Dick Wei

Dick Wei (Chinese: 狄威, born Tu Jilong 涂吉龍, April 15, 1953) is a Taiwanese actor, director, and martial artist renowned for his extensive work in Hong Kong and Taiwanese action and martial arts films from the 1970s through the 2010s.^[1][2] Born in Zhutian, Pingtung County, Taiwan, Wei began training in martial arts during junior high school, where he excelled in competitions and later specialized in Taekwondo.^[1] After enlisting in the Taiwanese army, he rose to the rank of captain and served as a martial arts instructor, teaching Taekwondo to police forces and fellow martial artists such as Cheung Kwok-leung.^[1] His entry into the film industry came in 1977 when he was discovered by director Chang Cheh and joined Shaw Brothers Studio in Hong Kong, adopting the stage name Tu Lung for his early roles.^[3] Over his career, Wei appeared in over 130 films, often portraying villains or tough antagonists in high-energy action sequences, while also contributing as a director on three projects, a screenwriter on one, and a martial arts choreographer on several others.^[1][2] Wei gained prominence in the golden age of Hong Kong cinema through collaborations with stars like Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung, showcasing his athleticism and combat skills in iconic martial arts productions.^[4] Notable performances include the dying head of the Five Venoms House in The Five Venoms (1978), the pirate chief Lo San Po in Project A (1983), and the antagonist Dick/Willie in Yes, Madam! (1985), films that highlighted his versatility in both dramatic and stunt-heavy roles.^[1][5] He also featured in other acclaimed titles such as The Prodigal Son (1981) as Mr. Suen and Millionaires' Express (1986) as a mountain bandit, contributing to the genre's international appeal.^[3][4] After building his reputation in Hong Kong, Wei returned to Taiwan in the 1990s to focus on directing and producing, helming action films like Visa to Hell (1991) and Sheng si yi xian (1994), though he continued acting sporadically until his retirement in 2019.^[4][2][6] He now lives in his hometown of Pingtung, Taiwan. His legacy endures as a pivotal figure in martial arts cinema, bridging Taiwanese martial traditions with the high-octane style of Hong Kong filmmaking.^[1]

Early life

Birth and family background

Dick Wei was born Tu Jilong on April 15, 1953, in Zhutian, Pingtung County, Taiwan.^[1][4] This later transitioned into formal martial arts training during his junior high years.

Martial arts training and military service

Dick Wei began his martial arts training during junior high school in Taiwan, developing a particular expertise in Taekwondo.^[1] His dedication to the discipline led him to compete extensively in his youth, where he secured victories in numerous martial arts competitions.^[1] Following his education, Wei enlisted in the Taiwanese army, rising to the rank of captain.^[1] In this role, he served as a martial arts instructor, specializing in Taekwondo and training recruits in combat techniques. He also taught Taekwondo to fellow martial artists such as Cheung Kwok-leung.^[1] After completing his military service, Wei transitioned to a position as a combat instructor for the Taiwanese police force, continuing to impart his Taekwondo knowledge to law enforcement personnel.^[1]

Entry into film industry

Discovery by Shaw Brothers

In 1977, while operating a martial arts studio in Taipei, Dick Wei was spotted by director Chang Cheh during a training session, leveraging his established expertise in martial arts from his service as a martial arts instructor in the Taiwanese army and his subsequent work training the Taiwanese police force.^[1] Impressed by Wei's Taekwondo proficiency and physical prowess, Cheh encouraged him to perform a screen test, the results of which were screened for Shaw Brothers Studio founder Run Run Shaw.^[1] Run Run Shaw, recognizing Wei's potential as an action performer, promptly signed him to a contract with Shaw Brothers, propelling Wei from his life in Taiwan into the professional Hong Kong film industry.^[1] This agreement formalized Wei's entry as a contract actor and martial arts specialist at the studio. Following the signing, Wei relocated to Hong Kong, where he adapted to the high-intensity environment of Shaw Brothers' production system, characterized by fast-paced shoots and a focus on choreographed combat sequences.^[1] His transition involved intensive preparation for on-screen roles, building on his instructional background to meet the studio's demands for realistic fight dynamics.^[1]

