Caucasian ex-TVB star who spoke fluent Canto battled multiple health issues

Gregory Charles Rivers, who also went by Ho Kwok-wing, was a fixture on TVB dramas back in the 1990s. Photos: Ho Kwok-wing/Instagram

Actor Gregory Charles Rivers, also known as Ho Kwok-wing, often stood out as he was the only Caucasion on TVB dramas back in the 1990s.

On top of that, Rivers' ability to speak fluent Cantonese not only wowed audiences but perhaps even put many native speakers to shame.

The Hong Kong media recently shed light on the 55-year-old recent health and financial struggles (translation provided by 8 Days).

Rivers was diagnosed with skin cancer in 2017. He is now cancer-free after undergoing surgery.

In 2018, he had to undergo two more surgeries when doctors diagnosed him with arrhythmia (irregular heart rhythm).

"(The surgeries) were very expensive. Even insurance couldn’t cover all of it and I had to fork out hundreds of thousands for them, ” he responded to the Hong Kong media after they discovered he owed the bank HK$ 800,000 (RM430,000).

Rivers moved from Australia to Hong Kong more than 30 years ago.

Rivers, who moved from Australia to Hong Kong more than 30 years ago, adds he didn't want to borrow money from his friends as he didn't want to burden them.

He shares the worse of his financial troubles are behind him now.

“It’s important to be happy and optimistic. If there are jobs for me, I enjoy doing them and do my best in everything... There was a period of time where (my wife and I) would only buy discounted items at the supermarket.

"We wanted to find and buy only the cheapest things. Our situation is a little better now, but even then, we try to be careful about what we buy.”