According to Deadline, Pei-pei Cheng passed away on Thursday, July 18 in the San Francisco Bay Area. The cause of death was a degenerative brain disease that had been progressing for some time. The actress decided that after her death, her brain would be donated for medical research.
Pei-pei Cheng Dies: Pioneer Martial Arts Actress
Cheng is considered a pioneer among actresses who showcased martial arts on screen. Born in Shanghai in 1946, she trained in ballet and dance and went on to work at the iconic Shaw Brothers studio, which popularized kung fu films.
She made her screen debut in the drama “Lovers Rock”. Her breakthrough role was in the 1966 actioner “Come Drink With Me” directed by King Hu. The film was predicted to be nominated for an Oscar, but Cheng had to wait for that distinction. In the 1970s, the actress moved to San Francisco.
Pei-pei Cheng became famous for her role as Jade Fox. Where else did she play?
The actress’s most popular role was the role of Jade Fox, the villain in the film “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” from 2000. The production received 10 Oscar nominations and left the gala with four statuettes. The film was also the first non-English language film to earn over $100 million in the US.
In later years, Cheng had roles in “Two Voices,” played a matchmaker in “Mulan” and starred in the sci-fi action film “Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li.”
Source: Gazeta
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