‘Kung Fu Hustle’ Star Dies at 77

Kung Fu cinema has lost one of its original icons.

Martial arts film legend Bruce Leung — also known as Leung Choi-sang and Leung Siu-lung — has died at the age of 77. According to reports, the beloved actor passed away from heart failure.

Leung was widely regarded as one of the “Four Dragons” of Chinese cinema, a group credited with taking kung fu films to a global audience alongside legends like Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, and Ti Lung.

Trained in martial arts by his father from an early age, Leung dedicated his life to the discipline and went on to appear in dozens of kung fu films over several decades. While he was already a household name in Asia, he gained a whole new wave of international fans with his unforgettable role in Kung Fu Hustle, which introduced his work to younger audiences around the world.

Jackie Chan, who worked with Leung on Magnificent Bodyguards, paid an emotional tribute to his longtime friend and collaborator. In a social media post, Chan praised Leung’s devotion to martial arts and his lasting impact on cinema, writing that he “created so many classic roles, loved by audiences and admired by colleagues.” Chan added that he considered Leung a “brother” and said he would miss him deeply.

Leung is survived by a daughter from his first marriage to singer Irene Ryder, as well as a daughter and a son from his second marriage to Song Xiang.

For fans around the world, Bruce Leung’s legacy lives on through the films that helped define an era — and shaped the future of martial arts cinema.