# Chiang Sheng

Chiang Sheng (Chinese: 江生; born Chiu Kang Sang 趙岡生; November 21, 1954 - 24 April 1990) was a Taiwanese martial arts actor, director, and action director. Chiang rose to prominence in the late 1970s as a member of the Venom Mob, a group of actors at Shaw Brothers Studio renowned for their acrobatic and martial arts skills.

## Early life

Chiang Sheng was born on April 27, 1951, to a large family in Taiwan. He was sent to the Fu Sheng Drama School in Taipei where he met his future costars Lu Feng, Philip Kwok, and Robert Tai. They, together with students from other drama schools, earned pocket money playing extras in films that were being shot nearby. In addition to being trained as a martial arts opera performer, Chiang was also enlisted in the army. When he was 19, Chiang and Kwok briefly worked as street performers dubbed the Fu Xing circus act. He was fond of drinking.

## Career

In 1975, Chiang was recruited by Chang Cheh along with Kwok and Lu and signed with the Shaw Brothers. He relocated to Hong Kong where he was predominantly cast as extras in films such as Shaolin Traitorous with Sammo Hung before landing a more prominent role in Shaolin Temple in 1976. In 1978, Chiang, Kwok, Lu, along with fellow newcomers Sun Chien, Lo Mang, and Wai Pak, were cast in Five Deadly Venoms. The movie was a cult hit and became especially popular with North American audiences. The main cast became known internationally as the Venom Mob, with Chiang often being referred to as the "hybrid venom" due to the fighting style of his character being an amalgamation of his costars'. The Venom Mob would go on to make several films together such as The Magnificent Ruffians (1979), Shaolin Rescuers (1979), and Ten Tigers of Kwantung (1980) before disbanding in 1981. In addition to acting, Chiang worked as action director and assistant director in several of his films, for which he is credited in a combined total of over 40 films from 1978 to 1984. He was further lauded for enriching his movies with his acrobatic skills and for infusing action with comedic elements. He was also listed by Chang Cheh as one of his favorite actors to work with.

## Later life

Following the disbandment of the Venom Mob, Chiang returned to Taiwan and starred in, directed, and choreographed the action scenes in Ninja in the Deadly Trap (1982) with Venom costars Lu Feng and Philip Kwok. Kwok later returned to the Shaw Brothers Studio in Hong Kong while Chiang remained in Taiwan, reportedly at his wife's behest. He would cofound Hong Kong Chang He Film Company with Lu and the duo would star in and choreograph the company's debut film, Attack of the Joyful Goddess (1983). Throughout the later half of the decade, Chiang went on to make a few movies and television series including Ode to Gallantry (1985) and The Legend of the Condor Heroes (1988). During this time, he divorced his wife and developed depression and a heavy alcohol addiction as he struggled to find work. The 1989 film, The Biography of a Fox, was his final film role.

## Death

Chiang's body was discovered by friend and costar Ricky Cheng Tien-Chi on August 21, 1991. The cause of death was a heart attack. Chiang was 36 years old. In a 1995 interview, Philip Kwok stated that Chiang had been dead for three days before Cheng found him, and attributed the cause as "a broken heart" induced by the drastic decline of his film career. However, actor and student of Robert Tai, Toby Russell suggested otherwise stating in 2007 that "Chiang could not care less about movies" and that they "mean nothing to him". Lu Feng described his passing as a "great sadness" and remembered him as a jovial person who "had no temper and held no grudges" and "could get along with anyone he met."

