Zhao Lei (Chinese: 趙雷; Wade–Giles: Chao Lei; 1928 – 24 June 1996) was a Chinese actor who was one of the most popular male leads in the cinema of Hong Kong and Taiwan in the 1950s and 60s, often called the "Film Emperor".
[1] Zhao was born Wang Yumin (Chinese: 王育民) in Ding County, Hebei, China in 1928 and moved to Hong Kong in the 1940s.
[1] He began working for Shaw Brothers Studio in 1953, and left for Cathay-Keris Films ten years later.
He continued acting into the 1970s, and spent the latter half of the decade operating a restaurant in Taipei.
[2][3] Zhao's wife Shi Ying (石英) was also an actress with Shaw Brothers.