Lo Wei

Lo Wei (羅維) was a Hong Kong film director and actor best known for launching the careers of Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan.

Lo began his career as an actor in Shanghai before moving to Hong Kong and transitioning to directing. He became a prominent figure in the Hong Kong film industry, directing a wide range of genres, including martial arts films, comedies, and dramas.

His most significant contribution to martial arts cinema was directing Bruce Lee in The Big Boss (1971) and Fist of Fury (1972), both of which were massive box office successes and propelled Lee to international stardom. After Lee’s untimely death, Lo attempted to recreate the success with other martial artists, including Jackie Chan. He directed Chan in several early films, including New Fist of Fury (1976), attempting to mold Chan into a Bruce Lee clone. While these films were not initially successful, Lo later directed Chan in films like Snake in the Eagle's Shadow (1978) and Drunken Master (1978), which helped establish Chan's comedic kung fu style and cemented his own stardom.

Despite his success in launching the careers of Lee and Chan, Lo Wei's own directing style was often criticized. He was sometimes seen as being overly controlling and formulaic. Nevertheless, his impact on the Hong Kong film industry, particularly in the realm of martial arts cinema, is undeniable.

Lo Wei died on January 20, 1996.