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Chloe Loung

Lau Siu-ming, the veteran Hong Kong actor who played some of the most unforgettable villains in Chinese-language film history, has died at the age of 94.
His story – from war refugee to classically trained dancer, and from stage to silver screen – is all the more remarkable because his career was built not on youthful leading-man looks but on artistry, physical precision and a mentoring spirit that shaped generations of actors who followed.
Lau’s artistic journey is one of reinvention, shaped by a childhood that might have broken a lesser spirit. Born in Hong Kong in 1931, Lau was 10 when Japanese forces invaded and occupied the colony, and spent his teenage years as a refugee on the mainland.
He eventually made his way back to the city, where a performance by a Chinese arts troupe at the newly opened Hong Kong City Hall in 1962 left him spellbound.
A journey to Europe and back
Determined to study dance in France, he took a job working in the cargo hold of an ocean liner to pay his way to Europe. His talent and perseverance earned him a scholarship to the Ecole Superieure de Danse de Cannes Rosella Hightower in France in the early 1960s.
Hightower, the legendary American dancer and school founder, recognised his unique story and encouraged him to incorporate his Chinese heritage into his ballet work. His graduation duet with Hightower, Rebirth of the Phoenix, was staged at the Theatre des Champs-Elysees in Paris, to widespread acclaim and caught the attention of French dancer, choreographer and opera director Maurice Bejart. Lau went on to become the first Chinese choreographer to work for a French dance company.
Lau later performed and choreographed for the Brussels Ballet du XXe Siecle, becoming the first Hong Kong dancer to star on an international stage.

Upon returning to Hong Kong in 1967, Lau devoted himself to dance education and choreography. He created the city’s first ballet, Sea Love, founded several dance and arts groups and was a founding member and vice-president of the Hong Kong Dance Federation. Yet, Lau remained characteristically modest about his achievements.
“There’s not much to crow about,” he told the South China Morning Post in 2006. “I once did well enough to the point of being invited to study under the best in the field – but I haven’t repaid their efforts with impressive results. That’s why I never want to talk about it.”
In the 1970s, he served as dance director for TVB’s flagship variety show Enjoy Yourself Tonight. The role eventually opened the door to acting, with a guest appearance in the TVB anthology series Star Collection in 1975.
At 48, Lau made his feature film debut in Tsui Hark’s The Butterfly Murders (1979), portraying the enigmatic scholar Fang Hongye. It marked the beginning of a second career that would make him a household name.
An extraordinary filmography
Over the following decades, he built an extraordinary filmography that included the TVB dramas The Shell Game II (1981), The Legend of the Condor Heroes (1983), Police Cadet ’84 (1984) and The Breaking Point (1991), showcasing his range in roles as both hero and villain.
For many viewers, Lau is inseparable from his portrayal of the tree demon, also known as Lao Lao, in Tsui Hark’s A Chinese Ghost Story trilogy (1987-1991). The androgynous, terrifying villain – whose long tongue ensnared victims – remains one of the most iconic figures in Hong Kong fantasy cinema, and a childhood nightmare for generations.

He also delivered a masterful performance as the hypocritical leader Yue Buqun in Swordsman (1990), bringing nuance and complexity to the classic wuxia character.
In the two Casino Tycoon films (both 1992), he portrayed the scheming gambler Nie Aotian – inspired by the real-life gambling figure Yip Hon – with such intensity that, on one occasion, he found himself in a surreal situation.
At a press conference for the 2017 TVB drama Bet Hur, Lau recalled that, while filming overseas earlier, he was allegedly kidnapped by local gangsters who were convinced by his on-screen portrayal of a triad boss. They took him to meet their leader, who demanded that Lau kneel and serve him tea. Once the misunderstanding was cleared up, however, the gangsters praised his acting and treated him as an honoured guest.
Beyond these signature roles, Lau’s filmography included the comedy Front Page (1990) and the action film China Strike Force (2000). His final on-screen appearance was in the ViuTV drama The Gutter in 2020.
“However small a character – even if it’s just a small cameo that only lasts for a few seconds – if I’ve spent time sculpting my performance, I’d already regard it as something for my best-of collection,” he said in the SCMP interview.
Revered by other actors
Known affectionately as “Ming Sir”, Lau’s influence extended far beyond his own performances. A revered figure in the industry, he served as a mentor to countless stars. Actors such as Lau Ching-wan and Francis Ng Chun-yu held him in such high esteem that they regularly visited him with their families, seeking his wisdom on both life and craft.

