Leslie Cheung Kwok-Wing (12 September 1956 – 1 April 2003), nicknamed elder brother (哥哥), was a film actor and
musicianA musician is a person who performs or writes music. Musicians can be classified by their roles in creating or performing music:* An instrumentalist plays a musical instrument.* A singer uses his or her voice as an instrument....
from Hong Kong. Cheung was considered as "One of the founding fathers of
CantopopCantopop is a colloquialism for "Cantonese popular music". It is sometimes referred to as HK-pop, short for "Hong Kong popular music". It is categorized as a subgenre of Chinese popular music within C-pop...
," and "combining a hugely successful film and music career".
In 2000, Cheung was named
Asian Biggest Superstar by
China Central TelevisionChina Central Television or Chinese Central Television, commonly abbreviated as CCTV is the major state television broadcaster in mainland China. CCTV has a network of 19 channels broadcasting different programmes and is accessible to more than one billion viewers...
, and voted/ranked the 1st as
The Most Favorite Actor in 100 Years of Chinese Cinema in 2005.
Childhood and education
Leslie Cheung Kwok-Wing was born in
KowloonKowloon is an urban area in Hong Kong, comprising the Kowloon Peninsula and New Kowloon. It is bordered by the Lei Yue Mun strait in the east, Mei Foo Sun Chuen and Stonecutter's Island in the west, Tate's Cairn and Lion Rock in the north, and Victoria Harbour in the south. It had a population of...
, Hong Kong. His birth name was Cheung Fat-chung (張發宗), which was later changed to Cheung Kwok-Wing. Cheung was the youngest of ten children in a middle-class Hakka family. Cheung Wut Hoi, his father, was a fairly well-known
tailorA tailor is a person whose occupation is to sew and scissor menswear style jackets and the skirts or trousers that go with them.Although the term dates to the thirteenth century, tailor took on its modern sense in the late eighteenth century, and now refers to makers of men's and women's suits,...
, whose customers included the American actors
William HoldenWilliam Holden was an American film actor.Holden won the Academy Award for Best Actor in 1954, and the Emmy Award for Best Actor in 1974....
and
Cary GrantArchibald Alexander Leach , better known by his stage name Cary Grant, was a British-American actor...
. His parents
divorceDivorce or dissolution of marriage is the final termination of a marriage, canceling the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage and dissolving the bonds of matrimony between two persons...
d when he was quite young. While in Hong Kong, Cheung attended Rosaryhill School (Stubbs Road, Hong Kong).
At the age of 13, he was sent to England as a boarder at Eccles Hall School and faced racial discrimination at the school. He worked as a
bartenderA bartender serves beverages behind a bar in a bar, pub, tavern or similar establishment...
at his relatives' restaurant and sang during the weekends. It was around this period that he chose his name, "Leslie". According to Cheung, he chose this name because "I love the film
Gone with the WindGone with the Wind is a 1939 American drama romance film adapted from Margaret Mitchell's 1936 novel of the same name and directed by Victor Fleming...
. And I like
Leslie HowardLeslie Howard Steiner , better known by his stage name Leslie Howard, was an English stage and film actor, director, and producer...
. The name can be a man's or woman's, it's very unisex, so I like it."
In several of his interviews, Cheung stated that he had a fairly unhappy childhood. "I didn't have a happy childhood. Arguments, fights and we didn't live together; I was brought up by my granny." "What I would say most affected me as a child, was that my parents were not at home with me. As a young kid, one could not always understand why his parents weren't at home. This made me depressed sometimes."
Cheung attended the
University of LeedsThe University of Leeds is a major teaching and research university in Leeds, West Yorkshire and, with over 33,000 full-time students, is the second largest single site university in the United Kingdom. In the world university league tables published in November 2008, the university's ‘employer...
in northern England, where he studied textile management. He dropped out of university at the end of his first year, when his father fell ill. After his father's recovery, Cheung did not return to England to complete his studies.
Early career
In 1977, Cheung won second prize by singing
Don McLeanDonald McLean, Jr. is an American singer-songwriter. He is most famous for his 1971 album American Pie, containing the renowned songs "American Pie" and "Vincent"....
's "
American Pie"American Pie" is a folk rock song by singer-songwriter Don McLean.Recorded and released on the American Pie album in 1971, the single was a number-one U.S. hit for four weeks in 1972. A re-release in 1991 did not chart in the U.S., but reached number 12 in the UK...
" at the Asian Music Contest held by
Rediffusion TelevisionRediffusion Television was the first television station in Hong Kong, established in May 29, 1957, making it both the first British colony and the first predominantly Chinese city to have television...
(RTV). He signed a contract with RTV, which subsequently became
Asia Television LimitedAsia Television Limited is one of the two free-to-air television broadcasters in Hong Kong, the other being its arch-rival Television Broadcasts Limited . It launched in 1957 under the name Rediffusion Television as the first television station in Hong Kong...
(ATV) and began his career in the entertainment industry. He also signed a music contract with
Polydor RecordsPolydor Records is a record label currently headquartered in the UK, and is a subsidiary of Universal Music Group.-Beginnings:Polydor was originally an independent branch of the Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft. Its name was first used, as an export label, in 1924, the British and German branches...
, releasing
Day Dreaming (1977) and
Lover's Arrow (1979).
The early days of his career were not easy. He was once booed off the stage during a public performance, and his first two albums were not welcomed by the public. He left
Polydor RecordsPolydor Records is a record label currently headquartered in the UK, and is a subsidiary of Universal Music Group.-Beginnings:Polydor was originally an independent branch of the Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft. Its name was first used, as an export label, in 1924, the British and German branches...
at the end of his contract. Cheung's first film,
The Erotic Dream of the Red Chamber (紅樓春上春) in 1978 was a soft porn film. Cheung later stated that he was unaware of the sexual nature of the film when he signed the contract.
During the 1970s and 1980s, he appeared in a number of TV dramas such as
The Young Concubine (我家的女人),
Agency 24 (甜甜廿四味),
Pairing (對對糊), and
The Spirit Of The Sword (浣花洗劍錄). These TV dramas helped turn him into a household name in South East Asia.
Ascension to fame
In 1982, Cheung joined
Capital ArtistsCapital Artists is a Hong Kong-based record label, and is currently owned by , a subsidiary of Lai Sun Development. Founded in 1971, Capital Artists signed some of the biggest names in the Cantopop industry, including Roman Tam, Anita Mui, and Leslie Cheung , among others...
upon the end of his contract with RTV. It was at Capital Artists that Florence Chan became his music agent and remained as such through his entire career. While at Capital Artists, he also met
Anita MuiAnita Mui Yim-fong was a popular Hong Kong singer and actress. During her prime years she made major contributions to the cantopop music scene, while receiving numerous awards and honours. She remained an idol throughout most of her career, and was generally regarded as a cantopop diva...
, another Hong Kong
CantopopCantopop is a colloquialism for "Cantonese popular music". It is sometimes referred to as HK-pop, short for "Hong Kong popular music". It is categorized as a subgenre of Chinese popular music within C-pop...
idol, starting a long lasting friendship. In 1983, Cheung released his first hit song, "The Wind Blows On" (風繼續吹). In 1984, he released his first top ten hit song "Monica", which became the first so-called "fast" song that won the
RTHK Top Ten Chinese Gold Songs Award. "Monica" became representative of a new genre of
Hong Kong musicThe Music of Hong Kong is an eclectic mixture of traditional and popular genres. Cantopop is one of the more prominent genres of music produced in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra and the Hong Kong Sinfonietta regularly perform western classical music in the city...
in the mid 1980s. Fans began to demand fast and energetic Cantopop songs that would be suitable for both dancing and listening. Other
Top Ten Gold Songs released by Cheung through Capital Artists included "Wild Wind" (不羈的風) (album,
For Your Love Only, 1985); "Who Can Be With Me" (有誰共鳴) (album,
Leslie Cheung: Allure Me, 1986) and "Love in Those Years" (當年情) (theme song for
A Better TomorrowA Better Tomorrow is a 1986 Hong Kong action film which had a profound influence on the Hong Kong movie-making industry, and later on an international scale.Directed by John Woo, it stars Chow Yun-Fat, Ti Lung and Leslie Cheung...
, album
Leslie Cheung: Allure Me, 1986). "Who Can Be With Me" became the
Gold of the Gold Songs (Best Song) of the Year for 1986.
Cheung's movie career was a little slower to take off. He appeared in supporting roles in his second and third movies
Encore (1980) and
On Trial (1981). However, his acting talent was soon recognized with his nomination for the
Hong Kong Film AwardsThe Hong Kong Film Awards , founded in 1982, are the most prestigious film awards in Hong Kong and among the most respected in mainland China and Taiwan. Award ceremonies are held annually, typically in April. The Awards recognize achievement in all aspects of filmmaking, such as directing,...
