Lee Heung-kam

Lee Heung-Kam
Chinese: 李香琴
Born
Lee Sui-Kam (李瑞琴)

(1932-01-13)13 January 1932
Died4 January 2021(2021-01-04) (aged 88)
Other nameLee Hong-kum
OccupationsActress, singer
Years active1946 – 2012
AwardsTVB Anniversary Awards – Life Achievement Award
2011 Lifetime Achievement

Chinese name
Traditional Chinese李香琴
Simplified Chinese李香琴
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinLǐ Xiāngqín
Yue: Cantonese
JyutpingLei5 Hoeng1 Kam4
Musical career
Also known as琴姐,嫲嫲,二幫王,西宫琴
GenresCantonese Opera, Cantopop
LabelsWSM Music Group Ltd., TVB
Website
Lee Heung-kam's signature
Lee Heung-kam's signature

Lee Heung-kam (13 January 1932 – 4 January 2021) was a Hong Kong Cantonese opera singer and TVB actress.

Career

She joined the entertainment industry when she was 14 years old. Since 1960, she became known for being an antagonist in many Cantonese operas, films and TV drama series. This lasted until the 80's when her roles were re-typecasted as a kind mother or a spiteful mother-in-law.

Over a career spanning more than 70 years, Lee portrayed mother, mother-in-law, and grandmother roles in numerous Chinese films and television productions. Her performances often focused on characters with different personalities and emotional traits.

Lee was also the god-mother of many celebrities, for example Chow Yun-fat, Carol Cheng, Cherie Chung, Andy Lau, Maggie Cheung etc.

In 1972, Lee joined TVB. Lee was known for Enjoy Yourself Tonight.[1]

In 1974, Lee and Tam Ping-man, an actor and on-screen partner, co-founded a production company. One of their most popular duets is Can You Come Back, which was featured in the comedy Rose Rose I Love You in 1993, they performed this song many times on stage together.[2]

Filmography

Aliases: Li Hsiang-Chun, Li Xiang-Jun

Films

Thus is a partial list of films.

TV series

Year Title Role Notes
1976Hotel (1976 TV series)Ching Wong Mei-or(TVB)
1977A House Is Not a HomeSze Li Mo-yung(TVB)[18]
1978Conflict(TVB)
Below the Lion Rock(RTHK)
1979The Good, the Bad and the UglyFong Yeung Hing-wan(TVB)
1980The BrothersSo Sui-Fong(TVB)
1980Five Easy Pieces(TVB)
1982Demi-Gods and Semi-DevilsQueen(TVB)
1982Love and PassionYuen Dai-Neung(TVB)
1984The New Adventures of Chor Lau-heungKam Tai-kwan(TVB)
1985The Yang's SagaTo Dai-Neung(TVB)
1986New Heavenly Sword and Dragon SabreMit-Juet Si Tai(TVB)
The Return of Luk Siu FungMrs. Fa(TVB)
Heir to the Throne Is...Koon Chung-yuen's mother(TVB)
1987The Grand CanalEmpress Dugu(TVB)
1988The Final Verdict(TVB)
1989The Justice of LifeHo Mei-Lai(TVB)
1991Days of Glory(ATV)
The Cops Affairs(ATV)
Who is the Winner(ATV)
1992Shanghai Godfather(ATV)
Who is the Winner II(ATV)
1993Silver Tycoon(ATV)
Shanghai Godfather II(ATV)
1994Movie Tycoon(ATV)
Midnight Lovers II(ATV)
1996The Little Vagrant Lady II(ATV)
The Little Vagrant Lady(ATV)
The Good Old DaysKam Fung-ChiWon – Best Supporting Actress, (ATV)
1997The Pride of Chao Zhou(ATV)
2004Love in a MiracleSun Gong Tsui-Fong(ATV)
2005Happy FamilyBak Suet(ATV)
2006Walled VillageMui Tsui-tsui(ATV)
2008Moonlight ResonanceSheh Kwan-laiNominated – Best Supporting Actress (Top 5), (TVB)
2010When Lanes MergeLei Suk-jing(TVB)
Can't Buy Me LoveKam Tai Fu YanNominated – My Favourite Female Character (Top 15), (TVB)
2012The Greatness of a HeroOn Lau-mui(TVB)

