Personal Info
Birth date
1956-09-12 (68 Years)
Day of death
2003-04-01
Gender
Male
Known for
Acting
Place of birth
Hong Kong, British Crown Colony
Also known as
Zhāng Guóróng
Leslie Cheung Kwok-Wing
Cheung Kwok-Wing
張國榮
张国荣
Kwok-wing Cheung
Lesile K.W. Cheung
Guorong Zhang
장국영
Trương Quốc Vinh
张发宗
เลสลี่ จาง
Leslie Cheung
لزلی چونگ کووک-وینگ
Leslie Cheung
Biography
Cheung Kwok-Wing (Chinese: 張國榮, English name: Leslie, September 12, 1956 – April 1, 2003) was a Hong Kong Canadian singer and actor. Born in Hong Kong, Leslie Cheung moved to the United Kingdom in 1971, settling in Leeds, where he enrolled at university to study fashion design. After completing his studies, he returned to Hong Kong and, in 1977, took part in an amateur singing competition—the ATV Asian Music Contest—where he won second prize. The following year, he released his first album, I Like Dreaming. He soon began appearing on television and quickly landed his first film role in Erotic Dreams of the Red Chamber (1978), an erotic production that Cheung himself later described as a “shameful disaster.” Throughout a 26-year career from 1977 until his death, Cheung released over 40 music albums and acted in 56 films. He was one of the most prominent pioneers that shaped the identity of Cantopop during the 1980s and became known for his flamboyant, often outrageous stage appearance. His venture into acting in the 1990s was recognized for his portrayal of queer characters in the then-conservative film industry, he was one of the few Hong Kong actors willing to take on gay roles—such as in Wong Kar-wai’s Happy Together—or to play a cross-dressing opera performer in Chen Kaige’s Farewell My Concubine, which won the Palme d'Or at Cannes in 1993. His career was marked with both praise and criticism, with numerous public discussions focusing on his sexual orientation and androgynous persona. Leslie Cheung died by suicide on April 1, 2003, at the age of 46, by jumping from the 24th floor of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Hong Kong. In the note he left behind, he stated that he had been suffering from depression. Some, however, have speculated that his suicide was due to heartbreak, while others have claimed he had long been living with HIV and that AIDS had recently developed.
Filmography
Viva Erotica
6.645
Overview:
Sing's last two films were flops, but he is given the helm on a Category III sex film and has to cope with a leading lady who won't do nude scenes, Triad backers, and a crumbling relationship with his girlfriend.Farewell My Concubine
7.9
Overview:
Two boys meet at an opera training school in Peking in 1924. Their resulting friendship will span nearly 70 years and endure some of the most troublesome times in China's history.Dynasty
NYR
Overview:
During the later years of the Kangxi Emperor's rule, his many sons were vying for the throne. The fourth prince, aided by Lusi, Nian Gengyao, and Han Chong, while the fourteenth prince had the support of martial arts master Zeng Jing. The competition between the two became intense. Lusi developed a romantic relationship with the fourth prince while Zeng Jing also had feelings for her, making their situation more complicated. Later, the fourth prince killed Kangxi and altered the imperial edict, successfully usurping the throne and naming himself Emperor Yongzheng. From then on, Yongzheng ruthlessly eliminated dissidents and even betrayed those who helped him, causing Lusi to regret her involvement. Ultimately, the fourteenth prince plotted to assassinate Yongzheng with the help of Zeng Jing and Lusi, igniting a fierce battle.Happy Together
7.6
Overview:
A gay couple from Hong Kong takes a trip to Argentina in search of a new beginning but instead begins drifting even further apart.Crocodile Tears
NYR
Overview:
