When he was young, Charlie Chin fled with his family to Hong Kong due to war. At the age of twelve, he went to Taiwan to pursue his studies at the Fu Xing Drama School (復興劇校; predecesor of National Taiwan College of Performing Arts), specializing in Peking Opera.^[1] He adopted the stage name Qin Fu Lin (秦復林) and selected the role of a combatant (武生) in the opera.

After graduating from the Fu Xing Drama School in 1968, Charlie Chin returned to Hong Kong and made some martial arts films, but he remained unknown. While he was wondering whether he should stay in the field of Peking Opera, actor Yue Hua (岳華) advised him to become an actor.^[1]

Charlie Chin was privately nicknamed "Flipper (翻跟斗)" due to his acrobatic skills in the film industry. At that time, the industry favored the warm-hearted type of male stars represented by Chin Han (秦漢), making it difficult for him to secure significant roles.^[2]

Charlie Chin was part of the "Silver Rat Squad (銀色鼠隊)", a 1970s pop band formed in Hong Kong. The band, consisting of seven members.was inspired by  Hollywood actor Dean Martin's Rat Pack.^[3] The band was more of a lighthearted endeavor, and all the members were renowned actors at the time. The other members of the squad included Chan Chi Keung (陳自強), Zhang Chong (張沖), Patrick Tse Ka Yuk (謝賢), Alan Tang Kwong Wing (鄧光榮), Lydia Sum Tin Ha (沈殿霞), and Chen Hao (陳浩).^[4]

The turning point of Charlie Chin's acting career happened in 1973. Director Lee Hsing (李行) was shooting the film Heart With A Million Knots (心有千千結). The original male lead, Alan Tang Kwong Wing (鄧光榮), could not participate due to schedule conflict. Charlie Chin was recommended to Lee Hsing by Chen Chen's mother. So he took on the role of the male lead for the first time. The film made him a star overnight.^[5] This role also landed him the Best Actor award for Outstanding Performance at the 20th Asian Film Festival.^[6]

In the 1970s, literary romantic films adapted from romantic novels by Qiong Yao and other writers were extremely popular in Taiwan and South East Asia. During that time, Charlie Chin, along with renowned actors Chin Han (秦漢), Brigitte Lin (林青霞), and Joan Lin (林鳳嬌) were collectively called the "Two Qins, Two Lins" (二秦二林) to indicate their dominating status.^[6]

In 1975 and 1977, Charlie Chin won the Best Actor award at the 12th and 14th Golden Horse Awards, respectively, for his performances in Long Way from Home (長情萬縷) directed by Liu Yi (劉藝) and Far Away from Home (人在天涯) directed by Pai Ching-jui (白景瑞).

In 1973, Charlie Chin went to Japan to film the Hiroshima 28 (廣島廿八). It was during this time that he met actress Siao Fong Fong (蕭芳芳), and they began dating. In October 1975, they got married at the Hong Kong City Hall. However. Their marriage lasted only for a few years and they agreed to separate in 1977 and divorce in the following year.^[5]

In 1976, while filming Cloud of Romance (我是一片雲),  Chin met Brigitte Lin  (林青霞) and they began dating.^[7] In September 1980, they got engaged in Los Angeles. Their engagement lasted for four years and they were never married to each other.^[5]

Charlie Chin met his second wife Cao Chang-Li (曹昌莉) on a film set where she worked as a make-up assistant. They got married in 1988 and immigrated to California, United States afterward. They have two sons, Kavin and Gary Chin.^[8]

On November 23, 2013, Chin accepted an invitation from the Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival Executive Committee to serve as the presenter of the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 50th Golden Horse Award for Chen Chen.

• Lucky Stars

• Charlie Chin at IMDb
• HK cinemagic entry
• Chin Discography at Smithsonian Folkways