Chen Kuan-tai is a Chinese

China

Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...

 martial arts

Martial arts

Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....

 film star. He has primarily appeared in Shaw Brothers productions, and was one of the first solid trained, martial arts stars employed by the company. His first appearance in a Shaw work was in the 1969 film The Chinese Boxer, alongside Jimmy Wang Yu

Jimmy Wang Yu

Jimmy Wang Yu is a Chinese actor, director, producer, and screenwriter. He shot to fame with the Shaw Brothers Studio's martial arts film, The One-Armed Swordsman, in 1967...

 and Ben McDonald.

Chen branched out as an actor with his tender roles in The Tea House and its sequel Big Brother Cheng

Big Brother Cheng

Big Brother Cheng is a 1975 sequel to the Hong Kong hit crime drama The Teahouse directed by Kuei Chih-Hung. Written by On Szeto, the film follows the eponymous character as he continues to protect his community from thugs.-Cast:...

, both directed by Chih-hung Kwei. These films gave Chen status as a "legitimate actor". After starring in the box office successes Challenge of the Masters

Challenge of the Masters

Challenge of the Masters is a 1976 martial arts-action film released in Hong Kong by Shaw Brothers, and directed by Lau Kar Leung.-Plot:After his father refuses to teach him kung fu and he is constantly being beaten around by rival school students, a young Wong Fei Hung must train under Luk Ah...

and Executioners from Shaolin, both helmed by the legendary martial arts director Lau Kar-leung

Lau Kar-leung

Lau Kar-Leung is a famous Hong Kong martial arts filmmaker, choreographer, and actor.Lau Kar-Leung is best known for his movies which he made during the 1970s and 1980s for the Shaw Brothers Studio...

, Chen left the Shaw Brothers Studio.

While away from Shaw, Chen directed and starred in the 1977 film Iron Monkey

Iron Monkey (1977 film)

Iron Monkey is a martial arts film directed by, and starring Chen Kuan Tai, as a Shaolin Temple trained Monkey Kung Fu expert, fighting against the Qings.-Plot:...

(not to be confused with the 1993 film by Yuen Woo-Ping

Yuen Woo-ping

Yuen Woo-ping is a Chinese martial arts choreographer and film director, renowned as one of the most successful and influential figures in the world of Hong Kong action cinema. He is one of the inductees on the Avenue of Stars in Hong Kong...

). Chen later returned to the Shaw Brothers in the films Crippled Avengers

Crippled Avengers

Crippled Avengers is a 1978 Shaw Brothers kung fu film directed by Chang Cheh and starring four members of the Venom Mob. It has been released in North America as Mortal Combat and Return of the 5 Deadly Venoms....

(directed by Chang Cheh

Chang Cheh

Chang Cheh was Shaw Brothers Studio's best known and most prolific film director, with such films as the Five Venoms, the Brave Archer , the The One-Armed Swordsman, and other classics of wuxia and kung fu film.-Career:Referred to as "The Godfather of Hong Kong cinema", Chang Cheh directed over 100...

), Killer Constable

Killer Constable

Killer Constable is a 1980 Hong Kong martial arts-action film directed by Chih-Hung Kwei and released by Shaw Brothers.-Plot:Chief constable and accomplished fighter Ling Tien Ying is well known for his remarkable success rate in his dangerous field...

(directed by Chih-hung Kwei), and 3 Evil Masters

The Master (1980 film)

The Master is a 1980 martial arts film produced in Hong Kong. It was directed by Lu Chin Ku and produced by the Shaw Brothers Studio....

(co-starring Yuen Tak of the Seven Little Fortunes).

To date Chen has starred in over 100 films, around 80 of which were with Shaw Brothers. His latest appearances were in Wilson Yip

Wilson Yip

Wilson Yip Wai-Shun is a Hong Kong actor, filmmaker and screenwriter. His films include Bio Zombie, The White Dragon, SPL: Sha Po Lang, Dragon Tiger Gate, Flash Point, Ip Man, and Ip Man 2.-Early career:...

's 2006 martial arts-fantasy Dragon Tiger Gate

Dragon Tiger Gate

Dragon Tiger Gate is a 2006 Hong Kong martial arts action film directed by Wilson Yip and featuring fight choreography by Donnie Yen, who also stars in the film. The film is based on the manhua Oriental Heroes, which bears the same Chinese title as the film...

, and in the 2007 remake of the King Hu

King Hu

King Hu was a Hong Kong- and Taiwan-based Chinese film director whose Wuxia films brought Chinese cinema to new technical and artistic heights. His films Come Drink with Me , Dragon Gate Inn and A Touch of Zen inaugurated a new generation of wuxia films in the late 1960s...

 classic, The Valiant Ones New.

Filmography

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1982	Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils (1982 film) Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils, also known as Dragon Story, is a 1982 Hong Kong film based on Louis Cha's novel of the same title. The film was directed and produced by Siu Sang and starred Norman Chu, Kent Tong, Felix Wong, Idy Chan, Lam Jan-kei and Austin Wai...	Ye-lut Hung-kei Emperor Daozong of Liao Emperor Daozong of Liao , born Yelü Hongji or Yehlu Hongji , was an emperor of the Liao dynasty, a kingdom of the Khitan people in what is now northeastern China. Succeeding his father, Xingzong, in 1055, Daozong ruled until he was murdered in 1101. He was succeeded by his grandson, Tianzuodi...
1983	Little Dragon Maiden Little Dragon Maiden Little Dragon Maiden, also known as The Brave Archer 5, is a 1983 Hong Kong film adapted from Louis Cha's novel The Return of the Condor Heroes...	Guo Jing Guo Jing Guo Jing is the fictional protagonist of The Legend of the Condor Heroes, a wuxia novel by Jin Yong. He plays a supporting role in the sequel novel The Return of the Condor Heroes as well...
1986	The Romance of the White Hair Maiden The Romance of the White Hair Maiden (1986 TV series) The Romance of the White Hair Maiden is a Hong Kong television series adapted from Liang Yusheng's novel Baifa Monü Zhuan. The series was first broadcast on ATV in Hong Kong in 1986.-Cast:*Bonnie Ngai as Lin Ngai-seung*Savio Tsang as Cheuk Yat-hong...	Ngok Ming-or	TV series
2002	The Legendary Siblings 2 The Legendary Siblings 2 The Legendary Siblings 2 is a Taiwanese television series directed by Lai Shui-ching and Hsia Yu-shun, and starring Jimmy Lin and TAE in the leading roles. It was first broadcast on CTS in Taiwan from January to March 2002, and was preceded by The Legendary Siblings in 1999...	Ye Tianzhao	TV series
2010	14 Blades 14 Blades 14 Blades is a 2010 wuxia film directed by Daniel Lee and starring Donnie Yen, Zhao Wei, Wu Chun, Kate Tsui and Qi Yuwu. The film was released on February 4 in China and February 11 in Hong Kong...	Fazheng
	Who's the Hero		TV series
TBA	White Vengeance White Vengeance White Vengeance, also known as Hong Men Yan, is an upcoming Chinese historical film directed by Daniel Lee and starring Leon Lai, Feng Shaofeng, Liu Yifei, Zhang Hanyu, Anthony Wong, Jordan Chan, Andy On, Xiu Qing and Jia Qing...