Tony Leung Chiu Wai was on 27th June 1962. He is often confused with fellow actor Tony Leung Ka-Fai, and known colloquially in Hong Kong as "Short Tony," while Ka-fai is known as "Big Tony," nicknames which correspond to the actors' respective physical statures.

His family comes from Taishan, Guangdong, China. Forced to quit his studies at the age of 15 due to financial constraints, Leung worked in a variety of jobs. He met actor and comedian Stephen Chow, who influenced his decision to become an actor. In 1982 he passed the training courses of television channel TVB. Leung gained international exposure through Hou Hsiao-Hsien's 1989 film, A City of Sadness, which won the Venice Golden Lion award. He is considered to be the finest actor of his generation in Hong Kong.

As a Cancerian, he seeks to nurture and nourish. Friendliness and warmth are his main traits. He sets goals, is very strong-willed and has no trouble expressing himself or fulfilling his goals.

Rather than direct confrontation or request, he always takes the emotional appeal route to achieve his goals. He needs to express himself all the time before he takes action. To others it appears that he wears his heart on his sleeve. He genuinely cares for the welfare of others and inspires loyalty as well as cooperation.

He needs to avoid becoming a prisoner of his own emotions. He is gregarious, but shy and secretive about his personal life. His intuition can be remarkably accurate.