' Best Supporting Actor for his role in
On Trial. Subsequent to this nomination, he played the leading role in
Teenage Dreamers (1982) and held the lead role in almost every movie he was in from then on. From the early 1980s through 1986, most of the movies in which he had starred were teenage movies. Among them,
NomadNomad is a 1982 Hong Kong film directed by Patrick Tam. It is about the experiences of a group of youngsters who feel lost and try to find the true meaning of life. Nomad is considered as one of the representatives of the Hong Kong New Wave films.-Plot:Louis is a lovely young man from a rich...
(1982, directed by Patrick Tam Kar-ming) is widely considered by film critics as representative of Hong Kong "New Wave" films. Cheung's role as Louis in
Nomad won him his first Best Actor nomination of the Hong Kong Film Awards. Later, Cheung stated that he considers
Nomad as his first "real" movie. During this period, Cheung continued to act in a number of Television Broadcasts (TVB) dramas, such as
Once Upon an Ordinary Girl (儂本多情) and
The Fallen Family (武林世家).
Stardom and retirement
In 1986, he joined
Cinepoly Records Hong KongCinepoly Records is a Hong Kong-based record label founded in 1985. It was a subsidiary of PolyGram Records and the film company Cinema City. Ownership of Cinepoly Records switched to Universal Music Group after Universal acquired PolyGram Records in 1998 and albums are now distributed by...
and released the album
Summer RomanceSummer Romance is a Cantopop album by Leslie Cheung first released in 1987. This album first catapulted the then struggling Leslie Cheung to instant fame and star status when first released...
in 1987.
Summer Romance became the
Best Selling CD of the Year and
IFPI Best Selling Album in Hong Kong. The success of
Summer Romance made him one of the top two Cantopop idols at the time (the other was
Alan TamAlan Tam Wing-Lun, MH is a famous Hong Kong cantopop singer and film actor. During the early 1980s he played a major role in developing the cantopop scene as he was famous for singing romantic ballads with modern arrangements. As of 2008, he is still active in the music industry, releasing new...
). In 1988, he composed one of his most famous songs "Silence is Golden" (沉默是金). Other popular albums published by Cheung through Cinepoly Records included
Hot SummerHot Summer was a Cantopop album by Leslie Cheung released in 1988 by Hong Kong record company Cinepoly and followed on the heels of the success of Cheung's Summer Romance the year before...
(1988),
Virgin SnowVirgin Snow is a Cantopop album by Leslie Cheung first released in 1988. The album is the second album that Cheung released after he joined Cinepoly Records in Hong Kong....
(1988),
Leslie '89Leslie '89 is a cantopop album by Leslie Cheung released in 1989 by Cinepoly Records of Hong Kong. It was also his supposed penultimate album before the final album Final Encounter also released in 1989...
(
Side face, IFPI Best Album of the Year, 1989),
Final EncounterFinal EncounterCantopop album by Leslie Cheung released in 1989 by Cinepoly Records of Hong Kong. This album was supposed to commemorate his departure from the music industry in Hong Kong and to concentrate largely on his acting career in 1989....
(1989), and
Salute (1990).
Salute was the first non-profit album released by a superstar in Hong Kong music history that would only compile songs originally performed by other singers. According to Cheung,
Salute is his
homageHomage is pronounced variously as , , or . The last reflects the modern French pronunciation, although the word entered Middle English many centuries ago. In traditional usage it is analogous to praise; one properly speaks of homage or the homage, rather than a homage or an homage...
to
musicMusic is an art form whose medium is sound. Common elements of music are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
. He donated all the proceeds from the sales of
Salute to the
Hong Kong Academy for Performing ArtsThe Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts , located near the north coast of Wan Chai on the Hong Kong Island in Hong Kong, is both an academic institution and a venue for performances.The academy was established by Government Ordinance in 1984...
(香港演藝學院), which was named the
Leslie Cheung Memorial Scholarship after his death.
With the popularity of Cheung and Tam, fans of these two stars became increasingly hostile to each other, starting a long-standing conflict that soon put heavy pressure on both singers. In 1988, Alan Tam publicly quit all pop music award ceremonies. In 1989, Cheung announced his intention to retire from his music career as a singer. Cheung then set a record by being the first singer ever in Cantopop history to hold a retirement concert series (
Final Encounter of the Legend), which ran for 33 consecutive nights (he was 33 at the time) at Hong Kong Coliseum. In 1990, he left Hong Kong at the peak of his music career and emigrated to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, where he reportedly "found peace and tranquility." Cheung gained Canadian citizenship in 1992 and returned to Asia full-time in 1995 for his re-emergence in Chinese-language popular music.
From 1986 to 1989, Cheung acted in a number of movies that are considered as Hong Kong classics by film critics and Asian movie fans. In 1986, Cheung co-starred with
Chow Yun-FatChow Yun-Fat SBS is a Hong Kong Film Award-winning actor. He is best known in Asia for his collaboration with filmmaker John Woo in heroic bloodshed genre films A Better Tomorrow, The Killer, and Hard-Boiled; and to the West for his role as Li Mu-bai in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon...
in
A Better TomorrowA Better Tomorrow is a 1986 Hong Kong action film which had a profound influence on the Hong Kong movie-making industry, and later on an international scale.Directed by John Woo, it stars Chow Yun-Fat, Ti Lung and Leslie Cheung...
(directed by
John WooJohn Woo Yu-Sen is a Chinese film director and producer from Hong Kong. Recognized for his stylized films of highly choreographed action sequences, Mexican standoffs, and use of slow-motion, Woo has directed several notable Hong Kong action films, among them, A Better Tomorrow, Hard Boiled, and...
), which was widely considered as a trend starter for Hong Kong triad movies in the 1980s. Cheung played Kit, a righteous and idealistic young cop. Cheung's role in the movie was widely considered his debut as a serious actor. He also starred in the sequel,
A Better Tomorrow II (1987). Also in 1987, Cheung starred in
Stanley KwanStanley Kwan is a Hong Kong Chinese film director and producer.Kwan landed a job at the TVB after receiving a mass communications degree at Hong Kong Baptist College...
's
RougeRouge is a 1987 Hong Kong film, directed by Stanley Kwan. The movie is the adaptation of the novel by Lilian Lee.-Plot:...
where he played Chen-Pang Chan, an infatuated, opium-smoking playboy and doomed lover of a beautiful prostitute, Fleur (played by
Anita MuiAnita Mui Yim-fong was a popular Hong Kong singer and actress. During her prime years she made major contributions to the cantopop music scene, while receiving numerous awards and honours. She remained an idol throughout most of her career, and was generally regarded as a cantopop diva...
). Further, in the same year (1987), he appeared in
Tsui HarkTsui Hark, born Tsui Man-Kong , is a New Wave film director in Hong Kong and a highly influential producer.-Early life:...
's
A Chinese Ghost StoryA Chinese Ghost Story is a 1987 Hong Kong romantic comedy-horror film starring Leslie Cheung, Joey Wong and Wu Ma, directed by Ching Siu-tung and produced by Tsui Hark....
(directed by Ching Siu-tung). Cheung played
Ling Choi Sin, a well-meaning but cowardly debt collector who had fallen in love with a beautiful ghost (played by
Joey WongJoey Wong is a Hong Kong based Taiwanese-born actress.-Biography:Wang was born and raised in Taipei and also received a secondary school education there. She was enrolled in the drama course of Kuo Kwan Arts School...
). His performance in these movies won him two Best Actor nomination from
Hong Kong Film AwardsThe Hong Kong Film Awards , founded in 1982, are the most prestigious film awards in Hong Kong and among the most respected in mainland China and Taiwan. Award ceremonies are held annually, typically in April. The Awards recognize achievement in all aspects of filmmaking, such as directing,...
. The success of
A Better Tomorrow and
A Chinese Ghost Story made his name known in the Japanese and South Korea film markets.
Golden age in film
The mid-80s to mid-90s was a golden age in Hong Kong's film industry, which coincided with Cheung's film career. In 1990, Cheung acted as Yuddy, a handsome, ruthless bad boy, philanderer and narcissist in
Wong Kar-waiWong Kar-wai BBS is an award-winning Hong Kong filmmaker, internationally renowned as an auteur for his visually unique, highly stylized films...
's movie
Days of Being WildDays of Being Wild is a 1990 Hong Kong film directed by Wong Kar-wai. The film stars some of the best-known actors and actresses in Hong Kong, including Leslie Cheung, Carina Lau, Maggie Cheung, and Andy Lau...
. His performance in
Days of Being Wild won him the
Best Actor Award at the
Hong Kong Film AwardsThe Hong Kong Film Awards , founded in 1982, are the most prestigious film awards in Hong Kong and among the most respected in mainland China and Taiwan. Award ceremonies are held annually, typically in April. The Awards recognize achievement in all aspects of filmmaking, such as directing,...
in 1991 and his first nomination of
Best Actor at the
Golden Horse Film FestivalThe Golden Horse Film Festival and Awards is a film festival and awards ceremony held annually in Taiwan since 1962. The awards ceremony is usually held in November or December in Taipei, though the venue has been shifted around the island in recent times....
