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Ching-Ying Lam

Ching-Ying Lam

Actor, also director and producer · Died November 8, 1997, aged 44 · Hong Kong, China

Lam Ching-ying (Chinese: 林正英, 27 December 1952 – 8 November 1997) was a Hong Kong actor, action director and director. A physically talented and graceful martial artist, Lam was best known for playing the stoic Taoist priest in Mr. Vampire (1985). He was a member of Madame Fan Fok-fa's The Spring And Autumn Drama School's Peking Opera. Was a member of the Sammo Hung Stuntmen's Association. Lam died in 1997 of liver cancer.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
December 27, 1952
Died
November 8, 1997 (aged 44)
From
Hong Kong, China
Works as
Actor, also director and producer
Titles
64 on MovieCove · 141 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26

What are Ching-Ying Lam's films like?

Across their 36 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Action28 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 56th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Comedy6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 33rd percentile
: browse their Comedy movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
32%
Bonds
24%
Survival
22%
Self
9%
Power
7%
Society
7%
Survival12 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice10 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds9 titles, browse their movies with this themeRevenge7 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship6 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age4 titles, browse their movies with this themeDuty4 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 36 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 20 · Serious 9 · Dark 7

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 4 · Stylized 17 · Heightened 15

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 3 · Charged 23 · Intense 10

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 3 · Shifting 24 · Whiplash 9

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 8 · Some laughs 9 · Funny 19

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 5 · Even-paced 23 · Relentless 8

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 20 · Engaged 16 · Full focus 0

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 35 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

22 analyzed roles

Usually the Mentor: 10 of 22 analyzed roles.

Mentor
10 of 22
Hero
7 of 22
Ally
3 of 22
Shadow
2 of 22
Show the 22 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Thrilling
22
Tense
19
Absurd
19
Joyful
10
Melancholic
5
Other
14

How their films linger

Fun26 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCathartic8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 3 with a twist

  • Happy25
  • Bittersweet9
  • Ambiguous2

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Ching-Ying Lam's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 27 of their 64 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on The Criterion Channel (10).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Ching-Ying Lam's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

141 credits, 64 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • Vampire Expert II (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 50 episodes · Creator · Producer · as 毛小方

  • Coincidentally (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 30 episodes · as 剑伯

  • Vampire Expert (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 80 episodes · Director · as 毛小方

  • Kung Fu Kid (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Actor

  • The Chinese Ghostbuster (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Actor

  • The Green Hornet(1994)

    Director · Producer · as Uncle

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Painted Skin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Purple Taoist

  • Rape In Public Sea (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Nan

  • Exorcist Master (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Master Chiou

  • Mad Mad Ghost (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Uncle Ying

  • Pom Pom and Hot Hot (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Lam Ho-Yang

  • Skin Striperess (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Taoist Lam

  • The Musical Vampire(1992)

    as Uncle Master

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Mr Vampire 1992 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Master Lam

  • Wizard's Curse(1992)

    as Taoist Lin

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • Huang Fei Hong xi lie: Zhi yi dai shi(1992)

    as Jiubinku Kyoto

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Forced Nightmare (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Tao Priest

  • Banana Spirit (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Master Chen Sheng

  • China Dolls(1992)

    as Officer 19174

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • Legend of Wong Tai Sin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Cho Pin

  • Lover's Tear (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Cheng Ying

  • Slickers vs. Killers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Owl

  • The Tantana (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Lama Mud Yuet

  • Crazy Safari(1991)

    as Taoist priest

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Money Maker (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Master Chu

  • The Gambling Ghost(1991)

    as Taoist Priest

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • An Eternal Combat(1991)

    as Master

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Demonic Umbrella (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Taoist

  • Red and Black (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Kong

  • Shy Spirit (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Actor

  • Spiritual Trinity (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Tien Lung

  • The Ultimate Vampire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as 林凤娇（九叔）

  • Magic Cop(1990)

    Producer · as Uncle Feng

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Prince of the Sun(1990)

    as Khenlun

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Goodbye Hero (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Frank

  • Swordsman(1990)

    as Kuk

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Stage Door Johnny (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Liu

