Ricky Hui

Ricky Hui Kwun-ying
許冠英
Born(1946-08-03)3 August 1946
Died8 November 2011(2011-11-08) (aged 65)
Occupation(s)Actor, singer
Years active1972–2011
Height1.66 m (5 ft 5+12 in)
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese許冠英
Simplified Chinese许冠英
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinXǔ Guànyīng
Yue: Cantonese
JyutpingHeoi2 Gun3jing1
Musical career
GenresCantopop
InstrumentVocals

Ricky Hui Kwun-ying (3 August 1946 – 8 November 2011) was a Hong Kong actor and singer. He along with his brothers, Michael and Sam, made several comedy blockbusters in the 1970s and 1980s.

Biography

Films

Ricky worked as a correspondent for the Agence France-Presse in Hong Kong. He also frequently appeared in Shaw Brothers films between 1972 and 1976, such as The Lizard (1972), The 14 Amazons (1972), The Sugar Daddies (1973), The Generation Gap (1973), Rivals of Kung Fu (1974), Hong Kong 73 (1974) etc. For him the big break came when he joined his brothers on screen.

Hui's first major role was in Games Gamblers Play (1974) as a card player followed by The Last Message (1975) with a short appearance as a waiter. Ricky had a larger role in The Private Eyes (1976) and with that film a new era of the Hong Kong Cinema started. The Hui brothers' comedy films were an influential part of Hong Kong cinema. Their films were packed with visual gags and unique Cantonese humor. Although Ricky had only a small role in The Private Eyes, it remained one of the all time favorites among fans. According to Michael Hui, Ricky had only brief appearance in this film because at that time he had a contract with the Shaw Brothers. Reportedly, his contract with the Shaw Brothers ended around 1976, because the last Shaw Brothers film he appeared in was Challenge of the Masters that year. The following year found Ricky at Golden Harvest with a leading role in John Woo's Money Crazy as well as From Riches to Rags. In 1979 Games Gamblers Play was released in the Japanese market. For this edition Michael shot a new scene, a fight between Ricky and Sam on the beach, and replaced the original Sammo Hung vs Sam Hui fight with it. The next Hui brothers production where Ricky teamed up with his brothers again was The Contract in 1978, followed by Security Unlimited (1981), one of the most successful films featuring the Hui brothers; Security Unlimited was full of gags and included the Huis' trademark Cantonese humor. In the late 1970s and early 1980s Ricky played leading roles in John Woo films like From Riches To Rags (1979), To Hell with the Devil (1982) or Plain Jane To The Rescue (1982).

Michael became a producer in 1987 and Ricky appeared in his films: Chicken and Duck Talk (1988), Front Page (1990), The Magic Touch (1992). In 1985 Sammo Hung produced one of the biggest cult films Mr. Vampire where Ricky Hui played Man Choi, a memorable role on the side of the unforgettable (Lam Ching-ying).

Ricky was most active in his film career in the 1970s and 1980s. In the late 1990s he appeared in only one film, in First Love Unlimited (1997). He later rejoined his brother Sam in Winner Takes All (2000). The last films Ricky Hui appeared in were Super Model and Forever Yours, both from 2004.

Death

Ricky Hui died of a heart attack at home on 8 November 2011 at the age of 65.[1][2] His funeral was held at Po Fook Hill Memorial Hall in Sha Tin, and was attended by dozens of guests and relatives.[3] His family followed his wishes to put his ashes to sea in Sai Kung. 8th November also is the death day of Lam Ching-ying, who was Ricky Hui's partner in "Mr Vampire".

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1972 A Girl Fighter
The 14 Amazons
The Lizard
Man of Iron
Thunderbolt Fist
1973 The Delinquent Kung fu student Uncredited
The Generation Gap
Kiss of Death
The Mandarin
Illicit Desire
The House of 72 Tenants
The Sugar Daddies Hsiao Sun
The Iron Bodyguard Thief
1974 The Ghost Lovers
Wu yi
Shao Lin zi di
Hong Kong 73
Sex, Love and Hate
Rivals of Kung Fu
Sinful Confession Hentai voyeur
Games Gamblers Play Gambler at Beach
Kidnap Casino Assistant
1975 The Flying Guillotine Cheng Ziping
E ba
The Last Message Waiter on Skates
1976 Challenge of the Masters Lung
Gui cai Lun Wen Xu Lao Tzu
Bao biao
The Private Eyes Pighead
1977 Money Crazy Poison
1978 Gou yao gou gu (Guest star)
The Contract Frog
Da lin ba (Guest star)
1980 From Riches to Rags Ricky
1981 Security Unlimited Bruce Tang
1982 To Hell with the Devil Bruce
Plain Jane to the Rescue Fang
1983 The Trail Ying
1984 Aces Go Places III: Our Man from Bond Street Puffer Fish
1985 Infatuation
Mr. Vampire Man Choi
1986 Happy Ding Dong Butcher's Son
Naughty Boys Cab Driver (Guest star)
Chocolate Inspector Egg-Tart
1987 Project A Part II Homely Cop
The Haunted Cop Shop Man-Chill
1988 Who Is the Craftiest
The Inspector Wears Skirts Cook
The Haunted Cop Shop 2 Man-Chill
Chicken and Duck Talk Cuttlefish
Stumbling Cops
Operation Pink Squad Dumb Ying
1989 Mr. Coconut Lime
The Inspector Wears Skirts 2 Cook
Miracles Lady Rose's Friend
Forever Young
How to Be a Millionaire... Without Really Trying Charles
1990 Front Page Fly
1991 Ghost For Sales
1992 The Magic Touch Fat
Mr. Vampire 1992 Man Choi
1993 All's Well, Ends Well Too Lady Chow
Laughter of the Water Margins Hsimen Kuan
1997 First Love Unlimited Uncle Wing
2000 Winner Takes All Swindler Wong's brother
2004 Super Model Model King
Forever Yours Leo
2005 Divergence Yiu's Bodyguard (final film role)

[4] [5]

References

  1. ^ 許冠英心臟病逝世 享年65歲. iHKtv (in Chinese). 8 November 2011. Archived from the original on 10 November 2011. Retrieved 8 November 2011.
  2. ^ "HK comedian Ricky Hui dies at 65". AsiaOne. 9 November 2011. Archived from the original on 11 November 2011. Retrieved 25 December 2017.
  3. ^ "Film tribute at funeral of Ricky Hui". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 2019-05-20.
  4. ^ "Ricky Hui". imdb.com. Retrieved April 2, 2010.
  5. ^ "Ricky Hui". chinesemov.com. Archived from the original on September 24, 2010. Retrieved April 2, 2010.