(Taiwan). He also acted in two other Wong Kar-wai movies. In the 1994 martial arts film,
Ashes of TimeAshes of Time is a 1994 Hong Kong wuxia film written and directed by Wong Kar-wai, and based very loosely on four characters from the Louis Cha novel The Legend of the Condor Heroes....
, he starred as Ouyang Feng, a swordsman and assassin who spent his days in a desert. His role as Ouyang won him the
Best Actor Award at the
Hong Kong Film Critics Society AwardsThe Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards are the annual awards given by the Hong Kong Film Critics Society in Hong Kong, China since 1995. The awards are determined by votes cast in three rounds after a substantial discussion session between the members of the society...
. In 1997's movie
Happy TogetherHappy Together is a 1997 Hong Kong movie directed by Wong Kar-wai, starring Leslie Cheung and Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, that depicts a turbulent romance between two men...
which centrally depicts a complex relationship between two gay lovers (although Wong insists that it isn't essentially a "gay" film), he played the capricious Ho Po-wing, who goes to Argentina with his lover Lai Yiu-fai (played by Tony Leung Chiu-wai).
In 1992's historical masterpiece
Farewell My Concubine (directed by
Chen KaigeChen Kaige is a Chinese film director and a leading figure of the fifth generation of Chinese cinema. His films are known for their visual flair and epic storytelling.-Early life:...
), Cheung acted as the Peking opera star Dieyi Cheng, a
Beijing operaBeijing opera or Peking opera is a form of traditional Chinese theatre which combines music, vocal performance, mime, dance and acrobatics. It arose in the late 18th century and became fully developed and recognized by the mid-19th century. The form was extremely popular in the Qing Dynasty court...
artist who reaches fame with his exquisite performances of female roles.
Farewell My Concubine is the first Chinese film to have won the
Golden PalmThe Palme d'Or is the highest prize awarded to competing films at the Cannes Film Festival. It was introduced in 1955 by the organising committee. From 1939 to 1954, the highest prize was the Grand Prix du Festival International du Film...
award at the
Cannes Film FestivalThe Cannes Film Festival , founded in 1946, is one of the world's oldest and most prestigious film festivals. The private festival is held annually at the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès, in the resort town of Cannes, in the south of France.The 62nd edition started 13 May and ended 24 May 2009...
. It also won more than twenty other film awards including a Golden Globe for
Best Foreign FilmThe Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film is one of the awards presented at the Golden Globes, an American film awards ceremony.Until 1986, it was known as the Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Film, meaning that any non-American film could be honoured...
and Oscar nominations for
Best Foreign FilmThe Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film is one of the Academy Awards of Merit, popularly known as the Oscars, handed out annually by the U.S.-based Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences...
and
Best CinematographyThe Academy Award for Best Cinematography is an Academy Award awarded each year to a cinematographer for work in one particular motion picture....
. Cheung's performance in the film won him international fame as a film star and set his steps in the mainland China film industry. In 1996, he worked again with Chen Kaige, playing the role of a misty gigolo, Zhongliang Yu, in
Temptress MoonTemptress Moon is a 1996 Chinese film directed by Chen Kaige. It was jointly produced by the Shanghai Film Studio and the Taipei-based Tomson Films...
. In 1998's
A Time to Remember (directed by Yip Ying), he acted as Jin, an underground Chinese Communist leader. His Hong Kong background caused a heated debate at the time, but the film still achieved Box Office success in mainland China and in 2004 won a "Most Popular Foreign Film" Award at the
Pyongyang Film FestivalThe Pyongyang International Film Festival is a biennial cultural exhibition held in Pyongyang, North Korea. The film festival is an unusually cosmopolitan event for a state known to be reclusive to outside contact....
.
Other important movies Cheung starred in during this period include
The Bride with White HairThe Bride with White Hair is a 1993 Hong Kong Wuxia film directed by Ronny Yu.The film's main character, Lien Ni-Chang, is very loosely based on the protagonist of Liang Yusheng's novel Romance of the White Haired Maiden, which had earlier served as source material for the 1982 film Wolf Devil Woman...
(with
Brigitte LinBrigitte Lin or Brigitte Lin Ching Hsia is a Taiwanese actress. She retired in 1994, though had a minor role in the 1998 film Bishonen.-Biography:...
, 1993),
He's a Woman, She's a ManHe's a Woman, She's a Man is a 1994 film directed by Peter Chan Ho Sun and written by James Yuen and Lee Chi Ngai.It stars Leslie Cheung Kwok Wing, Anita Yuen Wing Yee, Carina Lau Kar Ling, Jordan Chan Siu Chun and Eric Tsang Chi Wai...
(with
Anita YuenAnita Yuen Wing-Yi is a Hong Kong film and television actress. She was the winner of the 1990 Miss Hong Kong Pageant.-Pageant career:At the age of 18, Anita entered the Miss Hong Kong 1990 pageant. She was a heavy favorite to win the crown from the semifinal to final. During the semifinals on...
, 1994),
The Phantom LoverThe Phantom Lover is a 1995 Hong Kong film starring Leslie Cheung and Jacqueline Wu. It was directed by Ronnie Yu and is a remake of the 1937 film Song at Midnight. The film itself is a loose adaptation of the classic Romeo and Juliet romance where love between two passionate lovers were...
(1995), and
Viva EroticaViva Erotica is a 1996 Hong Kong film directed by Derek Yee and Lo Chi-Leung.-Plot:Viva Erotica is a sex-comedy film, though with a serious subject of how an artist has to compromise with his talents for living...
(with
Shu QiShu Qi is the stage name of a Taiwanese actress born Lin Li-Hui . Her stage name is occasionally romanized as Hsu Chi, Shu Qui or Shu Kei...
, 1996). His performance in these movies won him three Best Actor Award nominations at the
Hong Kong Film AwardsThe Hong Kong Film Awards , founded in 1982, are the most prestigious film awards in Hong Kong and among the most respected in mainland China and Taiwan. Award ceremonies are held annually, typically in April. The Awards recognize achievement in all aspects of filmmaking, such as directing,...
and three Best Actor Award nominations at the
Golden Horse Film FestivalThe Golden Horse Film Festival and Awards is a film festival and awards ceremony held annually in Taiwan since 1962. The awards ceremony is usually held in November or December in Taipei, though the venue has been shifted around the island in recent times....
from 1990 to 1998.
As a versatile actor, Cheung also acted in many comedies. In 1991, teamed again with
Chow Yun-FatChow Yun-Fat SBS is a Hong Kong Film Award-winning actor. He is best known in Asia for his collaboration with filmmaker John Woo in heroic bloodshed genre films A Better Tomorrow, The Killer, and Hard-Boiled; and to the West for his role as Li Mu-bai in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon...
and
Cherie ChungCherie Chung Chor-hung is a retired Hong Kong film actress. Of Hakka descent, she participated in the Miss Hong Kong competition but won nothing. She was later discovered by film director Johnnie To and debuted in his first film The Enigmatic Case .Her beauty and charm helped her become one of the...
, Cheung played a skillful and charming thief in
John WooJohn Woo Yu-Sen is a Chinese film director and producer from Hong Kong. Recognized for his stylized films of highly choreographed action sequences, Mexican standoffs, and use of slow-motion, Woo has directed several notable Hong Kong action films, among them, A Better Tomorrow, Hard Boiled, and...
's
Once A ThiefOnce a Thief is a 1991 Hong Kong action-comedy film written and directed by John Woo. It stars Chow Yun-Fat, Leslie Cheung, Cherie Chung, Kenneth Tsang and Paul Chu Kong in a lighthearted heist themed action-comedy routine....
. In 1992's
All's Well, Ends WellAll's Well, Ends Well is a 1992 Hong Kong comedy film directed by Clifton Ko. The film stars Stephen Chow with Maggie Cheung, Leslie Cheung, Raymond Wong, Sandra Ng, and Teresa Mo....
, he acted as an effeminate brother who would later realize the meaning of true love. Other well-known comedies included
The Eagle Shooting HeroesThe Eagle Shooting Heroes is a 1993 wuxia comedy film from Hong Kong, directed by Jeff Lau Chun-Wai...
,
It's a Wonderful Life, and
The Chinese FeastThe Chinese Feast is a 1995 Hong Kong film co-written, produced and directed by Tsui Hark, and starring Leslie Cheung, Anita Yuen, Kenny Bee, and Law Kar-Ying.-Synopsis:...
. Cheung was also a box office attraction in Hong Kong; from 1990 to 1998, 13 out of 39 movies in which he starred were listed as yearly top ten box office movies.
Although Cheung quit his career as a pop singer from 1989 to 1995, he continued his music career as a composer. He composed more than ten songs during that time. In 1993, he won
Best Original Movie Song Award from
Golden Horse Film FestivalThe Golden Horse Film Festival and Awards is a film festival and awards ceremony held annually in Taiwan since 1962. The awards ceremony is usually held in November or December in Taipei, though the venue has been shifted around the island in recent times....
for the theme song
Red Cheek, White Hair to the movie
The Bride with White Hair (as a composer). In 1995, he composed all three theme songs for the film
The Phantom LoverThe Phantom Lover is a 1995 Hong Kong film starring Leslie Cheung and Jacqueline Wu. It was directed by Ronnie Yu and is a remake of the 1937 film Song at Midnight. The film itself is a loose adaptation of the classic Romeo and Juliet romance where love between two passionate lovers were...