## Filmography

| Title | Year | Role |
| Fist of Shaolin | 1973 | Extra |
| Wild Tiger a.k.a. Kung Fu Revenger | 1973 | Extra |
| The Champion | 1973 | Extra |
| The Escaper | 1973 | Extra |
| Fury in Storm | 1974 | Extra |
| Bruce Takes Dragon Town a.k.a. Dare You Touch Me? | 1974 | Extra |
| The Guy!! The Guy!! | 1974 | Extra |
| Crazy Nuts of Kung Fu | 1974 | Actor |
| Fury in Storm | 1974 | Extra |
| 18 Shaolin Disciples | 1975 | Actor |
| Shaolin Traitorous a.k.a The Traitorous | 1976 | Extra |
| The Hand of Deatha.k.a. Grandmaster of Death a.k.a. Strike of Death | 1976 | Extra |
| Shaolin Monk | 1976 | Actor |
| The Shaolin Avengers a.k.a. Incredible Kung Fu Brothers | 1976 | Actor |
| Shaolin Temple a.k.a. Death Chambers | 1976 | Actor |
| New Shaolin Boxers a.k.a. Demon Fist of Kung Fu a.k.a. Grandmaster of Death | 1976 | Actor |
| The Condemned | 1976 | Extra |
| Chinese Connection 2 a.k.a. Fist of Fury 2 | 1977 | Extra |
| The Naval Commandos a.k.a. Navy Descentors | 1977 | Actor |
| The Brave Archer a.k.a. Kung Fu Warlord | 1977 | Actor |
| Chinatown Kid | 1977 | Actor |
| Magnificent Wanderers a.k.a. Magnificent Kung Fu Warriors | 1977 | Actor |
| The Brave Archer 2 a.k.a. Kung Fu Warlord 2 | 1978 | Actor, assistant director |
| Invincible Shaolin a.k.a. Unbeatable Dragon | 1978 | Actor, assistant director |
| Crippled Avengers a.k.a. Avengers Handicapped | 1978 | Actor, assistant director, action director |
| The Five Venoms | 1978 | Actor, assistant director |
| Life Gamble a.k.a. Life Combat | 1979 | Actor, assistant director |
| Ten Tigers of Kwantung | 1979 | Actor, assistant director, action director |
| The Magnificent Ruffians a.k.a. The Destroyers | 1979 | Actor, assistant director, action director |
| Kid with the Golden Arm | 1979 | Actor, assistant director, action director |
| Shaolin Rescuers a.k.a. Avenging Warriors of Shaolin | 1979 | Actor, assistant director, action director |
| The Daredevils a.k.a. Shaolin Daredevils | 1979 | Actor, assistant director, action director |
| Heaven and Hell a.k.a. Shaolin Hell Gate | 1980 | Actor, action director |
| Legend of the Fox | 1980 | Actor, assistant director, action director |
| The Rebel Intruders a.k.a. Killer Army | 1980 | Actor, assistant director, action director |
| Two Champions of Shaolin | 1980 | Actor, assistant director, action director |
| War of the Shaolin Temple a.k.a. Monks Go Crazy | 1980 | Actor |
| The Flag of Iron a.k.a. Spearmen of Death | 1980 | Actor, assistant director, action director |
| Masked Avengers | 1981 | Actor, assistant director, action director |
| The Brave Archer 3 (1981) a.k.a. Blast of the Iron Palm | 1981 | Actor, assistant director, action director |
| The Imperial Sword Killing the Devil | 1981 | Actor, action director |
| The Thrilling Sword (1981) a.k.a. Heaven Sword | 1981 | Actor, action director |
| Ninja in the Deadly Trap a.k.a. Hero Defeating Japs a.k.a. Ruthless Tactics | 1981 | Actor, assistant director, action director |
| Sword Stained with Royal Blood | 1981 | Actor, assistant director, action director |
| The Brave Archer and His Mate a.k.a. Mysterious Island | 1982 | Actor, assistant director, action director |
| Ode to Gallantry | 1982 | Actor, assistant director, action director |
| Ninja Kids | 1982 | Actor |
| House of Traps | 1982 | Actor, assistant director, action director |
| Raiders | 1982 | Actor |
| Sword with the Windbell a.k.a. Warriors from Shaolin | 1983 | Actor |
| Attack of the Joyful Goddess a.k.a. The Ghost | 1983 | Actor, assistant director, action director |
| Five Fighters from Shaolin a.k.a. Possession of Ghost | 1984 | Actor |
| Shanghai 13 a.k.a. All the Professionals | 1984 | Actor, assistant director, action director |
| Fight Among the Supers | 1984 | Actor |
| The Demons a.k.a. The Nine Demons | 1984 | Actor, executive director, actor, action director |
| Exciting Dragon a.k.a. Drunken Dragon | 1985 | Actor |
| Ninja in USA | 1985 | Actor |
| Ode to Gallantry | 1985 | Actor |
| Vampire Kid II | 1988 | Actor |
| The Legend of the Condor Heroes | 1988 | Actor |
| The Biography of a Fox | 1989 | Actor |