Obituary: So Hang Shuen Passed Away at 62 Years Old
Veteran Hong Kong actress So Hang Shuen (蘇杏璇) passed away on June 12, 2013 at the age of 62 years old. Having suffered for years from diabetes, Suen Jeh’s body weight fell from 150 pounds to below 100 pounds. Although she was able to leave Queen Elizabeth Hospital last week, her condition worsened once again a few days ago. Shuen Jeh then experienced a stroke that brought upon further complications, leading to her death.
Shuen Jeh was a member of the first TVB artist training class in 1972. She participated in numerous TVB dramas from the 1970s to the 1990s, earning wide recognition from the audience. Some of her most memorable works include Legend of the Condor Heroes <射雕英雄傳>, Looking Back in Anger <義不容情> and Police Cadet <新扎師兄>. In 1995, Shuen Jeh took a break from filming in TVB and opened a vegetarian restaurant. In 2000, she filmed two dramas for ATV.
Died Peacefully
Shuen Jeh won the Best Supporting Actress award at the 2012 Hong Kong Film Awards for her performance in Life Without Principle <奪命金>. Unfortunately, she was unable to carry home the award herself due to her illness. Shuen Jeh entered the hospital several times in recent years. Due to festering flesh, her toes had to be amputated in order to save her life. But even after four operations, her diabetes worsened.
Since Shuen Jeh was a Buddhist, her son revealed that a Buddhist funeral ceremony will be conducted. He shared, “I want to say that my mother passed away peacefully. Most of the important family members were by her side, so she had no regrets.”
Friends Remember Shuen Jeh
Many members of the entertainment industry were saddened by her death. Shuen Jeh kept in touch with veteran artists Helena Law (羅蘭) and Yue Mo Lin (余慕蓮), who revealed, “She had a stroke earlier and there was a tumor in her stomach. The worst is the anemia; her body was very weak. The doctor was afraid to perform surgery.”
Johnnie To (杜琪峰), who had once collaborated with Shuen Jeh, expressed, “I had a meal with her a few months ago. This news is too sudden. I don’t know what to say….After all, life ends with a period one day. Besides her outstanding acting skills, So Hang Shuen’s compassion and kindness placed a perfect period to her life. I thank her for her contribution to the world of performing arts.”
Denise Ho (何韻詩), who worked with Shuen Jeh in Life Without Principle, also praised her for her outstanding acting skills. Denise expressed she was very happy to be able to work with the veteran actress and will always miss her.
Tony Leung Chiu Wai (梁朝偉), who portrayed Shuen Jeh’s son in Police Cadet, said, “Shuen Jeh and I are both Buddhists; I hope she will find happiness in another world. I will always remember the times when we worked together.” Tony’s wife, Carina Lau (劉嘉玲) commented, “Shuen Jeh was a gentle and generous actress. She was serious about work and kind and caring towards colleagues. I hope she finds happiness in another world; she will continue to live in our hearts.”
Video News Coverage
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Sources: ihktv.com; Oriental Daily
This article is written by Shirley for JayneStars.com.
Rest In Peace So Hang Shuen
You dearly miss, thank you
awww…i remember watching her in legend of the condor heroes…she will be missed!
So Hang Suen starred in several oof the most memorable TVB series from the 1980s. She had wonderful chemistry with Felix Wong in “Legend of the Condor Heroes” and “Looking Back in Anger”. She will always be remembered by fans for her performances. RIP.
I just rewatched Looking back in Anger and Police Cadet. I am so saddened that another veteran actress is gone. I think she had wonderful chemistry with all of the actors and actresses that she worked with. She and Tony were great as mother and son in Police Cadet. I love her with Felix in Legend as well. May she rest in peace and may all of her great works and memories live on.
Yes she was really an exceptionally good actress, in many memorable golden series.
I remember watching a series with her as the mother of Roger Kwok..she played the role of a long suffering wife, which her husband left her for another woman and treated her aborminably. She even end up in prison for her husband in mainland China. Can’t remember the title but I cried buckets. Can anyone remember the title????? She was fantastic in that series. May she rest in peace.
It’s called The intangible truth. I remembered the bad husband used her to smuggle drugs hidden in roast ducks!
@Applelim: Yup, as Carole stated, the series is Intangible Truth. I just finished re-watching that series myself a few weeks ago. Suen Jeh was awesome in that series, as was Roger (as well as everyone else). I cried buckets as well throughout that series, especially during Suen Jeh and Roger’s prison visit scenes.