Actress Charmaine Sheh Sze-man once named Lau as one of the two most important mentors of her career. She recalled a car journey during which Lau used water as a metaphor to explain the highest state of acting – to be fluid and natural, adapting to each scene like water taking the shape of its container. The philosophy, she said, has stayed with her ever since.
Actress Monica Chan Fat-yung, who worked with him on the 1992 drama The Key Man and later on Bet Hur, shared her grief on social media, recalling how Lau – who suggested her character call him “Dou Dou”, a playful take on “old dad” – “taught me so much … an actor of exceptional skill and a kind senior who cared deeply for younger artists”.
In recognition of his lifetime of work, Lau received a Hong Kong Dance Award in 2002, followed by an honorary fellowship from the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts in 2007. In 2013, he received TVB’s “Thousands of Stars” lifetime achievement award for his acting. That same year, the Hong Kong government awarded him the Medal of Honour for his contributions to the performing arts.
Lau also served on the Art Form Panel (Dance and Multi-Arts) under the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, advising on the cultivation of young artistic talent. In 2019, he received a Life Achievement Award from the Hong Kong Arts Development Council.

Lau’s later years were marked by profound personal loss and declining health. After his wife, Cheung Wai-ling, died from cancer in 2012, he spoke of feeling as though he had lost his most loyal audience member.
In his final years, he suffered from seven ailments and relied on a wheelchair for mobility. Lau turned down most work invitations, telling reporters that he needed to rest.


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Remembering Lau Siu-ming, pioneering Hong Kong dancer and revered actor

Dancer and actor Lau Siu-ming played some of the most unforgettable characters in Chinese-language film history.  Photo: CFP

A young Lau Siu-ming performing in the pioneering modern dance work Sea Love. Photo: SCMP Pictures

Lau (right), as the tree demon Lao Lao, alongside actress Nina Li in the classic fantasy film A Chinese Ghost Story III (1991). 

(From left) Victor Ma, Helen Lai, Mandy Yim and Lau in My Life as a Dancer – The Evolution, part of the Hong Kong Arts Festival in 2007. Photo: Leo Yu of The Blue Hydrant

Lau receiving the Life Achievement Award, presented by directors Ng See-yuen (left) and Tsui Hark (right), from the Hong Kong Arts Development Council in 2019. Photo: Hong Kong Arts Development Council

Late Hong Kong dance pioneer Lau Siu-ming remembered for outstanding achievements

Hong Kong actor and dance pioneer Lau Siu-ming, affectionately known as Ming Sir, died aged 94 on Wednesday. Photo: Weibo

Lau helped shape Hong Kong’s dance scene before becoming a familiar television and film actor. Photo: Handout

Lau as the eerie tree demon Lao Lao, right, alongside actress Nina Li in the classic fantasy film A Chinese Ghost Story III. Photo: Handout

Lau Siu-ming performing in Sea Love, a pioneering modern dance work from 1963. Photo: Handout

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Hsing started studying martial arts in his teens. Photo: courtesy of Alfred Hsing

Hsing (centre) and Jet Li in a still from The Sorcerer and the White Snake (2011). Photo: courtesy of Alfred Hsing

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Nathan Jones (left) and Li in a still from Fearless. Photo: Edko Films

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South Korean actor Ahn Sung-ki attends an event as part of the 11th Pusan International Film Festival in Busan, South Korea, in 2006. Ahn died on January 5, 2026, four days after celebrating his 74th birthday. Photo: AP

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From wartime refugee to classically trained dancer to on-screen villain, Ming Sir’s artistry and mentorship have shaped generations of actors


From wartime refugee to classically trained dancer to on-screen villain, Ming Sir’s artistry and mentorship have shaped generations of actors.


Remembering Lau Siu-ming, pioneering Hong Kong dancer and revered actor

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}From wartime refugee to classically trained dancer to on-screen villain, Ming Sir’s artistry and mentorship have shaped generations of actors

From wartime refugee to classically trained dancer to on-screen villain, Ming Sir’s artistry and mentorship have shaped generations of actors