Andy Lau Biography: Height, Ethnicity, Age, Net Worth, Siblings, Parents, Songs, Books, Films

Andy Lau Tak-wah is a Hong Kong actor, singer-songwriter, film producer, and businessperson whose career began in the early 1980s with TVB’s training class.

He gained fame as part of TVB’s “Five Tiger Generals,” then became a leading film star in films such as As Tears Go By and A Moment of Romance, later becoming one of Cantopop’s Four Heavenly Kings.

His breakthrough in cinema came with roles like the gangster Michael in God of Gamblers and Kay in Infernal Affairs.

Profile

• Full name: Lau Fook‑wing (刘福荣)
• Stage name: Andy Lau Tak‑wah
• Date of birth: 27 September 1961
• Age: 64 years old
• Gender: Male
• Place of birth: Tai Po, British Hong Kong
• Nationality: Hong Kong
• Profession: Actor, singer‑songwriter, film producer, lyricist, composer, businessman
• Height: 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)  
• Parents: Father – Lau Lai
• Siblings: Brother – Lau Tak‑sing; plus three elder sisters and one younger sister  
• Spouse: Carol Chu (m. 2008)  
• Children: Hanna Lau (daughter, born 2012)  
• Relationship status: Married
• Religion: Buddhist
• Ethnicity: Han Chinese
• Net worth: $70 million – 105 million

Early Life and Education

Andy Lau is now 64 years old. Born Lau Fook‑wing on 27 September 1961 in Tai Po, British Hong Kong, he is the fourth of six children. His family experienced financial hardship: they moved to slum housing in Diamond Hill when he was six, his home burned down when he was eleven, and he often fetched water for daily needs.

He attended Ho Lap College in Kowloon, graduating from secondary school, before joining TVB’s actor training in 1981. His upbringing instilled perseverance and humility, shaping his dependable work ethic.

Personal Life

Andy married Malaysian-Chinese model Carol Chu in 2008, after a long courtship that began in the 1980s. They have a daughter, Hanna, born in 2012, whom he has deliberately kept out of sight on social media and the internet.

Career

Lau began his entertainment career with TV series such as The Emissary (1982) and The Return of the Condor Heroes (1983), quickly transitioning to film. He starred in over 160 films, including As Tears Go By, God of Gamblers, and Infernal Affairs.

Lau founded Teamwork Motion Pictures in 1991, producing and starring in notable works like A Fighter’s Blues, Running Out of Time, and I Did It My Way (2023).

His success extended to music, with more than 150 albums, multi-platinum sales, and recognition as one of the Four Heavenly Kings. He broke a Guinness World Record for most awards by a Cantopop male artist. In 2023, he produced and starred in Raging Havoc, the sequel to Raging Fire.

Awards

• 1982: Hong Kong Film Award nomination – Best New Performer (Boat People)  
• 1991: Hong Kong Film Award – Best Actor (Running Out of Time)  
• 2000: Guinness World Record – Most Awards Won by a Cantopop Male Artist  
• 2003: Hong Kong Film Award – Best Actor (Running on Karma)  
• 2004: Golden Horse Award – Best Leading Actor (Infernal Affairs III)  

Net worth

As of 2025, estimates value Lau’s net worth between US$70 million and US$105 million, generated from acting, music, endorsements, real estate, and production ventures.

Social Media

• N/A

Filmography

• Once Upon a Rainbow (1981)
• Til We Meet Again (1981)
• Boat People (1982)
• The Return of the Condor Heroes (1983)
• On the Wrong Track (1983)
• A Moment of Romance (1990)
• God of Gamblers (1989)
• Running Out of Time (1999)
• A Fighter’s Blues (2000)
• Infernal Affairs (2002)
• Infernal Affairs III (2003)
• Running on Karma (2003)
• House of Flying Daggers (2004)
• A Simple Life (2011)
• I Did It My Way (2023)
• Raging Havoc (2025)
• The Goldfinger (2023)

Discography

• Love Notes Written in Bone Upon My Heart (1997)
• Because of Love (1996)
• Love is Mysterious (1997)

Books

• This Is How I Grew Up (1995, autobiography)  
• My 30 Work Days (2012, diary collection)