  • Encounter of the Spooky Kind II(1989)

    as Master Jiao

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Vampire vs. Vampire(1989)

    Director · as One-Eyebrow Priest

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Pedicab Driver(1989)

    as Uncle Sheng

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Painted Faces(1988)

    as Uncle Hua

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Her Vengeance(1988)

    Martial Arts Choreographer · as Hung

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • School on Fire(1988)

    as Hoi

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Paper Marriage(1988)

    Action Director

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • I Love Maria(1988)

    as Master

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Mr. Vampire Part 3(1987)

    Martial Arts Choreographer · as Master Gau

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Last Eunuch In China (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Liu Chang-Fu

  • Eastern Condors(1987)

    Martial Arts Choreographer · as Lieutenant Colonel Lam

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Mr. Vampire II(1986)

    as Lam Ching-Ying

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Jiang shi xian sheng xu ji (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as ... Master Lam

  • 小说家族之对倒 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Actor

  • Where's Officer Tuba?(1986)

    as Taoist Priest

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Millionaires' Express(1986)

    Action Director · Martial Arts Choreographer · as Bank Robber

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Mr. Vampire(1985)

    as Master Gau

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Heart of Dragon(1985)

    as SWAT Commander

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Twinkle Twinkle Lucky Stars(1985)

    Action Director

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Those Merry Souls(1985)

    Martial Arts Choreographer · as Tak's father

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • My Lucky Stars(1985)

    Martial Arts Choreographer · as Corrupted HK Policeman

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • The Owl vs. Bumbo(1984)

    Action Director · Assistant Director

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Heroes Shed No Tears(1984)

    as Viet Colonel

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • The Return of Pom Pom (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Flying Spider Lo Chien

  • Pom Pom(1984)

    as Police Officer

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Hocus Pocus(1984)

    as Master Sheng

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Winners & Sinners(1983)

    Martial Arts Choreographer · as Chan

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • The Dead and the Deadly(1982)

    Martial Arts Choreographer · as Uncle Ko

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Carry On Pickpocket (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Martial Arts Choreographer

  • The Prodigal Son(1981)

    Action Director · Stunt Double · as Leung Yee-Tai

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Encounter of the Spooky Kind(1980)

    Martial Arts Choreographer · as The Inspector

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • By Hook or By Crook(1980)

    as Skinny's Hired Thug Leader

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • From Riches to Rags (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Knife killer

  • The Victim (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Action Director · as Jo Wing's Man / Double

  • Two Toothless Tigers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Martial Arts Choreographer · Actor

  • The Magnificent Butcher(1979)

    as Fan Man

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Xin tie cuo men shen(1979)

    Martial Arts Choreographer

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • His Name is Nobody (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Martial Arts Choreographer · as Wears Black Wig

  • Odd Couple (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Ha (Scarface's Fighter)

  • Knockabout(1979)

    Stunt Double · as Casino Fighter

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • The Incredible Kung Fu Master (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Martial Arts Choreographer · as Fu Student

  • Warriors Two(1978)

    as Thunder's Men / Leung's Student (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Gee and Gor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Actor

  • Dirty Tiger, Crazy Frog (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as One of Panther's Men (uncredited)

  • Enter the Fat Dragon(1978)

    as Fighter on Movie Set

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Legend of the Bat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Han's Sword Troop

  • My Darling Gals (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Thug

  • Amsterdam Connection (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Mr. Hung's Henchman

  • The Proud Youth(1978)

    as (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Game of Death(1978)

    as Macau Fighter (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Clan of Amazons (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Red Shoe Society's Man

  • Kung Fu Means Fists, Strikes and Sword (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Thug

  • The Amsterdam Kill(1977)

    as (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Broken Oath(1977)

    as One of Qi's Men (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • He Has Nothing But Kung Fu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Thug in gambling house

  • The Sentimental Swordsman(1977)

    as Yun's Man

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Iron Fisted Monk(1977)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Money Crazy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Hitman

  • The Shaolin Plot (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Soldier

  • Executioners from Shaolin(1977)

    as Pai Mei's Monk (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Bruce's Deadly Fingers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Brown Shirt Fighter

  • Challenge of the Masters(1976)

    as Master Pang's Student (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Hot Potato (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Leopard Man · as Leopard Man(uncredited)