Debut and early roles

Wei made his film debut in 1974 with the low-budget Taiwanese production The Assignment, playing a thug in a minor role that highlighted his martial arts skills.^[7] After signing with Shaw Brothers in 1977 and relocating to Hong Kong, he appeared in his first films for the studio that year, including The Brave Archer as Yang Tieh-Sin and Chinatown Kid as a Green Dragon gang thug, engaging in brief but intense fight sequences that showcased his physicality as a supporting performer.^[8][9] These early roles positioned him as a reliable action performer rather than a lead.^[1] Wei achieved his breakthrough in Hong Kong cinema through Shaw Brothers Studio, debuting under the alias Tu Lung in the martial arts classic Five Deadly Venoms (1978), directed by Chang Cheh, where he portrayed the dying head of the Five Venoms House in the film's opening sequence.^[10] Although his role was brief, it established Wei as a formidable presence, with his character's authoritative demeanor and implied mastery of venom-style kung fu underscoring his transition to more nuanced supporting antagonists. Later that year, in The Avenging Eagle (1978), also a Shaw Brothers production under director Sun Chung, Wei took on the role of one of the elite Eagle assassins (the Red Eagle), contributing to elaborate group fight scenes involving unique weapons and acrobatic choreography that emphasized his agility and striking power.^[11] These performances solidified his early reputation as a skilled supporting actor who leveraged authentic martial arts expertise to enhance high-stakes action sequences.^[1]

Peak acting career

Shaw Brothers collaborations

In Five Deadly Venoms (1978), one of his early Shaw Brothers films, Dick Wei established a prolific partnership with Shaw Brothers Studio, appearing in over a dozen martial arts films from 1977 to 1982 that exemplified the studio's fast-paced, ensemble-driven kung fu aesthetic.^[1] His roles during this era emphasized raw physicality and intricate fight choreography, contributing to the high-energy action sequences that became synonymous with Shaw Brothers productions.^[1] Wei collaborated extensively with director Chang Cheh, a key figure in Shaw Brothers' output, on films such as Crippled Avengers (1978), where he played one of the Tian Nan Three Tigers, and Killer Constable (1980), portraying the antagonist Sun Heng.^[12][13] These collaborations highlighted his versatility in supporting villainous and fighter roles, often involving brutal, multi-opponent brawls that underscored Chang Cheh's themes of brotherhood and vengeance.^[1] A standout example was The Kid with the Golden Arm (1979), in which Wei's portrayal of the Sand Palm Fighter delivered intense palm-strike duels central to the film's narrative of rival gangs vying for a hidden treasure.^[10] In the Venom Mob series—a collection of interconnected Shaw Brothers films featuring the core ensemble from Five Deadly Venoms—Wei co-starred alongside actors like Philip Kwok, Chiang Sheng, and Sun Chien, enhancing the group's signature synchronized combat style.^[14] His involvement in titles like Invincible Shaolin (1978) and The Kid with the Golden Arm (1979) marked an evolution from peripheral thugs in earlier entries, such as Chinatown Kid (1977), to prominent action antagonists who drove the plot through their martial confrontations.^[1][15] This progression solidified Wei's status within Shaw Brothers' ensemble kung fu pictures, where his reliable presence in fight-heavy scenes amplified the studio's emphasis on collective heroism and stylized violence.^[1]

