[2024.07.20] CHIVALROUS WOMAN OF A GENERTION CHENG PEI PEI PASSED AWAY AT AGE 78

Cheng Pei Pei made over 100 film and television work 

Cheng Pei Pei ws with her family late in life

Cheng Pei Pei won the Hong Kong Film Awards Best Supporting Actress with CROUCHING

COME DRINK WITH ME

Cheng Pei Pei co-starred with Stephen Chow in one of his masterpieces, THE FLIRTING SCHOLAR
courtesy of on.cc

courtesy of singtao.com

Cheng Pei Pei's film and television career span 60 years and was well respected in the industry

In 2021 Marsha Yuan shares a photo of her mother Cheng Pei Pei playing with her grandson.  People online notices that Cheng Pei Pei could only sit with a fixed belt around her waist.

Cheng Pei Pei worked with Stephen Chow on THE FLIRTING SCHOLAR and played Mrs. Hua, a role that left a deep impression with many

Cheng Pei Pei played the Jade Fox in CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON and had many scenes opposite Zhang Ziyi

Cheng Pei Pei won the Hong Kong Film Awards Best Supporting Actress for CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON

Michelle Yeoh posted a message online to remember Cheng Pei Pei

In the 1966 release COME DRINK WITH ME, Cheng Pei Pei played her representative role as the heroine 

MULAN was Cheng Pei Pei's final film.  She played the matchmaker.

Cheng Pei Pei's four children were by her side
courtesy of mingpao.com

Cheng Pei Pei, the veteran martial arts actress known as a chivalrous heroine and was popular in three lands on both sides of the Strait, passed away due to illness at the age of 78. When Cheng Pei Pei passed away, her children were by her side. She left love behind as she donated her brain for medical research. Yesterday, many celebrities in the industry posted messages on social media to mourn this elder.

Cheng Pei Pei, an artist whose film and television career spanned 60 years, passed away in the United States on the 17th of this month at the age of 78. She was diagnosed with neurodegenerative atypical Parkinson's syndrome, informally known as corticobasal degeneration (CBD) in 2019, a rare disorder with symptoms similar to Parkinson's but currently without treatment method to slow down the progression of the disease. Two years ago, his daughter and former artist Marsha Yuan Chi Wai revealed that her mother had mobility difficulties and had moved in with her children. Cheng Pei Pei had a happy family life in her later years. Her children often shared photos of her life on social media. It was said that before her death, her three daughters, one son and her grandchildren were all around her. Her daughter personally helped her clean and change her clothes. The atmosphere was peaceful. Cheng Pei Pei hoped to keep everything simple and did not need a big funeral.

Yesterday, Cheng Pei Pei's company announced her death. The text mentioned, "Sister Pei Pei has been ill in recent years. She chose not to make the news public. Firstly, she was working hard to deal with her illness, and she also hoped to spend time with her family. When Sister Pei Pei left peacefully, she was surrounded by her children and loved ones as she wished. The multi-talented Sister Pei Pei won many awards for many years in the industry. She was a martial arts actress who was deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. Her film and television career span a glorious sixty years. Sister Pei Pei was a good mother who was approachable, kind, helpful and patient. Sister Pei Pei, we will miss you forever!"

After the news of Cheng Pei Pei's death came out, Marsh Yuan Chi Wai posted a message on social media yesterday afternoon in memory of her mother. "In the past two years, my family and I moved back to the United States to be closer to my mother. This has been an emotional moment for me, but I feel so lucky to have spent the last few years with her...I almost feel like this is all just a nightmare and I'll wake up in the morning and see her as she was, the most beautiful person I knew, inside and out. My mother was one of the most selfless people I knew and until her last breath, she only thought of her children. I loved my mother so much that the pain of losing her was almost unbearable. She ws loved by all her fans, she was a legend and would continue to be one of the biggest stars of her time."

Cheng Pei Pei in an interview said that she had booked a room in a nursing home for herself in as early as 2010. she did not want to cause trouble for her children and become a burden to them. Influenced by her friend Yin Huaiwen, a writer, she had already filled out a body donation card and would donate her brain to medical research and left love to the world. Many online praised her for being noble and loving.

