Alexander Fu Sheng


Alexander Fu Sheng , also known as Fu Sheng was a Hong Kong martial arts film star in the 1970s.

Life and career

Born Cheung Fu-sheng in British Hong Kong in 20 October 1954. He was the ninth child of a wealthy New Territories indigenous inhabitant businessman Cheung Yan-lung. His birth mother was Angela Liu Fung-wo. As a child, his family lived in Hawaii for a few years and there he began training in judo and karate.
In 1971, he enrolled at Shaw Brothers Southern Drama School and instantly drew the attention of director Chang Cheh. Cheh had Fu Sheng train with Lau Kar-leung for 6 months. Fu Sheng made his film debut as an extra in the 1972 film The Fourteen Amazons. His first lead role was in Cheh's Police Force. Some of his other films include Heroes Two, Five Shaolin Masters, Shaolin Temple and the Brave Archer series. He eventually made a total of 23 films with Cheh.
In 1976, he married singer and actress Jenny Tseng, who had appeared with him in the film New Shaolin Boxers.
He suffered a series of injuries in 1978 and 1979. On the set of The Deadly Breaking Sword a wire suspending him snapped and he fell eight feet landing on his head. While working on Heroes Shed No Tears, he shattered bones in his right leg.
Fu Sheng was supposed to star in Snake in the Eagle's Shadow but was refused by Run Run Shaw; head of the Shaw Brothers Studio. Jackie Chan was eventually cast in the role.
On 7 July 1983, Fu Sheng died as the result of an automobile accident. At the time, he was filming The Eight Diagram Pole Fighter in which he was to be the hero. The film was partially re-written and the remainder of the film was shot. In the finished film, Fu Sheng's character abruptly disappears and the focus was put on co-star Gordon Liu's character.
His funeral was organised by the Shaw Brothers committee. His remains were cremated and was interred at Fung Ying Seen Koon at Fanling town, part of Fanling–Sheung Shui New Town in Hong Kong.
He made his final film appearance the film Wits of the Brats which was also the only film he directed and was released almost a year after his death.

Filmography