  • The Spiritual Boxer(1975)

    as Ruei's Thug (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • The Man from Hong Kong(1975)

    Stunts · as Martial Artist (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • The Association(1974)

    as Extra

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Slaughter in San Francisco (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Slaughter's Gang Mitglied

  • The Dynamite Brothers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Tuen's Henchman

  • Chinatown Capers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Gangster

  • The Skyhawk (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Woodland attacker (uncredited)

  • Bloody Ring (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Actor

  • When Taekwondo Strikes(1973)

    as Japanese (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Enter the Dragon(1973)

    Stunts · as Tournament Fighter (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • None But the Brave (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Masked Patriot

  • The Rendezvous of Warriors (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Actor

  • Seven Magnificent Fights(1973)

    as Golden Hair's Thug

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Tiger (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Actor

  • Back Alley Princess (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Thug

  • A Man Called Tiger (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Thug

  • End of the Wicked Tigers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Actor

  • Iron Bull (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Actor

  • The Thunderbolt Fist (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Japanese Fighter on Stage

  • The Fugitive (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Actor

  • The Imperial Swordsman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Bandit

  • Hapkido (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Black Bear Student (uncredited)

  • The 14 Amazons(1972)

    as Soldier

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • The Deadly Knives (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Actor

  • Ji xiang du fang(1972)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Fist of Fury(1972)

    Stunts · as Susuki's Student (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Treasure Castle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Actor

  • The Long Chase (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Actor

  • The Big Boss(1971)

    as Ah Yen

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Lady with a Sword (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Actor

  • The Crimson Charm (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Crimson Charm Thug

  • The Golden Seal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Actor

  • The Angry River (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Thug

  • The Blade Spares None (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Prince's Fighter

  • Six Assassins(1971)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • The Invincible Eight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Whip-wielding Henchman

  • The Lady Hermit(1971)

    as Horse Thief / Black Demon's Thug (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • A Touch of Zen(1971)

    as East Chamber Guard

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Wrath of the Sword (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as [Extra]

  • The Golden Knight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as Shaolin Monk at Temple

  • Brothers Five (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as Extra (uncredited)

Career shape

Star power in the 98th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 141 titles from 1970 to 1996; peak year 1986.

Biggest box office

Mr. Vampire (1985)

$2.4M worldwide

Highest rated

School on Fire (1988)

Midcredits 91st

Most popular right now

China Dolls (1992)

Film career

19701996

Peak 1986 · steadily prominent in film for years. Top draw in 4 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

  • 1970Screen debut· A Touch of Zen
  • 1985First top-billed film· Mr. Vampire
  • 1985Career best· Mr. Vampire

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting136 of 141: 113 only acting, 23 with another role · typical Midcredits score63rdDirecting3 of 141: 0 only directing, 3 with another roleProducing2 of 141: 0 only producing, 2 with another roleOther crew24 of 141: 5 only other crew, 19 with another role · typical Midcredits score70th

141 titles, 23 with more than one role — acting and other crew overlap on 19 of them.

By decade

1970s69 · 68 acting · 7 crew1980s34 · 30 acting · 17 crew1990s38 · 38 acting · 4 crew

Billing

usually 8th · top billed in 15% of 34 roles
7075808590

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Ching-Ying Lam's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 59th percentile, the median of all 64; across their 36 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 57th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

57thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 36

Approval · how many liked their films

49thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 36

Reach · how many have seen their films

62ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 36

Midcredits score across 64 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up20
  • 50th to 74th22
  • 25th to 49th18
  • Below 25th4

Shape of the crowd

35 of their 64 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved4
  • Universally Panned2
  • Crowd Pleaser35
  • Broadly Agreed8
  • Mixed15

Most divisive · actor, director, producer

The Green Hornet (1994)

82nd percentile spread · 39% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Enter the Dragon (1973)

Midcredits 96th · 85% liked

Reviewers score the acting 67/100 in their films, across 28 reviewed titles; fans 73, detractors 46. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does Ching-Ying Lam work with?

People who share at least 2 of Ching-Ying Lam's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Sammo Kam-Bo Hung shares the most, 17.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles