Cheng Pei-pei facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cheng Pei-pei
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Cheng at Old Billingsgate, London in December 2014
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| Born | 6 January 1946 |
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| Died | 17 July 2024 (aged 78) |
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| Years active | 1964–2024 | ||||||||||||
| Spouse(s) |
Yuan Wen-tung
(m. 1970; div. 1987) |
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| Children | 4, including Eugenia Yuan | ||||||||||||
| Awards | Hong Kong Film Awards – Best Supporting Actress 2000 Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon |
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| Chinese name | |||||||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 鄭佩佩 | ||||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 郑佩佩 | ||||||||||||
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| Musical career | |||||||||||||
| Also known as | The Queen of Swords | ||||||||||||
| Origin | Shaoxing, Zhejiang, China | ||||||||||||
Cheng Pei-pei (born January 6, 1946 – died July 17, 2024) was a famous Chinese actress. Many people called her cinema's first female action hero! She was best known for her roles in two amazing wuxia films. Wuxia is a special type of Chinese story about martial arts heroes.
Cheng Pei-pei starred as Golden Swallow in the 1966 film Come Drink with Me. Later, she played the villain Jade Fox in the award-winning 2000 movie Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.
Contents
Cheng Pei-pei's Acting Journey
Early Life and First Roles
Cheng Pei-pei was born in 1946. When she was 16, in 1962, she moved to Hong Kong. A family friend helped her get into Shaw Brothers Studio in 1963. This was a big film company.
Because she spoke Mandarin and had a background in dance, she quickly became a rising star. Her first movie was the 1964 Taiwanese drama Lovers' Rock.
Becoming a Wuxia Star
Cheng Pei-pei became very famous for her role in the 1966 Hong Kong wuxia film Come Drink with Me. The movie was directed by King Hu. In this film, she played Golden Swallow, a very skilled swordswoman. Her mission was to rescue her brother.
After this success, Cheng continued to play strong swordswomen in many movies throughout the 1960s. She was known for her amazing action scenes.
Life in America and Return to Film
In the 1970s, Cheng Pei-pei moved to Southern California in the United States. She wanted to focus on raising her four children there. During this time, she also went to business school at the University of California, Irvine. She even taught Chinese dance!
In 2000, she made a big comeback to international movies. She played Jade Fox in Ang Lee's famous film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Cheng had already met director Ang Lee when she hosted a talk show called Pei-Pei's Time in Los Angeles.
After Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, she continued to act. She appeared as Long Po in the 2004 TV series Watery Moon, Hollow Sky, which was also known as Paradise. She kept working in mainland China for Zhouyi Media.
Before she passed away, Cheng Pei-pei was the president of the King Hu Foundation. This foundation helps to preserve the legacy of director King Hu.
Cheng Pei-pei's Family Life
Cheng Pei-pei had four children. Her son, Harry Yuan, is a host on National Geographic. Her three daughters, Jennifer, Marsha, and Eugenia Yuan, are all actresses, just like their mom!
Cheng Pei-pei was a Buddhist. She could speak several languages fluently, including Shanghainese, Cantonese, Mandarin, and English.
In 2019, she was diagnosed with a health condition called corticobasal degeneration. She decided to keep this private and spend her last years with her children and grandchildren. Cheng Pei-pei passed away on July 17, 2024, at the age of 78.
