Hwang Jang-lee

Hwang began his acting career in 1974. In 1976, he was offered employment in Hong Kong by Ng See-yuen, where he appeared in the kung fu film Secret Rivals as the villain Silver Fox, a role he reprised in several other films, most notably Secret Rivals 2 (1977). He gained prominence for appearing in the films Drunken Master (1978) and Snake in the Eagle's Shadow (1978), both opposite Jackie Chan, and Hitman in the Hand of Buddha (1981), which marked his directorial debut. He collaborated with Hong Kong filmmaker Corey Yuen on several films, including Snuff Bottle Connection, Secret Rivals 2, The Invincible Armour (all 1977), Dance of the Drunk Mantis (1979), Ninja in the Dragon's Den (1982), and Millionaires Express (1986). His other films include Hell's Wind Staff, Buddha Assassinator (both 1979), Two Fists Against the Law (1980), and Game of Death II (1981). Hwang is a martial arts instructor with the World Tang Soo Do General Federation and serves as technical adviser. Among his most notable students is Roy Horan, who appeared with Hwang in several films.

Hwang was born in Aomori, Honshu Island, Japan to Korean parents. His father owned a shipping company and moved his family back to Korea when Hwang was a baby.

Hwang began his acting career in Korea. In 1976, Ng See-yuen offered Hwang employment in Hong Kong, where he first appeared in Secret Rivals as the villain Silver Fox. Hwang had major roles in many martial arts movies, usually playing the villain. His nicknames "King of the Leg Fighters" and "Thunder Leg" attest to his dexterity of his kicks. In the mid-1970s, Hwang appeared in two Jackie Chan movies, Snake in the Eagle's Shadow as Sheng Kuan and Drunken Master as Thunderfoot (Thunder Leg). In 2002, writer-producer Mike Leeder interviewed Hwang for the Contender Hong Kong Legends DVD series.

In 1981, Hwang directed his first movie, Hitman in the Hand of Buddha and was credited as Wong Chin.

In 1987, Hwang trained German actor Matthias Hues in preparation for the latter's film debut as Yuri the Russian in No Retreat, No Surrender 2. Cast at the suggestion of producer Roy Horan, a student of Hwang, Hues had no martial arts experience and trained under Hwang. Hues enjoyed the experience so much that upon arrival in Los Angeles, he continued training in martial arts throughout his career. In the film, Hwang's opening scene of a firing squad was cut from the U.S. version. Hwang would play Yuri's enforcer, Gen. Ty, who engages in a brief fight against Cynthia Rothrock. In 1989, taekwondo grandmaster and actor Jun Chong invited Hwang to the U.S. to appear as a villain in the film Street Soldiers. To bring an international flavor to the movie, Hwang was credited as Jason Hwang, using his son's name. In the early 1990s, the elder Hwang returned to South Korea to run a golf tee manufacturer and a hotel in Seoul, later managing a private security agency. He has since made occasional film appearances such as in Emperor of the Underworld (1994) and Boss (1996). In July 1996, Hwang retired from acting at age 51. On Dec. 20, 2025, Hwang was moved to tears while attending a fan meetup in Japan to mark his 81st birthday when former Hong Kong action star Yukari Oshima made a surprise visit.

After a long absence from acting, Hwang in 2009 appeared in the TV series The Return of Iljimae. He was also featured in the documentary "The Anonymous King," in which Jon James Hodson examines Hwang's personal life in Seoul, Korea and Hong Kong.

Hitman in the Hand of Buddha (1981) Canton Viper (1983) Not Again! (1990) Emperor of the Underworld (1994)

Art of High Impact Kicking (1982) The Good Bad Boy (2014)

Shaolin Temple (Taiwanese TV series) (1984) Mighty Weapon (1985) The Return of Iljimae (2009)