---
name: "Michael Chow"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/michael-chow"
fi1m_id: "michael-chow"
imdb_id: "nm0159485"
tmdb_id: 21631
wikidata_id: "Q1374039"
roles: []
born: "6 February 1939"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 5
average_fi1m_score: 57
average_over: 5
updated: "2026-10-05T05:14:32.011119+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Michael Chow

## Identity

Michael Chow

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/michael-chow
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** michael-chow
- **IMDb ID:** nm0159485
- **TMDB ID:** 21631
- **Wikidata ID:** Q1374039
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Chow_(restaurateur), https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1374039, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0159485/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/21631

Actor. Born 6 February 1939 in Shanghai, China.

## Details

- **Born:** 6 February 1939, Shanghai, China
- **Active:** 1967–2007
- **Also known as:** 周英华, 周英華, Zhou Yinghua, Zhōu Yīnghuá
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1960s 62 (1), 1990s 62 (2), 2000s 50 (2)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 57 to 53 across 5 titles
- **Score spread:** 0 at 80+, 3 at 60–79, 2 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 1 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Action 5, Crime 4, Comedy 3, Thriller 2, Adventure 1
- **Screen time:** 9 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $1,247m across 5 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Chow_(restaurateur), https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1374039, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0159485/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/21631

## Streaming the US now

- **The Roku Channel:** [*Rush Hour*](https://film.one/film/rush-hour.md) (70)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Biography

Michael Chow, also credited as Zhou Yinghua, is a Chinese-born British-American actor, restaurateur and interior designer. He appeared in numerous films and television series from the late 1950s onwards, often in supporting roles.

His acting credits include *You Only Live Twice* (1967) as Spectre 4, *55 Days at Peking* (1963), *Modesty Blaise* (1966), *Basquiat* (1996) as Mr Chow, *Lethal Weapon 4* (1998) as Benny's Assistant, the *Rush Hour* films (1998–2007) and *My Sister's Keeper* (2009) as Dr Chow. He is the brother of actress Tsai Chin.

Chow co-founded the Mr Chow restaurant chain, which opened its first location in London in 1968, and has worked as an interior designer and artist.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (5)

- *Rush Hour 3* (2007), Fi1m 38, as Chinese Foreign Minister — [page](https://film.one/film/rush-hour-3.md)
- *Rush Hour 2* (2001), Fi1m 61, as Gambler — [page](https://film.one/film/rush-hour-2.md)
- *Lethal Weapon 4* (1998), Fi1m 55, as Benny's Assistant — [page](https://film.one/film/lethal-weapon-4.md)
- *Rush Hour* (1998), Fi1m 70, as Diner Guest — [page](https://film.one/film/rush-hour.md)
- *You Only Live Twice* (1967), Fi1m 62, as Spectre 4 — [page](https://film.one/film/you-only-live-twice.md)

## Complete filmography (26)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Bad Painter* (2025), as M - Michael Chow
- *The Trainer* (2024), as Mr. Chow
- *Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot* (2018), as PSU Teacher
- *My Sister's Keeper* (2009), as Dr. Chow
- *Rush Hour 3* (2007), as Chinese Foreign Minister — Fi1m 38, [page](https://film.one/film/rush-hour-3.md)
- *Rush Hour 2* (2001), as Gambler — Fi1m 61, [page](https://film.one/film/rush-hour-2.md)
- *Relic Hunter* (1999), series, as One-Eyed-Skeptic
- *Rush Hour* (1998), as Diner Guest — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/film/rush-hour.md)
- *Lethal Weapon 4* (1998), as Benny's Assistant — Fi1m 55, [page](https://film.one/film/lethal-weapon-4.md)
- *Basquiat* (1996), as Mr. Chow
- *Dream Lover* (1994), as Mr. Mura
- *Carry On Dancing* (1988), as Mental Patient
- *Hammett* (1982), as Fong Wei Tau
- *Who Is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe?* (1978), as Soong
- *Joanna* (1968), Actor
- *The Touchables* (1968), as Denzil
- *The Prisoner* (1967), series, as Member of Social Group — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-prisoner.md)
- *You Only Live Twice* (1967), as Spectre 4 — Fi1m 62, [page](https://film.one/film/you-only-live-twice.md)
- *The Brides of Fu Manchu* (1966), as Guard
- *Modesty Blaise* (1966), as Weng
- *Espionage* (1963), series, as Student
- *55 Days at Peking* (1963), as Chiang (uncredited)
- *The Saint* (1962), series, as Rawach
- *Marco Polo* (1962), as Ciu-Lin
- *The Savage Innocents* (1960), as Undik
- *Violent Playground* (1958), as Alexander

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/michael-chow