Over the years, Cheng Pei Pei has made more than 100 film and television works. Her last work was the movie MULAN. Her dedication and professionalism have been admired by many artists she has worked with. Yesterday, many Chinese stars who have worked with her were posted condolences on social media. They included Zhang Ziyi, Li Bingbing, Hu Ge, Liu Yifei and Huang Xiaoming. Cheng Pei Pei played the villain "Jade Fox" in the movie CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON. Her co-star Zhang Ziyi posted yesterday: "The world no long has blue-eyed fox. Forever Miss Ms. Cheng." Michelle Yeoh also expressed her condolences. "We will always miss your kindness and talent."

Cheng Pei Pei was born in Shanghai, later she emigrated to Hong Kong. In 1963 she was admitted to the Shaw Brothers training class, the 1st "South Nation Experimental Drama Troupe". Yu Ching, Ying Wai, Chun Ping and Wu Man were her classmates. After graduation she signed with Shaw to become an actress and debuted at the age of 17, quickly rose to fame. In 1965 she made the romantic film LOVER'S ROCK, which received an award from the International Association of Independent Producers. In 1966 with the King Hu directed martial arts movie COME DRINK WITH ME she rose to fame. She also played "Taijun She" in the LEGENDARY FIGHTER - YANG'S HEROINE series, the "Jade Fox" in CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON, and was the most glorious "chivalrous heroine" in Hong Kong martial arts movies. She has filmed countless classics, such as HONG KONG NOCTURNE, LILTING, THE LOTUS LAMP, LOVER'S ROCK, COME DRINK WITH ME, MULAN, etc., which also left an impression on the audience. Among them, Cheng Pei Pei won the "Best Supporting Actress" award at the Hong Kong Film Awards for her film CROUCHING, and later won the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 24th Huading Awards.

In terms of relationships, Cheng Peipei chose to get married in 1970 at the peak of her career. She married Taiwanese businessman Yuan Wentong. After that, she moved to the United States. Traditionally minded, she tried to have children with her husband, who already had one son. She experienced 8 pregnancies and 4 miscarriages, and finally gave birth to 3 daughters and 1 son. Among them, the third daughter, Marsha Yuan Chi Wai was the first runner-up of Miss Hong Kong in 1999. Her son, Harry Yuan Wo Yuk, and daughter, Eugenia Yuan Lai Kei, also joined the entertainment industry. However, in 1987, Cheng Pei Pei divorced and returned to film. After the divorce, she maintained a friendly relationship with her ex-husband and attended her daughter's wedding together.

Cheng Pei Pei has made many classic movies. In 1993 she collaborated with Stephen Chow Sing Chi in THE FLIRTING SCHOLAR (TONG BAK FU DIM CHAU HEUNG) and played "Mrs. Hua", which was deeply rooted in the hearts of the people and became one of her masterpieces. In particular she and Chow Sing Chi, who played "Tong Bak Fu", turned with a smile the "Smiling Half-Step Nail" from poison introduction segment into a drug-selling advertisement that left a deep impression on the audience. Regarding the death of his former partner, Chow Sing Chi posted on social media yesterday to express his deep regret. "Sister Pei Pei, see you around!"

Earlier Cheng Pei Pei also mentioned two secrets in her memoir "Looking Back on 70 Years of a Smile". The first was that she worked as a translator for Chow Sing Chi and Gong Li, who spoke Putonghua. Because she had to help translate, she often lacked sleep. While half asleep and half awake, she co-created the dialogue "To kill someone and silence them, you need a good medicine". Sister Pei Pei explained that why she took the role. "I have to eat too, right? At least I get to make a movie, I get to eat."

Sammo Hung Kam Bo, who has collaborated with Cheng Pei Pei in movies like PAINTED FACES and FLYING DRAGON, LEAPING TIGER, was also very sentimental when interviewed yesterday. He praised Cheng Pei Pei for having a very good character and being a very professional and good actor. He missed her very much. Jackie Chan posted a message yesterday to praise Cheng Pei Pei is a chivalrous woman of a generation and even more a legend.