Robin Shou | |
|---|---|
 Shou in 2004 | |
| Born | Shou Wan-por (仇雲波) July 17, 1960 |
| Other names | Wai Lung (威龍, his Cantonese screen name during his Hong Kong acting career. His screen name means "mighty/powerful dragon".) |
| Alma mater | California State University, Los Angeles |
| Occupation(s) | Martial artist, actor |
| Years active | 1987—present |
| Style | Kenpo, Wu Shu, Karate |
Shou Wan-por (Chinese: 仇雲波, born July 17, 1960), known professionally as Robin Shou, is a Hong Kong-American actor, martial artist and stuntman. He is known for roles such as Liu Kang in the Mortal Kombat film series (1995 and 1997), Gobei in Beverly Hills Ninja (1997), Gen in Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li (2009), and 14K in the Death Race films (2008-2013). Shou was also a Hong Kong action star in the late 1980s and early 1990s and has appeared in about 40 movies during his Hong Kong career before he entered Hollywood in 1994.[1] Prior to his acting career, Shou won several championships as a martial artist.
Shou's interest in martial arts developed during his years as a University student. He began practising wushu after watching Jet Li's film Shaolin Temple. He soon became a Hong Kong stuntman.[2]
As a martial artist, Shou was an International Forms Champion in 1982 and 1983 and he won several gold and silver medals at prestigious competitions in China. He was also a traditional forms Grand Champion in California.[3]
Shou's first dramatic role was in Forbidden Nights in 1990, with Melissa Gilbert. Though only a TV film, this was his American debut. However, Shou went back to Hong Kong and continued making movies there. In 1994, Shou returned to Los Angeles whereupon he appeared as Liu Kang, a Shaolin monk seeking revenge for the death of his younger brother, in Mortal Kombat (1995 film).
Shou also appeared in a minor role in another fighting video game adaptation, DOA: Dead or Alive, based on Tecmo's video game series of the same name, produced by Mortal Kombat director Paul W. S. Anderson and producer Jeremy Bolt. He played 14K in the Death Race series, and also appeared as Gen in 2009's Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li. Shou trained Milla Jovovich for her role in Resident Evil.[4]
He is fluent in English in addition to his native Chinese.[5]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | The Big Brother | Robin | — |
| 1988 | City War | Killer | — |
| 1989 | Death Cage | Lan-si Han | — |
| 1990 | Tiger Cage 2 | Waise Chow | as Robin Chou |
| Fatal Termination | Wai Loong | — | |
| 1991 | Eastern Heroes | Hawk | — |
| 1992 | Interpol Connection | — | — |
| Magdaleno Orbos: Sa Kuko ng Mga Lawin | — | — | |
| Black Cat II | Robin | — | |
| 1993 | Bloody Mary Killer | — | |
| 1994 | The Most Wanted | Gang leader | — |
| 1995 | Mortal Kombat | Liu Kang | Shou's Hollywood big screen debut and his second American movie |
| 1997 | Mortal Kombat Annihilation | Liu Kang | — |
| Beverly Hills Ninja | Gobei | — | |
| 2003 | Red Trousers - The Life of the Hong Kong Stuntmen | Evan Narrator Himself |
Director |
| 2006 | 18 Fingers of Death! | Jackie Chong | — |
| DOA: Dead or Alive | Pirate Senior | — | |
| 2008 | Death Race | 14K | — |
| 2009 | Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li | Gen | — |
| 2010 | Death Race 2 | 14K | — |
| 2011 | Mortal Enemies | Sunny | — |
| 2013 | Death Race 3: Inferno | 14K | — |
| 2014 | Black Tiger: Hunter Hunted | Pacific "Pac" Fong / Black Tiger | Short film |
| 2015 | Earthbound | Short film, director | |
| TBD | Dead Mule Suitcase | Jack Lam | Director |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Yellowthread Street | Tony Siu | Episode: "The Red Pole" |
| Forbidden Nights | Liang Heng | Television film | |
| 1992 | Soldier Soldier | Journalist Feng | Episode: "Lost and Found" |
| 1998 | The Outer Limits | Major Ronald Neguchi | Episode: "Nightmare" |
| 2009 | Cold Case | Bo-Lin Chen (1983) | Episode: "Chinatown" |
| TBD | Way of the Empty Hand | Boss | Television film, (post-production) |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Sleeping Dogs | Conroy Wu / Roland Ho | Voice |
