so apparently another kung fu movie icon(say what u want DC was an Icon) has passed away: from kung fu cinema.com:
Hong Kong has lost one of its greatest and longest living film treasures. Veteran martial arts actor Shek Kin (aka Shih Kien, Sek Kin), best known internationally for his role in ENTER THE DRAGON as “Mr. Han,” died this morning at the venerable age of 96.
Gregory So, Hong Kong’s Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development expressed regret at the loss.
“Mr. Shek’s brilliant career in the performing arts industry started in the 1940s. Since then he devoted lifelong commitment to the industry. He played a villain role in the Wong Fei-hung film series and had become one of the most recognizable faces of Hong Kong cinema,” said So.
“With his death, Hong Kong has lost an outstanding performing arts talent. On behalf of the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau, I offer our deepest condolences to Mr. Shek’s family.”
Shek was one of the territory’s most recognizable actors thanks to a prolific career that spanned over 50 years. Born in 1913, Shek was among the first generation of martial arts stars including Walter Cho, Kwan Tak-hing and Yu So-chow, who flourished during the initial genre boom of the 1950s and '60s. Trained in several northern kung fu disciplines rather than Chinese opera like so many of his peers, Shek began appearing in Cantonese-language martial arts films in the late 1940s. Up until he was cast as the lead villain in ENTER THE DRAGON, Shek was best known as the lead villain in the long-running WONG FEI HUNG film series where he frequently crossed fists and wits with series star Kwan Tak-hing.
In the 1970s and '80s, Shek continued to appear in a variety of films, most notably in ENTER THE DRAGON but also in a comedic supporting role opposite Jackie Chan in THE YOUNG MASTER. He also frequently appeared in local television series. Shek Kin retired from the entertainment industry in the mid-1990s. His final film role was in Bosco Lam’s comedy HONG KONG ADAM’S FAMILY (1994).
Acting Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Gregory So has expressed deep regret over the loss of veteran actor Sek Kin who died this morning.
“Mr Sek’s brilliant career in the performing arts industry started in the 1940s. Since then he devoted lifelong commitment to the industry. He played a villain role in the Wong Fei-hung film series and had become one of the most recognisable faces of Hong Kong cinema,” Mr So said today.
Sek later joined the television sector and starred in a number of popular series. He won the Professional Achievement Award at the Hong Kong Film Awards in 2003.
“With his death Hong Kong has lost an outstanding performing arts talent. On behalf of the Commerce & Economic Development Bureau, I offer our deepest condolences to Mr Sek’s family.”
I never met Shek Kin. I saw him demonstrate a form at a tournament in S.F. decades ago, but that was it. I can’t even remember when that was exactly. He’s most remembered for his role in Enter the Dragon, but he was also the villain for the original Wong Fei Hung series with Kwan Tak Hing.
He had a long and storied life. This is a life to be celebrated! Not mourned as a tragic loss. He lived his life and made all the contributions he could make to all of us as martial practitioners and artists.
Sek Kin will me missed. I have seen him play both heroes and villains, and you can bet that it was Bruce Lee’s idea to cast him in the role of Han. I am sure he was honored to share the same set with him. He was one of the most famous actors in HK cinema.
R.I.P.
[QUOTE=David Jamieson;939318]96 years old isn’t exactly a tragedy.
He had a long and storied life. This is a life to be celebrated! Not mourned as a tragic loss. He lived his life and made all the contributions he could make to all of us as martial practitioners and artists.[/QUOTE]
Well said.
The strange thing is, early yesterday, out of the blue, I wondered a bit about Shek Kin and if he was alive, how he was doing. And I have no idea why.
I had the occaision to meet Mr. Shek Kin back in the 80’s, I was introduced to him by Sifu Brendan Lai, he asked me a few questions about my training background of course in chinese, Sifu Lai translated for me, he told me to keep up my training and do plenty of jogging it was a good way to build up chi. I hold his words dear to this very day and celebrate his long and distiguished life.
Shek was a true martial artist in every sense of the word. I am fortunate enough to have learned some of his kung fu that he passed on to my sifu. My wife’s family was quite close with him especially her dad.
