A Shanghai native with roots from Hunan province, Shaw Brothers contract character actor Tien Ching is known by many for his less than flattering roles playing his signature cuckold, impotent, lecherous, slippery, smarmy, back-stabbing roles in countless martial arts, exploitation and adult-oriented comedic fare throughout Mandarin dialect dominated Hong Kong cinema during the 70s. Previous to his tenure at Shaws, Tien Ching's roles were much more auspicious while under contract with Cathay/MPG&I as a young actor in the 60s where he had been elevated to leading man status in many Cathay contemporary romance and period action titles.