Taiwanese artist Dee S (Xu Xi Yuan) passed away in Japan at the age of 48 due to pneumonia complicating influenza, shocking the entertainment industry. Dee S, who had worked with actor Jerry Yan in “Meteor Garden,” was mourned by Jerry Yan in a heartfelt social media post on the 7th, evoking nostalgia and emotions among many fans.
Jerry Yan, who is both a singer and actor, expressed his grief in English on Weibo, saying, “Big Smile, Big Heart, Big Laugh, Big Love…… That’s Dee S.” He reminisced, “Thank you for all your kindness throughout the years, especially from when we first met… Miss you dearly Barbie. Rest in Love.”
“Meteor Garden,” which aired in 2001, became a sensation across Asia, propelling Dee S, who played the role of Shan Cai, and F4 members Jerry Yan, Vic Chou, Ken Chu, and Vanness Wu to stardom. The drama remains a classic in the hearts of many fans, serving as a nostalgic memory of youth for a generation.
Sadly, including Dee S, five actors who participated in the “Meteor Garden” series have passed away. Wei Lun Hsu, who portrayed Ah Xiang in the series, died in a tragic car accident at the age of 28 while filming in Nantou in 2007; Hua Feng Hsu, who played Dao Ming Zhuang in the series, succumbed to organ failure due to stomach cancer in 2011 at the age of 42.
In addition, Dee S’s close friend and co-star in “Meteor Garden 2,” Pin-hsien Yu, also known as Big Bang, passed away in 2012 at the age of 37 in Beijing due to acute pneumonia caused by a fungal infection. Jun Tsai, who portrayed the character Tong Dao’s friend in the series, died of liver cancer at the age of 31 in 2015.
Born in 1976, Dee S graduated from the Huaguang Academy of Arts and ventured into the entertainment industry as an actor, singer, host, and writer. In 1993, she formed a singing duo called “ASOS” with her younger sister Dee Hsiao, officially stepping into show business, and subsequently hosted variety shows like “Guess Guess Guess” and “100% Entertainment.” In 2001, she starred in the drama “Meteor Garden,” gaining fame for her role as Shan Cai.
The premature deaths of all five actors before the age of 50 have left many grieving and lamenting the loss.