. As a composer, Cheung won four nominations for
Best Original Movie Song Award at the Golden Horse Film Festival and Awards and two nominations for
Best Original Film Song at the Hong Kong Film Awards.
Return to music
In 1995, Cheung signed a contract with
Rock RecordsRock Records is a Taiwanese record label founded in 1980 by Sam and Johnny Duan . They had their first multiseller in 1989 with Sarah Chen.It is now Asia's largest independent record label.- Artists :* Alien Huang - Xiao Gui )...
, returning to music as a singer. At the same year, he released his first post-"retirement" album,
BelovedMost Beloved or Beloved is a Cantopop album by Leslie Cheung released in 1995 after a long personal struggle between deciding to make a comeback or to make good his retirement vow...
.
Beloved achieved large market success with the award of
IFPI Best Selling Album, but it did not receive much acclaim from music critics as it is a collection of Cheung's movie theme songs from 1993 to 1995. In 1996, Cheung released possibly his most highly acclaimed album,
Red.
Red was a fusion album, mixing smooth jazz, R&B, trip hop, etc., into
CantopopCantopop is a colloquialism for "Cantonese popular music". It is sometimes referred to as HK-pop, short for "Hong Kong popular music". It is categorized as a subgenre of Chinese popular music within C-pop...
, forming a consistent unique style. Cheung worked since then on cutting-edge music as well as Cantopop, his new music style being markedly different from before his earlier retirement. In this album, Cheung also composed another important song in his music career,
Red. In 1998, Cheung released his first album in Mandarin (and also the only one originally in the language),
PrintempsPrintemps is a Mandarin album by Leslie Cheung first released in 1998. This album was the first and the only original Mandarin album produced by Leslie Cheung....
.
In 1997, Cheung held his first post-retirement concert series:
World Tour 97, which lasted from 12 December 1996 to 17 June 1997. Like with the refinements to his musical style, Cheung introduced a new image to his audience. The most daring part possibly was the closing dance "Red" where Cheung did a tango duet in a pair of red high-heels with a macho dancer.
World Tour 97 included 55 concerts: 24 concerts were held in
Hong Kong ColiseumHong Kong Coliseum is a major multi-purpose indoor arena in Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong. It was built by Urban Council and inaugurated on 27 April 1983. It is now managed by Leisure and Cultural Service Department of Hong Kong Government...
and 31 concerts were held in the cities around the world. Among them, six concerts were held in Japan and mainland China respectively.
World Tour 97 was the first concert series that Cheung held in these two areas.
In 1999, Cheung started a music company, Apex Music, signing a distribution contract with
Universal Music GroupUniversal Music Group is the largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry. It is the largest of the "big four" record companies by its commanding market share and its multitude of global operations...
(UMG). Important albums released via
UMGUniversal Music Group is the largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry. It is the largest of the "big four" record companies by its commanding market share and its multitude of global operations...
includes
Count Down With You (1999),
Big HeatBig Heat is a Cantopop album by Leslie Cheung first released in 2000. This album was released before Leslie Cheung's Passion Tour concert.The song 'Fever' won China's Original Music Award...
(2000), and
Untitled (2000). The hit songs released by him during this period include
Passing-by Dragonfly, the top one hit song,
Big Heat, and
Left Right Hands, Top Ten Gold Song of the Year (1999). He also composed the song
I (first released in album
Big HeatBig Heat is a Cantopop album by Leslie Cheung first released in 2000. This album was released before Leslie Cheung's Passion Tour concert.The song 'Fever' won China's Original Music Award...
), which was considered by him as a song of self-statement. In 2000, Cheung was awarded the Golden Needle award (lifetime achievement award in Cantopop music). In the same year, Cheung had been assigned as the "Music Ambassador" of Composors And Authors Society of Hong Kong (CASH) until his death. Cheung also composed the theme song
Noah's Ark, for the
CASH Golden Sail Award.
The later years
In 2000, Cheung held his last concert series,
Passion Tour.
Passion Tour included 43 concerts, lasting from 31 July 2000 to 16 April 2001. It was his most disputable, and possibly best concert. Cheung worked at the first time as the art director as well as the singer for the concert. He invited
Jean-Paul GaultierJean-Paul Gaultier is a French haute couture fashion designer and previous host of television series Eurotrash.-Biography:...
to design all eight costumes for the concert. However, the costumes, together with his long wig and beard, were criticized bitterly by Hong Kong media at the early stage of the concerts. Cheung later disclosed that Gaultier was very angry about the criticism and claimed in an email (sent to Cheung) that he would never design costumes again for any Asian performer. Despite the early criticisms from the media,
Passion Tour achieved huge success.
Passion Tour was highly welcomed in Japan and made Cheung hold 10 concerts there. Together with
World Tour 97 concerts, Cheung set a record of foreign artists of holding 16 concerts in Japan. In China, Cheung set a record yet to be broken by holding two consecutive night concerts in Shanghai Stadium (capacity of 80,000). He was also awarded the "Grand Salute Award" (2000) by Mingpao Weekly (Hong Kong) and "Music Salute Award" (2000) from Chinese Pop Music Media Association (mainland China) for his work in
Passion Tour.
By the end of the 1990s, Cheung had begun to focus on acting in non-romance roles. In
The KidThe Kid is a Hong Kong movie starring Leslie Cheung. It also co-stars Yip Tuen Nam, Ti Lung, and Carrie Ng.-Synopsis:This drama highlights the social problems of single parents struggling to raise children and Leslie Cheung was given the role of a retired fund-manager Wing who lost his entire...
(1999, directed by Jacob Cheung Chi-Leung), he starred as a poor single father who fostered an abandoned baby boy. In the action thriller
Double Tap (2000, directed by Lo Chi Leung), he played a psycho killer, Rick. In the 2002 psycho thriller
Inner SensesInner Senses is a Hong Kong Film Awards nominated psychological horror feature film directed by Law Chi-Leung in 2002. The film explores themes on hallucinations, clinical depression, psychological trauma and suicide...
(directed by Lo Chi Leung), he played psychologist Dr. Law, who discovered his own emotional issues when he tried to treat his patient Yan (Kar Yan Lam). His performance in these films earned him another
Best Actor nomination from the Hong Kong Film Awards. He also garnered another two
Best Actor Award nominations from Taiwan Film Festival. During this period, Cheung began to try his hand at film direction. In 2000, he directed his first movie, the 45 minutes
From Ashes to Ashes. In 2002, he began to film his first regular length movie
Stealing Heart. The film was not completed due to the deterioration of his health.
Sexual orientation
Cheung was
bisexualBisexuality is sexual behavior with or physical attraction to both sexes , or a bisexual orientation. People who have a bisexual orientation "can experience sexual, emotional, and affectional attraction to both their own sex and the opposite sex"; "it also refers to an individual’s sense of...
and once said in an interview in
Time magazine: "It's more appropriate to say I'm bisexual. I've had girlfriends. When I was 22 or so, I asked my girlfriend
Teresa MoTeresa Mo Sun-kwan is a Hong Kong actress. She started her career in 1970s, and joined TVB in 1981. She became famous for being cast in The Justice of Life, which was based on Stephen Chow's works...
(his colleague in ATV of the time) to marry me."
Despite numerous
tabloidA tabloid is an industry term for a smaller newspaper format per spread; to a weekly or semi-weekly alternative newspaper that focuses on local-interest stories and entertainment, often distributed free of charge ; or to a newspaper that tends to sensationalize and emphasize or exaggerate or...
rumors, he denied his homosexual/bi-sexual orientation for the first half of his career, until his stance relaxed considerably after emigrating to Vancouver. In the early 1990s he became one of the few Hong Kong actors who dared to play gay characters onscreen.
Cheung's first gay role was
Cheng Dieyi in
Farewell My Concubine (1993).
Cheng Dieyi was a Beijing opera singer or
DanDan is the general name for female roles in Chinese opera, often referring to leading roles. There are a few different kinds of dan in Chinese opera. The commonly seen ones are 'Guimen Dan', 'Hua Dan', 'Daoma Dan', 'Wu Dan', 'Lao Dan' and 'Cai Dan'...
(male actor who plays female roles) who had fallen in love with his male singing partner. In
Wong Kar-waiWong Kar-wai BBS is an award-winning Hong Kong filmmaker, internationally renowned as an auteur for his visually unique, highly stylized films...
's
Happy TogetherHappy Together is a 1997 Hong Kong movie directed by Wong Kar-wai, starring Leslie Cheung and Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, that depicts a turbulent romance between two men...