Movies and TV Shows
Films
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | Lovers' Rock (情人石) | Lin Qiuzi | |
| 1964 | The Last Woman of Shang (妲己) | Dancing girl | |
| 1965 | The Lotus Lamp (寶蓮燈) | Liu Yanchang | |
| 1965 | Song of Orchid Island (蘭嶼之歌) | Ya Lan | |
| 1966 | Come Drink with Me (大醉俠) | Golden Swallow | |
| 1966 | The Joy of Spring (歡樂青春) | ||
| 1966 | Princess Iron Fan (鐵扇公主) | White Bone Demoness | |
| 1967 | Blue Skies (艷陽天) | Chen Yun | |
| 1967 | The Dragon Creek (龍虎溝) | Guo Er-niu | |
| 1967 | Hong Kong Nocturne (香江花月夜) | Chia Chuan-chuan | |
| 1967 | Operation Lipstick (1967) (諜網嬌娃) | ||
| 1967 | The Thundering Sword (神劍震江湖) | So Jiau-jiau | |
| 1968 | Golden Swallow (金燕子) | Golden Swallow | |
| 1968 | The Jade Raksha (玉羅剎) | Leng Qiuhan | |
| 1968 | That Fiery Girl (紅辣椒) | Pearl | |
| 1969 | Dragon Swamp (毒龍潭) | Qing-er/Fan Ying | |
| 1969 | The Flying Dagger (飛刀手) | Yu Ying | |
| 1969 | The Golden Sword (龍門金劍) | Ngai Jin-feng | |
| 1969 | Raw Courage (虎膽) | Shangguan Xiuyi | |
| 1970 | Brothers Five (五虎屠龍) | Yen Hsing-kung | |
| 1970 | Lady of Steel (荒江女俠) | Fang Ying-qi | |
| 1971 | The Lady Hermit (鍾馗娘子) | Leng Yu-shuang | |
| 1971 | The Shadow Whip (影子神鞭) | Yang Kaiyun | |
| 1971 | The Patriotic Heroine (拼命娘子) | ||
| 1972 | The Yellow Muffler (玉女嬉春) | Singer | |
| 1973 | Attack of the Kung Fu Girls (鐵娃) | Siu Ying | |
| 1974 | Whiplash (虎辮子) | Hu Pien-tze | |
| 1982 | Lunatic Frog Women (烈日女娃人) | ||
| 1983 | All the King's Men (天下第一) | ||
| 1988 | Painted Faces (七小福) | Ching | |
| 1993 | Flirting Scholar (唐伯虎點秋香) | Madame Wah | |
| 1993 | Kidnap of Wong Chak Fai (綁架黃七輝) | Kung Tse-sam | |
| 1994 | From Zero to Hero (亂世超人) | ||
| 1994 | The Gods Must Be Funny in China (非洲超人) | Aunty | |
| 1994 | Kung Fu Mistress (神鳳苗翠琴) | ||
| 1994 | Lover's Lover (情人的情人) | ||
| 1994 | Wing Chun (詠春) | Ng Mui | Cameo |
| 1996 | How to Meet the Lucky Stars (運財五福星) | Chu Ba | |
| 1998 | The Spirit of the Dragon (老鼠龍之猛龍過港) | Yun Gee | |
| 1999 | Four Chefs and a Feast (四個廚師一圍菜) | Cameo | |
| 1999 | A Man Called Hero (中華英雄) | Hero's mother | Cameo |
| 1999 | The Truth About Jane and Sam (真心話) | Sam's mother | |
| 2000 | Fist Power (生死拳速) | Brian's mother | |
| 2000 | Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (臥虎藏龍) | Jade Fox | Hong Kong Film Award for Best Supporting Actress |
| 2000 | Lavender (薰衣草) | Madame Tung | Cameo |
| 2001 | Shadow Mask (武神黑俠) | Red Goddess | a.k.a. The Legend of Black Mask |
| 2002 | Flying Dragon, Leaping Tiger (龍騰虎躍) | Liu Ruyan | also producer |
| 2002 | Naked Weapon (赤裸特工) | Faye Ching | |
| 2004 | ... and the Beauties (性感都市) | Mona | |
| 2004 | The Miracle Box (天作之盒) | Joanna's mother | |
| 2005 | Insuperable Kid (無敵小子霍元甲) | Aunt San | |
| 2005 | House of Harmony | Amah | |
| 2007 | They Wait | Aunt Mei | |
