Release calendarTop 250 moviesMost popular moviesBrowse movies by genreTop box officeShowtimes & ticketsMovie newsIndia movie spotlight
    What's on TV & streamingTop 250 TV showsMost popular TV showsBrowse TV shows by genreTV news
    What to watchLatest trailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily entertainment guideIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsPrimetime EmmysToronto Int'l Film FestivalFall TV GuideMost Anticipated This MonthSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll events
    Born todayTrending peopleCelebrity news
    IMDb LabsHelp centerContributor zonePolls
For industry professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
    Some content may be auto-translated
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign in
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
    Some content may be auto-translated
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Biography
  • Awards
IMDbPro

Joseph Koo(1931-2023)

  • Composer
  • Music Department
  • Actor
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Joseph Koo
Trailer for The Hand of Death
Play trailer1:54
The Hand of Death (1976)
1 Video
1 Photo
Joseph Koo was born on 23 February 1931 in Guangzhou, China. He was a composer and actor, known for A Better Tomorrow (1986), The Way of the Dragon (1972) and Fist of Fury (1972). He died on 3 January 2023 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
BornFebruary 23, 1931
DiedJanuary 3, 2023(91)
BornFebruary 23, 1931
DiedJanuary 3, 2023(91)
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
  • Awards
    • 4 wins & 7 nominations total

Known for

Chow Yun-Fat, Leslie Cheung, and Lung Ti in A Better Tomorrow (1986)
A Better Tomorrow
7.4
  • Composer(as Ka-Fai Koo)
  • 1986
Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris in The Way of the Dragon (1972)
The Way of the Dragon
7.1
  • Composer
  • 1972
Bruce Lee in Fist of Fury (1972)
Fist of Fury
7.2
  • Composer(as Ku Chia Hui)
  • 1972
A Terra-Cotta Warrior (1989)
A Terra-Cotta Warrior
6.7
  • Composer
  • 1989

Credits

IMDbPro

Composer

  • Bruce Lee and Matt Routledge in The Big Boss: Return to Thailand (2023)
    The Big Boss: Return to Thailand
    7.4
    Short
    • music composed by
    • 2023
  • Titoudao (2020)
    Titoudao
    7.8
    TV Series
    • Composer
    • 2020
  • Julian Cheung, Athena Chu, Emily Kwan, Gallen Lo, Ka-Wah Lam, and Wai-Kuen Tsang in The Legend of the Condor Heroes (1994)
    The Legend of the Condor Heroes
    8.0
    TV Series
    • Composer
    • 1994
  • Now You See Me, Now You Don't (1994)
    Now You See Me, Now You Don't
    5.4
    • Composer (as Ka-Fai Koo)
    • 1994
  • Jet Li in Fist of Legend (1994)
    Fist of Legend
    7.5
    • Composer
    • 1994
  • Stephen Chow in King of Beggars (1992)
    King of Beggars
    6.9
    • Composer
    • 1992
  • A Terra-Cotta Warrior (1989)
    A Terra-Cotta Warrior
    6.7
    • Composer
    • 1989
  • Maggie Cheung and Sammo Kam-Bo Hung in Paper Marriage (1988)
    Paper Marriage
    6.3
    • Composer
    • 1988
  • Chow Yun-Fat, Leslie Cheung, Dean Shek, and Lung Ti in A Better Tomorrow II (1987)
    A Better Tomorrow II
    7.1
    • Composer
    • 1987
  • Mirage (1987)
    Mirage
    6.9
    • Composer
    • 1987
  • Leslie Cheung: Dong Nin Ching
    Music Video
    • Composer
    • 1986
  • Chow Yun-Fat, Leslie Cheung, and Lung Ti in A Better Tomorrow (1986)
    A Better Tomorrow
    7.4
    • Composer (as Ka-Fai Koo)
    • 1986
  • Maggie Cheung, Charine Chan, Fennie Yuen, and Raymond Pak-Ming Wong in Happy Ghost III (1986)
    Happy Ghost III
    6.2
    • Composer
    • 1986
  • Alex Man in The Legend of the General Who Never Was (1985)
    The Legend of the General Who Never Was
    TV Series
    • Composer
    • 1985
  • Holy Robe of the Shaolin Temple (1985)
    Holy Robe of the Shaolin Temple
    6.2
    • Composer
    • 1985

