (1990)

Emperor of the Underworld (1994)

Documentaries

Art of High Impact Kicking (1982)

The Good Bad Boy (2014)

Television series

Shaolin Temple (Taiwanese TV series) (1984)

Mighty Weapon (1985)

The Return of Iljimae (2009)