@HeTie Shou: Yes — in addition to those roles you mentioned, I also remember her in The Drifters, Files of Justice, Detective Investigation Files, etc. Definitely will miss her!!
Yup, exactly. Beside Shuen Jeh, another veterans that I watched most in TVB oldies are Bak Yan, Nam Hung, Kenneth Tsang, Yeung Chak Lam, etc. I remembered her for her role as Cheung Wai Kit mother in Police Cadet installments, also Felix’s aunt in Looking Back In Anger and yes Kwok Jing mom in LOCH 1983. Three memorable roles for Shuen Jeh…Rest In Peace.
Many of you probably do not remember her in Duke Of Mt. Deer as Tony’s adopted aunt. She played the maid of Zhang Ping Gong Zhu. She was a supporting but sweet character that really dedicated and loyal. She also played Yao Yue Gong Zhu in the 70s version of Jue Da Shuang Jiao too. But I think many do not remember due to that series being so old.
Oh yes ‘The Intangible Truth’.. many thanks.
aww RIP. Love your acting and thank you for all the good dramas.
Im sadden by her passing. She is a wonderful actress at TVB til the mid 90s. Lots of great dramas and she acted well. Im very sorry for her deteriorating health, she could have film a lot more movies and dramas in her career.
R.I.P.
BTW, Apple Daily in Cantonese in tribute: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9c_j5w1CFU
Me too and was shocked by her passing since she is not even that old. I really missed seeing her in series and really looked forward to her return. May she rest in peace and I am glad that many remember and love her.
RIP, I was just watching her in Drifters with Frankie Lam a couple months back wondering where she went. I liked her work, hopefully she’s in a better place.
Deepest condolences…
I was very saddened to read this morning about Suen Jeh’s passing! Grew up watching her and loved her acting… no matter what type of role she played, she was always excellent at it! So many of her mother roles were memorable to me, I can’t even begin to count them all.
Rest in peace, Suen Jeh! You will surely missed!
I remember her. She is an awesome actress. RIP.
Diabetes is very dangerous. My auntie died from diabetes too and had to amputate her leg. It’s very sad to see her suffered for so many years. She’s the sweetest and caring lady ever. She always put other first, even ppl that she’s doesn’t know.
I miss you Auntie. RIP. ='( ***
Yea, one of our family friends passed away due to diabetes. It is such a dangerous disease and can cause blindness, amputation of legs, and sadly even death if not treated carefully. One of my aunt in laws has diabetes and has to give herself a shot of insulin every single day or else she will have problems walking.
RIP
RIP, thank you for being apart of my childhood memory.
RIP, Shuen jie. I remember watching lots of your movies and suddenly I heard the radio announcing your death this morning. 🙁
R.I.P
I am shocked. So young. And I never knew she was married with child. In fact I knew so little of her.
Thought she was older prolly bc she always played a mommy.
She was great in LWP, I actually found the scene at the bank to be funny.
So sad another great actress gone 🙁
RIP
that’s good acting ex
yeah she played kenix kwok’s mom in the serie with michael tao investigation file.
R.I.P
I’m actually getting teary-eyed right now. Thank you for giving us so many great memories. R.I.P.
R.i.p. deepest condolences to her family and fans.
R.I.P
R.I.P. Condolence to her family.
So sad! Only 62, gone too soon. Shuen jeh is one of my favorite actresses. She was in so many memorable tvb series from the 80s and 90s. I particularly remember Shuen Jeh as the mom of Tony Leung in Police Cadet. They really seemed like a real mother and son. Tony, Carina, Felix and those batch of tvb actors who worked with Shuen Jeh will definitely feel this sad loss. R.I.P.
Extremely saddened by this news. Rest In Peace. Heart goes out to her and her family.
My memory of Police Cadet is still strong, thanks for such a memorable performance for me. RIP!!!!!!
So sad… Rest in peace!
R.I.P……
Darn, two actors from Looking Back in Anger die this year already! Just watched it a few months ago. I was wondering why she didn’t come back to make series anymore.
Who else?
Kong Ngai. The uncle/Kathy Chow’s father.
RIP Wun Yee
Sad news. Have my regards.
Just finished watching Police Cadet Part 2 last week. Such a wonderful actress…RIP.
RIP. I remember her from the Files of Justice series. Another veteran we will surely miss.
RIP … will miss her
Rip……will miss u…..
I cannot believe that you have the evil nerve to post such a sick and nasty message in this obituary article. Karma will definitely bite back at you!!!