Sean Lau Ching-wan (born 16 February 1964) is a Hong Kong actor. He is best known for starring in the films C'est la vie, mon chéri (1993), My Name Is Fame (2006), Mad Detective (2007), Overheard film series (2009–2014), and Life Without Principle (2011), for which he won the Golden Horse Award for Best Leading Actor. For his performance in Detective vs Sleuths (2022), he won the Hong Kong Film Award for Best Actor. In 2025, he won a Hong Kong Film Award, a Hong Kong Film Critics Society Award, an Asian Film Award and an Asia Pacific Screen Award for his performance in Papa (2024).
Career Lau was born in Hong Kong in 1964. He joined the TVB acting classes in 1983 and made his first appearance on television in the following year in the drama Draw Out the Rainbow. Dark-skinned with no matinee-idol look, he struggled with minor roles until the immensely popular stock market drama The Greed of Man (1992), where he first achieved his leading man status, and acted opposite Adam Cheng. His wife, Amy Kwok, who won the Miss Hong Kong Pageant in 1991, is also a well-known former television actress and co-starred with him on The Greed of Man. Lau starred in two series with ATV in 1991 and again in 2000.
Lau made his film debut in 1986 and since then has been cast in numerous roles. His critically acclaimed roles include acting opposite Anita Yuen as a down-and-out musician in C'est la vie, mon chéri (1993) and in a number of cop thrillers such as Big Bullet (1996), Full Alert (1997), The Longest Nite (1998), Running out of Time (1999), Running Out of Time 2 (2001) and Mad Detective (2007).
Lau is known for his versatility as an actor, having acted in a variety of genres.
Lau joined Milkyway Image production house in the mid-1990s.
Personal life Lau is married to Miss Hong Kong 1991, Amy Kwok Oi Ming.
Filmography
Film
Year English title Original title Role Notes1986 Silent Love聽不到的說話 Kelly Mak1988 Set Me Free!我要逃亡 Police Story 2警察故事續集 CID in restaurant1989 Live Hard鐵膽雄風 Fai / Chief My Dear Son我要富貴 Maddy1991 The Roar of the Vietnamese越青 Fan Wan-tin1992 Angel Hunter女校風雲之邪教入侵 Jack Chow Man-kit The Happy Massage Girls快樂按摩女郎 Tulips in August八月鬱金香 The Shootout危險情人 Liu1993 Thou Shalt Not Swear七月十四Chow's sidekickC'est la vie, mon chéri新不了情KitExecutioners現代豪俠傳TakThe Gods Must Be Crazy IV香港也瘋狂 / 非洲先生Johnalternative title: Crazy Hong KongAll Men Are Brothers: Blood of the Leopard水滸傳之英雄本色Tso WuPink Bomb人生得意衰盡歡Daniel1994Bomb Disposal Officer: Baby Bomb拆彈專家寶貝炸彈Peter ChanI Wanna Be Your Man!!!神探磨轆 / 聰明笨探 Liu Che-moThe Most Wanted龍虎新風雲Black Cat / Ho Chi-yungDon't Shoot Me, I'm Just a Violinist!山雞變鳳凰MozartOh! My Three Guys三個相愛的少年Ching Yu-hoiBeginner's Luck運財童子 / 狂賭一族出頭天MarkTears and Triumph昨夜長風Xie Shi-wenThe Tragic Fantasy - Tiger of Wanchai醉生夢死的灣仔之虎Deealternative title: The Tragic Fantasy - Tiger of WaichaiReturn to a Better Tomorrow新英雄本色Lobster TsuiShanghai Fever股瘋Alan TamThe Third Full Moon正月十五之一生一世Inspector LauHello! Who Is It?喂，搵邊位？Officer Ma FaiI've Got You, Babe!!! 播種情人Charcoal LauIt's a Wonderful Life大富之家Hou Chung1995Sea Root海根 / 後現代男女Sea RootThe Golden Girls山水有相逢Chun WaiRomantic Dream追女仔95之綺夢Hung Chi-lungLoving You無味神探Lau Chun-hoiOnce in a Lifetime終身大事Kei-onHappy Hour歡樂時光Chong TsangTricky Business整蠱王Ko HingMother of a Different Kind不一樣的媽媽Cheung HungMack the Knife流氓醫生Chiualternative title: Dr. MackOnly Fools Fall in Love呆佬拜壽 / 新威龍闖天關—傻瓜與野丫頭Chiu FordNew Tenant新房客 JoeCameoThe World of Treasure富貴人間Lion Danceralternative title: Land of TreasureCameo1996Viva Erotica色情男女 / 聲色男女 Yee Tung-singBlack Mask黑俠 Shek Wai-hoMuto Bontie摩登菩呢提 / 錯體陽謀Lam Chak-chiBig Bullet衝鋒隊─怒火街頭 / EU衝鋒隊Sergeant Bill Chualternative title: EU Strike ForceTristar大三元Lau Ching-fattBeyond Hypothermia攝氏32度Long1997Full Alert高度戒備Inspector PaoToo Many Ways to Be No. 1一個字頭的誕生KauFinal Justice最後判決Father Li Chi-hoLifeline十萬火急 / 烈火雄心119Chief Yau SuiMy Dad Is a Jerk!