Philip Tan (born 22 July 1960) is a Singaporean / British film director and stunt coordinator. He is the father of actor Lewis Tan.

Philip Tan
Born (1960-07-22) 22 July 1960 (age 63)
Occupations
Years active1980–present
SpouseJoanne Cassidy-Tan
ChildrenLewis, Sam, Ben, Evan

Early life edit

Philip (“Phil”) Tan was born in Singapore before moving to the United Kingdom at age five. While living in England, Tan learned and became proficient in gymnastics, martial arts, and disco dancing.[1][2]

In 1979, Tan became the national disco dancing champion of the United Kingdom.[3] He regularly competed in dancing competitions and has won 7 disco championships[1]

Tan started his athletic career as a gymnast,[4] where he became the British Youth Tumbling champion.[5] After learning martial arts, Tan became the 1985 British Men's Tae Kwon Do Champion.[4][5] He has won the British national dance competition and participated in British television series “Albion Market” as a Granada soap opera star prior to moving to Hollywood.

Career edit

Tan began his career as an actor and stuntman in 1979.[1] His first role was in The Fiendish Plot of Dr. Fu Manchu.[2] A biographical movie is being developed about his life in Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the United States.[2]

Tan is proficient in multiple martial arts, including Muay Thai, Taekwondo, and Kung Fu.[4] Tan is also an experienced stuntman and specializes in stunt fighting, and stunt falling.[6] Tan has worked with martial artists including Jackie Chan, Jet Li, and Brandon Lee.[4]

Notable films worked on include Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Empire of the Sun, Batman, Tango and Cash, Demolition Man, Lethal Weapon 4, The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, Rush Hour 3, Inception, Olympus has Fallen, and Bullet Train.

Tan has worked on six movies and one television show with Steven Spielberg. While working on the film Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Tan was responsible for training "Short Round" in stunt fighting played by actor Ke Huy Quan.[4]

Notable directors worked with include Steven Spielberg, Tim Burton, Michael Bay, The Wachowskis, and David Leitch.[2]

Personal life edit

Tan has four sons with his wife Joanne Tan (née Cassidy) and lives in Los Angeles, California. He began training his son Lewis in martial arts and stunts at a young age.[1] His wife Joanne is a former British runway model.[7] Tan enjoys spending time with his family when not working on Hollywood projects.[7] He has provided counseling to the Los Angeles community and provides guidance whenever he has the opportunity.[7]

Filmography edit

Film and television edit

Year Title Role Notes
1980 The Fiendish Plot of Dr. Fu Manchu Dacoit

Fight choreographer

1984 Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom Chief henchman
1987 Empire of the Sun Stunts
1988 Willow Stunts
1989 Batman Stunts
Tango & Cash Stunts
1992 Batman Returns Stunts
1993 Hot Shots! Part Deux Stunts
Demolition Man Stunts
The Three Musketeers Parker
1996 Bloodsport 2 Director

Second unit director

1997 Bloodsport 3 Action director
1998 Lethal Weapon 4 Stunts
1999 Wild Wild West Stunt coordinator
2001 Pearl Harbor Stunts
2002 Minority Report Stunts
2003 Lara Croft: Tomb Raider - The Cradle of Life Stunts
2005 Memoirs of a Geisha Stunts
2006 The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift Stunts
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest Stunts
2007 Disturbia Stunts
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End Stunts
Rush Hour 3 Stunts
2008 Speed Racer Stunts
Hancock Stunts
2009 The Hangover Stunts Stunt double for Ken Jeong
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Stunts
2010 Inception Stunts
2011 The Hangover Part II Stunts Stunt double for Ken Jeong
Rise of the Planet of the Apes Stunts
Death Valley Stunt coordinator 10 episodes
2012 Battleship Stunts
Safe Stunts
Red Dawn Stunts
2013 Olympus has Fallen Stunts
The Hangover Part III Stunts Stunt double for Ken Jeong
2014 Transformers: Age of Extinction Stunts
2017 Dr Ken Stunt coordinator 44 episodes
Killing Hasselhoff Stunt coordinator
2022 The Commando Producer

Stunt coordinator Second unit director

Bullet Train Stunts
2023 MR-9: Do or Die Producer

Action director Second unit director

TBA Absolute Dominion Stunt coordinator
Bottled Secrets Director
The Snare Producer

Stunt coordinator

Boneyard Second unit director

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d Shadow and Bone's Lewis Tan and His Dad React to Him Being a Heartthrob, retrieved December 23, 2023
  2. ^ a b c d III, Lee B. Golden (November 8, 2023). "Philip Tan, Actor And Stunt Professional Center Of New Biopic Development From Son, Actor Lewis Tan". Film Combat Syndicate. Retrieved December 23, 2023.
  3. ^ Disco Dance - 1979 - UK Finals (Pt 1), retrieved December 23, 2023
  4. ^ a b c d e "Interview with Philip Tan". Kung-fu Kingdom. May 17, 2021. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  5. ^ a b copland, ruth (June 28, 2014). "Topic: What values do we share that make us an 'American'? | Arts Interview: Phillip Tan". It's A Question of Balance with Ruth Copland. Retrieved December 23, 2023.
  6. ^ "The multifaceted world of Phil Tan - Panorama". www.panorama.it (in Italian). Retrieved December 23, 2023.
  7. ^ a b c "Kung Fu Drive-In Podcast: INTERVIEW: PHILIP TAN, Actor, Stuntman, Producer, Director". kungfudrivein.libsyn.com. Retrieved December 23, 2023.

External links edit