Awards

  • Won – 1997 ATV Anniversary Awards - Best Supporting Actress – The Good Old Days
  • Nominated – 2008 TVB Anniversary Awards – Best Supporting Actress – Moonlight Resonance
  • Nominated – 2010 TVB Anniversary Awards – Most Popular Female Character – Can’t Buy Me Love
  • Won – 2011 TVB Lifetime Achievement Award.[2]

Personal life

In 1950, Lee married Siu Chung-kwan, a Cantonese opera singer. They had a daughter, Siu Ji-wan.[2][1]

Lee had been forced to retire from acting in 2011 due to Alzheimer's disease, her condition deteriorated in December 2020.

On 4 January 2021, Lee died in Hong Kong. Lee was 88 years old. 9 days before her 89th birthday, Lee fainted while having dinner, and was pronounced dead en route to Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Hong Kong.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Star of TVB golden era passes away at 88". thestandard.com. 5 January 2021. Archived from the original on 30 January 2022. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 "Remembering Lee Heung-kam, the veteran Hong Kong actress who mentored Chow Yun-fat, Andy Lau and Maggie Cheung, and appeared in dozens of TVB dramas". scmp.com. 5 January 2021. Archived from the original on 30 January 2022. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  3. ↑ "Cantonese Opera Film Screenings - Lady Racketeer". westkowloon.hk. March 2021. Archived from the original on 19 May 2021. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  4. ↑ "Lady Racketeer". hkmdb.com. 16 March 1960. Archived from the original on 30 January 2022. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  5. ↑ "Press Release - HK Film Archive to screen opera films by director Wong Hok-sing to celebrate Cantonese Opera Day 2013 (with photos)". info.gov.hk. 15 November 2013. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  6. ↑ "A Gifted Scholar and a Beautiful Maid". hkmdb.com. 31 May 1967. Archived from the original on 30 January 2022. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  7. ↑ "The Golden Swallow (1967)". senscritique.com. 16 August 1967. Archived from the original on 28 July 2021. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  8. ↑ "The Long Journey Home". hkmdb.com. 6 September 1967. Archived from the original on 30 January 2022. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  9. ↑ "Madame Lee Sze-Sze". hkmdb.com. 10 May 1967. Archived from the original on 30 January 2022. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  10. ↑ "Maiden Thief ,(1967)". senscritique.com. 1967. Archived from the original on 30 January 2022. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  11. ↑ "Maiden Thief". hkmdb.com. 5 April 1967. Archived from the original on 30 January 2022. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  12. ↑ "Making a Living in a Blind Way". hkmdb.com. 10 May 1967. Archived from the original on 30 January 2022. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  13. ↑ "Terrors Over Nothing". hkmdb.com. 14 February 1967. Archived from the original on 30 January 2022. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
  14. ↑ "The Leading Actress, Perfidious Concubine and Beloved Grandma – Lee Hong Kum's Artistic Career". hk.heritage.museum. Archived from the original on 30 January 2022. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  15. ↑ "Uproar in Jade Hall". hkmdb.com. 8 February 1967. Archived from the original on 30 January 2022. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  16. ↑ "Who Should Be the Commander-in-Chief?". hkmdb.com. 1 March 1967. Archived from the original on 30 January 2022. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  17. ↑ "The Young Girl Dares Not Homeward". hkmdb.com. 25 April 1970. Archived from the original on 30 January 2022. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
  18. ↑ "A House Is Not a Home". spcnet.tv. 2009. Retrieved 17 July 2021.