(1997), Cheung played another gay role, Ho Po-wing. He was nominated for the Best Actor Award at the Golden Horse Awards and the
Hong Kong Film AwardsThe Hong Kong Film Awards , founded in 1982, are the most prestigious film awards in Hong Kong and among the most respected in mainland China and Taiwan. Award ceremonies are held annually, typically in April. The Awards recognize achievement in all aspects of filmmaking, such as directing,...
for his role in
Happy TogetherHappy Together is a 1997 Hong Kong movie directed by Wong Kar-wai, starring Leslie Cheung and Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, that depicts a turbulent romance between two men...
.
In 1995 a Hong Kong tabloid published a photo of Cheung with another man, Daffy Tong Hok-Tak (唐鶴德). In a 1997 concert, Cheung openly revealed that Tong was his "most beloved" after his mother. The Hong Kong media eventually accepted the two men's relationship and the tabloid gave Tong the nickname
Tong Tong (in the style of
Gor Gor). After Cheung's death, Cheung's family published a full-page obituary in a Hong Kong newspaper, in which Tong was listed as a surviving spouse (未亡人). Tong, together with Cheung's eldest sister, was also designated as the executor of Cheung's estate.
Death
Cheung committed
suicideSuicide is the intentional killing of one's self. Many dictionaries also note the metaphorical sense of "willful destruction of one's self-interest"...
on 1 April 2003 at 6:41pm (HKT). He leapt from the 24th floor of the
Mandarin Oriental HotelThe Mandarin Oriental is a luxury hotel in Hong Kong, it is the first and flagship hotel of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group.The property opened in September 1963 as The Mandarin, located at 5 in Connaught Road Central , which is Hong Kong’s financial and banking district.-History:The hotel,...
, located in the Central district of
Hong Kong IslandHong Kong Island is an island in the southern part of Hong Kong. It has a population of 1,289,500 and its population density is 16,390/km², as of 2008...
. He left a suicide note saying that he had been suffering from
depressionMajor depressive disorder is a mental disorder characterized by an all-encompassing low mood accompanied by low self-esteem, and loss of interest or pleasure in normally enjoyable activities...
. He was 46 years old.
As one of the most popular performers in Asia, Cheung's death shocked the Asian entertainment industry and Chinese community worldwide. Rumors about the cause of his death spread so fast that his family urged tabloids to let Cheung rest in peace, and not to sensationalize his sexual orientation and reasons for suicide. The day after Leslie's death, his long time partner, Tong, confirmed that Cheung suffered from (clinical) depression and had been seeing psychiatrists for treatment for almost a year. He also revealed that Cheung had attempted suicide in 2002. Later at his funeral, Cheung's niece disclosed that her
uncle-Idiom:* Bob's your uncle, a Commonwealth expression roughly equivalent to "and there you have it"* Dutch uncle, a person who delivers stern lectures* Monkey's uncle, an expression of surprise or disbelief...
had severe clinical depression and suffered much over the past year (2003).
Despite the risk of infection from
SARSSevere Acute Respiratory Syndrome is a respiratory disease in humans which is caused by the SARS coronavirus . There has been one near pandemic to date, between the months of November 2002 and July 2003, with 8,096 known infected cases and 774 deaths worldwide being listed in the World Health...
and the
WHOThe World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health...
's warning on travels to Hong Kong, tens of thousands, including celebrities and other fans, many from other parts of the world such as mainland China,
TaiwanTaiwan , also known as Formosa , is the largest island of the Republic of China in East Asia. Taiwan is located east of the Taiwan Strait, off the southeastern coast of mainland China...
, Korea, Japan,
Southeast AsiaManila
Bangkok
Ho Chi Minh City
Kuala Lumpur
Singapore
Yangon
Bandung
Hanoi
Surabaya
Taichung
Kaohsiung
Medan|-|}...
, the United States and Canada attended Cheung's memorial service, which was held for the public, on 7 April 2003. Cheung's funeral was on 8 April 2003. For almost one month, Cheung's death dominated newspaper headlines in Hong Kong and his songs were constantly on the air.
Cheung's last album
Everything Follows the Wind (一切隨風) was released three months after his death.
- Cheung's suicide note (translation): "Depression! Many thanks to all my friends. Many thanks to Professor Felice Lieh-Mak (Cheung's last psychiatrist, 麥列菲菲). This year has been so tough. I can't stand it anymore. Many thanks to Mr. Tong. Many thanks to my family. Many thanks to Fei-Fei (Lydia Shum Din-ha). In my life I did nothing bad. Why does it have to be like this?"
- Cheung's suicide note (Chinese): "Depression! 多謝各位朋友，多謝麥列菲菲教授，這一年很辛苦，不能再忍受， 多謝唐先生，多謝家人，多謝肥姐. 我一生沒做壞事 為何這樣?"
Extra information
- It was reported that Cheung got the nickname "gorgor" (哥哥, elder brother) when he acted in the movie The Bride with White Hair
The Bride with White Hair is a 1993 Hong Kong Wuxia film directed by Ronny Yu.The film's main character, Lien Ni-Chang, is very loosely based on the protagonist of Liang Yusheng's novel Romance of the White Haired Maiden, which had earlier served as source material for the 1982 film Wolf Devil Woman...
with Brigitte LinBrigitte Lin or Brigitte Lin Ching Hsia is a Taiwanese actress. She retired in 1994, though had a minor role in the 1998 film Bishonen.-Biography:...
in 1993. However, Cheung said he was first called gorgor by Joey WongJoey Wong is a Hong Kong based Taiwanese-born actress.-Biography:Wang was born and raised in Taipei and also received a secondary school education there. She was enrolled in the drama course of Kuo Kwan Arts School...
when they worked for movie A Chinese Ghost StoryA Chinese Ghost Story is a 1987 Hong Kong romantic comedy-horror film starring Leslie Cheung, Joey Wong and Wu Ma, directed by Ching Siu-tung and produced by Tsui Hark....
. In Miss You Much Leslie concert (2008), Susan Hwuang, a close friend of Cheung, said Carina Lau Kar LingCarina Lau Kar-ling is a Hong Kong actress. She was especially notable in the 1980s for her girl-next-door type roles in films.-Biography:...
was the first one who called Cheung "gorgor" when they played MahjongMahjong is a game for four players that originated in China. It was called , meaning sparrow in ancient China. It is still the name most commonly used in some southern Chinese dialects such as Cantonese and Minnan, as well as in Japanese...
back in 80s.
- His last public singing appearance was in the late Anita Mui's last 2002 concert as a guest performer, shortly before his death. There, he sang a duet which they had recorded in the 80s and a new song "Extinct Season of Glory". He directed and acted in the video of the song "Extinct Season of Glory".
- Leslie Cheung is the first generation of Pepsi
Pepsi is a carbonated soft drink produced and manufactured by PepsiCo. It is sold in many places such as retail stores, restaurants, schools, cinemas and from vending machines. The drink was first made in the 1890s by pharmacist Caleb Bradham in New Bern, North Carolina. The brand was trademarked...
stars in Asia.
- Voted as #1 in Commercial Radio's Top 10 Most Beautiful People in Hong Kong.
- Voted as the winner of the 10 Hottest Celebrities of the Millennium in Hong Kong.
- In 2000, many websites and newspapers reported that Leslie Cheung, Brigitte Lin
Brigitte Lin or Brigitte Lin Ching Hsia is a Taiwanese actress. She retired in 1994, though had a minor role in the 1998 film Bishonen.-Biography:...
, Zhu Ling Ling and Michelle ReisMichele Monique Reis is a Hong Kong actress.-Biography:Reis was born in Macau which was then a Portuguese colony. Reis is of mixed ancestry as her father is Portuguese and her mother is a Han Chinese from Shanghai. Michelle maintains, however, that she considers herself Chinese as that was the...
were elected as Four Peerlessly Beauty in Hong Kong. Among them Cheung is the only man, and all the rest are women.
- His song Monica was crowned as Song of the Century.
- Named Asian Biggest Superstar by CCTV-MTV in Beijing China.
- Won the Most Favorite Actor Award in 100 Years of Chinese Cinema in the poll held by Henderson Land Development Co. Ltd, Hong Kong Ferry Co. Ltd, HKFAA and UA Cinemas for the Centennial of Chinese Film History (2005)
- In the list Top 100 Favorite movies of Chinese Cinema, voted by Hong Kong public, he's 5 movies of top 10, and 4 ones of top 5 (#1 - Farewell My Concubine, #2 - Days of Being Wild
Days of Being Wild is a 1990 Hong Kong film directed by Wong Kar-wai. The film stars some of the best-known actors and actresses in Hong Kong, including Leslie Cheung, Carina Lau, Maggie Cheung, and Andy Lau...
, #3 - A Better TomorrowA Better Tomorrow is a 1986 Hong Kong action film which had a profound influence on the Hong Kong movie-making industry, and later on an international scale.Directed by John Woo, it stars Chow Yun-Fat, Ti Lung and Leslie Cheung...
, #5 - Happy TogetherHappy Together is a 1997 Hong Kong movie directed by Wong Kar-wai, starring Leslie Cheung and Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, that depicts a turbulent romance between two men...
, #6 - RougeRouge is a 1987 Hong Kong film, directed by Stanley Kwan. The movie is the adaptation of the novel by Lilian Lee.-Plot:...
