Ex-TVB actor Ngan Kwok Leung, who suffered from skin cancer, dies at 71
Kwok Leung had been struggling with heart, vocal cord and breathing problems and had been in and out of hospital many times.
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Hong Kong actor Ngan Kwok Leung, best known for his roles in ‘80s and ‘90s TVB dramas such as Hong Kong 81 and The Seasons, passed away on May 25. He was 71.
His good friend, Hong Kong actor and host English Tang, confirmed Kwok Leung’s passing, revealing he died in hospital at around 11pm.
Kwok Leung was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma, a form of skin cancer, two years ago.
In an interview with Hong Kong media, English said Kwok Leung had been struggling with heart, vocal cord and breathing problems and had been in and out of hospital many times.
He was shocked by the news as he had planned to visit Kwok Leung in hospital the next day.
English said he's trying to find out the cause of his passing from Kwok Leung’s wife, who was still coming to terms with the loss.
He plans to organise a small memorial service online for the late actor on May 27.
Kwok Leung was in good spirits when he made an appearance on TVB's You Are Not Alone last month.
Last month, Kwok Leung and his wife made a guest appearance on TVB supernatural programme You Are Not Alone, where they shared about his battle with the disease.
Kwok Leung underwent chemotherapy and immunotherapy, which affected his vocal cords.
Earlier this year, his cancer recurred and he had a close brush with death when he fell into a coma and was hospitalised for 15 days.
Kwok Leung's wife said: "He was already in a coma and required emergency resuscitation for over 10 minutes. The doctor said he was temporarily stable but could deteriorate at any moment and needed to be sent to the intensive care unit.”
Kwok Leung in A Kindred Spirit
Kwok Leung joined showbiz after attending Shaw Brothers Studio's acting training class in 1968.
After graduation, he worked at Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) as an announcer and narrator, and later as an actor at ATV.
In 1981, he joined TVB and became a household name after starring in sitcom Hong Kong 81. He also had notable roles in series like The Seasons, A Kindred Spirit and Virtues of Harmony.
In 2008, he left TVB after almost three decades and relocated to China where he was a tai chi instructor.
Photos: TVB
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