Cheng Pei-pei Dies: ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’ & ‘Mulan’ Co-Star Was 78
Cheng Pei-pei, who memorably starred in Ang Lee’s Oscar-nominated film, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, died Thursday at 78 in the San Francisco Bay Area from a degenerative brain disease.
Cheng was born in Shanghai in 1946, moving to Hong Kong in 1962. There she began working with the iconic Shaw Brothers studio, which is widely acknowledged as popularizing kung-fu movies. Her feature debut was drama film Lovers’ Rock, and using her training in ballet and dance, she soon became a major star in martial arts, action, and swordplay movies .
The 1966 action film Come Drink With Me, directed by King Hu, was her breakout role. It was named as Hong Kong’s contender for the Oscars, but not nominated.
Cheng moved to San Francisco in the 1970s, attending business school at the University of California Irvine while raising four children. The children went on to their own show business careers.
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Cheng was born in Shanghai in 1946, moving to Hong Kong in 1962. There she began working with the iconic Shaw Brothers studio, which is widely acknowledged as popularizing kung-fu movies. Her feature debut was drama film Lovers’ Rock, and using her training in ballet and dance, she soon became a major star in martial arts, action, and swordplay movies .
The 1966 action film Come Drink With Me, directed by King Hu, was her breakout role. It was named as Hong Kong’s contender for the Oscars, but not nominated.
Cheng moved to San Francisco in the 1970s, attending business school at the University of California Irvine while raising four children. The children went on to their own show business careers.
Deadline Related Video:...
- 7/19/2024
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
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