)
- The first Hong Kong actor who acted in a mainland China film, Farewell My Concubine (1993).
- Supports charitable organizations such as Hong Kong Red Cross
The Hong Kong Red Cross is a the national Red Cross society of Hong Kong as part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. It was established officially on 12 July, 1950 as a branch of the British Red Cross Society in Hong Kong...
, Children's Cancer Foundation Hong Kong, and End Child Sexual Abuse FoundationThe End Child Sexual Abuse Foundation was founded in 1998 by Josephine Siao , the Founder and the President of ECSAF, an internationally renowned actress and a qualified clinical psychologist with the mission to protect youngsters under 18 from sexual abuse...
.
- Member of the jury at Tokyo International Film Festival
Tokyo International Film Festival is a film festival established in 1985. The event was held bi-annually from 1985 to 1991 and annually thereafter...
in 1993 and the Berlin International Film FestivalThe Berlin International Film Festival , also called the Berlinale, is one of the world's leading film festivals and most reputable media events. It is held in Berlin, Germany. Founded in 1951, the festival has been celebrated annually in February since 1978...
in 1998.
- One of 10 Chinese Cultural Idols of the 20th Century.
- His wax figure at Madame Tussauds Hong Kong
Madame Tussauds Hong Kong, part of the renowned chain of wax museums founded by Marie Tussaud of France, is located at the Peak Tower on Hong Kong Island in Hong Kong. It is the first and one of the only two permanent Madame Tussauds museums in Asia, the other being the Shanghai branch, which...
was unveiled on 31 March 2004 (first anniversary of his death). It's put in "Historical and National Heroes" room (Cheung is the only singer/actor in this room). The look is reminiscent of Cheung in his famous role as Beijing opera impersonator Cheng Dieyi in the film, Farewell My Concubine.
- A 2006 Hong Kong study on the celebrity suicide events suggested that Cheung's death may cast negative effects on the people already depressed during the SARS period: in April 2003, there were 134 suicides in Hong Kong (Hong Kong population is of 6.9 million). Among them, 13 mentioned Cheung in their suicide notes. However, the historical statistic given in the paper show that the suicide rates in the months before and after April 2003 were consistent with that of April 2003. The paper does not analyze the effect of the SARS and economy depress on the suicide rate either.
- To remember Cheung, some his fans donated benches with Cheung's name to parks at the places they live, such as Hibiya Park in Tokyo or Stanley Park in Vancouver.
- Cheung was called the Elvis of Hong Kong earlier in his career. Coincidentally, the year Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was an American singer and actor. A cultural icon, he is commonly known simply as Elvis and is also sometimes referred to as The King of Rock 'n' Roll or The King....
died was the year Cheung started his singing career.
- There are some songs about Cheung, the most famous one is Gor Gor, written and sung by Lum Hon Yeung.
Selected awards
- RTV Asian Song Contest Runners-up with the song "American Pie" 1977
- Overseas Chinese Daily News
Overseas Chinese Daily News is a Chinese language newspaper from Malaysia. Its first newsprint hit the streets of Kota Kinabalu on 1 March 1936...
The Best Newcomer Award 1977
- RTHK Top Ten Chinese Gold Songs Award winner with the song Monica 1984
- TVB Jade Solid Gold Best Ten Award winner with song Monica 1984
- Commercial Radio Chinese Pop Songs Award winner 1984
- RTHK Top Ten Chinese Gold Songs Award winner with song Wild Wind 1985
- TVB Jade Solid Gold Best Ten Award winner with song Wild Wind 1985
- Commercial Radio Chinese Pop Songs Award winner 1985
- RTHK Top Ten Chinese Gold Songs Award winner with song Who Can Be With Me 1986
- TVB Jade Solid Gold Best Ten Award winner with songs Who Can Be With Me and, Love in Those Years 1986
- Commercial Radio Chinese Pop Songs Award winner 1986
- RTHK Top Ten Chinese Gold Songs Award winner with song Sleepless Night, Summer Romance
Summer Romance is a Cantopop album by Leslie Cheung first released in 1987. This album first catapulted the then struggling Leslie Cheung to instant fame and star status when first released...
is also the Best Selling CD of the year and IFPI Best Selling Album in 1987
- TVB Jade Solid Gold Best Ten Award winner with song Sleepless Night
- RTHK Top Ten Chinese Gold Songs Award winner with songs Silence is Golden and Up Close 1988
- TVB Jade Solid Gold Best Ten Award Most Popular Male Singer 1988
- CRHK Ultimate Song Chart Awards Best Male Singer 1988
- TVB Jade Solid Gold Best Ten Award winner with song Start From Zero, and also winner of the Most Popular Male Singer 1989
- Commercial Radio Ultimate Song Chart Male Gold Award 1989 winner LESLIE
Leslie can refer to any of the following:- Places :in Canada:* Leslie Street, road in Toronto, Ontario...
, album is also the IFPI Best Album of the Year
- IFPI Best Selling Album winner with Fondness 1999
- RTHK Top Ten Chinese Gold Songs Award Millennium Gold Song Award for Monica 1999
- RTHK Golden Needle Award (lifetime achievement award in Cantopop) 1999
- RTHK Top Ten Chinese Gold Songs Award winner with song Left Right Hand 1999
- CRHK Ultimate Song Chart Awards Top Ten Albums for Countdown With You 1999
- CRHK Ultimate Song Chart Awards Best Song Award for Left Right Hand 1999
- Metro Radio Hit Music Awards Best Song Award for Left Right Hand 1999
- Metro Radio Hit Music Awards Top Ten Best Hits for Left Right Hand 1999
- TVB Jade Solid Gold Best Ten Awards Music Salute Award 2000
- Mingpao Weekly Outstanding Male Singer Award 2000
- Ming Pao Weekly Grand Salute Award for Passion Tour 2000
- Joint Award by RTHK, CR, TVB & Metro Radio for the Best Album of the Year winner with album Untitled
The word untitled refers to something that has no title. Documents, works of art, musical works, and other works can be untitled. Generally, an untitled work is the result of a conscious choice by the artist or creator not to apply a title...
2001
- Chinese Pop Music Media Awards Best Male Singer Award 2001
- Chinese Pop Music Media Awards Best Concert Award for Passion Tour 2001
- Chinese Pop Music Media Awards Top Ten Chinese Songs for Passing Dragonfly 2001
- "Sprite My Choice" China Original Music Pop Chart Awards Golden Song Award for Fever 2001
- "Sprite My Choice" China Original Music Pop Chart Awards Millennium Outstanding Achievement Award 2001
- RTHK Top Ten Chinese Gold Songs Awards Silver Jubilee Award of Excellence 2002
- Chinese Pop Music Media Awards Lifetime Achievement Award 2003
- Chinese Pop Music Media Awards Top Ten Chinese Songs for So Far So Close 2003
- CASH
Cash refers to money in the physical form of currency, such as banknotes and coins.In bookkeeping and finance, "cash" refers to current assets comprised of currency or currency equivalents that can be accessed immediately or near-immediately .Cash is a prompt or instant payment for goods and...
My All-time Favorite Song for I 2003
- CASH Golden Sail Music Awards Best Alternative Composition for So Far So Close 2003
- Hong Kong Film Awards
The Hong Kong Film Awards , founded in 1982, are the most prestigious film awards in Hong Kong and among the most respected in mainland China and Taiwan. Award ceremonies are held annually, typically in April. The Awards recognize achievement in all aspects of filmmaking, such as directing,...
winner Best ActorBest Actor is the name of an award. It is presented by various film organizations, film festivals, and people's awards. It may also refer to the Best Actor award in theatre or on television...
for Days of Being WildDays of Being Wild is a 1990 Hong Kong film directed by Wong Kar-wai. The film stars some of the best-known actors and actresses in Hong Kong, including Leslie Cheung, Carina Lau, Maggie Cheung, and Andy Lau...
1991
- Taiwan Golden Horse Film Festival winner Best Original Movie Song for White-haired Beauty 1993
- Chinese Performance Art Association Special Achievement Award for Farewell My Concubine 1993
- Japanese Critic Society Best Actor Award (Foreign Movie) for Farewell My Concubine 1994
- Hong Kong Film Awards
The Hong Kong Film Awards , founded in 1982, are the most prestigious film awards in Hong Kong and among the most respected in mainland China and Taiwan. Award ceremonies are held annually, typically in April. The Awards recognize achievement in all aspects of filmmaking, such as directing,...
Best Original Film Song Award for Chase 1995
- Winner of HK Film Critics Society Best Actor Award for Ashes of Time
Ashes of Time is a 1994 Hong Kong wuxia film written and directed by Wong Kar-wai, and based very loosely on four characters from the Louis Cha novel The Legend of the Condor Heroes....
1994
- Taiwan Golden Horse Awards, Udn, Phoenix TV, and World Journal Global Top Ten Chinese Movie Stars Award 1996
- Ming Pao Weekly Performing Arts Awards Most Outstanding Actor for Inner Senses
Inner Senses is a Hong Kong Film Awards nominated psychological horror feature film directed by Law Chi-Leung in 2002. The film explores themes on hallucinations, clinical depression, psychological trauma and suicide...
