Shek Wing-cheung (1 January 1913 â€" 3 June 2009), better known by his
stage name Shih Kien, Sek Kin, or Sek Gin (Cantonese: Shek Kin;
Mandarin: Shi Jian), was a Hong Kongâ€"based Chinese actor. Shih is
best known for playing antagonists and villains in several early Hong
Kong wuxia and martial arts films that dated back to the
black-and-white period, and is most familiar to Western audiences for
his portrayal of the primary villain, Han, in the 1973 martial arts
film Enter the Dragon, which starred Bruce Lee.Shih was raised by his
stepmother and was a sickly child. He decided to practise martial arts
to improve his health and trained for nine years. Shih trained at
Shanghai's Chin Woo Athletic Association and was among the first
generation of students at the school to be certified as instructors.
After becoming certified to teach styles, including Eagle Claw and
Choy Li Fut, he decided to start his career as an actor. However, the
outbreak of the Second Sino-Japanese War caused his studies to be
disrupted. Shih and his friends travelled between Guangzhou and Hong
Kong to stage drama performances, in order to raise funds as part of
the anti-Japanese movement. Besides acting on stage, Shih also
participated in back-stage activities, such as makeup and arrangements
of lighting and props.In 1940, Shih officially entered the
entertainment industry as an apprentice of the Cantonese opera makeup
artist Sit Kok-Sin, before becoming an actor later. Shih starred as a
Japanese secret agent in his debut film Flower in the Sea of Blood
that year. Nine years later, Shih was invited by film director Wu Pang
to work with him on a series of Wong Fei-hung-related films. Shih
gained fame for his portrayal of the villains in those films and
continued to play the role of the antagonist in several films during
the first 20 years of his career. Shih's iconic "villain laughter" in
the films was later mimicked and parodied by several actors.
stage name Shih Kien, Sek Kin, or Sek Gin (Cantonese: Shek Kin;
Mandarin: Shi Jian), was a Hong Kongâ€"based Chinese actor. Shih is
best known for playing antagonists and villains in several early Hong
Kong wuxia and martial arts films that dated back to the
black-and-white period, and is most familiar to Western audiences for
his portrayal of the primary villain, Han, in the 1973 martial arts
film Enter the Dragon, which starred Bruce Lee.Shih was raised by his
stepmother and was a sickly child. He decided to practise martial arts
to improve his health and trained for nine years. Shih trained at
Shanghai's Chin Woo Athletic Association and was among the first
generation of students at the school to be certified as instructors.
After becoming certified to teach styles, including Eagle Claw and
Choy Li Fut, he decided to start his career as an actor. However, the
outbreak of the Second Sino-Japanese War caused his studies to be
disrupted. Shih and his friends travelled between Guangzhou and Hong
Kong to stage drama performances, in order to raise funds as part of
the anti-Japanese movement. Besides acting on stage, Shih also
participated in back-stage activities, such as makeup and arrangements
of lighting and props.In 1940, Shih officially entered the
entertainment industry as an apprentice of the Cantonese opera makeup
artist Sit Kok-Sin, before becoming an actor later. Shih starred as a
Japanese secret agent in his debut film Flower in the Sea of Blood
that year. Nine years later, Shih was invited by film director Wu Pang
to work with him on a series of Wong Fei-hung-related films. Shih
gained fame for his portrayal of the villains in those films and
continued to play the role of the antagonist in several films during
the first 20 years of his career. Shih's iconic "villain laughter" in
the films was later mimicked and parodied by several actors.
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