Karl Maka (born 29 February 1944) is a Hong Kong film producer, director, actor and presenter.
Early life
Maka was born Mak Kar-sheung on 29 February 1944 in Taishan, Guangdong. He moved to Hong Kong in 1958 when he was 14 years old.
Education
Maks moved to the United States in 1963 and in 1969, Maka earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electronics Engineering from the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn. He then began studying film production at the New York Institute of Photography.
Career
While a student at the New York Institute of Photography, Maka started his career as a telephone company engineer before returning to Hong Kong in 1973.
In 1976, Maka began working in the Hong Kong film industry. He first appeared as an assassin in The Good, the Bad and the Loser (1976), which he wrote and directed. In 1978, Maka co-founded the film production company Gar Bo. 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.
One of Maka's most popular film roles is in the Aces Go Places film series, where he starred alongside Sam Hui.
Filmography
Films
| Year | Title | Role | Notes/Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | The Good, the Bad and the Loser | writer / director | |
| 1977 | Mian meng xin jing | actor | |
| He Has Nothing But Kung Fu | Sheriff | actor | |
| Winner Takes All | writer / director | ||
| 1978 | Hello, Late Homecomers | Baldy | actor |
| Dirty Kung Fu | actor | ||
| Dirty Tiger, Crazy Frog | writer / director | ||
| 1979 | Iron Fists | actor / director | |
| Knockabout | Police Captain | actor | |
| Odd Couple | Challenger | cameo / producer | |
| His Name Is Nobody | Baldy | actor / director | |
| Xin tie cuo men shen | actor | ||
| 1980 | Crazy Crooks | Kong Koon Chat | actor / director |
| The Victim | Shaolin Abbot | actor / producer | |
| By Hook or by Crook | Sheriff Butcher Wing | actor / director | |
| 1981 | Beware of Pickpockets | Big Nose | actor / producer |
| Bu zhun diao tou | |||
| All the Wrong Clues | Capone | actor / producer | |
| Chasing Girls | cameo / director / producer | ||
| Laughing Times | Master Ting | actor | |
| 1982 | It Takes Two | actor / director | |
| Aces Go Places | Albert Au | actor / producer | |
| Life After Life | producer | ||
| 1983 | Aces Go Places 2 | Albert Au | actor |
| Wo ai Ye Laixiang | Patriot (prologue) | actor | |
| Da zhui ji | actor | ||
| Esprit d'amour | producer | ||
| 1984 | Aces Go Places 3 | Albert Au | actor |
| Lifeline Express | producer | ||
| Merry Christmas | actor | ||
| The Occupant | producer | ||
| 1985 | Gong xi fa cai | Gold Grabber | actor |
| For Your Heart Only | producer | ||
| 1986 | Aces Go Places IV | Albert Au | actor / writer |
| Lucky Stars Go Places | Albert | actor | |
| 1987 | City on Fire | producer | |
| Prison on Fire | producer | ||
| The Thirty Million Dollar Rush | Baldy | actor / writer / director / producer | |
| 1988 | The Eighth Happiness | Audience Member | cameo |
| School on Fire | producer | ||
| Tiger on Beat | producer | ||
| 1989 | Aces Go Places 5: The Terracotta Hit | Albert Au 'Baldy' | actor / producer |
| Triads: The Inside Story | producer | ||
| 1990 | Chicken a La Queen | producer | |
| Skinny Tiger, Fatty Dragon | Skinny | Also as producer. | |
| Tiger on the Beat 2 | producer | ||
| Undeclared War | producer | ||
| 1991 | The Magnificent Scoundrels | Master | actor / producer |
| The Banquet | Mak | cameo | |
| In the Lap of God | producer | ||
| Prison on Fire 2 | producer | ||
| 2000 | Winner Takes All | Inspector Stupid | actor |
| 2003 | Zen Master | actor | |
| 2016 | The Bodyguard | Old Man | cameo, (final film role) |
Awards
Maka has received a star on the Avenue of Stars in Tsim Sha Tsui.
Personal life
In 1963, Maka and his family emigrated to the United States and lived in New York City. He returned to Hong Kong in 1973.