2002
- Nikkei Entertainment Japan Top Ten Best Actors in Asia 2004
- NHK Japan Top Ten Favorite Movie Stars 2006
- Hong Kong Film Awards
The Hong Kong Film Awards , founded in 1982, are the most prestigious film awards in Hong Kong and among the most respected in mainland China and Taiwan. Award ceremonies are held annually, typically in April. The Awards recognize achievement in all aspects of filmmaking, such as directing,...
Eternal Glory Performing Arts Award 2004
- Hong Kong Film Awards
The Hong Kong Film Awards , founded in 1982, are the most prestigious film awards in Hong Kong and among the most respected in mainland China and Taiwan. Award ceremonies are held annually, typically in April. The Awards recognize achievement in all aspects of filmmaking, such as directing,...
Most Favorite Actor Award in 100 Years of Chinese Cinema 2005
- Hong Kong Film Awards
The Hong Kong Film Awards , founded in 1982, are the most prestigious film awards in Hong Kong and among the most respected in mainland China and Taiwan. Award ceremonies are held annually, typically in April. The Awards recognize achievement in all aspects of filmmaking, such as directing,...
Silver Jubilee Best Actor Award 2006
- Standard Chartered Hong Kong Platinum Multi-Talented Award 2000
- CCTV-MTV Music Awards Biggest Asian Artist Award 2000
- Sina China Top 10 Cultural Idols of the 20th Century 2003
- Sina China Most Missed Artist 2007
- Sohu China "Remembering My 1997" Most Memorable Celebrity 2007
Discography
- I Like Dreamin (白版碟) 1977
- Day Dreamin' 1977
- 情人箭 (Lover's Arrow) 1979
- 風繼續吹 (The Wind Blows On) 1983
- 一片痴 (Craziness) 1983
- 張國榮 Leslie (Monica
Monica may refer to:* Monica , R&B singer and actress* Monica , the given name "Monica"* Saint Monica* Monica * Monica * Monica * Monica tail warning radar* Monicagate, a term for the Monica Lewinsky scandal...
) 1984
- 夏日精選 - 全賴有你 (Summer Best Collection - All Because of You) 1985
- 為你鍾情 (For Your Love Only) 1985
- 張國榮(迷惑我) Leslie Cheung (Allure me) 1986
- Stand Up 1986
- 張國榮 (當年情) (The Past Love) 1986
- 愛慕 (國語) (Admire) 1987
- Summer Romance
Summer Romance is a Cantopop album by Leslie Cheung first released in 1987. This album first catapulted the then struggling Leslie Cheung to instant fame and star status when first released...
'87 1987
- Hot Summer
Hot Summer was a Cantopop album by Leslie Cheung released in 1988 by Hong Kong record company Cinepoly and followed on the heels of the success of Cheung's Summer Romance the year before...
1988
- Virgin Snow
Virgin Snow is a Cantopop album by Leslie Cheung first released in 1988. The album is the second album that Cheung released after he joined Cinepoly Records in Hong Kong....
1988
- Leslie '89
Leslie '89 is a cantopop album by Leslie Cheung released in 1989 by Cinepoly Records of Hong Kong. It was also his supposed penultimate album before the final album Final Encounter also released in 1989...
張國榮 (側面) (Side Face or Profile) 1989
- Salute'89 1989
- Final Encounter 1989
- Dreaming 1990
- 寵愛 (Beloved
Most Beloved or Beloved is a Cantopop album by Leslie Cheung released in 1995 after a long personal struggle between deciding to make a comeback or to make good his retirement vow...
) 1995
- 紅 (Red
Red is a Cantopop album by Leslie Cheung first released in 1996.This album was Cheung's second post-"retirement" album and incorporated smooth jazz, R&B, trip hop, etc.,producing a different music style from Cheung's earlier albums....
) 1996
- FROM NOW ON (single) 1996
- Printemps
Printemps is a Mandarin album by Leslie Cheung first released in 1998. This album was the first and the only original Mandarin album produced by Leslie Cheung....
1998
- 這些年來 (EP) (All These Years) 1998
- 陪你倒數 (Count Down With You) 1999
- Big Heat
Big Heat is a Cantopop album by Leslie Cheung first released in 2000. This album was released before Leslie Cheung's Passion Tour concert.The song 'Fever' won China's Original Music Award...
(大熱) 2000
- Leslie Untitled (EP) 2000
- Leslie Forever 2001
- Crossover 2002
- 一切隨風 (Everything Follows the Wind) 2003
Filmography
| Year |
Title |
Hong Kong Film Awards The Hong Kong Film Awards , founded in 1982, are the most prestigious film awards in Hong Kong and among the most respected in mainland China and Taiwan. Award ceremonies are held annually, typically in April. The Awards recognize achievement in all aspects of filmmaking, such as directing,...
|
| 1978 |
Erotic Dream of the Red Chamber
紅樓春上春 |
|
Dog eats Dog
狗咬狗骨 |
|
| 1980 |
On Trial On Trial is a 1928 drama film directed by Archie Mayo. The film is based on the novel written by Yolande Maree. The film was made first in 1917, starring Barbara Castleton, Sidney Ainsworth, and Mary McAllister. It was remade again as a talkie in 1939, starring John Litel, Margaret Lindsay, and...
失業生 |
|
| The Drummer |
|
Encore
喝采 |
|
| 1982 |
Energetic 21
沖激２１ |
|
| Crazy Romance Crazy Romance is a 1982 Hong Kong film directed by Leung Tong Mei.-Cast and roles:* Sylvia Chang * Chan Pak-cheung * Leslie Cheung * Hu Dawei * Siu Kwok Wah-External links:* *...
求愛反斗星 |
|
Teenage Dreamers
檸檬可樂 |
|
| Nomad Nomad is a 1982 Hong Kong film directed by Patrick Tam. It is about the experiences of a group of youngsters who feel lost and try to find the true meaning of life. Nomad is considered as one of the representatives of the Hong Kong New Wave films.-Plot:Louis is a lovely young man from a rich...
烈火青春 |
Best Actor Nomination (1983) |
| 1983 |
The Drummer
鼓手 |
|
Little Dragon Maid
楊過與小龍女 |
|
| First time -Albums:* First Time * First Time * The First Time , a 1977 album by Billy "Crash" Craddock, or the title song * First Time, by The Piper Downs-Songs:* "First Time"...
第一次 |
|
| 1984 |
Merry Christmas
聖誕快樂 |
|
Double Decker
三文治 |
|
| Behind the Yellow Line Behind the Yellow Line , also known as Fate, is a 1984 Hong Kong romantic comedy, with casting by Leslie Cheung, Maggie Cheung, and Anita Mui.-Cast:* Leslie Cheung as Paul* Maggie Cheung as Monica* Anita Mui as Anita...
緣份 |
|
Intellectual Trio
龍鳳智多星 |
|
| 1985 |
For Your Heart Only
為你鐘情 |
|
| 1986 |
Last Song in Paris
偶然 |
|
A Better TomorrowA Better Tomorrow is a 1986 Hong Kong action film which had a profound influence on the Hong Kong movie-making industry, and later on an international scale.Directed by John Woo, it stars Chow Yun-Fat, Ti Lung and Leslie Cheung...
英雄本色 |
|
| 1987 |
RougeRouge is a 1987 Hong Kong film, directed by Stanley Kwan. The movie is the adaptation of the novel by Lilian Lee.-Plot:...
胭脂扣 |
Best Actor Nomination (1989) |
A Better Tomorrow II
英雄本色II |
Best Actor Nomination (1988) |
A Chinese Ghost StoryA Chinese Ghost Story is a 1987 Hong Kong romantic comedy-horror film starring Leslie Cheung, Joey Wong and Wu Ma, directed by Ching Siu-tung and produced by Tsui Hark....
倩女幽魂 |
Best Original Film Song Nomination (1988) |
| 1988 |
Fatal Love
殺之戀 |
|
| 1989 |
Aces Go Places V: The Terracotta Hit
新最佳拍檔 |
|
| 1990 |
A Chinese Ghost Story Part II
倩女幽魂II：人間道 |
|
| 1991 |
Once a ThiefOnce a Thief is a 1991 Hong Kong action-comedy film written and directed by John Woo. It stars Chow Yun-Fat, Leslie Cheung, Cherie Chung, Kenneth Tsang and Paul Chu Kong in a lighthearted heist themed action-comedy routine....
縱橫四海 |
|
| Days of Being Wild Days of Being Wild is a 1990 Hong Kong film directed by Wong Kar-wai. The film stars some of the best-known actors and actresses in Hong Kong, including Leslie Cheung, Carina Lau, Maggie Cheung, and Andy Lau...
