Characters / The Big Boss

The Big Boss a.k.a Fists of Fury

Cheng Chao-an

Cheng Chao-an

Played By: Bruce Lee

• Actual Pacifist: He has sworn off violence when the film starts. But when he gets pushed too far, he snaps. HARD. He goes from "wouldn't hurt a fly" to "your remains won't fit on a toothpick."
• Arrested for Heroism: The last twenty minutes have Lee kicking ass, taking names, and killing people with his fists of fury! He's arrested in the end by police once Hsiao Mi is dead.
• Color-Coded for Your Convenience/Rule of Symbolism: For fights with a non-lethal outcome, He wears blue trousers, but he dons a black pair in all fights where he kills opponents.
• Decoy Protagonist: The film opens with Cheng being something of a common Audience Surrogate who isn't allowed to fight and is awkward in city life.
• Dual Wielding: Cheng and the boss wield two knives at different points during the climactic fight.
• The Hero: He was the main protagonist of the film.
• Martial Pacifist: Cheng has sworn off violence when the film starts. But when he gets pushed too far, he snaps. HARD. He goes from "hello sir, it's nice to finally meet you" at the beginning of the movie to "your daughter calls me daddy too" by the time the final battle rolls on.
• Nice Guy: In contrast to the stoic and serious-minded badasses that Bruce Lee usually liked to play, Cheng is a pretty mellow and gentle sort. That is, until his Roaring Rampage of Revenge of course, after which he decides to get a piece of ass from a prostitute (See Pre-Climax Climax) one last time before he goes on a kill-crazy suicide mission.
• Offhand Backhand: He does this to two goons by throwing knives at them.
• Shirtless Scene: He gets this a few times, especially during the entire final fight.

Hsu Chien

Hsu Chien

Played By: James Tien

• Bully Hunter: He likes to fight bullies, such as the goons who pick on his little cousin selling dumplings.
• Decoy Protagonist: He's handsome, confident, protects the weak, lends money, and can fight... too bad he's Too Cool to Live.
• Deuteragonist / Supporting Protagonist: He was the deuteragonist in the middle of the film until he gets killed by Hsiao Chiun in the climax.

Chow Mei

Chow Mei

Played By: Maria Yi

• Damsel in Distress

Hsiao Mi

Hsiao Mi "The Big Boss"

Played By: Han Ying-Chieh

• Affably Evil: Hsiao Mi first offers his workers membership in his cartel after they discover they're smuggling drugs. It's only after they politely refuse that he kills them and has their body parts concealed in ice.
• Antagonist Title: He's also the titular villain: "The Big Boss"
• Big Bad: He was the main antagonist of the film.
• The Glasses Come Off:
  • Hsiao Mi deliberately removes his in the buildup to the final fight.
  • He also does it in his very first scene in the movie before demonstrating his martial arts skills.

Hsiao Chiun

Hsiao Chiun

Played By: Tony Liu

• The Dragon: He was Hsiao Mi's son and right-hand man.

Ah Kun

Ah Kun

Played By: Lee Kwan

Ah San

Ah San

Played By: Kam San

Ah Yen

Ah Yen

Played By: Lam Ching-ying

Ah Pei

Ah Pei

Played By: Billy Chan Wui-ngai

Ah Wong

Ah Wong

Played By: Li Hua Sze

Ah Chen

Ah Chen

Played By: Ricky Chik

Ah Sheng

Ah Sheng "Ice Factory Manager"

Played By: Chan Chue

Xin Chang

Xin Chang

Played By: Rhoma Irama

• The Brute
• Face–Heel Turn: During after Chow Mei's distress during the night, then he becomes Cheng-Chao An's opponent during a factory battle in the night under orders from Hsiao Chiun.
• Early-Installment Weirdness: At one point, Cheng punches Xin Chang through a wall leaving behind a man-shaped hole.

Ice Factory Foreman

Ice Factory Foreman

Played By: Chom

• The Brute
• Face–Heel Turn: During after Chow Mei's distress during the night, then he becomes Cheng-Chao An's opponent during a factory battle in the night under orders from Hsiao Chiun.

Miss Sun Wu Man

Miss Sun Wu Man

Played By: Marilyn Bautista