“You’re having to relearn martial arts for film. It’s completely different… and there’s no instruction manual. You’re learning as you go.”

Vincent Lyn‘s short career in Hong Kong action movies may only span a few years, but his good looks, martial arts abilities and acting skills saw him work with some of the biggest names in the industry, operating at the height of their powers. The list includes Donnie Yen, Yuen Woo-ping, Corey Yuen, Cynthia Rothrock, Cynthia Khan, Simon Yam, and Jackie Chan. He admits he had no idea that the films he was making would go on to become so influential and cherished by generations of action fans around the world. In fact, given the ad-hoc nature and breakneck speed of Hong Kong filmmaking, he sometimes had very little concept of which film he was working on at any given time, moving from set to set as part of a staple of dependable ‘gweilo’ fighters who always played the villain, and ultimately got their asses kicked by the lead.

His final Hong Kong film role was as the main heavy in the Jackie Chan adventure, Armour of God II: Operation Condor (1991), before he returned to the USA to pursue a multitude of other talents. He became a kung fu instructor (teaching his own family style, Ling Gar Kung Fu), a Grammy Award-nominated musician, a philanthropist and humanitarian. His charity, We Can Save Children, has seen him visit some of the poorest parts of the world in a bid to end the exploitation of children. He can often be found travelling the world, meeting with dignitaries and governments, and talking at the UN. When he’s not focused on his charity work, he can be found behind the piano – something he learned from his musical mother at a very young age. Vincent’s new immersive album, Elysian Eclipse, is available now. Learn more about Vincent Lyn by following him on Instagram and Facebook.

Vincent Lyn (centre) on the set of Tiger Cage (1988) with Donnie Yen

Vincent Lyn spars with Cynthia Rothrock in The Blonde Fury (1989).

Yukari Oshima and Vincent Lyn during the filming of Outlaw Brothers (1990)

Vincent Lyn and Jackie Chan during the filming of Armour of God II: Operation Condor 1991).

Vincent Lyn, piano man.