Michael Chow
Encyclopedia
Michael Chow is an actor, interior designer and restaurateur. He is the co-founder and owner of the Mr. Chow
restaurant chain.
, one of China's most famous actors of his time and the leading figure at the Peking Opera. His sister is actress and erstwhile Bond girl Tsai Chin
.
His mother came from a wealthy family whose fortune had been made in tea. He was sent to a British boarding school when he was 12 and grew up in Europe. He studied art in London before setting out on a business career alongside his acting.
Before opening his eponymous restaurant chain, he and his business partner Robin Sutherland opened "Smith and Hawes", a hair salon in London's Sloane Avenue, which they later sold to the famous hairdresser Leonard of Grosvenor Square, when it became Leonard and Twiggy
. They then opened the Mr. Chow restaurant. Michael Chow’s concept was for a restaurant to offer Chinese food served by Italian waiters, and with a menu the British could understand.
Chow was born in China but grew up mainly in Europe, and has said his restaurants have always been underlined by “this desire and need to promote the Chinese culture,” which he has done through food. He visits China at least twice a year, and has said he’s thrilled by the country’s economic growth and greater presence on the world stage. “China always has been a great, great nation,” Chow said in a Wall Street Journal interview and added, “Chinese people — I like them. What can I say?”
Sutherland backed the original restaurant idea, raised the money and housed six chefs hired from Hong Kong. Chow designed the restaurant featuring cool green floor tiles and white walls, and it opened in Knightsbridge in February 1968, serving Pekinese cuisine. Mr. Chow was a hit and survives to this day. Chow bought art by Allen Jones
, Peter Blake
, Patrick Caulfield
, David Hockney
and Jim Dine
for the walls, which became as celebrated as the food. The partners opened three other Mr. Chow restaurants in London before Michael Chow bought Sutherland out and moved to New York.
His restaurant chain has expanded to such places such as Las Vegas
, Miami, New York
and Beverly Hills
.
(1968–1969) (divorced), then to the American-born Tina Chow
(1972–1990) (divorced), and finally to Eva Chun (1992–present). Eva Chun is the niece of Korean singer Patty Kim of South Korea. Michael Chow has three children: China Chow
and Maximillian Chow with Tina Chow; and Asia Chow with Eva Chun.
Mr. Chow
Mr. Chow is an upscale Chinese restaurant chain founded by restaurateur Michael Chow.-History:Michael Chow, son of Chinese Peking Opera Grand Master, Zhou Xinfang, opened the first Mr. Chow in Knightbridge, London on February 14, 1968. A Beverly Hills location soon followed in 1974 and Midtown New...
restaurant chain.
Life and career
Chow was born in Shanghai. His father was Zhou XinfangZhou Xinfang
Zhou Xinfang, , was a famous Beijing Opera actor who died in the Cultural Revolution. He is regarded as one of the greatest masters of Beijing Opera. He is the most famous and important member of the Shanghai School of Beijing Opera...
, one of China's most famous actors of his time and the leading figure at the Peking Opera. His sister is actress and erstwhile Bond girl Tsai Chin
Tsai Chin (actress)
Tsai Chin , also known as Irene Chow, is a Chinese-born actress living in England.-Early life, family & education:Chin was born to Peking Opera actor Zhou Xinfang in 1936. She spent her early life in Shanghai. She had two short marriages which both ended in divorce. Her brother is Michael...
.
His mother came from a wealthy family whose fortune had been made in tea. He was sent to a British boarding school when he was 12 and grew up in Europe. He studied art in London before setting out on a business career alongside his acting.
Before opening his eponymous restaurant chain, he and his business partner Robin Sutherland opened "Smith and Hawes", a hair salon in London's Sloane Avenue, which they later sold to the famous hairdresser Leonard of Grosvenor Square, when it became Leonard and Twiggy
Twiggy
Lesley Lawson née Hornby known as Twiggy is an English model, actress, and singer. In the early-1960s she became a prominent British teenage model of swinging sixties London with others such as Penelope Tree....
. They then opened the Mr. Chow restaurant. Michael Chow’s concept was for a restaurant to offer Chinese food served by Italian waiters, and with a menu the British could understand.
