Gregorio Wu was one the most prominent Asian actors working in Italy in 1960s, appearing in countless films and fotoromanzi, though usually uncredited. Acting, however, was not his main profession as he was actually a very famous tenor.
His real name was Wu Pak Chiu and he was born in 1913 as Guangzhou, China. He graduated from the Shanghai Conservatory of Music in 1937 and in 1946 he left China and enrolled as a fourth year student at the Accademia di Santa Cecilia in Rome, graduating in 1948 at the top of his class. During the same period, he also studied as a private student with Beniamino Gigli, and he later sang in concert with Gigli and his daughter Rina.
After a performance as the tenor soloist in Bartok's Cantata profana at the Teatro Argentina in Rome in 1954, he was invited to sing in concert halls all around Europe and also on radio and television. As a tenor he sang under the name Gregorio Wu Pak Chiu.
During his time in Italy, he also ended up being an actor, appearing in many comedies with Totò and with Franco and Ciccio. He was also featured in various Eurospy films and also appeared in a long line of fotoromanzi. He was usually uncredited, even though several of the roles he played were fairly large.
In 1969, Gregorio returned to Hong Kong where he gave his final performance in a recital for the Lingnan University Alumni Association. After retiring from the concert stage, he spent his time teaching vocal and choral singing at various secondary schools.
Gregorio Wu died in Hong Kong on March 31, 1974 at the age of 61. He was survived by his wife and two daughters - one of whom was the actress Elisabeth Wu. She, too, had a career in films and fotoromanzi in Italy and often appeared together with her father.
Source: http://www.wupakchiu.com/
FILMOGRAPHY
1961
- Totò, Peppino e... la dolce vita (uncredited) .... Party guest
1962 - 2 samurai per 100 geishe (credited) .... Japanese lieutenant
- Totò e Peppino divisi a Berlino (uncredited) .... Chinese agent
- Una tragedia americana (TV mini series) (credited) .... Chinese death-row prisoner
1963 - Totò contro i quattro (uncredited) .... Chen, the majordomo
1964 - 00-2 agenti segretissimi (uncredited) .... Chinese agent
- 2 mattacchioni al Moulin Rouge (uncredited) .... Opium dealer
- I sette del Texas (credited as Gregory Wu) .... Lin Chu
1965 - Due mafiosi contro Goldginger (uncredited) .... Biscia's bodyguard
- OSS 77 Operazione Fior di Loto (credited as Wu Pak Chiu) .... Chinese agent
- Operazione Poker (uncredited) .... Yun Tao
1967 - Il figlio di Django (uncredited) .... Bartender
1968 - Luana la figlia della foresta vergine (uncredited) .... Club manager
- Samoa, la regina della giungla (uncredited) .... Mr. Wang
- Vacanza sulla Costa Smeralda (uncredited) .... Mario Cinese
FOTOROMANZI
- I fotoromanzi della Senna N. 6: "Fuga a Hong Kong" (April 1964)
- Sofia N. 2: "Il giglio di Hong-Kong" (April 1964) - credited
- Le avventure di Jacques Douglas N. 2: "Da Venezia con amore" (November 1965)
- Le avventure di Jacques Douglas N. 18: "SZ4 nell'isola dell'oblio" (March 1967) - credited as Mister Wu
- Supersex il fotofilm fanta-erotico N. 5: "L.S.D. follia liquida" (30 August 1967)
- Killing N. 44: "Combinazione morte" (1 July 1968)
- Dossier Segreto N. 1: "Due volti per una spia" (April 1969) - credited