對不起，多謝你Li Lap-cheong1998A Hero Never Dies真心英雄MartinExpect the Unexpected非常突然SamStep Into the Dark夜半無人屍語時Dr. Care KwanThe Longest Nite暗花 / 暗花之殺人條件Tonyalternative title: The Longest Night1999The Victim目露凶光Manson MaThe H.K. TriadO記三合會檔案 Hoalternative title: The Hong Kong TriadWhere a Good Man Goes再見阿郎Michael CheungRunning Out of Time暗戰Inspector Ho Sheung-sang2001Lunch with Charles與查理斯午餐 TongRunning Out of Time 2暗戰2Inspector Ho Sheung-sangLa Brassiere絕世好BraJohnny2002Fat Choi Spirit嚦咕嚦咕新年財Ching WanMighty Baby絕世好BJohnny HungMy Left Eye Sees Ghosts我左眼見到鬼Ken Wong / Sam Wong20031:99 Shorts1:99 電影行動 / 一比九十九電影行動alternative title: 1:99 Short Film SeriesLost in Time忘不了HaleGood Times, Bed Times戀上你的床Magistrate RaymondColour of the Truth黑白森林7 Up2004Three of a Kind煎釀三寶FrankieThe Attractive One身驕肉貴HugoDriving Miss Wealthy絕世好賓 / 窈窕淑女MarioItchy Heart七年很癢 / 7年很癢Poon Chi-manFantasia鬼馬狂想曲Director Man2005Himalaya Singh喜馬拉亞星Panic2006The Shopaholics最愛女人購物狂 / 購物狂Choosey Lee Kan-yanMy Name Is Fame我要成名Poon Kar-fai2007Mad Detective神探Chan Kwai-bun2009Overheard竊聽風雲Johnny Leungalternative title: WiretapWritten By再生號Tony TongPoker King撲克王Uno2011Life Without Principle奪命金Pantheralternative title: Death of a HostageOverheard 2竊聽風雲2Manson Lo Man-sang2012The Fairy Tale Killer追凶 / 完美童話 / 索命童話Inspector Wong Wai-hanalternative title: Perfect Fairy TaleThe Great Magician大魔術師General LeiThe Bullet Vanishes消失的子彈Inspector Song Donglualternative title: Ghost Bullets / Disappeared Bullets / Lost Bullets2013Out of Inferno逃出生天 / 逃出生天3DMak Tai-kwanalternative title: Inferno 3DThe White Storm掃毒 / 變役Ma Ho-tinalternative title: Metamorphosis / The Cartel War2014Overheard 3竊聽風雲3Luk Kam-keung2015Insanity暴瘋語Fan Kwok-sangTale of Three Cities三城記Fang DaolongThe Vanished Murderer消失的兇手Song Donglualternative title: The Bullet Vanishes 2 / The Murderer Vanishes2016Call of Heroes危城 / 危城殲霸Yang Kenanalternative title: The Deadly ReclaimHeartfall Arises驚心破 / 驚天破Calvin Che2017Dealer/Healer毒。誡Chan Wah2019My Pet is an Elephant我的寵物是大象Qi WeiPost-productionIntegrity廉政風雲 煙幕Chan King-Chi2020Shock Wave 2拆彈專家2Tung Cheuk-man2022Detective vs Sleuths神探大戰Lee JunWarriors of Future明日戰記Johnson Cheng 2023The White Storm 3: Heaven or Hell掃毒3Hong So-chai2024Crisis Negotiators談判專家Cheuk Man WaiPapa爸爸Nin Yuen2025Sons of the Neon Night風林火山Police officer
Television series Year English title Original title Role Network Notes 1983 Woman on the Beat 警花出更 TVB Jade Bit part Hong Kong '83 香港八三 TVB Jade Bit part The Man in the Middle 夾心人 TVB Jade Alternative title: Sandwiches Bit part 1984 The Fearless Duo 天師執位 TVB Jade Bit part The New Adventures of Chor Lau Heung 楚留香之蝙蝠傳奇 TVB Jade Bit part Rainbow Round My Shoulder 畫出彩虹 Law Ka-kan TVB Jade Police Cadet '84 新紮師兄 Ngai-fung / Fit Lo TVB Jade Qiu Jin: A Woman to Remember 秋瑾 Yeung Hok-ling TVB Jade It's a Long Way Home 家有嬌妻 Dang Hin-coeng TVB Jade The Smiling, Proud Wanderer 笑傲江湖 Mai Wai-ji TVB Jade The Duke of Mount Deer 鹿鼎記 Wan Yau-fong TVB Jade 1985 Take Care, Your Highness! 