[2026.07.03] "OFFFICIAL EVIL WOMAN" LEUNG SHAN SUDDENLY PASSED AWAY

Leung Shan is well known for her numerous portrayal of evil women

Maria Chung (right) interviewed Leung Shan last year. She was full of energy, loud as a bell, and well maintained.

Andrew Yuen (back left) praises elder Leung Shan (front right) as direct and easy going. Regretabbly they have never collaborated professionally
courtesy of mingpao.com

Veteran actor Leung Shan returned to Hong Kong for many years and was rumored to have passed away the day before yesterday at the age of 81. Yesterday her son confirmed the news. "Our most beloved Sister Shan passed away on July 1st. Thank you very much for the condolences and care from all the friends and family. Regarding the specific arrangements for Sister Shan's affairs, we will inform everyone one by one later. In particular, I would like to thank everyone for your concern and sincerely wish you good health, peace and success. Sincerely, Sister Shan's son, Alex Yu Cheng."

Leung Shan debuted in the 1960s and 1970s, and successively joined RTV, TVB and ATV. Once she performed many popular works, including Cheung Man's mother "Mrs. Due" in the film THE ROMANCING STAR (JING JONG JUI NUI JAI), and the high-level TV station executive "Miss Lui Mor" in IT'S A MAD, MAD, MAD WORLD (FU GWAI BIK YUN). Her image has been so deeply ingrained in the hearts of the people that she has the title of "official evil woman".

Leung Siu Hung on social platforms said that he suddenly received the news of Leung Shan's passing and did not dare to believe it. "Earlier we even dined together. We even made another appointment, who knew....Dear Sister Shan, have a safe journey. I will always remember the days of us working together."

Maria Chung Wai Bing posted a photo with Leung Shan from her interview last year, saying that she was very surprised and saddened when she heard about her passing and felt particularly regretful. "Last year Sister Shan came on my program. We were so happy and excited from our chat, talking bout the past got us highly emotional. After the interview, everyone felt that we had a responsibility to save some mark for the left wing films and filmmakers of the past. Sister Shan even said that she went to look for Phoenix Film's former workers and film, and we collaborated on a special. Several months ago, Sister Shan even called to rush me and asked me about he progress. Unfortunately at the work I just had surgery and needed rest. I could only kept saying sorry and that the project was delayed temporarily, ringing in her ears was that still loud as a bell voice of hers. She was full of ample energy. Yet today I received her the news of her passing! Sister Shan, have a safe journey."

Andrew Yuen Man Kit and Leung Shan both worked at ATV previously. In recent years they often saw each other at dinners. He felt sorry about the passing of the elder, regretting that they have never officially collaborated at work. His impression of Leung Shan was that she was direct and easy going. Leung Shan was born in Guangzhou and moved to Hong Kong when she was a child. Later her family was worried that she would turn bad and sent her to study in he mainland until she graduated from secondary school. Leung Shan had dance experience since childhood. At age 12 The South China Music and Dance troupe accepted her, because she still has not completed her education her lawyer father objected. Later she applied to the Beijing Film Academy, Central Drama Academy and the Beijing Foreign Language Academy. Finally she enrolled in the Pearl River film studio founded and Beijing Film Academy established half year actor training class and accepted stage and dance training. Leung Shan in 1961 returned to Hong Kong to take care of her ailing mother, received Phoenix film's recruitment and joined show business. When she first entered the industry she focused on Mandarin films. Her first film was the 1963 film TUNG HSIAO WAN, then worked behind the scenes as production assistant, assistant director and film editor.

As the film company environment changed, Leung Shan gradually stepped toward developing on television. In 1978 she took part in the RTV drama SUPERSTAR and became and film and television artist; in 1979 she performed in the TVB drama OVER THE RAINBOW and in 1981 she became a TVB contract artist. Only in her 30s at the time she was already typecast as a mother. Since 1980 she spent her time on the stage and worked on television series at the same time. In 1990 she returned to ATV until she left television. Leung Shan over the years played many sassy characters, including Margie Tsang Wah Sin's mother in POLICE CADET 2; Cheung Man's mother "Mrs. Due" in the film THE ROMANCING STAR (JING JONG JUI NUI JAI), the high ranking television executive "Miss Lui Mor" in the IT'S A MAD, MAD, MAD WORLD (FU GWAI BIK YUN) film series. Her "evil woman" image has been deeply ingrained into the hearts of the people. Leung Shan by the end of the 1990s faded out of onscreen performance to live in Canada.

Leung Shan maintained contact with friends in the business and often met with them. Two years ago and last year she appeared on Leung Siu Hung and Chung Wai Bing's online channel program interviews. She boldly revealed that she would practice yoga and Indian dancing 4 times a week to keep herself actively. Speaking of Leung Shan's nickname in the business "parachute", Chung Wai Bing said, "She was righteous and loved to speak up for others, because she was bigger than Ah Jeh and meaner than Ah Jeh. She dared to say anything, as soon as she saw something wrong she would speak up."

Leung Shan said that in 1994 while working on the TVB drama THE NEW ADVENTURES OF CHOR LAU HEUNG Michael Miu Kiu Wai made up the nickname for her. "I didn't dare to admit it, they said what was the biggest umbrella? I said that fruit punch one and he said no. They were just talking. I never agreed, but I didn't object either. Let it go, why argue with others?" Leung Shan shut up after catching herself saying too much on occasions. "We were on a location shoot. I softly said to the director the camera placements were switched. If I didn't say anything, then we would need to come back for make up shoot. Who knew that people would say that I talk too much."