Yi Lei （James Yi Lui）

Yi Lei （James Yi Lui） (1940-February 16, 1999), formerly known as Yi Bolin, a Hong Kong comedian, was a comedy star in the Cantonese feature film era in Hong Kong, and actor Jiang Hua was his nephew. Yi Lei has lived with his concubine on Hong Kong Island since he was 7 years old. His biological mother, Chen Qinghua (Yi Qiushui's third wife), runs a restaurant and jewelry business on the West Coast of the United States. He grew up in Pingminjiao in Hong Kong in his early years. At that time, Yi Lei became interested in acting. He began to participate in film performances in 1954. His first film was "Love on the Independent Bridge". He went to Singapore with Lin Feng to shoot a film for three months. But at first he was just an extra in the Shaw Brothers Cantonese film group, during which time he participated in two films in the Shaw Brothers. Soon after, he was promoted by Tsao Tat-wah and officially got the opportunity to act. He played the role of a small character in many movies. The more famous work is "Youth Music" in 1959. However, since his debut, Yi Lei's acting career has not been smooth. When he left Shaw Brothers to become a freelance actor, his star fortune has been mediocre. It wasn't until 1973 that he played the leading role for the first time, and it was a comedy written and acted by himself, called "Spring in Denmark". In the same year, Yi Lei wrote and acted in another comedy "Affair", which finally became popular in Hong Kong and Southeast Asia. Since then, film appointments have continued, and there was a record of filming more than 20 films in one year. He has directed and acted in "Train Bomb" (1978), "Shark Shaomai" (1982) and "Ghost Mountain Grave" (1989). Yi Lei also worked as a screenwriter. He once wrote "Brother Han" (1977) starring him, which was directed by Fan Ho. In the golden age of Hong Kong's television industry in the 1970s, Yi Lei participated in series performances on TVB and ATV. From 1973 to 1978, he was awarded the "Golden Globe Award for Top Ten Film and Television Stars" by the "Overseas Chinese Evening News", becoming the winner of six awards. In 1978, he was recruited by TVB and Jiayi TV under the beckoning plan. In 1979, he acted as a guarantor for the business of a friend surnamed Ma who jointly operated a jewelry company, which led to debts. Yi Lei was put under money and debt imprisonment for 4 months, declared bankrupt in prison, and left Lai Chi Kok Detention Center in April 1980. During Yi Lei's several months in prison, five men once submitted petitions to the Hong Kong Governor's Office, hoping that the Hong Kong Governor could give him a lighter sentence; During his imprisonment for debts, he went out of his way to lobby and act as a surety, so that he could be released early. Although Yi Lei has been paying taxes since he was released from prison, he still owes 1.8 million yuan, and the tax bureau continues to pursue the payment of taxes. In 1981, he was invited by an Italian businessman to act in a local film. In 1982, he appeared in "Happy Tonight" and performed in the short play "Like a Look". In 1985, he was invited by Chen Guanming, a senior executive of ATV, to participate in the drama "Mr. Ah Shui". After that, he spent more than a year on the stage and took on uncontracted performances on TV stations. He was more prominent in the 1987 family ethics drama "Season" as Uncle Yu. In 1989, after directing "The Tomb of Ghost Mountain", he did not release any new works, but switched to business. On February 16, 1999, he died of coronary heart disease at the Prince of Wales Hospital in Shatin at the age of 59. His coffin was placed in Po Fook Hill, Sha Tin, and his ashes were buried in Canada. He has had two relationships and has a son.