When he was 10, the family moved to Hong Kong. His father worked for Shell gas and his mother was a servant. He quit school in the 7th grade to help his parents make ends meet. He had many odd jobs in his day: office courier, hotel bellboy and camera salesman.

1974 was a pivotal point for the young Chow. A friend told him about a newspaper ad for the TVB (the biggest TV station in Hong Kong). They where looking for actors. He filled out the application, red a few lines and sang a song. The rest is history.

He started out doing several sitcoms and dramatic serials and came into his own as a young hunk in 1976 with the prime-time soap "Hotel". Then in 1980 he appeared in the series "Shanghai Bund", which was also a big hit.

After catching the attention of director John Woo, Chow was cast in the 1985 blockbuster movie "A Better Tomorrow". A film that helped turn around the Hong Kong film industry. Their chemistry resulted in one blockbuster after another. Woo wanted to remind people of the code of honor and loyalty and chivalry. With Chow, he accomplished that. Chow is and will forever be known as the "bad guy with a good heart".

In most of his films, he is discrete, calm, and knows how to use an Uzi. But in reality, Chow is a very down to earth, really nice guy. He does not like guns, but he realizes that this is what the audience wants, and he is not the type to disappoint.

His characteristic niceness does not stop there. Crew members on the set of the "Replacement Killers" were shocked to see an actor volunteer to help move light fixtures and weighty props. The only other star that has been known to "attempt" to do this was Jackie Chan. Though in Hollywood producers forbade him to do such 'menial' tasks. Some often stayed around the set after their shift, just to be around Chow's "positive energy."

Chow has a simple philosophy, "Self-discipline and hard work, but most importantly, treat people well."

"I believe that on Earth there is good and evil. I always pay respect to the spirit, to let me have a peaceful place to work in. Everyone I work with on the set is my equal, and I treat all with equal respect. Maybe in a past life, we had a good relationship, so in this lifetime, it might be my job to pay you back or your job is to pay me back. After this movie, we may never see each other again, so I treasure every moment we have together." -- Chow Yun-Fat

Chow is the kind of guy who needs nine hours of sleep a night and likes shopping for fresh vegetables in open-air markets every day. Maybe this is why he maintains low levels of stress and a loveable personality.

Chow has more movies lined up after his American debut in "The Replacement Killers". His next project will be along side one of the most unlikely co-stars you can imagine for him - Mark Wahlberg, in the Oliver Stone production "The Corrupter".