Music Department

  • A Terra-Cotta Warrior (1989)
    A Terra-Cotta Warrior
    6.7
    • composer: theme music
    • 1989
  • Be Careful Sweetheart (1984)
    Be Careful Sweetheart
    5.8
    • composer: theme music
    • 1984
  • Crazy Kung Fu Master (1984)
    Crazy Kung Fu Master
    7.0
    • songwriter
    • 1984
  • The Denouement of Chu Liu Hsiang (1983)
    The Denouement of Chu Liu Hsiang
    3.6
    • composer: theme music
    • 1983
  • Leslie Cheung in Gu shou (1983)
    Gu shou
    7.3
    • music arranger
    • 1983
  • Tou shou zai (1982)
    Tou shou zai
    • music supervisor
    • 1982
  • Wu du bu zhang fu (1981)
    Wu du bu zhang fu
    • composer: theme music
    • 1981
  • David Chiang, Norman Chu, and Yasuaki Kurata in Return of the Deadly Blade (1981)
    Return of the Deadly Blade
    5.4
    • composer: theme music
    • 1981
  • Innocence (1980)
    Innocence
    • composer: theme song
    • 1980
  • Michael Wai-Man Chan, Szu Shih, and Lung Ti in The Heroes (1980)
    The Heroes
    6.2
    • composer: theme music
    • 1980
  • Heroes Shed No Tears (1980)
    Heroes Shed No Tears
    6.0
    • composer: theme music
    • 1980
  • Fa qiong e (1979)
    Fa qiong e
    • composer: theme music
    • 1979
  • Lin Ya Zhen lao hu yu xia xie (1979)
    Lin Ya Zhen lao hu yu xia xie
    • composer: theme music
    • 1979
  • The Deadly Breaking Sword (1979)
    The Deadly Breaking Sword
    6.4
    • composer: theme music
    • 1979
  • Money Trip (1979)
    Money Trip
    • composer: theme music
    • 1979

Actor

  • Maggie Cheung, Charine Chan, Fennie Yuen, and Raymond Pak-Ming Wong in Happy Ghost III (1986)
    Happy Ghost III
    6.2
    • Ka-yan Koo (as Ka-Fai Koo)
    • 1986
  • Michael Hui and Sam Hui in The Last Message (1975)
    The Last Message
    6.4
    • Doctor in Operation
    • 1975
  • Shuang xing ban yue (1975)
    Shuang xing ban yue
    6.4
    • Pianist (Guest star) (as Ka-Fai Koo)
    • 1975
  • Ni wo ta
    • (Vocals)
    • 1971

Videos1

The Hand of Death
Trailer 1:54
The Hand of Death

Personal details

  • Official sites
    • Discogs
    • France's national library catalogue
  • Alternative names
    • Ku Chia-hui
  • Born
    • February 23, 1931
    • Guangzhou, China
  • Died
    • January 3, 2023
    • Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada(natural causes)
  • Relatives
    • Carrie Ku Mei(Sibling)

Contribute to this page

Suggest an edit or add missing content
  • Learn more about contributing
Edit page

More to explore

Recently viewed

You have no recently viewed pages
Get the IMDb app
Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
Follow IMDb on social
Get the IMDb app
For Android and iOS
Get the IMDb app
  • Help
  • Site Index
  • IMDbPro
  • Box Office Mojo
  • License IMDb Data
  • Press Room
  • Advertising
  • Jobs
  • Conditions of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Your Ads Privacy Choices
IMDb, an Amazon company

© 1990-2026 by IMDb.com, Inc.