Hong Kong action star Chen Huimin suffered a stroke and was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2020, but fortunately, the conditions were detected early and he has since recovered well after treatment. However, in recent years, photos showing Chen Huimin leaning on a cane due to a bent back have surfaced on the internet, sparking renewed concern and speculation about his health. In a recent interview with veteran media personality Wang Manling, he revealed that he had brain cancer three years ago.
At the age of 79, Chen Huimin appeared on Wang Manling’s YouTube program. He recounted the process of being diagnosed with brain cancer three years ago: “I often felt dizzy during that period. Once, after coming down the stairs, I fainted, and then I went to the hospital for a check-up. After the examination, they found a mass about the size of a green bean in my brain, affecting my whole body. Sometimes I felt very unclear.”
Chen Huimin mentioned that due to his strong physical fitness background, he did not require chemotherapy or radiotherapy. He only needed injections and medication, saying, “I didn’t even need targeted therapy, just had to go back to the hospital for IV drips every 20 days, which lasted for about a year, costing around seven to eight hundred thousand Hong Kong dollars in total, spending over one million.” After undergoing treatment, he has fully recovered and no longer needs regular check-ups.
Reflecting on the moment he was diagnosed with brain cancer, Chen Huimin exclaimed, “Saying you’re not afraid is deceiving oneself. Everyone is afraid of death. Who would have expected to have a tumor in the brain!” He disclosed that during that period, he experienced various symptoms such as frequent dizziness, poor eyesight, and because the tumor was located in the right brain, it affected the left side of his body, resulting in some numbness and difficulty exerting strength to this day.
Regarding the recent photos showing him walking with a bent back and a cane, Chen Huimin explained that due to his penchant for fighting and martial arts in his youth, his leg cartilage has worn out, causing pain when walking. A few months ago, he underwent hip replacement surgery and had a metal implant inserted, which made him walk unbalanced, requiring the use of a cane for support.
Last year, a netizen shared a photo with Chen Huimin on Weibo, showing him dressed in a black jacket, shirt, and suit pants with neatly combed hair. However, upon closer inspection, it was noticeable that his eyebrows had turned white, his cheeks were sunken, his figure was thin, he appeared slightly hunched, and he seemed to need a cane to walk, with his left hand in an unnatural position, looking considerably aged, prompting netizens to express sentiments like “time spares no one” and “the big brother is no longer as he used to be.”
In fact, Chen Huimin excelled in boxing since childhood, setting multiple records, including defeating Japanese boxing champion Morisaki Takeshi in just 35 seconds and winning the championship in the Southeast Asian boxing competition in 1972, showcasing martial arts prowess comparable to Bruce Lee. Bruce Lee once praised Chen Huimin as the most skilled actor in combat at the time, even leading to a saying in the industry that “with fists, there’s Chen Huimin, with legs, there’s Bruce Lee.”
Having navigated the Hong Kong film and television industry for over 40 years, Chen Huimin primarily starred in action films early in his career, often portraying gang leaders due to his imposing appearance. Known as a “professional big brother,” he portrayed dominant roles such as the “Crab King” in “The Return of the God of Gamblers” and “Lo Mo” in the “Young and Dangerous” series. According to Hong Kong media reports, Chen Huimin, who has worked as a prison guard and policeman in real life, has straddled the line between good and bad, earning respect even from prominent figures in the Hong Kong entertainment industry like “Dragon Five” actor Ray Lui.