Singer-actor Leon Lai Ming: from meeting Roger Moore to starring with Faye Wong, his career in pictures

Actor Roger Moore (left) and Leon Lai Ming at a 1995 press conference organised by the Hong Kong Committee for the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef), for which they both served as ambassadors. Photo: SCMP

Leon Lai Ming – one of Hong Kong’s most beloved singer-actors – celebrates his 52nd birthday tomorrow.

Famed as one of the “Four Heavenly Kings” of Canto-pop – alongside Jacky Cheung Hok-yau, Aaron Kwok Fu-shing and Andy Lau Tak-wah – Lai has enjoyed a career in show business stretching back more than three decades.

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With almost 50 albums under his belt and leading roles in many classic Hong Kong films – including Fallen Angels and Comrades: Almost a Love Story – its been a career full of highlights.

Here we take a journey through his career in pictures taken from the Post’s archives.

Leon Lai Ming at the Fifth New Talent Singing Awards in Hogn Kong in 1986, where he finished as second runner-up behind Andy Hui and Pui Ling-man. Photo: SCMP

Lai on an air boat.

Lai Ming poses with Roshni Mirchandani (left) and Madha Uttamchandami at the Hollywood Meets Bollywood fundraising gala dinner in 2002. Photo: SCMP

Lai in Wong Kar-wai’s 1995 film Fallen Angels, in which he played killer Wong Chi-ming. Photo: Alamy

Lai appears at a press conference to promote his Leon Lai Project Sunshine Charity Show in 1995. The concert was aimed at raising public awareness for the needs of children with mental disabilities and raising funds for the Sunshine Project. Photo: SCMP

Lai in 2007. Photo: A Music

Lai singing at the Hong Kong Coliseum in 1995. Photo: SCMP

Lai performs in 2016. Photo: PaciwoodAMusic

Lai casts a magic spell on the audience at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre in 1995. Photo: SCMP

Charlie Yeung and Lai in Seven Swords (2005). Photo: Alamy

Leaving Me, Loving You, a Chinese New Year release in 2004, was directed by Wilson Yip, and starred Lai and Faye Wong.

Lai at the Hong Kong Coliseum in 1996. Photo: SCMP