HBO's latest documentary delves into the spirited, wide-ranging life of of multi-hyphenate Michael Chow.

Directed by Nick Hooker and written/edited by Jean Tsien, a.k.a Mr. Chow uses interviews, archival footage and photos as well as animation to weave a portrait of the Shanghai-born Zhou Yinghua, restaurateur, actor, and artist, who built his dazzling dining empire in the '60s and '70s by foregrounding and celebrating Chinese gastronomy.

As the trailer indicates, the documentary delves into his challenging childhood and experiences with discrimination, being sent to live in England as a young teen, his rise as a multifaceted art-maker and entrepreneur, and the mechanics of his celebrity-favoured restaurant institutions. There's interviews with family members, as well as notable names like author Fran Lebowitz, artists Peter Blake, Julian Schnabel, and Ed Ruscha, and more.

How to watch: a.k.a Mr. Chow airs on HBO Oct. 22 at 9 p.m. ET/10:30 p.m. PT, and will streaming on Max.