Popular Hong Kong actor Johnny Ngan Kwok Leung has died at 71. He passed away on May 25 at a hospital.
The news was confirmed by his friend, television host and actor English Tang.
In an interview with Hong Kong media, Tang revealed that Ngan had been in and out of hospital due to heart, vocal cord and respiratory problems.
Tang also shared that Ngan’s wife, Fok Kit Ching, is still grappling with the loss, despite being mentally prepared for it.
Ngan was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma, a type of skin cancer, two years ago. The disease affected his vocal cords, necessitating chemotherapy and immunotherapy.
In a talk show last month, Ngan revealed that he had been hospitalised for 15 days earlier this year after falling into a coma and was on the brink of death.
His wife added that she had tried various methods to prolong his life – including visiting a priest, burning incense and more.
Ngan entered the entertainment scene in 1968 after joining Shaw Brothers Studio’s acting class.
He worked as an announcer at Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) before becoming an actor at ATV.
In 1981, Ngan joined TVB, where he starred in classics such as Hong Kong 81, The Seasons, A Kindred Spirit and Virtues Of Harmony.
He left the Hong Kong broadcaster in 2008 and later worked as a tai chi instructor in China.
