Cheng Pei-pei, the iconic "Queen of Martial Arts," died at the age of 78 in the San Francisco Bay Area after battling corticobasal degeneration, a rare neurodegenerative disease similar to Parkinson's.
Born in Shanghai in 1946, she moved to Hong Kong with her family after her father was imprisoned.
Cheng gained fame in the 1960s for her roles in "The Golden Swallow" and her breakout role in "The Lotus Lamp" in 1965. Her breakthrough came with the 1966 film "Come Drink with Me," marking her entry into the action genre and launching her career as a martial arts star at 19.
She starred in the Oscar-winning film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon in 2000, playing the villain Jade Fox. The film introduced her to Western audiences, won numerous awards, and became the first foreign-language film to gross over $100 million worldwide. Her character influenced Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill films.
Cheng was a pioneer of martial arts roles for female actors, known for her elegant movements and impactful performances as fearless swordswomen. She influenced the portrayal of female assassins seeking revenge in films like "Kill Bill."
In 2019, Cheng Pei-pei was diagnosed with a neurodegenerative disease similar to Parkinson's, prompting her decision to donate her brain for medical research through Brain Support Network, though she chose not to make her illness public.
Cheng's final role was in the 2020 live-action Disney adaptation of "Mulan." She kept her illness private and spent time with her family after her diagnosis, requesting donations be made to the Brain Support Network in lieu of flowers as she had donated her brain for research.
Her six-decade-long career, inspired directors from East Asia to Hollywood to make female-driven swordplay films. Her co-star Michelle Yeoh praised Cheng's talent and kindness on Instagram.
Sources: BBC, Le Monde, la Repubblica, Republicmonews, Diverto, Star-Telegram, The Star, Yle, Las Provincias, Metafilter, JayneStars, Fanpage, Published Reporter, The West, News Tribune, Franceinfo, Metro, Actual News Magazine, El Siglo, Philstar, BFMTV
This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq.
