On July 19, in the United States, it was officially announced that the 78-year-old Hong Kong “queen of martial arts films,” Cheng Pei-pei, passed away on July 17, shocking the entertainment industry. Mainland Chinese actress Liu Tao, who regarded Cheng as a mother figure, expressed her deep sorrow in a Weibo post on July 18, saying, “You will forever be my dear mother.” The location of Liu Tao’s Weibo post indicated that she was in the United States, suggesting that she had traveled to the U.S. to bid farewell to her senior colleague.
In her tribute on Weibo, Liu Tao wrote, “She was a kind, strong, and brave senior who always put others first, worked diligently, sincerely cared for her colleagues, and made the days we spent together solid, warm, and happy.”
Cheng Pei-pei, who had been less active in recent years, became a close friend to Liu Tao and other actors when they filmed the mainland Chinese variety show “Flowers and Youth” in 2014. In her heartfelt message, Liu Tao referred to Cheng Pei-pei as “beloved Mama Pei-Pei,” recalling fond memories of their time together and expressing her everlasting admiration and longing for her mentor.
Liu Tao recently returned to filming the show “The Flowers and the Youth: Friend Memories.” During an episode, she shared that Cheng Pei-pei had once given her a piece of calligraphy with the words, “Cannot always meet expectations, but must remain true to oneself,” which left a profound impact on her.
She also mentioned in the show that Cheng Pei-pei’s health was deteriorating and required assistance, reminiscing about a decade ago when the senior actress, then in her late sixties, carried heavy items while filming. Liu Tao deeply respected Cheng Pei-pei for being the emotional pillar for everyone and expressed concern for her well-being.
Born in Shanghai, China, Cheng Pei-pei moved to Hong Kong with her mother during her childhood. She embarked on her acting career in the 1960s, starring in numerous classic films such as “Come Drink with Me,” “Golden Swallow,” “The Lady Hermit,” and “The Jade Raksha,” establishing herself as a veteran martial arts actress in Hong Kong cinema. In 1971, at the peak of her career, Cheng Pei-pei chose to retire from the entertainment industry after getting married.
In 1992, she made a comeback in the movie industry and gained popularity once again for her role as Madame Wah in Stephen Chow’s film “Flirting Scholar.” In 2001, her performance in Ang Lee’s “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” earned her the Hong Kong Film Award for Best Supporting Actress.
Cheng Pei-pei’s career spanned nearly a hundred films and stage productions worldwide, and she was widely acclaimed for her portrayal of strong female characters in Hong Kong martial arts movies, earning her the title of “queen of martial arts films.”
Upon hearing the sad news of Cheng Pei-pei’s passing, many stars she collaborated with expressed their condolences. Stephen Chow wrote, “Farewell, Sister Pei-pei,” while Hong Kong actress Josephine Siao, who co-starred with Cheng in “The Heroic Trio,” expressed deep sorrow and attachment. Zhang Ziyi honored Cheng on Weibo as “Teacher Cheng.”
Actor Hu Ge, who had worked with Cheng Pei-pei in the drama series “Chinese Paladin,” shared his thoughts on Weibo, saying, “Sister Pei-pei, you watched over me as I entered the industry and taught me how to grow. I will strive to become an actor like you. This is Xiaoyao’s (Hu Ge’s character) deepest longing for Grandma (Cheng Pei-pei’s character), hoping the wind will take you to a place filled with cuckoo flowers.”
According to a report by Variety, Cheng Pei-pei was diagnosed with Corticobasal degeneration (CBD), a rare neurodegenerative disease similar to Parkinson’s, in 2019. Despite the lack of effective treatments to slow the progression of the illness, she chose to keep her condition private and spend her remaining time with her children and grandchildren. In her final act of generosity, she decided to donate her brain for medical research.