Karl Maka

{{Short description|Hong Kong actor and director}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}

{{infobox person

|name = Karl Maka

|image = Karl Maka 2016.jpg

|alt = Karl Maka in 2016

|caption = Karl Maka at The Wit and Wisdom of Cinema City event held at the Hong Kong Film Archive on 9 April 2016.

|native_name = {{zh|t=麥嘉}}

|birth_name = Mak Kar-sheung ({{zh|t=麥嘉尚}})

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1944|2|29}}

|birth_place = Taishan, Republic of China

|death_date =

|death_place =

|other_names = Carl Mak, Mak Kar, Kar Mak, Kais Mak, Kar S. Mak, Mak Ka

|occupation = Film producer, director, actor, presenter

|years_active = 1975–2016

| spouse =

| partner =

| children =

| awards =
{{awards|award=Hong Kong Film Awards|name=Best Actor
1982 Aces Go Places}}

| module = {{Infobox Chinese|child=yes

| t = 麥嘉

| s = 麦嘉

| p = Mài Jiā

| j = maak6 gaa1

}}

}}

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.{{cite web |url=http://www.hkfilmdirectors.com/en/director/maka-karl |title=麥嘉尚 MAKA Karl |website=hkfilmdirectors.com |access-date=December 19, 2020}}{{cite web |url=http://www.brns.com/hkactors/pages/page34.html |title=The HK Actor Index – Sammo Hung Kam-bo |website=brns.com |access-date=December 19, 2020}}{{cite web |url=http://www.hkmdb.com/db/people/view.mhtml?id=4154 |title=Karl Maka |website=hkmdb.com |access-date=December 19, 2020}}

One of Maka's most popular film roles is in the Aces Go Places film series ({{lang|zh|最佳拍檔}}), where he starred alongside Sam Hui.

Filmography

= Films =

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
Year

! Title

! Role

! Notes

1976The Good, the Bad and the Loserwriter / director
rowspan="3" | 1977Mian meng xin jingactor
He Has Nothing But Kung FuSheriffactor
Winner Takes Allwriter / director
rowspan="3" | 1978Hello, Late HomecomersBaldyactor
Dirty Kung Fuactor
Dirty Tiger, Crazy Frogwriter / director{{cite web |url=https://www.fareastfilms.com/?review_post_type=dirty-tiger-crazy-frog |title=Dirty Tiger, Crazy Frog |website=fareastfilms.com |date=1978 |access-date=December 19, 2020}}
rowspan="5" | 1979Iron Fistsactor / director
KnockaboutPolice Captainactor
Odd CoupleChallengercameo / producer
His Name Is NobodyBaldyactor / director
Xin tie cuo men shenactor
rowspan="3" | 1980Crazy CrooksKong Koon Chatactor / director
The VictimShaolin Abbotactor / producer
By Hook or by CrookSheriff Butcher Wingactor / director
rowspan="5" | 1981Beware of PickpocketsBig Noseactor / producer
Bu zhun diao tou
All the Wrong CluesCaponeactor / producer
Chasing Girlscameo / director / producer
Laughing TimesMaster Tingactor
rowspan="3" | 1982It Takes Twoactor / director
Aces Go PlacesAlbert Auactor / producer
Life After Lifeproducer
rowspan="4" | 1983Aces Go Places 2Albert Auactor
Wo ai Ye LaixiangPatriot (prologue)actor
Da zhui jiactor
Esprit d'amourproducer
rowspan="4" | 1984Aces Go Places 3Albert Auactor
Lifeline Expressproducer
Merry Christmasactor
The Occupantproducer
rowspan="2" | 1985Gong xi fa caiGold Grabberactor
For Your Heart Onlyproducer
rowspan="2" | 1986Aces Go Places IVAlbert Auactor / writer
Lucky Stars Go PlacesAlbertactor
rowspan="3" | 1987City on Fireproducer
Prison on Fireproducer
The Thirty Million Dollar RushBaldyactor / writer / director / producer
rowspan="3" | 1988The Eighth HappinessAudience Membercameo
School on Fireproducer
Tiger on Beatproducer
rowspan="2" | 1989Aces Go Places 5: The Terracotta HitAlbert Au 'Baldy'actor / producer
Triads: The Inside Storyproducer
rowspan="4" | 1990Chicken a La Queenproducer
Skinny Tiger, Fatty DragonSkinnyAlso as producer.{{cite web |url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b8a73df2f |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419114551/https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b8a73df2f |url-status=dead |archive-date=19 April 2021 |title=SHOU HU FEI LONG (1990) |website=bfi.org.hk |date=1990 |access-date=December 19, 2020}}
Tiger on the Beat 2producer
Undeclared Warproducer
rowspan="4" | 1991The Magnificent ScoundrelsMasteractor / producer
The BanquetMakcameo
In the Lap of Godproducer
Prison on Fire 2producer
2000Winner Takes AllInspector Stupidactor
2003Zen Masteractor
2016The BodyguardOld Mancameo, (final film role)

Awards

  • Star. Avenue of Stars. Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront in Hong Kong.{{cite web |url=https://www.avenueofstars.com.hk/en/mr-karl-maka/ |title=Mr Karl Maka, 1944– |website=avenueofstars.com.hk |access-date=December 19, 2020}}

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.

References

{{reflist}}