Life’s stage never hands over the script in advance. When the spotlight shines on you, surrounded by applause and accolades, fate may unexpectedly turn off the lights, forcing you to grope forward in the darkness. At the age of 33, Ko Weilin (Ah Will), with clear eyes and a bright smile on screen, delves into scripts and characters offstage. He was originally a rising star in Hong Kong’s film industry, but at the peak of his career, he was diagnosed with stage IV lung adenocarcinoma. A medical report overturned his world in an instant.
However, Ko Weilin did not choose to exit the stage. Instead, with a nearly mischievous “Chill” attitude, he faced this tough battle of life head-on. There was no melodramatic self-pity, no bombastic boasts, only sincere dialogues – with the audience, with family, with himself. This is a story about dreams, resilience, and smiles, documenting how a young actor continues to shine in adversity.
Ko Weilin’s journey in the performing arts did not start off glamorous. Initially, he was more interested in behind-the-scenes work – directing, screenwriting, and even cinematography were all areas he wanted to explore. He studied in the associate degree program at HKU Space, but admired directors like Johnnie To and Sylvia Chang, prompting him to transfer to the School of Creative Media at City University, hoping to get closer to the world of film.
The school required students to take a variety of foundational subjects in the first year, with grades determining major allocations in the second year. Unfortunately, his initial majors were in “programming” and “science,” diverging significantly from his dream of the film industry. During those days, he immersed himself in the works of New Wave directors such as Fruit Chan and Ann Hui, especially infatuated with the desire for freedom portrayed in films like “Rouge Tiger.”
In 2014, at the age of 22, he was a blank slate, unskilled in acting and uninspired by studying, just wanting to “play on set.” By a stroke of luck, he auditioned for the New Wave short film “The Rise of Mist,” playing a high school student pursuing a divorced teacher. With no experience, he felt awkward and uneasy in front of the camera for the first time. After repeatedly failing in a particular scene, the director and assistant director took him aside for a long talk. When he returned to the filming location, he nailed a shot that made the director exclaim, “Good Take.” At that moment, goosebumps covered his body – this electrifying thrill made him decide to spend his life chasing the feeling of “goosebumps” once again.
From then on, he no longer studied for a diploma but reversed the process, dropping all mandatory courses he wasn’t interested in and instead enrolling in art subjects he truly loved, even writing letters to professors to fight for it. In the end, his six years of university life ended inconclusively, with a blank graduation certificate. But he had no regrets – because his days at the School of Creative Media exposed him to the atmosphere of film, led him to like-minded friends, and created numerous short films together.
Just when he was lost due to credit limitations, the “Star Power” program extended an olive branch to him. The chance to be mentioned alongside young actors like Lamiu, Shiga Yam and Yan simply meant he dropped out of school definitively and fully committed to the performing arts world. In 2018, as this unfinished chapter of his school life concluded, he officially stepped onto the stage.
As a newcomer to the film industry, Ah Will brought a fresh naivety and fearless determination. In 2016, he portrayed “Bullshit” in the passionate baseball film “Point Five Steps,” confronting Lamiu and Hu Zitong; the following year, in the ViuTV series “Backup Memory,” he played six different roles, showcasing diverse interpretations.
After dropping out of school, his works were not always leading roles, but each appearance made a strong impression – in 2020’s “February Twenty-Nine,” despite being a supporting role, he was loved by the audience; later, his performance in Dear Jane’s “Galactic Repairman” music video spread his name among music fans. Industry insiders privately commented: “He deserves more opportunities.”
What truly propelled him upward was the film “Drifting in Murky Waters” in 2021. The role of “Mu Zai,” who chooses the streets as a stopover, not forced to wander but lives in his self-defined freedom, resonated with Ah Will’s own temperament. With this character, he was nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the Golden Horse and Hong Kong Film Awards – the first heavyweight recognition of his talent and a turning point in his acting career.
Ah Will loves acting and loves exploring more possibilities. During the pandemic, he collaborated with two directors on behind-the-scenes production, even founding the YouTube channel “16:9 Picks Up Eighteen,” directing and acting in short films. In recent years, he played Chow Yun-fat’s son in “Don’t Call Me ‘God of Gamblers'” and shared the stage with Tony Leung and Andy Lau in “Magic Touch.” For him, every scene is an opportunity to reinvest – “maintaining the mentality of re-engagement and sparking a different fire,” is his insistence on professionalism.
August 8, 2024, was supposed to be his first day performing 50 shows on stage alongside Lin Haifeng, Ge Minhui, and Wei Luoxia in a play. However, fate pressed the pause button ahead – on July 30, he announced on social media that he had been diagnosed with stage IV lung adenocarcinoma. Starting from the end of May with a cough, believing it was tuberculosis, hospital tests brought the worst news.
The sudden blow momentarily staggered him, even causing headaches, but he quickly went through the stages of emotions – denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance. Within a few days, he lightened the heaviness with humor, reassuring everyone on Instagram: “Don’t worry, I’m fine. I’m used to playing reverse situation balls.” In just one sentence, he garnered ninety thousand “hearts” and countless encouraging comments.
What is even more touching is his refusal to be labeled as a “cancer-fighting warrior,” jokingly calling himself just a “cancer-fighting little punk,” because “being a warrior seems like 24/7 fighting, so tired.” When netizens suggested changing it to “Cancer-Fighting Chill Guy,” he cheekily dubbed himself “Cancer Pillar,” explaining that it was a tribute to the “Flame Pillar” from “Demon Slayer.” This humor not only carries self-deprecation but also exudes inner calm and strength.
Though unable to fully participate in the stage play, he still rehearses, takes notes, and keeps up with the dynamics of the production every day. During the curtain call of the first performance, he made a special appearance to express gratitude to the audience, his tone sincere: “Don’t worry, I’m okay. I’ll take care of myself and come back to perform for everyone.” At that moment, the applause was overwhelming – it wasn’t just anticipation for his performance but also a tribute to his attitude towards life.
Ko Weilin’s story is a condensed portrayal of passionate pursuit of dreams and resilient self. He dissolves fear with the sentence: “I accept that I may lose, so I’m not afraid of losing,” and lifts the shadows of illness with laughter. The radiance of this young actor has surpassed the screen and stage, shining into the hearts of many. Audiences are waiting for him – waiting for him to return to the camera with new stories to move the world. #