Life and controversial love affairs of late Hong Kong martial arts actor Norman Chui

On Sept. 15, St Headline reported that Chui’s daughter, Erica Chui, who he had with his ex-girlfriend, actress Shirley Yim, confirmed that her father passed away on Sept. 1 in Beijing, China, due to esophageal cancer at the age of 74. Chui's wife also passed away from a heart attack shortly after arranging his funeral.

News of Chui’s death garnered over 300 million views on Weibo, with millions of fans mourning his passing and reminiscing about the unforgettable characters he brought to life.

Hong Kong martial arts actor Norman Chui. Photo from Facebook

Born in Hong Kong, Chui initially worked as a stock brokerage accountant, a stable and well-paying job. However, inspired by the rising fame of Hong Kong movie stars and encouraged by friends, Chui decided to leave his white-collar career to pursue acting, despite his father’s strong initial opposition. Eventually, his determination won his father’s reluctant support.

Chui joined the Shaw Brothers’ acting training program, beginning his career as a stunt double in action and martial arts films. His big break came in 1979 when he starred as Yun Feiyang, a master of the "Silkworm Style," in "The Transformation of the Heavenly Silkworm". In 1993, he reprized this role in an ATV remake.

Throughout his career, Chui demonstrated his versatility by excelling in both heroic and villainous roles. Some of his notable performances include films such as "The Imperial Wanderer" (1992), "King of Beggars", "Wudang II", "The Deadly Duo", and "Three Against the World".

In his later years, Chui primarily worked in China, taking on supporting roles in numerous television series and films. At the time of his death, he had six unreleased projects.

Chui’s personal life was as dramatic as his on-screen roles, according to St Headline. Chui married his first wife in 1975, and they had a son together, but the couple divorced in 1979. The following year, he remarried.

In 1983, while still married, Chui's affair with actress Shirley Yim, who was under 18 at the time, became public. After Shirley turned 18, she gave birth to Chui’s son, leading to his divorce and his decision to move in with Shirley. The couple had a daughter, Erica Chui, in 1987.

The couple planned to marry in 1986, but on the day of registration, Chui claimed he had forgotten his divorce papers, and the marriage never occurred. They eventually split in 1988, with Shirley raising their children on her own.

After this, Chui entered another relationship and fathered another child. In 2004, Chui married his last wife, a dancer from China mainland, with whom he had a daughter and a son, according to the South China Morning Post. In 2017, Chui denied rumors of infidelity, maintaining that his marriage was strong.

Norman Chui and his children with ex-girlfriend Shirley Yim, Erica Chui and Edward Chui. Photo courtesy of Erica's Instagram

In a 2022 interview with Mp Weekly, Erica said despite her father's lack of affection during her childhood, she harbored no resentment. The two occasionally acted together, and Erica maintained a good relationship with Chui’s new family.

She expressed happiness that her younger siblings received love and care from both parents, stating: "The fact that I lacked love as a child is not my siblings’ fault. Adults need to learn from their mistakes so that children can receive more love. I adore children and get along well with my siblings. We are family."

As for Shirley, she rarely speaks about her past with Chui. On Sept. 15, she posted a message on her personal Weibo, saying: "Rest in peace, Norman Chui."