Restaurant owner Lu Ganyu has two sons and a daughter. His eldest son, Lu Wenjun, becomes a journalist and later opens his own newspaper. However, his newspaper is suppressed by rivals, making him realize the cunning nature of the business world and prompting him to change. Wenjun uses the wealthy Huang De to help him, but he later forces Huang to sell his shares. Wenqi, Wenjun's sister, marries Huang despite her family's objections, but they don't get along. Wenjun falls in love with Xiao Ailian and Zou Shujuan. Although he marries Shujuan, he can't forget about Ailian. In his bid for success, Wenjun ignores his family and even associates himself with Meng Yanhong, a famous matchmaker, leading to his eventual success but estrangement from his loved ones. Meanwhile, Huang and Wenjun's enemies conspire to take him down.A Chinese Ghost Story
7.275
Overview:
A naïve young tax collector for the imperial government winds up spending the night in a haunted temple. There he falls in love with a beautiful woman who, unfortunately, is dead. With the aid of a powerful Daoist Swordsman, he must defeat undead hordes, overcome a sinister Tree Demoness, and descend to the pits of hell, to fight for the spirit he loves.Days of Being Wild
7.261
Overview:
Yuddy, a Hong Kong playboy known for breaking girls' hearts, tries to find solace and the truth after discovering the woman who raised him isn't his mother.A Better Tomorrow
7.4
Overview:
A reforming ex-gangster tries to reconcile with his estranged policeman brother, but the ties to his former gang are difficult to break.Once a Thief
6.741
Overview:
Three orphans grow up to become art thieves under the tutelage of a crime boss. Romance complicates matters when the trio are double-crossed.The Eagle Shooting Heroes
7.033
Overview:
A power struggle between the Queen's treasonous lover and a princess occurs amid musical numbers, slapstick battles, and martial arts acrobatics.Ashes of Time
7.1
Overview:
Ouyang Feng is a heartbroken and cynical man who spends his days in the desert, connecting expert swordsmen with those seeking revenge and willing to pay for it. Throughout five seasons in exile, Ouyang spins tales of his clients' unrequited loves and unusual acts of bravery.A Chinese Ghost Story II
6.7
Overview:
In this installment of a phenomenal saga of the super natural, four young people are caught in a tug-o-war of evil between an Imperial Wizard and a corrupt General. Outrageous special effects galore.Temptress Moon
6.868
Overview:
Set in the decadent 1920s, Temptress Moon tells the very complicated story of a wealthy family living on the outskirts of Shanghai. Their youngest daughter, Ruyi, is brought up as a servant to her opium-addicted father and brother. Meanwhile, her brother-in-law Zhongliang has a successful, if illegal, career seducing and blackmailing married women in the city. When he comes to Ruyi's home the two fall in love, and trouble ensues.The Banquet
5.214
Overview:
Developer Tsang Siu Chi and his agent have bought two of a group of four properties. Rival developer, Boss Hung has secured the other two properties. Both aim to buy all four so they can knock them down and build hotels.A Better Tomorrow II
7
Overview:
A restauranteur teams up with a police officer and his ex-con brother to avenge the death of a friend's daughter.Rouge
7.277
Overview:
Amid the opulent teahouses of 1930s Hong Kong, a humble courtesan and the wayward scion of a wealthy family fall in love and embrace death by suicide pact. Fifty years later, her ghost returns to find him, drawing a young contemporary couple into her quest to rekindle a passion that may be as illusory as time itself.All's Well, Ends Well
6.957
Overview:
Three brothers living with their father fib and play pranks to win parental approval for themselves and their romances.The Chinese Feast
6.4
Overview:
Former member of a triad, Sun seeks to emigrate to Canada. He decides to become a great chef of chinese cooking and follows the teaching master Au.Moonlight Express
6.7
Overview:
On the eve of her wedding, Hitomi loses her fiance Tatsuya to a car accident. She travels to Hong Kong seeking solace and meets undercover cop Karbo — a dead ringer for Tatsuya. The duo is forced to take it on the lam when a corrupt colleague frames Karbo, and Hitomi soon finds herself torn between her love for Tatsuya and her blossoming feelings for her fellow fugitive.All's Well, Ends Well '97
