Phil Tan
British stuntman, martial artist and actor
- Stunt performer
- stunt coordinator
- director
- producer
- martial artist
- actor
Philip Tan (born 22 July 1960) is a Singaporean-born British stuntman, martial artist, fight choreographer, and actor.
Early life
A Chinese Singaporean, Philip Tan was born in Singapore before moving to the United Kingdom at age five. While living in England, Tan learned and became proficient in gymnastics, martial arts, and disco dancing.[1][2] He regularly competed in dancing competitions and has won 7 disco championships[1] In 1979, Tan became the national disco dancing champion of the United Kingdom.[3]
Tan started his athletic career as a gymnast,[4] where he became the British Youth Tumbling champion.[5] After learning martial arts, Tan became the 1985 British Men's Taekwondo Champion.[4][5] He has won the British national dance competition and as a Granada soap opera star prior to moving to Hollywood.
Career
Tan began his career as an actor and stuntman in 1979.[1] His first role was in The Fiendish Plot of Dr. Fu Manchu.[2] He also participated in British television soap opera Albion Market.
Tan is proficient in multiple martial arts, including Muay Thai, Taekwondo, and Kung Fu.[4] Tan is also an experienced stuntman and specializes in stunt fighting, and stunt falling.[6] Tan has worked with martial artists including Jackie Chan, Jet Li, and Brandon Lee.[4]
Notable films Tan worked on include Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Empire of the Sun, Batman, Tango and Cash, Demolition Man, Lethal Weapon 4, The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, Rush Hour 3, Inception, Olympus Has Fallen, and Bullet Train.
Tan has worked on six movies and one television show with Steven Spielberg. While working on the film Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Tan was responsible for training Ke Huy Quan.[4]
Notable directors Tan has worked with include Steven Spielberg, Tim Burton, Michael Bay, The Wachowskis, and David Leitch.[2]
Personal life
Tan has four sons with his wife, former model Joanne Tan (née Cassidy),[7] and lives in Los Angeles, California. HIs son is martial artist and actor Lewis Tan.[1]
A biographical movie is being developed about his life in Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the United States.[2]
Filmography
Film and television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | The Fiendish Plot of Dr. Fu Manchu | Dacoit Fight choreographer | |
| 1984 | Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom | Chief henchman | |
| 1987 | Empire of the Sun | Stunts | |
| 1988 | Willow | Stunts | |
| 1989 | Batman | Stunts | |
| Tango & Cash | Stunts | ||
| 1992 | Batman Returns | Stunts | |
| 1993 | Hot Shots! Part Deux | Stunts | |
| Demolition Man | Stunts | ||
| The Three Musketeers | Parker | ||
| 1996 | Bloodsport II: The Next Kumite | Second unit director | |
| 1997 | Bloodsport III | Action director | |
| 1998 | Lethal Weapon 4 | Stunts | |
| 1999 | Wild Wild West | Stunt coordinator | |
| 2001 | Pearl Harbor | Stunts | |
| 2002 | Minority Report | Stunts | |
| 2003 | Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life | Stunts | |
| 2005 | Memoirs of a Geisha | Stunts | |
| 2006 | The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift | Stunts | |
| Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest | Stunts | ||
| 2007 | Disturbia | Stunts | |
| Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End | Stunts | ||
| Rush Hour 3 | Stunts | ||
| 2008 | Speed Racer | Stunts | |
| Hancock | Stunts | ||
| 2009 | The Hangover | Stunts | Stunt double for Ken Jeong |
| Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen | Stunts | ||
| 2010 | Inception | Stunts | |
| 2011 | The Hangover Part II | Stunts | Stunt double for Ken Jeong |
| Rise of the Planet of the Apes | Stunts | ||
| Death Valley | Stunt coordinator | 10 episodes | |
| 2012 | Battleship | Stunts | |
| Safe | Stunts | ||
| Red Dawn | Stunts | ||
| 2013 | Olympus Has Fallen | Stunts | |
| The Hangover Part III | Stunts | Stunt double for Ken Jeong | |
| 2014 | Transformers: Age of Extinction | Stunts | |
| 2017 | Dr. Ken | Stunt coordinator | 44 episodes |
| Killing Hasselhoff | Stunt coordinator | ||
| 2022 | The Commando | Producer Stunt coordinator Second unit director | |
| Bullet Train | Stunts | ||
| 2023 | MR-9: Do or Die | Producer Action director Second unit director | |
| TBA | Absolute Dominion | Stunt coordinator | |
| Bottled Secrets | Director | ||
| The Snare | Producer Stunt coordinator | ||
| Boneyard | Second unit director |
References
- ^ a b c d Shadow and Bone's Lewis Tan and His Dad React to Him Being a Heartthrob, retrieved December 23, 2023
- ^ a b c d III, Lee B. Golden (November 8, 2023). "Philip Tan, Actor And Stunt Professional Center Of New Biopic Development From Son, Actor Lewis Tan". Film Combat Syndicate. Retrieved December 23, 2023.
- ^ Disco Dance - 1979 - UK Finals (Pt 1), retrieved December 23, 2023
- ^ a b c d e "Interview with Philip Tan". Kung-fu Kingdom. May 17, 2021. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
- ^ a b copland, ruth (June 28, 2014). "Topic: What values do we share that make us an 'American'? | Arts Interview: Phillip Tan". It's A Question of Balance with Ruth Copland. Retrieved December 23, 2023.
- ^ "The multifaceted world of Phil Tan - Panorama". www.panorama.it (in Italian). Retrieved December 23, 2023.
- ^ "Kung Fu Drive-In Podcast: INTERVIEW: PHILIP TAN, Actor, Stuntman, Producer, Director". kungfudrivein.libsyn.com. Retrieved December 23, 2023.
External links
- Philip Tan at IMDb
- Philip Tan at The Filmaholic