Chow was born in China but grew up mainly in Europe, and has said his restaurants have always been underlined by “this desire and need to promote the Chinese culture,” which he has done through food. He visits China at least twice a year, and has said he’s thrilled by the country’s economic growth and greater presence on the world stage. “China always has been a great, great nation,” Chow said in a Wall Street Journal interview and added, “Chinese people — I like them. What can I say?”
Sutherland backed the original restaurant idea, raised the money and housed six chefs hired from Hong Kong. Chow designed the restaurant featuring cool green floor tiles and white walls, and it opened in Knightsbridge in February 1968, serving Pekinese cuisine. Mr. Chow was a hit and survives to this day. Chow bought art by Allen Jones
Allen Jones
Allen Jones is the name of:*Allen T Jones ceo*Allen Jones , Continental Congress delegate*Allen Jones , British pop artist...
, Peter Blake
Peter Blake
Peter Blake may refer to:*Peter Blake , British pop artist*Peter Blake , New Zealand yachtsman*Peter Blake Scottish-born actor...
, Patrick Caulfield
Patrick Caulfield
Patrick Joseph Caulfield, CBE, RA was an English painter and printmaker known for his bold canvases, which often incorporated elements of Photorealism within a pared down scene.-Life and work:...
, David Hockney
David Hockney
David Hockney, CH, RA, is an English painter, draughtsman, printmaker, stage designer and photographer, who is based in Bridlington, Yorkshire and Kensington, London....
and Jim Dine
Jim Dine
Jim Dine is an American pop artist. He is sometimes considered to be a part of the Neo-Dada movement. He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, attended Walnut Hills High School, the University of Cincinnati, and received a BFA from Ohio University in 1957. He first earned respect in the art world with...
for the walls, which became as celebrated as the food. The partners opened three other Mr. Chow restaurants in London before Michael Chow bought Sutherland out and moved to New York.
His restaurant chain has expanded to such places such as Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
, Miami, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and Beverly Hills
Beverly Hills, California
Beverly Hills is an affluent city located in Los Angeles County, California, United States. With a population of 34,109 at the 2010 census, up from 33,784 as of the 2000 census, it is home to numerous Hollywood celebrities. Beverly Hills and the neighboring city of West Hollywood are together...
.
Personal life
He has been married three times, first to Grace CoddingtonGrace Coddington
Grace Coddington is a former model and the creative director of American Vogue magazine.-Early life and modeling career:Coddington was born on April 14, 1941 to hotelier parents on the island of Anglesey, Wales...
(1968–1969) (divorced), then to the American-born Tina Chow
Tina Chow
Tina Chow was an internationally renowned model and a fashion icon in the 1980s. She is also a member of the International Best Dressed List since 1985....
(1972–1990) (divorced), and finally to Eva Chun (1992–present). Eva Chun is the niece of Korean singer Patty Kim of South Korea. Michael Chow has three children: China Chow
China Chow
China Chow is a British actress and model.-Personal life:Chow was born in London, England to restaurateur Michael Chow and late model/designer Tina Chow. She is of Chinese, Japanese, German, and Scottish ancestry. Chow has a brother who is three years younger. Her aunt is actress and one-time Bond...
and Maximillian Chow with Tina Chow; and Asia Chow with Eva Chun.
Filmography
- Violent PlaygroundViolent PlaygroundViolent Playground is a 1958 British film directed by Basil Dearden starring Stanley Baker, Peter Cushing and David McCallum.-Plot:A British take on the popular genre of J.D. films, Violent Playground centres on a Liverpool street gang led by Johnny Murphy...
(1958) - Alexander (appearing with his sister, Tsai Chin) - The Savage InnocentsThe Savage InnocentsThe Savage Innocents is a 1960 film, adapted from the novel Top of the World by Swiss writer Hans Rüesch.The screenplay was mainly written by its director, Nicholas Ray, who shot the film in the Canadian Arctic...
