Yang Fang was born Yang Guangxi in Sichuan in 1943 and raised in Taiwan, where he graduated from the National Film & Theater College. He joined Shaw Brothers in 1966 and had his first major role in My Dream Boat, the movie that propelled him to stardom. Among his most famous films are When The Clouds Roll By, Torrent Of Desire, and Love Song Over The Sea. Upon the completion of his Shaw Brothers contract in 1970, he had returned to Taiwan to continue his acting career.