| 2007 | Special Boys (功夫好男兒) | Aunt Lan | |
| 2007 | Shanghai Baby | Conny | |
| 2007 | The Counting House (藏) | Lia | |
| 2008 | Kung Fu Killer | Myling | |
| 2008 | Love Under the Sign of the Dragon | Tham | |
| 2009 | Basic Love (愛情故事) | Ling's grandmother | |
| 2009 | Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li | Zhilan | |
| 2009 | Blood Ties (還魂) | Madam Lee | |
| 2009 | Taishan Kung Fu (泰山功夫) | ||
| 2010 | Flirting Scholar 2 (唐伯虎點秋香2之四大才子) | Madame Wah | |
| 2010 | Here Comes Fortune (財神到) | ||
| 2011 | Coming Back (回馬槍) | ||
| 2011 | Legendary Amazons (楊門女將之軍令如山) | She Saihua | |
| 2011 | Let Love Come Back (讓愛回家) | ||
| 2011 | Shanghai Hotel | ||
| 2011 | Double Bed Treaty (雙人床條約) | ||
| 2011 | Speed Angels (極速天使) | Auntie Fen | |
| 2011 | My Wedding and Other Secrets | Mrs. Chu | |
| 2012 | Imperial Bodyguard (御前侍衛) | ||
| 2012 | Give Me Five (五行攻略) | ||
| 2014 | Lilting | Junn | |
| 2014 | The Scroll of Wing Chun White Crane (永春白鹤拳之擎天画卷) | ||
| 2014 | The Eyes of Dawn (黎明之眼) | ||
| 2014 | Streets of Macao | ||
| 2014 | The Bat Night | ||
| 2015 | Bright Wedding(璀璨的婚禮) | ||
| 2015 | Lost in Wrestling | ||
| 2016 | Good Take Too | ||
| 2016 | Goldstone | Mrs Lao | |
| 2017 | Love Of Hope(讓愛活下去) | ||
| 2017 | Meditation Park | Maria Wang | |
| 2019 | Flirting Scholar from the Future | ||
| 2020 | Mulan | The Matchmaker |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Chivalrous Shadow, Fragrant Footprints (俠影香蹤) | Golden Swallow | |
| 1984 | The Legend Continues (霍東閣) | Chan Shi-chiu | |
| 1996 | Wong Fei Hung Series: The Final Victory (黃飛鴻之辛亥革命) | Beggar So | |
| 1997 | The Pride of Chaozhou (我來自潮州) | Poon Yuk-lin | |
| 1998 | Master Ma (馬永貞之爭霸上海灘) | Ma Daniang | |
| 1998 | Master Ma II (馬永貞之英雄血) | Ma Daniang | |
| 1999 | Young Master of Shaolin (少年英雄方世玉) | Ng Mui | |
| 2000 | Young Justice Bao (少年包青天) | Bao's mother | |
| 2001 | Legendary Fighter: Yang's Heroine (楊門女將—女儿當自強) | She Saihua | |
| 2001 | Heroes in Black (我來也) | Feng Pobu's mother | |
| 2002 | Book and Sword, Gratitude and Revenge (書劍恩仇錄) | Empress Dowager Chongqing | |
| 2002 | Springs of Life (春到人间) | Yun Shuheng | |
| 2004 | Chinese Paladin (仙劍奇俠傳) | Granny Jiang | |
| 2004 | Water Moon, Hollow Sky (水月洞天) | Long Po | a.k.a. Paradise |
| 2005 | Li Wei Resigns from Office (李衛辭官) | Li Wei's mother | |
| 2006 | Women of Times (至尊紅顏) | She Huijun | |
| 2006 | The Yang Sisters | Honey Yang | |
| 2008 | Home with Kids 5 (家有儿女5) | ||
| 2010 | A Weaver on the Horizon (天涯織女) | Mrs. Fang | |
| 2012 | Xuan-Yuan Sword: Scar of Sky (軒轅劍：天之痕) | Granny Ma | |
| 2012 | The Patriot Yue Fei (精忠岳飛) | Yue Fei's mother | |
| 2013 | Daughter's Return (千金归来) | Mother Rong | |
| 2015 | The Lost Tomb | Huo Xian Gu | |
| 2016 | Ice Fantasy (幻城) | Feng Tian |
See also
In Spanish: Cheng Pei-pei para niños
