Mark Houghton, the British born martial artist, actor, action director and longtime disciple of legendary Hong Kong filmmaker Lau Kar Leung, has passed away at the age of 64 following heart related complications.
Born in England, Houghton traveled to Hong Kong on his own in the 1980s, driven by his love of Chinese martial arts. What began as a journey to study kung fu eventually became a lifelong connection to Hong Kong. He learned Cantonese, trained extensively in Hung Kuen and eventually became one of Lau Kar Leung’s trusted disciples.
Houghton went on to become a fifth generation successor of the Wong Fei Hung Hung Kuen tradition. A Hung Gar Grandmaster ranked 9th Duan by the Federation International Of Grandmasters Association, he played an important role in preserving and teaching the Lau family style of martial arts. He became highly respected within the international Hung Kuen community, teaching students around the world and helping pass the tradition on to a new generation.
Houghton was also active in Hong Kong’s film industry during the golden era of action cinema, where his genuine martial arts skills made him a memorable presence on screen. He appeared in a number of popular productions, including Drunken Master II, Aces Go Places V, Skinny Tiger, Fatty Dragon, Fight Back to School II and How to Meet the Lucky Stars. Often cast as a Western martial arts villain, Houghton became a familiar face to fans of Hong Kong action cinema and was known for bringing authentic martial arts ability to his fight scenes.
Outside of filmmaking, Houghton was known as a teacher, mentor and friend to countless martial artists. He was especially generous with his knowledge and remained dedicated to the teachings of Lau Kar Leung throughout his life.
Our heartfelt thoughts go out to Houghton’s family, friends and loved ones.
Watch interviews and footage from some of Mark Houghton’s performances below:
