Simon Yam was born 19 March, 1955, also known as Yam Tat-wah, is a veteran Hong Kong-based actor and film producer. He started off as a supermodel before becoming an actor in the mid 1970s. He then signed with the Hong Kong television network TVB, starring and co-starring in a number of television series prior to "apply his trades" in the film industry in 1987. His elder brother is Yam Tak-wing, a retired former Deputy Commissioner of Hong Kong Police.
In 1989, he starred in the Japanese-Hong Kong co-production of Bloodfight (1989). This was the first of its kind in which English was spoken throughout the entire film. In 1992, Yam gained critical acclaim for his role as the maniacal Judge in the crime film Xia dao Gao Fei (1992), where he faced off in a bloody battle against Yun-Fat Chow's character. In 1993, he starred as "Dhalsim" in the action-comedy film Chao ji xue xiao ba wang (1993), a parody of Street Fighter directed by Jing Wong. In 1996, Yam began his role as Chiang Tin-Sung, the leader of the Hung Hing triads in the first three installments of the Goo waak zai: Yan joi gong woo (1996) film series.
In 2000, Yam starred as Cheung-sun, the progenitor of all vampires, in the television series Ngo wo geun see yau gor yue wui II (2000), produced by ATV. In 2003, Yam made his Hollywood film debut in Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Le berceau de la vie (2003) as Shaolin crime lord.
Yam received international acclaim for his performances in international film festival hits and box offices such as Chik loh go yeung (1992), S.P.L. (2005), Election (2005), Election 2 (2006), Exilé (2006), Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Le berceau de la vie (2003), Dodookdeul (2012).