阿飛正傳 |
Best Actor (1991) |
Party of a Wealthy Family
豪門夜宴 |
|
| 1992 |
Nam Kong Legend: Anti-Punk Squad
藍江傳之反飛組風云 |
|
All's Well, Ends WellAll's Well, Ends Well is a 1992 Hong Kong comedy film directed by Clifton Ko. The film stars Stephen Chow with Maggie Cheung, Leslie Cheung, Raymond Wong, Sandra Ng, and Teresa Mo....
家有喜事 |
|
| 1993 |
Farewell My Concubine
霸王別姬 |
|
The Eagle Shooting Heroes: Dong Cheng Xi Jiu
射雕英雄傳之東成西就 |
|
All's Well, Ends Well TooAll's Well, Ends Well Too is a 1993 Hong Kong comedy film directed by Clifton Ko, and released as comedy fare as is the usual custom to entertain movie-goers on the Lunar New Year celebrations...
花田喜事 |
|
| The Bride with White Hair The Bride with White Hair is a 1993 Hong Kong Wuxia film directed by Ronny Yu.The film's main character, Lien Ni-Chang, is very loosely based on the protagonist of Liang Yusheng's novel Romance of the White Haired Maiden, which had earlier served as source material for the 1982 film Wolf Devil Woman...
白髮魔女傳 |
Best Original Film Song Nomination (1994) |
| The Bride with White Hair 2 The Bride with White Hair 2 is a 1993 Hong Kong film directed by David Wu and Ronny Yu. It is the sequel to The Bride with White Hair.- Plot :Cho Yi-Hang awaits on a snow-capped mountain for a rare flower to blossom...
白髮魔女傳II |
|
| 1994 |
Ashes of Time Ashes of Time is a 1994 Hong Kong wuxia film written and directed by Wong Kar-wai, and based very loosely on four characters from the Louis Cha novel The Legend of the Condor Heroes....
東邪西毒 |
|
Long and Winding Road
錦繡前程 |
|
Over the Rainbow Under the Skirt
記得……香蕉成熟時II：初戀情人 |
|
| He's a Woman, She's a Man He's a Woman, She's a Man is a 1994 film directed by Peter Chan Ho Sun and written by James Yuen and Lee Chi Ngai.It stars Leslie Cheung Kwok Wing, Anita Yuen Wing Yee, Carina Lau Kar Ling, Jordan Chan Siu Chun and Eric Tsang Chi Wai...
金枝玉葉 |
Best Original Film Song (1995)
Best Actor Nomination (1995) |
It's a Wonderful LifeIt's a Wonderful Life is a 1994 Hong Kong film directed by Clifton Ko.-Cast:* Raymond Wong - Kow-Foo Yum* Leslie Cheung - Roberto* Teresa Mo - Kow-An Yum* Fung Bo-Bo - Kow-Foo's Wife* Tony Leung Ka-Fai - Kow-Kwai Yum...
大富之家 |
|
| 1995 |
The Phantom Lover The Phantom Lover is a 1995 Hong Kong film starring Leslie Cheung and Jacqueline Wu. It was directed by Ronnie Yu and is a remake of the 1937 film Song at Midnight. The film itself is a loose adaptation of the classic Romeo and Juliet romance where love between two passionate lovers were...
夜半歌聲 |
Best Original Film Song Nomination (1996) |
| The Chinese Feast The Chinese Feast is a 1995 Hong Kong film co-written, produced and directed by Tsui Hark, and starring Leslie Cheung, Anita Yuen, Kenny Bee, and Law Kar-Ying.-Synopsis:...
金玉滿堂 |
|
| 1996 |
Temptress MoonTemptress Moon is a 1996 Chinese film directed by Chen Kaige. It was jointly produced by the Shanghai Film Studio and the Taipei-based Tomson Films...
風月 |
|
| Yang Yin: Gender in Chinese Cinema |
|
| Viva Erotica Viva Erotica is a 1996 Hong Kong film directed by Derek Yee and Lo Chi-Leung.-Plot:Viva Erotica is a sex-comedy film, though with a serious subject of how an artist has to compromise with his talents for living...
色情男女 |
Best Actor Nomination (1997) |
| Shanghai Grand Shanghai Grand , also known as Shanghai Grand 1996 to differentiate this film from its more illustrious TVB series of the same name, The Bund, is a 1996 Hong Kong action-drama crime film starring Leslie Cheung, Andy Lau and Ning Jing....
新上海灘 |
|
Who's the Man, Who's the Woman
金枝玉葉II |
Best Original Film Song Nomination (1997) |
| Tristar Tristar is a 1996 Hong Kong film directed by Tsui Hark.-Cast and roles include:* Moses Chan as Chen Junnan* Sunny Chan as Fa's partner* Leslie Cheung as Father Zhong Guoqiang* Radium Cheung * Chung King-fai as Dinosaur...
大三元 |
|
| 1997 |
All's Well, Ends Well 1997All's Well, Ends Well 1997 is a 1997 Hong Kong comedy film directed by Alfred Cheung, starring Stephen Chow, Raymond Wong and Francis Ng.-Cast and roles:* Stephen Chow - Lo Kung* Raymond Wong - Lo Leung* Francis Ng - Lo Fei* Roy Chiao - Mr...
97家有喜事 |
|
| Happy Together Happy Together is a 1997 Hong Kong movie directed by Wong Kar-wai, starring Leslie Cheung and Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, that depicts a turbulent romance between two men...
春光乍泄 |
Best Actor Nomination (1998) |
| 1998 |
Ninth Happiness
九星報喜 |
|
A Time to Remember
紅色戀人 |
|
| Anna Magdalena Anna Magdalena is a 1998 Hong Kong film starring Kelly Chen, Takeshi Kaneshiro and Aaron Kwok. It was the directorial debut of production designer Yee Chung-Man.-Title:...
安娜瑪德蓮娜 |
|
| 1999 |
Moonlight Express Moonlight Express is a 1999 joint Hong Kong/Japanese film directed by Daniel Lee and starring Leslie Cheung and Takako Tokiwa.-Cast:* Leslie Cheung - Kar Bo/Tetsuya* Takako Tokiwa - Hitomi* Michelle Yeoh* Austin Wai* Sam Lee-Plot details:...
星月童話 |
|
| The Kid The Kid is a Hong Kong movie starring Leslie Cheung. It also co-stars Yip Tuen Nam, Ti Lung, and Carrie Ng.-Synopsis:This drama highlights the social problems of single parents struggling to raise children and Leslie Cheung was given the role of a retired fund-manager Wing who lost his entire...
流星語 |
|
| 2000 |
Double Tap
槍王 |
|
| Okinawa Rendez-vous Okinawa Rendezvous is a 2000 Hong Kong film produced and directed by Gordon Chan, and starring Leslie Cheung, Faye Wong, Tony Leung Ka-Fai and Gigi Lai....
戀戰沖繩 |
|
From Ashes to Ashes
煙飛煙滅 |
|
| 2002 |
Inner Senses Inner Senses is a Hong Kong Film Awards nominated psychological horror feature film directed by Law Chi-Leung in 2002. The film explores themes on hallucinations, clinical depression, psychological trauma and suicide...
異度空間 |
Best Actor Nomination (2003) |
| 2008 |
Ashes of Time Redux
東邪西毒終極版 |
|
Further reading
- Simon Broughton, Mark Ellingham, "World Music Volumn 2: Latin and North America, Caribbean, India, Asia and Pacific", BBC Radio, 2000, ISBN 1-85828-636-0
- Klein, A. (2003). Farewell, Leslie Cheung. Los Angeles City Beat. Retrieved 17 December 2005, from http://www.lacitybeat.com/article.php?id=457&IssueNum=26.
- Kei Mori, "夢想之欠片（Broken pieces of dreams）", Renga Shyobo Shinshya Co,Ltd,Tokyo Japan,2004,ISBN 4-902603-55-1
- Chitose Shima, "Leslie Cheung Interview", All About Leslie, P25-40, Sangyo Henshu Center Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan, 1999, ISBN 4-916199-10-3
- Chitose Shima, "Time of Leslie Cheung", Sangyo Henshu Center Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan, 2004, ISBN 4-916199-59-6
- City Entertainment Editor Committee, "Leslie Cheung's Movie World 2 (1991-1995)", City Entertainment, Hong Kong, 2006, ISBN 962-8114-98-0
- De Hui, "Leslie Cheung's Movie Life" I, II, Shanghai Bookstore Publishing House, Shanghai, 2006, ISBN 7-80678-557-4-J.272
External links
- レスリー・チャン（張國榮）スマイル
- http://www.geocities.com/lil2lam/leslie.html In Memory Of Leslie Cheung
- Leslie Cheung Cyberworld Official website of Red Mission, providing material on Cheung's music, movies, interviews, photos, etc.
- Leslie Cheung Fan Club of China Official website of Leslie Cheung Fan Club of China, providing material on Cheung's music, movies, interviews, photos, radio, forum, etc.
- Watch the documentary film "Leslie Cheung - Hong Kong Star", shown by German - French TV channel Arte on 30 August 2007.
- Leslie Cheung Internet Fan Club Official website of the Leslie Cheung Internet Fan Club