# Karl Maka

Karl Maka (born 29 February 1944) is a Hong Kong film producer, director, actor and presenter.

## Early life

On 29 February 1944, Maka was born as Mak Kar-sheung in Taishan, China. In 1958, at age 14, Maka moved to Hong Kong, then under British rule.

## Education

In 1969, Maka earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electronics Engineering from Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn. Maka attended New York Institute of Photography.

## Career

Maka started his career as an engineer at a telephone company.
In 1976, Maka started his career in Hong Kong Films. Maka first appeared as an assassin in The Good, the Bad and the Loser, a 1976 film written and directed by him. In 1978, Maka co-founded Gar Bo, a film production company. In 1980, Maka founded Cinema City Enterprises. Maka is credited with over 35 films as an actor, over 30 films as a producer, 7 films as a writer and 10 films as a director.
One of Maka's most popular film roles is in the Aces Go Places film series (最佳拍檔), where he starred alongside Sam Hui.

## Filmography
### Films

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1976 | The Good, the Bad and the Loser | | writer / director |
| 1977 | Mian meng xin jing | | actor |
| 1977 | He Has Nothing But Kung Fu | Sheriff | actor |
| 1977 | Winner Takes All | | writer / director |
| 1978 | Hello, Late Homecomers | Baldy | actor |
| 1978 | Dirty Kung Fu | | actor |
| 1978 | Dirty Tiger, Crazy Frog | | writer / director |
| 1979 | Iron Fists | | actor / director |
| 1979 | Knockabout | Police Captain | actor |
| 1979 | Odd Couple | Challenger | cameo / producer |
| 1979 | His Name Is Nobody | Baldy | actor / director |
| 1979 | Xin tie cuo men shen | | actor |
| 1980 | Crazy Crooks | Kong Koon Chat | actor / director |
| 1980 | The Victim | Shaolin Abbot | actor / producer |
| 1980 | By Hook or by Crook | Sheriff Butcher Wing | actor / director |
| 1981 | Beware of Pickpockets | Big Nose | actor / producer |
| 1981 | Bu zhun diao tou | | |
| 1981 | All the Wrong Clues | Capone | actor / producer |
| 1981 | Chasing Girls | | cameo / director / producer |
| 1981 | Laughing Times | Master Ting | actor |
| 1982 | It Takes Two | | actor / director |
| 1982 | Aces Go Places | Albert Au | actor / producer |
| 1982 | Life After Life | | producer |
| 1983 | Aces Go Places 2 | Albert Au | actor |
| 1983 | Wo ai Ye Laixiang | Patriot (prologue) | actor |
| 1983 | Da zhui ji | | actor |
| 1983 | Esprit d'amour | | producer |
| 1984 | Aces Go Places 3 | Albert Au | actor |
| 1984 | Lifeline Express | | producer |
| 1984 | Merry Christmas | | actor |
| 1984 | The Occupant | | producer |
| 1985 | Gong xi fa cai | Gold Grabber | actor |
| 1985 | For Your Heart Only | | producer |
| 1986 | Aces Go Places IV | Albert Au | actor / writer |
| 1986 | Lucky Stars Go Places | Albert | actor |
| 1987 | City on Fire | | producer |
| 1987 | Prison on Fire | | producer |
| 1987 | The Thirty Million Dollar Rush | Baldy | actor / writer / director / producer |
| 1988 | The Eighth Happiness | Audience Member | cameo |
| 1988 | School on Fire | | producer |
| 1988 | Tiger on Beat | | producer |
| 1989 | Aces Go Places 5: The Terracotta Hit | Albert Au 'Baldy' | actor / producer |
| 1989 | Triads: The Inside Story | | producer |
| 1990 | Chicken a La Queen | | producer |
| 1990 | Skinny Tiger, Fatty Dragon | Skinny | Also as producer. |
| 1990 | Tiger on the Beat 2 | | producer |
| 1990 | Undeclared War | | producer |
| 1991 | The Magnificent Scoundrels | Master | actor / producer |
| 1991 | The Banquet | Mak | cameo |
| 1991 | In the Lap of God | | producer |
| 1991 | Prison on Fire 2 | | producer |
| 2000 | Winner Takes All | Inspector Stupid | actor |
| 2003 | Zen Master | | actor |
| 2016 | The Bodyguard | Old Man | cameo, (final film role) |

## Awards

* Star. Avenue of Stars. Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront in Hong Kong.

## Personal life

In 1963, Maka and his family emigrated to the United States and lived in New York City, New York. In 1973, Maka returned to Hong Kong.