6.2
Overview:
Old Mr. Lo has three sons and the youngest one Lo Kung is his favorite. However, Kung does nothing but fool around all day long. Old Mr. Lo is very annoyed about this. The relationship between father and son is thus affected. So on Kung's birthday, his two brothers decide to play a joke on him. They trick him into believing he has won the lottery. Kung is so happy that he spends a tremendous amount of money. When he realizes he is in huge debt, he pretends to go insane and the whole family believes him.Tri-Star
5.2
Overview:
A priest hears a prostitute's confession, a tale which has a 200,000 HK$ debt as its centerpiece. The prostitute accidentally leaves behind an envelope with her address in the confessional.Dynasty (II)
NYR
Overview:
The Red Flower Society infiltrates the Qing court, and Emperor Qianlong goes to Jiangnan disguised as a commoner, where he meets and takes in Kong Kong as a maid. They meet Fang Shiyu and are introduced to the leader of the Society, Han Tianchou. With the help of the White Browed Taoist and others, Han intends to overthrow the Qing dynasty, and Qianlong must investigate. Meanwhile, Muslim princess Ma Xianglei seeks Han's help to retrieve the Quran stolen by Qianlong. Xianglei and Qianlong develop mutual feelings, and so do Shiyu and Kong Kong, but they face many obstacles. Ultimately, Qianlong succeeds in dismantling the Society, but Xianglei is murdered. The culprit incites more conflict to harm Qianlong, who vows to avenge Xianglei by finding the true killer.Shanghai Grand
6
Overview:
Hui Man Keung is washed up on a beach near Shanghai. He is taken in by Ding Lik, a kindly beggar who is in love with Fung Ching Ching, the daughter of a prominent gangster. It isn't long before Ding Lik rises through the underworld ranks to become one of the city's most powerful gangsters.The Bride with White Hair
6.4
Overview:
The sensitive swordsman Cho Yi-Hang is tired of his life. He is the unwilling successor to the Wu-Tang clan throne and the unsure commander of the clan's forces in a war against foreign tribes and an evil cult. One day, he meets the beautiful Lien, a killer for the evil cult who is equally unsatisfied with her situation, but their love angers both the Wu-Tang clan and the evil cult.Aces Go Places V: The Terracotta Hit
5.1
Overview:
Two friends who own an investment firm turn to a policeman friend for help when they are framed for robbery by a gang of antiquities smugglers.Okinawa Rendez-vous
6
Overview:
Jimmy Tong is an expert blackmailer and thief who specialises in white-collar crimes. With his side-kick, Jimmy steals a personal diary belonging to a Yakuza leader Ken Sato intending to use its details as a platform for blackmailing and to extort money. Sato agreed to the uneasy deal and made preparations to pay Jimmy his exorbitant demands only for Sato's girlfriend Jenny to betray him and make off with the money to Okinawa.Acting
2023In Memory Of Leslie Cheung (2 Episodes) as Unknown
2021One-Tenth of a Millimeter Apart as Self (archive footage)
2021TME Live「想你 張國榮」線上音樂會 as self
2009Ashes of Time : Redux as 欧阳锋
2002Inner Senses as Jim Law
2001熱 : 情演唱會演唱會 Karaoke as Unknown
2000Leslie Cheung Kwok Wing Passion Tour 2000 as Unknown
2000From Ashes to Ashes as Lawrence
2000Okinawa Rendez-vous as Jimmy Tong
2000Double Tap as Rick Y.H.Pang
1999The Kid as Wing / Daniel
1999Left Right Love Destiny as 阿Sam
1999Moonlight Express as Tatsuya Misawa / Shek Karbo
1999Buenos Aires Zero Degree: The Making of 'Happy Together' as Self
1998A Time to Remember as Jin
1998Yang ± Yin: Gender in Chinese Cinema as Self
1998Anna Magdalena as Editor
1998Ninth Happiness as Ma Lun Cheung / Tok Choi
1997Happy Together as Ho Po-wing
1997星空下的傾情 (13 Episodes) as Unknown
1997All's Well, Ends Well '97 as Self
1997張國榮跨越97演唱會 as Unknown
1996Viva Erotica as Sing
1996Who's the Woman, Who's the Man? as Sam Koo Gai Ming
1996Shanghai Grand as Hui Man Keung
