Legendary Cantonese Opera Singer and Actress Lee Heung-kam Passes Away at 88

January 7, 2021

Lee Heung-kam, a veteran Cantonese opera singer and actress, has died at the age of 88.

Rushed to hospital: Last Monday, Lee was brought to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Yau Ma Tei after losing consciousness, according to the South China Morning Post.

Lee’s daughter, Siu Ji-wan, shared with Hong Kong broadcaster TVB that her mother “suddenly lost consciousness and did not respond this morning when her nurse was feeding her at home.”
The iconic celebrity died later that afternoon.
Lee’s health was already in decline weeks before her death. Siu mentioned that her mother had switched to a liquid diet due to struggles with swallowing solid food.
Lee reportedly suffered from a chronic illness, and it had been several years since she last made a public appearance.

Lee’s Legacy: Over the course of more than 60 years, Lee acted in dozens of TV dramas in addition to almost 400 films.

Before making her screen debut in 1956, Lee trained in Cantonese opera and played several supporting actress roles.
Lee joined the entertainment industry at the age of 16, shifting from Cantonese opera to TV and film.
In 1972, Lee started acting for TVB. For decades, she would grace TV screens around Hong Kong with her various characters, from loving mother figures to concubines and villains.

In 2011, Lee received a lifetime achievement award from TVB, signaling her significance to Hong Kong’s entertainment industry.

Feature Image via TVB (official)

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