Golden Harvest period and villain roles

In the early 1980s, Dick Wei transitioned from Shaw Brothers to Golden Harvest, where he became a staple in action comedies and martial arts films, often collaborating with director and actor Sammo Hung. This period marked a prolific phase in his career, with Wei appearing in numerous productions that capitalized on his imposing physique and taekwondo expertise, establishing him as a go-to performer for antagonistic roles. His move to Golden Harvest aligned with the studio's emphasis on high-energy ensemble casts featuring Hung's circle of performers, including Jackie Chan and Yuen Biao, contributing to Wei's involvement in over 100 films across his career.^[1] Wei gained prominence through iconic villain roles that showcased his physicality in memorable fight sequences. In The Prodigal Son (1981), directed by Sammo Hung, he portrayed Mr. Suen, a ruthless martial arts enforcer whose confrontations, including a tense skirmish with Lam Ching-ying and Yuen Biao, highlighted Wing Chun techniques and raw intensity, helping the film achieve commercial success with a Hong Kong box office gross of HK$9,150,729. Similarly, in Project A (1983), also co-directed by Hung and starring Jackie Chan, Wei played the pirate chief Lo San Po, culminating in a climactic team-up battle against Chan, Hung, and Yuen Biao that ended dramatically with a grenade explosion; the film's adventurous stunts and action propelled it to HK$19,323,824 in Hong Kong earnings. These performances solidified Wei's typecasting as a formidable, no-nonsense opponent, blending menace with skilled choreography.^[16][17] His Golden Harvest tenure peaked with roles like the mountain bandit in Millionaires' Express (1986), another Hung-directed ensemble comedy featuring an all-star cast including Cynthia Rothrock. Wei's brief but explosive duel with Yuen Biao emphasized acrobatic flips and rapid strikes, contributing to the film's chaotic bandit raid sequences and its status as a box office hit, grossing HK$28,122,275 in Hong Kong. Throughout this era, Wei's villainous characters drove narrative tension in these commercially successful productions, amassing significant audience appeal through their reliable portrayal of tough adversaries in fast-paced martial arts spectacles.^[18]

Directing and action work

Action choreography contributions

Dick Wei served as martial arts director for the 1989 production Dragon Fight, a Hong Kong action film directed by Billy Tang and starring Jet Li, Nina Li Chi, and Stephen Chow. In this capacity, he designed and coordinated the film's fight sequences, drawing on his extensive background in taekwondo and other martial disciplines to create intense, hand-to-hand combat scenes that highlighted the performers' athleticism.^[19][20] Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Wei contributed to action choreography in Hong Kong and Taiwanese films, including serving as martial arts director for A Killing Order (1994). His work emphasized practical, high-impact martial arts action suited to the era's fast-paced cinema, often integrating his Taiwanese training influences into the sequences.^[1]

Films as director

Dick Wei transitioned from action choreography to full directing with his debut feature Visa to Hell (1991), a Taiwan-Hong Kong co-production that blends crime thriller elements with supernatural adventure. In the film, a relentless police inspector (Lam Wai) pursues a ruthless gangster known as the Black Panther (played by Wei himself), who murders the inspector's wife and daughter before committing suicide to evade capture. Desperate for justice, the inspector seeks aid from a Taoist priest to obtain a "visa" to Hell, where he continues the chase amid chaotic battles involving demons, ninjas, and otherworldly foes. Wei's direction highlights his martial arts expertise through inventive fight choreography incorporating gunplay, swordplay, and acrobatic sequences, though the narrative has been noted for its repetitive pacing in the infernal realms.^[21] Building on this, Wei's follow-up A Killing Order (1994), also titled The Deadly Warrant or Sheng si yi xian, shifts focus to themes of vengeance within a gritty crime framework. The story centers on escaped convicts fleeing from mainland China to Taiwan, where they clash violently with local police in a series of high-stakes shootouts and pursuits, exposing corruption ties between law enforcement and the criminal underworld. As both director and martial arts designer, Wei infuses the film with intense, realistic action set pieces that underscore the moral ambiguities of retribution, drawing from his background in military-trained combat techniques. The production emphasizes raw underworld tension over supernatural twists, marking a more grounded exploration of justice's cost.^[22][23] Wei revisited directing later with New Encounters of the Spooky Kind (2016), an online ghost comedy film. Wei portrays Master Ti in the production, which incorporates supernatural and comedic elements drawing from traditional Chinese horror tropes. This low-budget digital release reflects Wei's interest in blending his action heritage with lighthearted horror elements for contemporary audiences.^[24]

