David Chiang Tai-wai (born Chiang Wei-nien; 29 June 1947) is a Hong Kong actor, director, producer and martial artist. A well-known martial arts actor formerly from Shaw Brothers Studio in the 1970s, he has appeared in over 130 films and 30 television series.
Early life
Chiang was born in Shanghai, China on 29 June 1947. Chiang's mother Hung Wei (紅薇) (real name: Lo Chen 羅珍), and father Yan Fa (嚴化) (real name: Chiang Ko-chi) were popular Chinese movie stars who moved to Hong Kong in the late 1940s during the Chinese Civil War. He has an older brother Paul Chun and a half-brother Derek Yee.
Career
At age four, Chiang began his acting career as a child actor. In 1966, while working as a stuntman and fight instructor for the Shaw Brothers Studio, Chiang was spotted by director Chang Cheh, who immediately saw his potential and screen presence, and became his mentor. Chang gave him the stage name David Chiang, even though his real English name was John.
With Wang Yu's sudden departure in 1969, Run Run Shaw and his senior executives were looking for a new leading man and made Chiang an offer. In 1970, under Chang Cheh's guidance, Chiang won the Best Actor award at the 16th Asian Film Festival for his role in Vengeance. In 1972, at the 18th Asian Film Festival, he won the Best Actor Golden Horse Award for his role in Blood Brothers. In 1973, at the 19th Asian Film Festival, he won the Most Contemporary award for his role in The Generation Gap.
In 1973 Chiang left Hong Kong with his mentor Chang Cheh and set up an independent production company called Chang's Scope Company. With the help of Run Run Shaw, their films continued to be distributed through Shaw's channels. At Chang's Scope Company, Chiang worked as a director, producer, and screenwriter. As the 1970s came to an end and the 1980s approached, Chiang continued acting, working with directors Lee Han Chiang, Hsueh Li Pao, Ho Meng-hua, and Chia-Liang Liu. In 1980 he made his television debut in The Green Dragon Conspiracy, followed by Princess Chang Ping and Dynasty. In the mid-1980s, Chiang worked with his brothers, Paul Chun and Derek Yee, directing, producing and acting in the comedy Legend of the Owl. Chiang also acted in other comedy movies such as The Challenger and The Loot, directed by Eric Tseng. In the late 1980s into the early 1990s Chiang directed the movies Heaven Can Help, Silent Love, The Wrong Couples, Mr. Handsome, Double Fattiness, My Dear Son, Will of Iron, and Mother of a Different Kind. Since 2000 he has continued to work in movies and TV series, including Election, Daisy, Revolving Doors of Vengeance, Lethal Weapons of Love and Passion, Land of Wealth, The Family Link and the 2007 television series The Gem of Life. He was nominated for Best Supporting Actor in 2006 for his role in the TVB series Revolving Doors of Vengeance.
On 20 January 1974, Chiang married Maggie Lee Lam Lam (李琳琳), an actress. Chiang and his wife have three children: Elaine Chiang (b. 1974), who is married to actor Raymond Cho; Eve Chiang (b. 1983); and John Chiang, Jr. (b. 1995).
He currently[as of?] lives in Vancouver, Canada with his family, but returns to Hong Kong to film movies and television dramas.
