Veteran Taiwanese actor Liao Jun has suffered his third stroke, and the situation is extremely worrying for fans and those in the entertainment industry. According to a China Times article on December 12, Liao suffered a major stroke in mid-April this year and was diagnosed with a brain hemorrhage and a blood clot in his brain, leaving his life hanging by a thread. During emergency treatment, he briefly regained consciousness, but soon lapsed back into a state of unclear awareness.
This is not the first time the 73-year-old actor has faced such a health crisis. Liao Jun had previously suffered from strokes in 2018 and 2022 and as a result his health was fragile. It requires daily blood pressure monitoring and ongoing care to prevent further emergencies.
After eight months of intensive care, where doctors focused on reducing intracranial pressure, Liao eventually regained consciousness, became aware of his surroundings and was able to eat again. However, his general conditions remain worrying. According to actress Peng Peng, a close friend of hers, Liao’s breathing is weak and unsteady, she has significant difficulty speaking, and she is unable to walk or grasp objects at this time. When other actors and young people in the industry visited him in the hospital, he burst into tears, touching everyone present.
Tragically, Liao Jun’s illness triggered a bitter family dispute over inheritance. His children clashed fiercely with his caregiver, who also became his romantic partner in his later years, over money and possessions. Liao’s son publicly accused the caregiver of exploiting his father and manipulating him to take possession of the property.
Things became further complicated when a photo of Liao, unconscious and hooked up to medical equipment, spread widely on social media while his relatives were still traveling to Taiwan. The actor’s personal phone also disappeared in the chaos, prompting his son to sharply criticize Liao’s management team for failing to protect both his father’s image and assets. She implored the public not to share images of her father in a vulnerable state.
“My father was unconscious when that photo was taken. It was leaked without our family’s consent,” Liao’s son pleaded. “Please have compassion and preserve his dignity instead of spreading those images.” In response to the criticism, Liao’s management said they only disclosed health updates after Liao nodded in agreement following his recovery. However, his son countered Liao’s consent came when he was still not fully alert and in poor health, raising suspicions that management may have acted with self-interest.
Public opinion has largely sided with Liao’s son, supporting him representatives should have consulted family members before publicizing the beloved actor’s hospital photos.
Liao Jun was a respected figure with over 50 years in the Taiwanese entertainment industry, known for a wide range of roles in popular television dramas. His filmography includes The Strange Cases of Lord Shih, High above the Forbidden CityAND Girl poweramong many others. Despite his age and health problems, Liao has continued to contribute to the arts, even appearing in a supporting role in a recent drama before his health worsened.
Sources: China Times