1996Temptress Moon as Yu Zhongliang
1996Tri-Star as Chung Kwok Keung
1995The Phantom Lover as Song Danping
1995The Chinese Feast as Chiu Kong Sun
1994Ashes of Time as Ouyang Feng / Malicious West
1994Over the Rainbow, Under the Skirt as Himself
1994Long and Winding Road as Lam Chiu-Wing
1994He's a Woman, She's a Man as Sam Koo Gai Ming
1994It's a Wonderful Life as Roberto
1993The Bride with White Hair 2 as Cho Yi Hang
1993The Bride with White Hair as Cho Yi Hang
1993The Eagle Shooting Heroes as Huang Yaoshi
1993All's Well End's Well, Too as David Copper Feel
1993Farewell My Concubine as Cheng Dieyi / Xiao Douzi
1992Arrest the Restless as Teddy
1992All's Well, Ends Well as Shang So
1991The Banquet as Little B-head
1991Once a Thief as James / Jim
1990Days of Being Wild as Yuddy
1990A Chinese Ghost Story II as Ling Choi-san
1989Sunset in Paris as Leslie
1989Leslie Cheung Special '89 (2 Episodes) as Leslie
1989Leslie Cheung: Final Encounter of the Legend as 自己
1989Celebrity Talk Show (1 Episode) as 张国荣
1989Aces Go Places V: The Terracotta Hit as Brother Thief
1988Fatal Love as Chi Ken Wing
1988張國榮’88演唱會 as 自己
1988梅艷芳特輯之夢裡風情 (1 Episode) as Unknown
1987A Better Tomorrow II as Sung Chi Kit
1987Rouge as Chan Chen-Pang
1987A Chinese Ghost Story as Ling Choi-san
1986張國榮86濃情演唱會 as Unknown
1986A Better Tomorrow as Sung Chi Kit
1986Last Song in Paris as Louie
1985For Your Heart Only as Piggy Chan
1985Crazy Romance as Leslie Cheung
1985惊情 as Unknown
1985The Fallen Family (20 Episodes) as Unknown
1984Merry Christmas as John
1984Double Decker as Eddie
1984Behind the Yellow Line as Paul Chan
1984Once Upon An Oridinary Girl (10 Episodes) as Unknown
1984The Intellectual Trio as Inspector Chan Wing
1983Leslie Cheung Kwok Wing World Tour Bangkok 1983 as Unknown
1983Little Dragon Maiden as Yang Guo / Yang Kang
1983First Time as Unknown
1983The Drummer as Unknown
1982Nomad as Louis
1982Energetic-21 as Ben Leung Man Bun
1982凹凸神探 (1 Episode) as Unknown
1982Teenage Dreamers as Jackson Chen
1981Agency 24 (20 Episodes) as Unknown
1981Tai Chi Master (II) (25 Episodes) as Unknown
1981On Trial as Wing
1981Pairing (20 Episodes) as 大官
1981珠海枭雄 (30 Episodes) as 六少
1980Dynasty (II) (21 Episodes) as Unknown
1980Encore as Gigo
1980Make a Wish (25 Episodes) as Unknown
1980Dynasty (21 Episodes) as Unknown
1980岁月河山之我家的女人 as Unknown
1980Gone with the wind (76 Episodes) as Unknown
1979The Spirit of the Sword (20 Episodes) as 方宝玉
1978Hong Kong Tragedy (8 Episodes) as Unknown
1978Dog Bites Dog Bone as Unknown
1978Crocodile Tears (89 Episodes) as Unknown
1978Teenagers as Unknown
1978Erotic Dream of the Red Chamber as Jia Baoyu
Writing
2000From Ashes to Ashes ... Writer, Story
1999Left Right Love Destiny ... Writer
1994He's a Woman, She's a Man ... Writer
1985惊情 ... Writer
Directing
2000From Ashes to Ashes ... Director
1999Left Right Love Destiny ... Director
1996Who's the Woman, Who's the Man? ... Assistant Director
1995The Phantom Lover ... Assistant Director
1985惊情 ... Director
Sound
2000Okinawa Rendez-vous ... Theme Song Performance
1999The Kid ... Theme Song Performance
1996Who's the Woman, Who's the Man? ... Theme Song Performance
1995The Phantom Lover ... Theme Song Performance
1994He's a Woman, She's a Man ... Theme Song Performance
1993The Bride with White Hair ... Theme Song Performance
1993Farewell My Concubine ... Theme Song Performance
1992Girls Without Tomorrow ... Songs
1991Once a Thief ... Theme Song Performance
1989Aces Go Places V: The Terracotta Hit ... Theme Song Performance
1988Fatal Love ... Theme Song Performance
1988The Other ½ & the Other ½ ... Songs
1987A Better Tomorrow II ... Theme Song Performance
1987A Chinese Ghost Story ... Theme Song Performance
1986A Better Tomorrow ... Theme Song Performance
1985For Your Heart Only ... Theme Song Performance
1984Behind the Yellow Line ... Theme Song Performance
1984Double Trouble ... Songs
1983On the Wrong Track ... Songs
1983The Drummer ... Theme Song Performance
1982Nomad ... Theme Song Performance
Production
1995The Phantom Lover ... Producer