On October 12, 2021, the martial arts master, actor, producer, and professor at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University died at the age of 71. Roy Horan.
Although Horan's filmography is not very extensive, fans of old-school fighting games will remember this charismatic "gwailo", the bearded, green-eyed villain in the films "Snake in the Eagle's Shadow" (1978) or "Tower of Death" (1980).
Roy Horan III was born in Laurel, Maryland, in January 1950, the eldest of eight children. After graduating from the University of Rhode Island, he emigrated first to Taiwan and then to Hong Kong. There is not much information about Horan's martial background, but it is known that he seriously studied taekwondo with a famous Korean master and actor Hwana Jan-Lee which brought Roy to the cinema. You can also read many interesting facts about Roy’s military successes in this interview on our website.
In 1975, Horan joined the fight cinema and made his debut in the film "The Secrets of Bruce Lee" (1977), and then acted in films "Communication Through the Jade Vial" (1977) and "Snake in the Eagle's Shadow" (1978). It is noteworthy that the colorful American often embodied Russian characters on screen, regardless of the amount of screen time. Particularly noticeable in this regard is the Russian “priest” from the film "Snake in the Eagle's Shadow"", where he had a fight with a young Jackie Chan, which ended with the spectacular death of Horan’s hero a la “fatality”.
From 1978 to 1989, Roy served as executive director of sales and international production for a well-known Hong Kong company. Seasonal Film Corporation. Around the same time, his series of martial arts training videos was released, in particular the program "The Art of the Kick" (1980), based on the kicking technique Hwana Jana Lee.
Another important contribution of Roy to combat cinema is the film "No Retreat, No Surrender 2: Storm Warning" (1987), which is rightfully considered one of the best films released on Seasonal Film. Horan not only played a small role in the film as the American consul, but also acted as a co-writer and co-producer. Two years later, Roy left Seasonal Films and stopped acting in films, continuing to engage in management and marketing in the field of film and television production, as well as research in the field of meditation and human mental development.
In 1999, Horan became a professor at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University School of Design, where he taught filmmaking and related disciplines, and in 2005 he began to delve into the field of neuropsychological research and the development of human creative thinking.
In 2011, Roy created a company Innovea Ltd., which develops and conducts innovative psychological research, provides consultations in the field of personal development and coaching.
Roy Horan's daughter Selina Jade, followed in her father's footsteps and became a famous actress, starring in films such as "War of the Wolves 2", "Slave Trade", "Triple Threat" and others, as if proving to us that combat cinema is a family affair.
Roy Horan - this is not just one of those who played the “evil white” in Hong Kong cinema, receiving kicks and slaps from the main characters right and left. He was a deep, interesting and gifted individual in many areas.
Rest in peace, Roy.
Didn't know Selina Jade was his daughter. With all due respect and “cult status,” Horan’s combat skills are still questionable. It’s too bad he looks clumsily in almost all combat episodes. Although the guy was colorful, of course.