Sihung Lung (Chinese: 郞雄; pinyin: Láng Xíong; Wade–Giles: Lang Hsiung; 1 January 1930 – 2 May 2002), also romanized as Lung Sihung or Lang Sihung, was a Taiwanese actor. He appeared in over 100 films and television series throughout his career and was best known for playing paternal roles in director Ang Lee's "Father Knows Best" trilogy: Pushing Hands (1991), The Wedding Banquet (1993), and Eat Drink Man Woman (1994). He also appeared as Sir Te in the Academy Award-winning film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000).
Life and Career
Lung was born as Lang Yisan (郎益三) in Suqian, Jiangsu, Republic of China. He enlisted in the National Revolutionary Army as a teenager to fight the Chinese Communist Party. After the Communists seized control of mainland China, he escaped to Taiwan, where he was selected to join an army-sponsored acting troupe. His experience performing a wide range of roles for the army troupe later led to his being cast in over 100 Chinese-language films and Taiwanese soap operas, typically playing criminals or tough guys.
Lung had already retired from films when Ang Lee began casting for his first full-length film, Pushing Hands (1992). Lee, who recalled watching Lung as a child, asked him to play a father in the film. Lung's sensitive portrayal of an elderly man faced with change turned him into an international star, and he became famous for playing fathers struggling with modernity and adult children in what became known as the "Father Knows Best" trilogy.
Lung was Roman Catholic.
Death
By the time he appeared as Sir Te in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Lung's health had deteriorated due to diabetes. He died of liver failure on 2 May 2002 in Taipei, Taiwan, at the age of 72.
Selected Filmography
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Pushing Hands | Mr. Chu |
| 1993 | The Wedding Banquet | Mr. Gao |
| 1994 | Eat Drink Man Woman | Chu |
| 2000 | Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon | Sir Te |
| 2002 | Double Vision | Taoist Expert |
| 2002 | The Touch | The Monk – Dun Huang (final film role) |
Awards and Recognition
Lung received multiple honors throughout his career, including the Golden Horse Award for Best Actor (for Pushing Hands), Golden Horse Award for Best Supporting Actor (for The Wedding Banquet), Golden Bell Award for Best Actor (1997), and the Golden Horse Lifetime Achievement Award (2002). He was also awarded the Order of St. Sylvester in 1993.
