Educated in Hong Kong, he worked various jobs before studying Wing Chun and venturing into martial arts films in 1969. Chang Cheh, one of Shaw Bros. studios' most renowned directors, was so impressed with his audition that he offered him the lead role in his new film Dead End*, alongside David Chiang. The studios changed his stage name to "Di Long" in honor of the French actor Alain Delon and signed him to successive contracts until the company closed in 1985. During these 15 years, Ti worked with Shaw's most important directors in more than 60 films, with Chang being his most frequent collaborator. Their most notable works together include *The Blood Brothers (1973), Five Shaolin Masters (1974), and Ten Tigers of Kwantung (1979). With Chu Yuan, Clans of Intrigue (1977) and the saga of The Sentimental Swordsman (1977-82) stand out. He also directed a couple of films for Shaw in the mid-'70s. After ending his contract with Shaw Bros., Ti experienced a second boom in his career thanks to John Woo's film *A Better Tomorrow*. In 2000, he won the Hong Kong Film Award for Best Supporting Actor for Jacob Cheung's *The Kid*. His son is actor Shaun Tam.