Veteran Showbiz Icons Stanley Fung & Tu Ying Have Passed Away

It’s been a sad year for the entertainment industry, with the loss of veteran stars including Benz Hui, Suet Nay, and Chow Chung. 

This past weekend saw the passing of another two iconic showbiz personalities. 

On November 1, it was reported that Hong Kong actor and director, Stanley Fung, had died at the age of 81. 

Stanley, who was known for his roles in classic comedies such as the Lucky Stars series and The Crazy Companies (1988), had been living in Taiwan for almost four decades. 

The veteran star’s health had been in decline in recent years. In May, he was hospitalised for over two months due to low blood oxygen levels. He relied on an oxygen machine to breathe, and at that time, said: “I’m old now, I just have to accept it calmly.”

Just days before his passing, Stanley mourned his late friend Benz Hui, who died from cancer-related organ failure on October 28 at age 76.

In a Facebook post, Stanley lamented the fragility of life, saying he himself was gravely ill and might soon reunite with Benz in heaven. 

He penned: “Wait for me on the other side, my virtuous brother, your foolish older brother will follow soon.”

Sadly, his words became reality just three days later. 

Stanley and Benz shared many iconic moments on screen, leaving behind poignant memories for fans.

Veteran Taiwanese musician Tu Ying unexpectedly died at the age of 62 on Nov 1.

According to those close to him, Tu Ying fell while using a treadmill in a gym. As there was no one else in the gym during the accident, this reportedly delayed emergency medical intervention. 

He was sent to the hospital for emergency treatment upon being discovered, but passed away despite rescue efforts.

Tu Ying was a famed concert music director, keyboardist, and composer. He was known to be the go-to for many pop superstars, and was celebrated as one of the creators of the golden age of Mandarin pop music. 

He arranged and composed over 2,000 songs during his career, and had worked closely with iconic names including Andy Lau, Jacky Cheung, Faye Wong, Jeff Chang, and A-Mei. 

Some of Tu Ying’s most well-known works include Jacky Cheung’s ‘Love Letter’ and ‘I Can’t Forget You’, as well as Faye Wong’s ‘Sky’, and A-Mei’s ‘Dreaming of Titanic’. 

He had been scheduled to perform at Chyi Yu’s Guangzhou concert on the night of his accident. The show was postponed upon news of his death, with the organiser citing “an unexpected incident involving a team member” as the reason. 

Tu Ying’s sudden death has shocked the music industry, with many collaborators and fans expressing deep sorrow over the unexpected news. 

JJ Lin paid tribute to Tu Ying in a social media post. He thanked Tu Ying for crafting the melody of ‘Someday’, and praised his contributions to Mandarin music. “Your music will continue to live on,” wrote JJ. 

Other stars, including Tracy Huang, Valen Hsu, and Rainie Yang have also posted emotional tributes to Tu Ying, expressing their grief at his sudden departure, while remembering his contributions to music.

Photos: Oriental Daily, Sinchew News, 馮淬帆/ Facebook