Lester Chit-Man Chan

Lester Chan was born in Hong Kong, but received his Master of Fine Arts in theatre at Brooklyn College, City University of New York, majoring in acting. Since graduation, Mr. Chan appeared on screen and stage across U.S., Hong Kong, Taiwan and China.

He was as the Bohemian lover Raymond in EAT, DRINK, MAN, WOMAN (1995 Oscar Best Foreign-Language Picture Nomination), of which he also helped coach the acting of the cast. The film COMBINATION PLATTER in which he played the second lead Sam was awarded Critics Award in 1993 Toronto International Film Festival. His first leading role in a TV drama, Glass Wall (RTHK, Hong Kong) was awarded Silver Award in 17th International Disabled Drama Film Festival. He also played artist Liu Mu, in FAREWELL CHINA, which won a Golden Horse Award in Taiwan.

On TV, Mr. Chan played such popular and demanding roles such as the disloyal husband, Sunny in KNOTS TO TREASURE (HK-TVB), the legislator Fu Lap-Ming in MEMORIES OF HONG KONG (RTHK, HK), and the double lead in which he created two wholly different characters in SEARCHING FOR PENG JIAMU (Gansu TV, China). On stage, Mr. Chan led one of the most demanding roles, James Leeds, in Children Of A Lesser God (HK Repertory Theatre), which toured Hong Kong & Beijing as the Opening Performance of First Chinese Theatre Festival & Conference. The role demanded a simultaneous expression in Mandarin and sign language.

Beyond acting, Mr. Chan also directs, writes and teaches. His directorial credits include: A Love of 50 Years (which he also wrote and acted), Ten Brave Passionate Monologs (a multimedia show of monologs and images), Desiring Belly Button (an original surrealistic musical), and Dangerous Corner (a one-man show written and performed by him). He is the editor and co-author of a monolog collection Workin’.

Mr. Chan received his Ph.D. in Electrical & Electronic Engineering (major in computer speech recognition) from University of Hong Kong prior to his theatre study. He is now an Assistant Professor in School of Creative Media, City University of Hong Kong. He is also the Artistic Director of a multimedia arts group, Creative Horizon, and an advisor/assessor of the Hong Kong Arts Development Council.

Mongrel Media