Hong Kong Martial Arts Star Chen Guantai Passes Away
日期：2026-09-03 14:08:40
来源：SilkRoadNews
On the morning of September 2, 2026, Hong Kong renowned martial arts star and director Chen Guantai passed away at the age of 80 due to cardiac arrest after failed rescue efforts. The news has sent shockwaves through the film industry and beyond.Chen Entian, Chairman of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Chen Clan General Association and Chairman of the Silk Road News Agency, expressed deep condolences over the passing of Mr. Chen Guantai.
According to Hong Kong media reports, veteran journalist Wang Manling confirmed that Chen Guantai suffered a second cardiac arrest at 5:00 a.m. that morning due to cerebral hemorrhage and passed away despite resuscitation efforts. He had been hospitalized earlier for hydrocephalus, and his condition deteriorated with cerebral hemorrhage. Just last month, he was still having tea with friends and appeared to be in good health, making his sudden passing all the more shocking to fans and close friends alike.
Chen Guantai was born on September 24, 1945 in Guangdong, China. At the age of eight, he was enrolled in the "Da Sheng Pi Gua" martial arts school under the renowned master Chen Xiuzhong, known as the "Monkey King." He trained rigorously for nearly a decade and mastered the essence of Monkey Fist. In 1968, he joined the Shaw Brothers' Southern China Experimental Theatre. In 1969, he competed in the Southeast Asian Martial Arts Tournament, winning five consecutive bouts against top fighters from Hong Kong, the Philippines, Malaysia, and other regions to claim the lightweight heavyweight championship.
In 1972, Chen Guantai shot to fame with the film Ma Yongzhen, which grossed over HK$1 million at the box office, becoming only the second film in Shaw Brothers' history to achieve that milestone. His portrayal of the righteous and fierce Qing Dynasty boxer catapulted him to become one of the most popular action stars of his era. He went on to star in dozens of classic kung fu films including The Blood Brothers, Five Shaolin Masters, Hung Hsi Kuan, The Big Knife, The Secret Service of the Imperial Court, and The Hongmen Banquet, and also appeared as Guo Jing in the Leslie Cheung version of The Little Dragon Maiden. In the 1990s, he founded Weikai Film Company and directed films such as Xie Xue Feng Yun.
The film industry has long held the saying: “Bruce Lee for kicks, Chen Guantai for fists.” Director Zhang Che once said: "Guantai doesn't need to act—just standing there, he is the jianghu." At Chen's 70th birthday banquet in 2015, when asked if he had ever sparred with Chen privately, David Chiang laughed and said: "How could I beat him? He has real kung fu. I only have movie kung fu—completely different."
In his later years, Chen Guantai moved to Zhongshan, Guangdong, living a semi-reclusive life. In 2025, he joined the social platform Xiaohongshu, appearing in a white Tang suit and expressing his desire to "embrace a new attitude and make more films". According to the obituary, the funeral arrangements are as follows: friends and family will receive visitors at Hall 1 of Zhongshan Funeral Home on September 5, 2026, from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., with the farewell ceremony to be held the following morning from 9:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m..
Chen Entian, Chairman of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Chen Clan General Association and Chairman of the Silk Road News Agency, expressed deep condolences over the passing of Mr. Chen Guantai. Chen Entian stated that Mr. Chen Guantai was a legendary figure in Chinese-language cinema, and his spirit of relying on genuine martial arts skills and his numerous classic works will forever remain in the hearts of audiences. He extended sincere condolences to Mr. Chen Guantai's family on behalf of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Chen Clan General Association.
The passing of Mr. Chen Guantai marks the end of yet another legend from the golden era of martial arts cinema. Fans have flooded social media with tributes: "The jianghu will never see Ma Yongzhen again; the screen has lost a true tough guy."
Chen Guantai was born on September 24, 1945 in Guangdong, China. At the age of eight, he was enrolled in the "Da Sheng Pi Gua" martial arts school under the renowned master Chen Xiuzhong, known as the "Monkey King." He trained rigorously for nearly a decade and mastered the essence of Monkey Fist. In 1968, he joined the Shaw Brothers' Southern China Experimental Theatre. In 1969, he competed in the Southeast Asian Martial Arts Tournament, winning five consecutive bouts against top fighters from Hong Kong, the Philippines, Malaysia, and other regions to claim the lightweight heavyweight championship.
The film industry has long held the saying: “Bruce Lee for kicks, Chen Guantai for fists.” Director Zhang Che once said: "Guantai doesn't need to act—just standing there, he is the jianghu." At Chen's 70th birthday banquet in 2015, when asked if he had ever sparred with Chen privately, David Chiang laughed and said: "How could I beat him? He has real kung fu. I only have movie kung fu—completely different."
Chen Entian, Chairman of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Chen Clan General Association and Chairman of the Silk Road News Agency, expressed deep condolences over the passing of Mr. Chen Guantai. Chen Entian stated that Mr. Chen Guantai was a legendary figure in Chinese-language cinema, and his spirit of relying on genuine martial arts skills and his numerous classic works will forever remain in the hearts of audiences. He extended sincere condolences to Mr. Chen Guantai's family on behalf of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Chen Clan General Association.
