Veteran Hong Kong actor, Benz Hui Siu Hung, has passed away at the age of 76 due to multiple organ failure caused by cancer, Hong Kong’s TVB, where Hui works for, issued an obituary on Tuesday morning.
His family, through his close friend Gigi Lai, announced to the media Hui’s pass away on Tuesday.
Affectionately known as “Benz Hung”, Hui’s career spanned over 50 years. Hui was born in Hong Kong in 1948. When he was one year old, he moved with his father to Guangzhou, where the family ran a business. It was not until 1958 that they returned to Hong Kong, according to The Paper.
Hui’s superb acting has turned every role he plays into a classic. From “Fong Chung Sir” in Love Undercover to “Tam Foon-hei” also known as “Brother Foon-hei” in Line Walker, each performance marked a new peak in his career, according to a statement sent to the Global Times by TVB.
In 1974, Hui made his film debut in Games Gamblers Play. In 1983, he appeared in TVB’s adaptation of The Legend of the Condor Heroes, a role that made him a familiar face to audiences also in Chinese mainland.
In 2000, he starred in Running Out of Time as a witty negotiator — a role that earned him his first nomination for Best Supporting Actor at the Hong Kong Film Awards, reads the TVB statement.
In 2014, he played the role of Tam Foon-hei in Line Walker, earning the nickname “Brother Foon-hei.” The performance won him the Most Popular Male Character award at the TVB Anniversary Awards.
Hui was active on social media when he was alive. His last post on China’s Instagram Xiaohongshu appeared on October 10, saying that “Nothing in the world is fair — except time.”
On Sina Weibo, China’s X-like platform, topic with hashtag “Brother Foon-hei Hui Siu Hung died” has been viewed 370 million times as of press time.
“He spent his life proving that there are no small roles, only small actors — even a ‘supporting role’ can become a legend. Thank you, ‘brother Foon-hei,’ for accompanying us through our youth. The warmth and vitality you brought to the screen will never fade,” wrote Dongche Yijie, a Sina Weibo user.