皇上保重 Chiu Nam-sing TVB Jade The Fallen Family 武林世家 TVB Jade The Pit Fall 種計 TVB Jade Police Cadet '85 新紮師兄續集 Ngai-fung / Fit Lo TVB Jade The Battle Among the Clans 大香港 Lam Cho TVB Jade 1986 Movie Maze 銀色旅途 TVB Jade Destined to Rebel 薛剛反唐 TVB Jade The Superlative Affections 赤腳紳士 TVB Jade 1987 Genghis Khan 成吉思汗 Chilaun TVB Jade When Silken Hands Get Rough 靜待黎明 TVB Jade The Grand Canal 大運河 TVB Jade Born to Be a King 大明群英 TVB Jade The Dragon Sword 天龍神劍 TVB Jade The Runaway 血網迷情 TVB Jade 1988 Twilight of a Nation 太平天國 Siu Chiu-kwai TVB Jade The Story of Two Women 藍色時份 TVB Jade And Yet We Live 當代男兒 TVB Jade 1989 The Shanghai Conspiracy 上海大風暴 TVB Jade The Fatal Game 遊戲邊緣 Mike TVB Jade My Son-In-Law 婆媽女婿 TVB Jade 1990 It Runs in the Family 孖仔孖心肝 TVB Jade A Time of Taste 燃燒歲月 TVB Jade A World Apart 水鄉危情 TVB Jade The Challenge of Life 人在邊緣 TVB Jade 1991 Heartbreak Blues 與郎共舞 TVB Jade Generation Empress 一代皇后大玉兒 Asia Television 1992 The Greed of Man 大時代 Fong Chin-bok TVB Jade 2000 Divine Retribution 世紀之戰 Fong San-hap Asia Television
Dubbing Lau has also done voiceover work for films:
Year English title Original title Role Notes1994Over the Rainbow, Under the Skirt記得香蕉成熟時II初戀情人Narratoralternative title: Yesterday You, Yesterday Me II1997Yesterday You, Yesterday Me記得…香蕉成熟時3為妳鍾情Yeung Shing-bo at 32Voice1999 Toy Story 2Buzz LightyearHong Kong version2002Black Mask 2: City of Masks黑俠 IIWolfalternative title: Black Mask IICantonese voice2003Finding NemoMarlinHong Kong version2004Garfield: The MovieGarfieldHong Kong version2006Garfield: A Tail of Two KittiesGarfieldHong Kong version2007The Secret of the Magic Gourd寶葫蘆的秘密 / 魔法小葫蘆Magic Gourdalternative title: The Magic Gourd2009Garfield's Pet ForceGarfieldHong Kong version2010Toy Story 3Buzz LightyearHong Kong version2011The Lost Bladesman關雲長Cao CaoHong Kong version2016Finding DoryMarlinHong Kong version2017The Lego Batman MovieBruce Wayne / BatmanHong Kong version2019Toy Story 4Buzz LightyearHong Kong version
Host
Year Event Notes201635th Hong Kong Film AwardsMaster of ceremonies
Sean Lau at hkmdb.comSean Lau at chinesemov.com
Awards and nominations Lau has won Best Actor Awards at the Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards in 1997, 2001, 2011, 2014 and the Golden Bauhinia Awards in 1999 and 2007. He also won his first Best Actor award at the Hong Kong Film Awards in 2007 for his performance in the film My Name Is Fame. He won his first Golden Horse Award in 2012 for his performance in Life Without Principle.
YearAwardCategoryNominated workResult199414th Hong Kong Film AwardsBest ActorThou Shalt Not SwearC'est la vie, mon chéri199616th Hong Kong Film AwardsBest ActorBig Bullet199717th Hong Kong Film AwardsBest ActorFull AlertHong Kong Film Critics Society AwardsBest Actor199818th Hong Kong Film AwardsBest ActorThe Longest Nite199919th Hong Kong Film AwardsBest ActorThe Victim36th Golden Horse AwardsBest Leading ActorGolden Bauhinia AwardsBest ActorBest ActorWhere a Good Man Goes2001Hong Kong Film Critics Society AwardsBest ActorLa Brassiere200323rd Hong Kong Film AwardsBest ActorLost in Time200626th Hong Kong Film AwardsBest ActorMy Name Is FameGolden Bauhinia AwardsBest Actor200727th Hong Kong Film AwardsBest ActorMad Detective200929th Hong Kong Film AwardsBest ActorOverheard201131st Hong Kong Film AwardsBest ActorLife Without PrincipleOverheard 2201249th Golden Horse AwardsBest Leading ActorLife Without Principle55th Asia Pacific Film FestivalBest Actor 201451st Golden Horse AwardsBest Leading ActorThe White Storm201521st Hong Kong Film Critics Society AwardsBest ActorOverheard 310th Hong Kong Film Directors' Guild AwardsBest Actor34th Hong Kong Film AwardsBest ActorBest ActorInsanity202329th Hong Kong Film Critics Society AwardsBest ActorDetective vs Sleuths18th Hong Kong Film Directors' Guild AwardsBest Actor 41st Hong Kong Film AwardsBest Actor 202531st Hong Kong Film Critics Society AwardsBest ActorPapa 18th Asian Film AwardsBest Actor 43rd Hong Kong Film AwardsBest Actor 18th Asia Pacific Screen AwardsBest Performance
References
External links
HK cinemagic entry