(1960) - Undik - Marco PoloMarco PoloMarco Polo was a Venetian merchant traveler from the Venetian Republic whose travels are recorded in Il Milione, a book which did much to introduce Europeans to Central Asia and China. He learned about trading whilst his father and uncle, Niccolò and Maffeo, travelled through Asia and apparently...
(1961) - Ciu-Lin - 55 Days at Peking55 Days at Peking55 Days at Peking is a 1963 historical epic film starring Charlton Heston, Ava Gardner, and David Niven, made by Samuel Bronston Productions, and released by Allied Artists. The movie was produced by Samuel Bronston and directed by Nicholas Ray, Andrew Marton , and Guy Green...
(1963) - Chiang - Modesty BlaiseModesty Blaise (1966 film)Modesty Blaise was a comedic spy-fi motion picture produced in the United Kingdom and released worldwide in 1966. It was loosely based upon the popular comic strip Modesty Blaise by Peter O'Donnell, who wrote the original story and scenario upon which Evan Jones based his screenplay...
(1966) - Weng - The Brides of Fu ManchuThe Brides of Fu ManchuThe Brides of Fu Manchu is a 1966 British/German Constantin Film co-production adventure crime film based on the fictional Asian villain Fu Manchu, created by Sax Rohmer. It was the second film in a series, and was preceded by The Face of Fu Manchu. The Vengeance of Fu Manchu followed in 1967, The...
(1966) - Guard (appearing with his sister, Tsai Chin) - You Only Live TwiceYou Only Live Twice (film)You Only Live Twice is the fifth spy film in the James Bond series, and the fifth to star Sean Connery as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond. The film's screenplay was written by Roald Dahl, and loosely based on Ian Fleming's 1964 novel of the same name...
(1967) - SPECTRE #4 (appearing with his sister, Tsai Chin) - The TouchablesThe Touchables"The Touchables" is a novelty single by Dickie Goodman released on Mark-X Records in 1961.The record is a parody of the hit TV show The Untouchables...
(1968) - Denzil - JoannaJoannaJoanna is a feminine given name deriving from Koine Greek Iōanna from Hebrew יוֹחָנָה meaning "God is gracious". Variants in English include Joan, Joann, Joanne, and Johanna...
(1968) - Lefty - Who Is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe?Who Is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe?Who Is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe? is a 1978 comedy mystery film starring George Segal, Jacqueline Bisset, and Robert Morley. It was based on a novel entitled Someone is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe by Nan and Ivan Lyons...
(1978) - Soong - Hammett (1982) - Fong Wei Tau
- Dream LoverDream Lover (1994 film)Dream Lover is a 1994 film, starring James Spader and Mädchen Amick. It was directed and written by Nicholas Kazan.-Plot:The movie opens on divorce proceedings involving Ray Reardon , a successful architect, and his first wife...
(1994) - Mr. Mura - Basquiat (1996) - Michael Chow
- Lethal Weapon 4Lethal Weapon 4Lethal Weapon 4 is a 1998 American action film directed by Richard Donner, starring Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, Joe Pesci, Rene Russo, Chris Rock and Jet Li. It is the third sequel in the Lethal Weapon series of films. -Plot:...
(1998) - Benny's assistant - Rush Hour (1998) - Dinner Guest
- Rush Hour 2Rush Hour 2Rush Hour 2 is a 2001 martial arts action comedy film. This is the second installment in the Rush Hour film series. A sequel to the 1998 film Rush Hour, the film stars Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker who respectively reprise their roles as Inspector Lee and Los Angeles police detective James Carter...
(2001) - Gambler - The CircuitThe Circuit (2002 film)«The Circuit» - is a 2002 arena-fighting film starring Olivier Gruner -Plot:Years ago, Dirk Longstreet walked away from The Circuit, the merciless underground fight club with no rules, where money changes hands as men are killed. But now gangsters have got his brother, and only one more journey...
(2002) - Rush Hour 3Rush Hour 3Rush Hour 3 is a 2007 martial arts/action-comedy film, and the third installment in the Rush Hour film series, starring Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker, that began with the 1998 film Rush Hour and continued with the first sequel Rush Hour 2 in 2001. The film was officially announced on May 7, 2006,...
(2007) - Chinese Foreign Minister