Later career and retirement

Return to Taiwan and television

Following his directorial debut in Taiwan with Visa to Hell (1991) and Sheng si yi xian (1994), Dick Wei returned to Taiwan in the early 1990s to concentrate on domestic film and video productions. This relocation marked a transition from the high-profile Hong Kong action cinema to more localized projects, where he took on roles as actor, director, and producer in lower-budget endeavors tailored for the Taiwanese market.^[4] In Taiwan, Wei immersed himself in television and video content, appearing in thriller and action formats that aligned with local broadcasting needs. Notable examples include his portrayal of a superior officer in the 1996 video production No. 13 Command, a tense police procedural highlighting martial arts confrontations, and his involvement in Series of Murder Files (1996), a mystery series episode blending investigation and combat sequences. These works demonstrated his continued prowess in action choreography while adapting to episodic storytelling suited for TV audiences.^[25][26] This phase of his career facilitated a deeper cultural reconnection, drawing on his Hakka heritage from Pingtung County to engage with Taiwan's entertainment landscape, which prioritized narratives rooted in regional identity and everyday heroism over the extravagant spectacles of his Hong Kong era. By focusing on such productions, Wei contributed to the vitality of 1990s Taiwanese media, bridging his martial arts background with stories emphasizing justice and community resilience.^[27]

Recent films and retirement in 2019

After a hiatus from major film roles, Dick Wei made a notable return to acting in 2013 with the historical martial arts film 7 Assassins, directed by Xiong Xinxin, where he played the role of the Adjutant opposite lead actor Felix Wong.^[28] The production, a Chinese-Hong Kong co-effort, featured an ensemble cast including Eric Tsang and Gigi Leung, and centered on royal guards pursuing stolen gold in ancient China, allowing Wei to showcase his signature intense action sequences.^[28] This comeback followed his earlier shift to television upon returning to Taiwan, marking a selective re-engagement with cinema after years away from the spotlight. He continued with sporadic appearances, including New Encounters of the Spooky Kind (2016), which he also directed, culminating in his final film role in Kung Fu Soul (also titled Chinese People: The Soul of Wushu), released in 2020. In this martial arts drama directed by Li Quanwei, he portrayed Mr. Lai, a mentor figure guiding young enthusiasts in a national wushu competition, emphasizing themes of passion and cultural heritage in Chinese martial traditions. The film's production timeline overlapped with Wei's personal transition, as it was among his last commitments before fully withdrawing from professional acting. In late 2019, Wei stepped away from the industry to pursue a private life in Pingtung, Taiwan, his hometown, where he has resided quietly as of 2025.^[29] This retirement followed a career marked by his heavy-handed fighting style, which had previously limited collaborations due to safety concerns on set.^[30]

Filmography

Roles as actor

Dick Wei's acting career was prolific, encompassing 134 credited roles from 1974 to 2016, primarily in Hong Kong and Taiwanese action, martial arts, and crime films where he specialized in villainous, thug, and supporting ensemble parts that highlighted his martial arts skills and imposing presence.^[1] His diversity as an actor is evident in the range from minor fighters and henchmen to more prominent antagonists, often in ensemble casts alongside stars like Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung, contributing to the high-energy fight scenes that defined the genre.^[1] Notable highlights include his role as the Eagle in The Avenging Eagle (1978), where he played a deadly member of a gang of masked killers seeking revenge.^[8] In Project A (1983), he portrayed Pirate Chief Lo San Po, a brutal sea pirate leader clashing with the protagonists in memorable action sequences.^[31] Another standout was his turn as the Mountain Bandit in Millionaires' Express (1986), a comedic yet fierce outlaw disrupting a train heist.^[32] Below is a listing of selected acting roles, grouped by decade, drawn from verified film credits (roles specified where documented; some early appearances were uncredited or minor).^[1]

1970s

• 1974: The Assignment - Thug
• 1977: The Brave Archer - Yang Tieh-Sin; Chinatown Kid - Green Dragon thug
• 1978: The Brave Archer Part II - Beggar clan elder; Shaolin Hand Lock - Li Bai; The Five Venoms - Dying Head of Five Venoms House; The Avenging Eagle - Eagle; Heaven Sword and Dragon Sabre - Er Mei clan member; Invincible Shaolin - South Shaolin fighter; Crippled Avengers - Tian Nan 3 Tigers #1
• 1979: Ten Tigers of Kwangtung - Wang Cheng Ke; The Best Hustler Wins - Lun's fighter; Life Gamble - Jin Ba; The Kung-Fu Instructor - Zhou Clan's fighter; The Kid with the Golden Arm - Black Sand Palm; To Kill a Mastermind - Martyr Huang Zhang

