Tang Bik-wan

Tang Bik-wan (Chinese: 鄧碧雲) (27 September 1924 – 25 March 1991) was a former Chinese actress and a Cantonese opera singer from Hong Kong. Tang is credited with over 280 films.

In this Chinese name, the family name is Tang (鄧).
Tang Bik-wan
Born
Tang Cheuk Foo (鄧芍芙)

(1924-09-27)September 27, 1924
Guangdong, Republic of China
DiedMarch 25, 1991(1991-03-25) (aged 66)
British Hong Kong
Other namesTang Bik Wan, Tang Pik-wan, Tang Big-Wan, Tang Bik-Wun, Deng Shao-Fu
Occupation(s)Cantonese Opera singer and television actress
Years active1940s to 1980s
Known forCo-founding[1]
Bao Bao Film Company
Bao Hua Film Company
Kam Big Film Company
ChildrenLui Oi Yin (Helen)
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese鄧碧雲
Simplified Chinese邓碧云
Musical career
Also known asMa-Da (妈打) or
Big Sister Pik (大碧姐)

Early life

On 27 September 1924, Tang was born as Tang Cheuk Fu.[2][3]

Tang Bik Wan was a Cantonese opera actress since she was 13 when she joined a Cantonese opera. She was a disciple of a few Cantonese opera masters and soon became the head actress for her troupe when she was 15. She was very talented and could almost play any role in the opera; hence, earning her the nickname the "multi-role actress". During the civil war, she went to Guangzhou, and then later to Hong Kong.

Career

In 1950, Tang crossed over as an actress in Hong Kong films. Tang and seven great opera actresses later became sworn sisters who went by the nickname "Eight Peonies". Tang was the Blue Peony and until 1967. Tang is credited with over 280 films.[2][3]

By 1968, Tang became a TV actress, performing in Rediffusion, ATV and TVB. As age caught up with her, she became the typical actress for the role as the mother of the drama's main characters, some of her most notable roles on television including the 1977 family soap opera A House Is Not a Home, 1978 classic drama "Chameleon", and popular 1979 drama serial "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly". Tang's television career reached its peak when she played the caring and intelligent family matriarch in the late 1980s long-running hit The Seasons (hence, gaining her the nickname "Ma-Da" [Cantonese pronunciation of "mother"]). "Ma-Da" propelled her to fame, and when she continued to take movies and advertisements, she would portray the "Ma-Da" role.

Filmography

Films

This is a partial list of films.

  • 1950 Ciyun's Farewell in Storm and Fire (Part 1)
  • 1950 Ciyun's Farewell in Storm and Fire (Part 2)
  • 1950 The Gardener's Daughter - To Sheung-Yuet
  • 1956 Lady with a Silver and Bitter Tongue[2]
  • 1960 Fortune.[4][5]
  • 1960 Lady Racketeer.[6][7]
  • 1960 The Love Quadrangle[8][9]
  • 1964 Pigeon Cage (aka The Apartment of 14 Families)[10][11]

Awards

Personal life

Tang's health began to deteriorate during her tenure in The Seasons as a result of throat cancer. Her voice on screen had been noticeably deeper and softer between two seasons of the television series after she had undergone treatment for it during the off-season hiatus. However, Tang Pik Wan, the multi-talented actress died of a liver malfunction on March 25, 1991. Her family in her name has donated to various charity organizations in Hong Kong. There is a nursery and an old folks centre named after her.

References
  1. art-mate Tang Bik-wan (曾創辦「寶寶」、「寶華」及「金碧」三間電影製作公司，拍攝《楊八妹招親》(1956) 及《爛賭二當老婆》(1964) 等39部電影。)
  2. "Ms Tang Bik Wan, 1926-1991, Actress". avenueofstars.com.hk. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  3. "Tang Pik-Wan". hkmdb.com. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
  4. "Cantonese Opera Film Screenings - Fortune". westkowloon.hk. March 2021. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
  5. "Fortune". hkmdb.com. February 1, 1960. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
  6. "Cantonese Opera Film Screenings - Lady Racketeer". westkowloon.hk. March 2021. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
  7. "Lady Racketeer". hkmdb.com. March 16, 1960. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
  8. "Press Releases - Film Archive's selected films pay tribute to Cantonese opera master Sit Kok-sin (with photos)". info.gov.hk. 2016. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
  9. "The Love Quadrangle". hkmdb.com. March 9, 1960. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
  10. "Pigeon Cage". mask9.com. March 29, 2013. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  11. "Film Screenings – Pigeon Cage". lcsd.gov.hk. March 2013. Retrieved January 1, 2020.
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