Liu Kai-chi dies at 66: another loss to Hong Kong's film industry

Liu Kai-chi was a Hong Kong actor who trained under TVB. He is considered as one of Hong Kong’s veteran actors, alongside fellow actors Chow Yun-fat, Kwok Fung, and the also recently deceased Ng Man-tat.

Liu Kai-chi was born on 7 April 1954 in British Hong Kong (Pre-independence Hong Kong).

When he was fresh out of high school, Liu Kai-chi made the decision to pursue acting formally and refused to consider other career paths. His interest in acting began very early in his adolescence.

(Image: Emperor Motion Pictures)

Instead of going directly into acting, Liu Kai-chi started out behind-the-scenes, working as a film crew member and gaining industry experience.

(Image: Emperor Motion Pictures)

At some point, Liu Kai-chi decided to apply to TVB’s acting school to professionally train as an actor. However, his application was rejected for the following reason: he was not tall and unique-looking enough to act.

(Image: Emperor Motion Pictures)

Not letting rejection faze him, the then-wannabe actor persevered in continuing to apply into TVB’s acting school. With persistence, Liu Kai-chi eventually got accepted and went on to graduate from the 8th TVB Actor Training Class in 1979.

With his graduation from acting school, Liu Kai-chi’s acting journey began. His hard work and talent can be seen in his works. The actor has appeared in close to 200 television programs and films over the span of his career -- that’s a lot!

(Image: Emperor Motion Pictures)

Initially a point of criticism an obstacle for him in his dream to become an actor, Liu Kai-Chi’s ‘ordinary’ looks played a big role in him being Hong Kong’s ‘everyman’ in his media appearances.

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Being typecast in ‘everyman’ roles boosted Liu Kai-chi’s acting career greatly. He was a memorable actor in his audience’s eyes because he constantly played characters that viewers easily identify with.

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Although his first TV appearance was on the 1979 period drama ‘Chor Lau-heung’, his role in ‘Chor Lau-heung’ was so minuscule that it was hard for audiences to remember him. However, this changed with Liu Kai-Chi’s appearance in ‘The Bund’ in 1980 where he played a more significant role.

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Unlike his colleague, the also recently deceased Ng Man-Tat, Liu Kai-chi managed to score lead roles under his belt. His most notable lead roles are in ‘The Election’, and ‘The Borderline’.

Read about the life and career of eternal supporting actor Ng Man-Tat

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Liu Kai-chi’s biggest works include ‘Cageman’, ‘Beast Stalker’, ‘Infernal Affairs II’, ‘SPL: Sha Po Lang’, ‘The Sniper’, ‘The Stool Pigeon’, ‘Fu Bo’, and the previously mentioned ‘The Election’ and ‘The Borderline’.

Sure enough, his determination and perseverance in acting shone through. Throughout his career, Liu Kai-chi won many acting awards for his performances such as the HKFA Best Supporting Actor award for his role in 'Cageman' in 1992, and the Chinese Film Media Best Supporting Actor Award for his work in 'Infernal Affairs II' in 2003.

Besides acting, Liu Kai-chi has another talent! The actor tried his hand in tightrope walking for a charity event in 1990. He walked across a tightrope carrying two umbrellas, and in heels.

(Image: Emperor Motion Pictures)

From The Straits Times, did you know that the actor has the same birthday as Jackie Chan? The two worked together in ‘New Police Story’.

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According to The Straits Times, other than his native Hong Kong, Liu Kai-chi also took part in acting projects in Singapore, such as in ‘Imperfect’, and ‘Bluetick’.

Liu Kai-chi met his wife, Barbara Chan Man-yee, also known as Money Chan, in 1978 while they were both enrolled in TVB’s acting school.

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Smitten in love, Liu Kai-chi tried proposing to Barbara Chan Man-yee just after 3 weeks of meeting, Today Online reports. Their union was met with outside resistance too as many felt the aspiring actor was not good enough for Barbara Chan Man-yee, as she was one of TVB’s rising stars at that time.

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The pair eventually married in 1987 despite opposition. His marriage to Barbara Chan Man-yee brought him three sons.

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Tragedy first struck the actor’s family in 2003 when his youngest son, Liu Man-nok, was diagnosed with leukemia. After 3 years, the child’s battle with leukemia ended and Liu Man-nok passed in 2006.

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The loss hit the family hard and caused Barbara Chan Man-yee to go into depression, Today Online reports. Also, Apple Daily noted from an interview with Chow Yun-fat that Liu Kai-chi was suffering from insomnia after the death of his son.

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The couple and the rest of his family credit their belief in Christianity in helping them to overcome the darkness they’ve experienced from the loss. Further, Liu Kai-chi was supported by fellow actor friend Chow Yun-fat as Chow introduced Liu Kai-chi to take up hiking as a means of therapy to deal with his insomnia, Yahoo News reports.

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In early March this year, it was suddenly reported that Liu Kai-chi had been suffering from stomach cancer. From The Star, the actor had to take a break from work after the diagnosis, last December 2020.

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Just a few months from the diagnosis in December, Liu Kai-chi unfortunately passed on the 28th of March in Hong Kong’s Prince of Wales Hospital. The news was announced through his agency.

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Liu Kai-chi was very much loved by his friends and family. Many fans and colleagues many took to give tribute to the actor on social media. From Yahoo News, family friend and Chow Yun-fat’s wife, Jasmine Tan, broke down upon hearing the news on Sunday night.

Liu Kai-Chi is survived by his wife and his two remaining sons.

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(Image: ABBA Movies)