Kim Tai-chung (June 5, 1957 – August 27, 2011), also known as Kim Tai-jong or Tong Lung (唐龍; Chinese stage name), was a

Korea Korea ( ko, 한국, or , ) is a peninsular region in East Asia. Since 1945, it has been divided at or near the 38th parallel, with North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) comprising its northern half and South Korea (Republic o ...

n born

taekwondo ''Taekwondo'', ''Tae Kwon Do'' or ''Taekwon-Do'' (; ko, 태권도/跆拳道 ) is a Korean form of martial arts involving punching and kicking techniques, with emphasis on head-height kicks, spinning jump kicks, and fast kicking techniques. T ...

practitioner martial artist, actor and businessman. Kim was one of two stand-ins for

Bruce Lee Bruce Lee (; born Lee Jun-fan, ; November 27, 1940 – July 20, 1973) was a Hong Kong and American martial artist and actor. He was the founder of Jeet Kune Do, a hybrid martial arts philosophy drawing from different combat disciplines that ...

used to complete ''

Game of Death ''The Game of Death'' (Chinese: 死亡的遊戲) is an incomplete Hong Kong martial arts film, filmed between August and October 1972, directed, written, produced by and starring Bruce Lee, in his final film project. Lee died during the making ...

'' after Lee died during filming. Kim also played the ghost of Bruce Lee in ''

No Retreat, No Surrender ''No Retreat, No Surrender'' is a 1985 martial arts film directed by Corey Yuen in his American film directorial debut. The film stars Kurt McKinney, with a supporting cast of Jean-Claude Van Damme, J.W. Fails, Kathie Sileno and Tai-chung Kim. ...

''.

History and early career

Acting

In the 1970s, Kim made his first Hong Kong movie debut in 1977 film ''

Snuff Bottle Connection ''Snuff Bottle Connection'' () is a 1977 Hong Kong martial arts film directed by Dung Gam-woo and Lau Lap-lap, and starring Hwang Jang-lee and John Liu. The film was released in the Hong Kong on 15 September 1977. Plot In the late ming andqing d ...

'', along with

Hwang Jang-lee Hwang Jung-lee (Korean: 황정리; born December 21, 1944), known to many with the spelling of Hwang Jang-lee is a Japanese-born Korean martial artist and actor. Hwang is perhaps best known for his role as "Thunderleg" in 1978's ''Drunken Maste ...

and

Roy Horan Roy Horan III (January 1, 1950 – October 12, 2021) was an American actor and martial artist. Horan was perhaps best known as Lewis in 1981 martial arts film '' Game of Death II'', and Priest/Russian in 1978 martial arts film ''Snake in the Ea ...

. Kim played Bruce Lee's character Billy Lo in 1978 film ''

'', alongside

Yuen Biao Yuen Biao (born Ha Lingchun; 26 July 1957) is a Hong Kong actor, martial artist and stuntman. He specialises in acrobatics and Chinese martial arts and has also worked on over 80 films as actor, stuntman and action choreographer. He was one of t ...

(who performed the acrobatics and stunts), Kim played Lee's character so well that the producers used him again a few years later. In the 1980s, Kim played Bobby Lo in 1981 film ''

Game of Death II ''Game of Death II'', also known as ''Tower of Death'' () or ''The New Game of Death'', is a 1981 Hong Kong martial arts film directed by Ng See-yuen and starring Bruce Lee, Tong Lung, Huong Cheng Li and Roy Horan. This film was marketed as a ...

'' alongside Hwang Jang-lee, Roy Horan, To Wai-wo and Lee Hoi-san. After ''Game of Death II'', Kim returned to Korea and made his one and only local Korean film ''

Miss, Please Be Patient ''Miss, Please Be Patient'' (아가씨 참으세요) is a 1981 South Korean romantic comedy action film starring Kim Tai-chung and Jeong Yun-hui. The movie is also known as ''Super Lady Hopper'' as an alternate title. Outside of South Korea, the ...

'' (''아가씨 참으세요'') along with the former Korean beauty romance film star

Jeong Yun-hui Jeong Yun-hui (born June 4, 1954) is a former South Korean actress active since 1975. She was born in Tongyeong, a southwestern coastal city of South Gyeongsang province, South Korea in 1954. After graduation from Hyehwa Girls' High School, Je ...

. However the film was a commercial failure despite its praise from the film critiques. Then he joined the Korean and Taiwanese co-production film to play the role of Bruce Lee once again in 1982 film ''Jackie vs. Bruce to the Rescue'' (also known as ''Fist of Death'') along with Lee Siu-ming (A Taiwanese Stuntman and

Jackie Chan Fang Shilong (born 7 April 1954), known professionally in English as Jackie Chan and in Chinese as Cheng Long ( zh, c=成龍, j=Sing4 Lung4; "becoming the dragon"), is a Hong Kong actor, filmmaker, martial artist, and stuntman known for ...

look alike.), which was a commercial and critical failure. Soon he took a break from acting after the release of this film. In June 1985, Chinese film producer

Ng See-yuen Ng See-yuen ( zh, , t=吳思遠; born 6 June 1944) is a Hong Kong film producer, director, screenwriter and businessman. He has been active in the Hong Kong film industry since 1970, particularly in action films. He was one of the first filmm ...

was looking for an actor to play the ghost of Bruce Lee in 1986 film ''

'' in his American debut and final film, which marked the film debut of Belgian martial artist actor

Jean-Claude Van Damme Jean-Claude Camille François Van Varenberg (, ; born 18 October 1960), known professionally as Jean-Claude Van Damme (, ), is a Belgian actor, martial artist, filmmaker, and fight choreographer. Born and raised in Brussels, Belgium, at the a ...

as Ivan Kraschinsky. Kim played Bruce Lee to training

Kurt McKinney Kurt Robin McKinney is an American actor. McKinney played Jason Stillwell in the 1986 martial arts film ''No Retreat, No Surrender''. Early years A native of Louisville, Kentucky, McKinney graduated from Ninth and O Christian School and atten ...

's martial artist.

Retired from acting

After ''No Retreat, No Surrender'', Kim returned to Korea and retired from acting at the age of 29 and became a businessman. In 2008, Kim made a rare public appearance in Korea as part of a screening of ''

'' (아가씨 참으세요),The Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival History: Miss, Please be Patient
Retrieved on 22 July 2009. which had originally been released in 1981. Kim had played a leading role in that film.

Death

On August 27, 2011, Kim died of stomach hemorrhage at the age of 54.

Filmography

Movies

* ''

'' (1977) * ''

'' (1978) * ''

'' (1981) * ''

Jackie and Bruce to the Rescue ''Jackie and Bruce to the Rescue'' also known as Fist of Death is 1982 Taiwanese Bruceploitation martial arts movie, starring Kim Tai Chung Kim Tai-chung (June 5, 1957 – August 27, 2011), also known as Kim Tai-jong or Tong Lung (唐龍; C ...

'' (1982) * ''

'' (1986)

Documentary

* '' Bruce Lee, the Man and the Legend'' (1984)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Kim, Tai-chung South Korean male film actors South Korean businesspeople South Korean male taekwondo practitioners 1957 births 2011 deaths Bruce Lee imitators Deaths from gastrointestinal hemorrhage