Tony Leung Ka-fai

Tony Leung Ka-fai is a veteran Hong Kong actor with a film career spanning over three decades. To distinguish him from fellow actor Tony Leung Chiu-wai, he is commonly nicknamed "Big Tony," a title reflecting his age and physical build relative to his peer.

Leung was born on February 1, 1958. He entered the screen acting profession in 1983, making his cinematic debut portraying the Xianfeng Emperor in the feature film Burning of the Imperial Palace. Early in his career, he was approached to play the titular historical figure in The Last Emperor (1987), but he turned down the role due to existing commitments.

Throughout his extensive career, Leung has taken on a diverse array of roles across multiple genres. During the late 1980s and 1990s, he collaborated with actor Chow Yun-fat on three notable motion pictures: Prison on Fire (1987), A Better Tomorrow 3 (1989), and God of Gamblers Returns (1994). He also appeared alongside Joyce Godenzi as her character's husband in the 1990 action film She Shoots Straight.

Leung achieved international exposure in 1991 when he traveled to France to star in Jean-Jacques Annaud's film adaptation of Marguerite Duras's novel The Lover, acting opposite Jane March. He later expanded his global repertoire by starring alongside American actor David Morse in the international horror production Double Vision. His filmography further includes high-profile 2005 releases such as The Myth, Everlasting Regret, and Election. In 2016, he appeared in the music video for the song "Tough" by the band Mayday.

Leung's artistic achievements have earned him widespread critical acclaim, highlighted by five wins for Best Actor at the Hong Kong Film Awards. His fourth victory at the 32nd Hong Kong Film Awards was awarded for his role in Cold War, while his fifth win came at the 44th Hong Kong Film Awards for playing an antagonist in The Shadow's Edge. In September 2025, he served as a jury member for the Competition section at the 30th Busan International Film Festival.

In his private life, Leung is a father to twin daughters, Chloe and Nikkie. Both daughters have maintained private lives outside the entertainment industry, and through their marriages, Leung has become a grandfather to a granddaughter and a grandson.