On September 15, HK01 reported that actor Xu Shao-qiang died in Beijing after battling esophageal cancer. His 43-year-old wife also died of a heart attack, brought on by grief and exhaustion while preparing for her husband’s funeral. The news left many colleagues and fans of 1970s and 1980s Hong Kong cinema in shock.
This information was confirmed by the actor’s daughter, Xu Ying-kun.Thank you all for your concern. I hope the public will give our family some space to deal with this loss,” shared the daughter.
Xu Shao-qiang enrolled in the third training course at Shaw Brothers in 1972 and became an actor shortly thereafter. During the martial arts film boom of the 1970s, Xu Shao-qiang found success and frequently starred in well-funded productions such as “Bastard Swordsman”, “Heroes of Sui and Tang”, “The Steward”, “Legend of the Fist: Chen Zhen”, “Wudang II”, “Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils (1977)”, “The Return of the Condor Heroes (1998)” and “King of Beggars”. His portrayal of Yun Fei-yang in “Bastard Swordsman” remains a classic role, forever associated with his name.
In martial arts films, Xu Shao-qiang often clashed with stars such as Wu Jing, Jacky Cheung, Jackie Chan, Jet Li and, in particular, Andy Lau. This established him as one of the major martial arts stars of his era.
During his early career, Xu Shao-qiang appeared in over 100 films and television productions. He mainly played memorable heroic or villainous characters, with his role in Stephen Chow’s “King of Beggars” (1992) being one of his most iconic performances. Together with friends, he also dabbled in film production until the Hong Kong film industry hit hard times. In recent years, Xu Shao-qiang has rarely worked in Hong Kong, settling in Beijing to focus on the mainland market, occasionally participating in film and television projects.
Recent films starring Xu Shao-qiang include “The Twin Flower Legend”, “New Strange Tales from Liaozhai”, “The Wind and Cloud of Ban Na”, “Detective Chen (2022)”, “Nine Continents Dragon”, “The Spirit Hunt,” “Injustice Chronicles: The Iron Gate of Western Xia,” and “The Ghost Case of Xiangxi.” He also has 6 unreleased films that have already been shot.
According to “Mirror Media”, Xu Shao-qiang has had a stellar career, but his personal life has often been the subject of public scrutiny. His most talked-about relationship was a seven-year relationship with “Li Mochou” actress Yuet Lei, which began when she was just 15 years old.
The star’s first marriage was to a 25-year-old woman named Zhang Xiao-feng, who was not in the entertainment business. However, it lasted only four years. In 1980, he remarried to He Shu-kuan, with whom he had a son, Xu Yi-dong. Less than two years after this marriage, Xu Shao-qiang secretly began a relationship with Yuet Lei, who was still a minor at the time.
During the filming of “Ghost Nursing,” a movie Xu invested in and shot in Thailand, Yuet Lei fell in love with him after attending a party with the actor. Despite her family’s objections, she was deeply in love. According to Ifeng, it was only when she became pregnant that she found out Xu was married, but she decided to keep the child for love.
Subsequently, Xu Shao-qiang divorced his wife to live with Yuet Lei. Three years after the birth of their first child, Snow gave birth to a daughter, Xu Ying-kun. Despite his hopes of reforming his unfaithful ways, Xu Shao-qiang continued to frequently seek pleasures outside, leaving Snow and their children behind.
The two planned to marry in 1986, but on the day of their marriage registration, Xu forgot to bring her divorce certificate. The failure to register caused a rift between the couple, and in 1988, Yuet Lei and Xu Shao-qiang went their separate ways. Snow accepted life as a single mother.
Reflecting on her turbulent life, Yuet Lei said: “Even though I met a bad man, I was blessed with two wonderful children. They are the greatest gifts from heaven. I have always taken responsibility for my actions and never cared what others thought. If I had not decided to become a single mother, perhaps my life would have been different. But who can guarantee that it would have been better?“
After Xu’s passing, Yuet Lei expressed her condolences on social media: “Rest in peace, Xu Shao-qiang.“
In 2005, the martial arts star married a woman 30 years his junior. They had a son and daughter together. However, his flirtatious nature persisted, as photos emerged of him getting intimate with actress Luo Wenqi, 23. Chinese media reports claimed they had been involved since 2016, with Xu claiming Luo was his “adoptive sister” to avoid gossip.
His explanation did not elicit much sympathy from the public. The actor insisted that his family was fine and that his wife was not worried about the rumors on social media. After this scandal, Xu Shao-qiang has kept a lower profile. He was once caught by paparazzi dressed simply while shopping with his wife and children.
