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Chinese actress Cheng Pei-pei died at the age of 78 on July 17, as confirmed by her family on social media on Friday. She passed away in the San Francisco Bay Area on Wednesday. Cheng was a highly acclaimed Chinese kung fu film star known for her roles in Crouching Tiger, Hiding Dragon, and Come Drink With Me, among other martial arts films.
Cheng, once celebrated as a pioneer for female actors in the martial arts genre, developed a neurodegenerative condition related to Parkinson’s disease. Despite modern medical interventions, it was not possible to halt the progression of the disease. In accordance with her wishes, Cheng donated her brain to medical research in hopes of advancing the understanding of this condition.
Her family shared their loss on Facebook, highlighting her extensive career and the legacy she leaves behind. The statement read:
"To all her friends, colleagues, and fans, thank you for all the support you showed her over the years. Our mom wanted to be remembered by how she was: the legendary Queen of Martial Arts... a versatile, award-winning actress whose film and television career spanned over six decades, not only in Asia but internationally as well."
Cheng Pei-pei's career in martial arts cinema
Cheng Pei-pei was born on January 6, 1946, in Shanghai and moved to Hong Kong in 1962. Trained in ballet and dance, she gained a major entry into Shaw Brothers Studio in Hong Kong.
The studio, responsible for bringing many kung-fu movies to light, provided Cheng with a platform for success. Her first feature film was the drama Lovers’ Rock. She made a mark with King Hu’s 1966 film Come Drink With Me, becoming one of the most significant martial arts, action, and swordplay movie stars.
Come Drink With Me set the tone for Cheng Pei-pei's career, leading to a sequel, Golden Swallow, in 1968 and inspiring numerous female-driven action movies from East Asia. Although the film was chosen as Hong Kong's submission in the best international feature film category for the Oscars, it did not receive a nomination. Cheng became quite popular during the 1960s and was among the most popular faces in martial arts films.
In the 1970s, Cheng Pei-pei relocated to San Francisco to be a full-time mother of four children and also to undertake business courses. Her family also joined the entertainment industry, further developing her legacy.
However, her acting career was revived in 2000 when she played the evil character of Jade Fox in Ang Lee’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, making her acting career a global phenomenon.
Following her success in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Cheng continued to appear in various projects, including Naked Weapon, Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun Li, and Disney’s live-action Mulan.
Cheng is survived by her four children and her grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, she requested that donations be made to the Brain Support Network (BSN), where her brain was donated for research.
