Chan Koon-tai, 1970s Hong Kong martial arts star, dies at 80

Renowned Hong Kong martial arts actor Chan Koon-tai has passed away at the age of 80. Reports indicate he died following a cerebral hemorrhage, with some sources noting his heart stopped twice during emergency resuscitation efforts early in the morning.

Chan rose to fame in the 1970s through Shaw Brothers films, specifically after being mentored by director Chang Cheh and starring in the classic ‘Ma Yongzhen’. His notable filmography includes works such as ‘The Assassins’ and ‘Five Tiger Generals’. Beyond acting, he also directed and starred in films like ‘The Thief Ah Sing’.

In recent years, Chan had been living a quiet life in Zhongshan with his wife. Despite his retirement from major productions after 2017, he had recently expressed a desire to return to the industry, appearing on social media platforms like Xiaohongshu last year to state his intention to embrace modern times and film new works.