1980s

• 1980: Heaven and Hell - Jin Cha; The Convict Killer - Lan Fei's assassin; Killer Constable - Sun Heng; The Kid with a Tattoo - Captain Fang; Swift Sword - Leng family/Cold-Blooded Five; A Deadly Secret - Man Kwai
• 1981: A Bride's Nightmare - Movie actor; The Third Hand - Chiang Pui; The Prodigal Son - Mr Suen
• 1982: Carry On Pickpocket - One of Sheng's men
• 1983: Zu: The Warriors from the Magic Mountain - Blue Commander; Winners and Sinners - Chan Chiu's bodyguard; The Champions - King; Project A - Pirate Chief Lo San Po
• 1984: Pom Pom - Scarman; The Owl vs Bumbo - Au Gung's man
• 1985: My Lucky Stars - Chief's sidekick; Mismatched Couples - Fight champion; Night Caller - Alan Lee; Twinkle Twinkle Lucky Stars - Boss Lau's man at warehouse; Heart of the Dragon - Kim's thug; Yes, Madam! - Dick / Willie
• 1986: A Heroic Fight - Wey; The Millionaires' Express - Mountain bandit; Nepal Affair - Cat Warrior; Rosa - Tang's assistant in white suit; The Seventh Curse - Hak Lung
• 1987: Brotherhood - Inspector Mak Chi Chieh; Eastern Condors - Vietnamese captain
• 1988: Dragons Forever - Thug at bar; Paper Marriage - White Suit kicker; Walk On Fire - Wai; In the Line of Duty III - Kikamura; City Warriors - Lok Han
• 1989: Pedicab Driver - Wei; Dragon Fight - Tiger Wong Wai; Angel's Mission - San-Mo

1990s

• 1990: Family Honor - Wei; Never Say Regret - Hsiung
• 1991: Shy Spirit - Priest; Queen of Gambler - Wai; The Stone Age Warriors - Expedition Captain; Bullet for Hire - Mr Dick
• 1992: Angel Terminators - Samak; Red Lips - Chen Wei
• 1993: On Parole - Hsien; Dances with the Snakes - Old master; Project S - Chuen
• 1994: A Killing Order - Inspector Yun Duann; Bloody Brothers - Chiang Tung Ping
• 1995: Dragon in Beijing - "Silver Wolf" Yu Zhi-Geng
• 1996: Horrible High Heels - Police captain
• 1997: Iron Sister - Father Suen
• 1999: Sword Knight-Errant

2000s

• 2000: Crazy Badboy - Police Chief Lai; Guard Soldier - Tang Po Shen
• 2001: The Died Body; Kill the Unforgiven
• 2004: Life Taken Call-In - Police Chief

2010s

• 2013: Glory Days - Adjutant
• 2014: Long's Story - Ming
• 2016: Xin Gui Da Gui - Master Ti

Credits as director

Dick Wei directed three films, marking his transition into behind-the-camera roles in the action and genre cinema of Hong Kong and Taiwan. His directorial output emphasized high-stakes action sequences, often drawing from his expertise in martial arts choreography.

• Visa to Hell (1991): An action-thriller with fantasy elements, co-produced by Chin Chung Film Company and Wei Li Motion Picture Company. Wei also served as writer and martial arts director.^[33]
• A Killing Order (1994): A crime thriller, also released as The Deadly Warrant and Sheng si yi xian, produced by Si Gak Enterprises Co., Ltd. Wei handled writing and martial arts direction duties in addition to directing.^[23][34]
• New Encounters of the Spooky Kind (2016): A horror-comedy online film, retitled from Xin Gui Da Gui, where Wei acted as director and producer.^[35]