Background and career
Simon Yam Tat-wah (Chinese: 任達華; born 19 March 1955) is a Hong Kong actor and film producer. He is best known for his collaborations with filmmaker Johnnie To in PTU (2003), Election (2005), Triangle (2007), and Sparrow (2008). His other notable films include SPL: Sha Po Lang (2005), Night & Fog (2009), and Echoes of the Rainbow (2010).
Yam started off as a model before becoming an actor in the mid 1970s. He then signed with the Hong Kong television network TVB, starring and co-starring in a number of television series prior to "apply his trades" in the film industry in 1987. His elder brother is Yam Tak-wing, a retired former Deputy Commissioner of Hong Kong Police. In 1989, he starred in the Japanese-Hong Kong co-production of Bloodfight. This was the first of its kind in which English was spoken throughout the entire film. In 1992, Yam gained critical acclaim for his role as the maniacal Judge in the crime film Full Contact, where he faced off in a bloody battle against Chow Yun-fat's character. In 1993, he starred as "Dhalsim" in the action-comedy film Future Cops, a parody of Street Fighter directed by Wong Jing. In 1996, Yam began his role as Chiang Tin-Sung, the leader of the Hung Hing triads in the first three instalments of the Young and Dangerous film series. In 2000, Yam starred as Cheung San, the progenitor of all vampires, in the television series My Date with a Vampire II, produced by ATV. In 2003, Yam made his Hollywood film debut in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life as Shaolin crime lord. In 2013, Yam directed his first film, as part of the Hong Kong portmanteau horror film Tales from the Dark 1. In February 2021, Yam, Tony Leung and Andy Lau will team up in a new major action movie titled Goldfinger, backed by Emperor Motion Pictures and mainland Chinese partners, with a reported budget of around $30.8 million (RMB200 million).
Yam was married to his first wife Ho Sui-yi from 1981–86. In 1997, he married Sophia Kao, known as Qi Qi, an international model. She was born in Shanghai but raised in Austria. They have a daughter, Ella. On 20 July 2019, Yam was stabbed at a promotional event in China. He suffered a minor injury and his manager said, "He was stabbed in the tummy area and also got a cut on his right hand." He underwent a minor operation in Zhongshan and recovered. Yam's favorite investment is Hong Kong real estate.
Best Supporting Actor Nomination for The Be No. 1 Best Supporting Actor Nomination for Juliet in Love Best Supporting Actor Nomination for Midnight Fly Best Actor Nomination for PTU Best Actor Nomination for Election Best Supporting Actor Nomination for Election 2 Best Actor Nomination for Eye in the Sky Best Actor Nomination for Sparrow Best Actor Nomination for Night and Fog Best Actor for Echoes of the Rainbow (6 Best Actor Nominations, four Best Supporting Actor Nominations) Golden Horse Awards
Best Actor Nomination for PTU Golden Bauhinia Awards
Best Actor for PTU Best Actor for Election Asia Pacific Screen Awards
Sources
Net-worth figure: Celebrity Net Worth (October 2026), in USD. Biography and career facts: the person's Wikipedia article and linked reporting. Snapshot date for all StarWorth figures: 28 October 2026.
