Veteran local actress Chen Meiguang has passed away at the age of 87.

Her only child, Huang Yi, 65, told Lianhe Wanbao that she was rushed to Sengkang General Hospital on Nov 7 after her domestic helper was unable to wake her up in the morning. A CT scan showed that she had a cerebral haemorrhage, and doctors asked her family members to prepare for the worst.

She regained consciousness briefly and told her son that she had to return to SBC (as Mediacorp was previously known as) to film a TV programme.

She passed away in her sleep the next day on Sunday morning at about 8am.

Huang Yi shared that Meiguang had been wheelchair-bound for the past seven years or so. She was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s about two years ago. She suffered from memory loss, was incoherent, and unable to distinguish between day and night.

Meiguang told her son that her biggest regret was that she did not receive the Special Achievement Award at the Star Awards. About a month ago, she told him that Bai Yan had visited her. The veteran actor passed away last August at the age of 100.

Meiguang started working as a getai singer in her teens, and started acting in the 1980s. She left SBC in 1998 due to health reasons, but has made TV appearances from time to time.

Younger viewers may be more familiar with her moving performance of ‘A Little Flower’ during the 2007 Star Awards. Then 74, she went on stage and told the audience, “I may be frail and sick, but I’m still able to sing.” Her spirited performance brought many to tears, and she performed the same song again at Mediacorp charity shows held in 2008 and 2011.

In a statement, Mediacorp offered condolences to the family, adding that she “was much loved and respected by all who worked with her, and will always be remembered for her versatile acting and great singing capabilities”.

Meiguang’s wake will be held at Block 546 Hougang Street 51 from Nov 11, and her funeral will be held on Nov 13.

A collection of Chen Meiguang’s past works, including Heavenly Beings, Legend of the Eight Immortals and Young Justice Bao, will be made available on meWATCH from Nov 10 onwards.

Photos: Mediacorp, Regina Tan

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