- Turned down the role of Morpheus in The Matrix (1999).
- Chow Yun-Fat was born of the Hakkha (aka Ha Ka) race, an ethnic group from China that has moved from one region to another without taking up permanent residence since the ancient times. The Hakkha dialect is now the second most popular dialect in Taiwan.
- Ironically, John Woo cast him in his breakout film A Better Tomorrow (1986) because he didn't look like an action star.
- Before going to work on a movie each day, he goes to the nearest market and buys some fresh fruit.
- He helped Andy Lau in his movie career, after it almost crashed when he refused to sign a contract with TVB, which made him blacklisted from Hong Kong Television.
- Enjoys photography. His elder sister also is a photographer.
- His part in Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007) was omitted when the movie was shown in China. Government censors felt that Chow's character "vilified and humiliated" the Chinese people.
- He narrowly avoided being incinerated while filming the explosive climax of Hard Boiled (1992).
- After a first unsuccessful marriage with a fellow Hong Kong star actress, he fell in love and re-married the daughter of one of the richest Chinese dynastic scions from Singapore.
- Attempted suicide over the break-up after 5-year (1978-1983) romance with popular TV star Idy Chan.
- On 26 June 2008, Chow released his first photo collection in Hong Kong, which includes pictures taken on the sets of his films. Proceeds from the book's sales were donated to Sichuan earthquake victims. Published by Louis Vuitton, the books were sold in Vuitton's Hong Kong and Paris stores.
- As of 2018, Chow's net worth stands at HKD$5.6 billion. Chow also said he would donate 99% of his wealth to charity via setting up a foundation to help the needy.
- Won Hong Kong's Academy "Best Actor" Awards Three Times: A Better Tomorrow, 1987. City On Fire, 1988, All About Ah Long, 1990.
- Tri-lingual, speaking Cantonese, Mandarin, and English.
- Sponsors a lot of charity events such as "National Wildlife" and many others.
- Unusually tall by Chinese standards, he was often a head taller than his co-stars in his Hong Kong films, female or male.
- Credited as Chow Anderson in the Philippines in his earlier films.
- Chosen one of 50 Most Beautiful People by People Magazine in 2002.
- In October 2014, Chow supported the Umbrella Movement, a civil rights movement for universal suffrage in Hong Kong. His political stance eventually resulted in censorship by the Chinese government.
- Won Taiwan's Golden Horse "Best Actor" Awards Two Times: Hong Kong 1941,1985. An Autumn's Tale, 1987.
- CineAsia, the Asian Theatre Owners Convention, named Chow the Star of the Decade.
- Won Asian Pacific Festival "Best Actor" Award for Hong Kong 1941, 1985.
- Joss Whedon originally wrote the role of Christie in Alien Resurrection (1997) with him in mind. His manager and producer Terence Chang turned down the role for him.
- He was the original choice for the role of Memnon in The Scorpion King (2002). His manager and producer Terence Chang vetoed it, saying Chow never plays villains and that doing so would betray his fans.
- He narrowly avoided being blown up while filming A Better Tomorrow II (1987) when the explosion outside the mansion door being more powerful than expected. Some of his hair was singed, and he was blasted forward.
- He left school at age seventeen to support his family.
- Before acting, he worked odd jobs such as a bellboy, postal worker, camera salesman and taxi driver.
- He grew up in a house with no electricity.
- He has no formal acting training.
- He was originally going to be play Luke in Bullet in the Head (1990), as he was really impressed with the script but John Woo had told him that his character was not the essential character of the story (though a pivotal one nonetheless) and that it might not have complimented his leading man status as it was really a supporting role (or more precisely - fourth leading role).
- Despite being famous for martial arts films, he has no martial arts training in real life.
- He and Andy Lau made 4 movies together: Tragic Hero (1987), Rich and Famous (1987), God of Gamblers (1989), and God of Gamblers II (1990). They also made two TV-series together: The Yangs' Saga (1985) and The Legend of Master So (1982).
- He was considered for Shiwan Khan in The Shadow (1994).
- He makes a surprise cameo in Dayyan Eng's Chinese romantic comedy Waiting Alone (2004). It marked the first time Chow Yun-Fat was in a mainland Chinese film.
- Is known to be a generous philanthropist, and approachable, humble and kind to his fans.
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