Director Chor Yuen Suffers from Dementia
Hong Kong media reported that veteran actor and director, Chor Yuen (楚原), is diagnosed with dementia. It is known that the 79-year-old director and actor, who has been active in the industry since the 1950s, began showing recurring signs of memory loss around two years ago. After checking up with a neurologist, it was confirmed that the veteran was diagnosed with mild dementia.
Chor Yuen’s current condition is an open secret among the industry. His wife, veteran Hong Kong film actress Nan Hong (南紅), confirmed Chor Yuen’s deteriorating health to the press last year, “He’s old! What can he do now? His brain [functioning] is getting worse.”
Though Chor Yuen now has to rely on the help of others to perform everyday activities, his condition is not serious. His doctor explained that Chor Yuen’s dementia is currently only at its early stages – taking medication and doing consistent activities that can stimulate the brain will be able to prevent the illness from worsening. Chor Yuen has recently taken up calligraphy and learning tai chi with family and friends.
A source close to Chor Yuen said, “When he first heard about his condition, Uncle Chor Yuen couldn’t believe it. Thankfully, both he and [Nan Hong] are optimistic people, so he’s becoming more accepting.”
Chor Yuen and Nan Hong have been married for 47 years. The source revealed that since Chor Yuen’s diagnosis, Nan Hong has quit all her interest classes in order to take care of her husband. “She used to attend a lot of interest classes – guzheng classes, erhu classes, painting, and would also meet up with her friends to practice some qigong, but Chor Yuen’s memory loss was getting severe and his temper was getting worse. She couldn’t leave him at home alone, so she stopped attending classes to take care of Uncle Chor Yuen 24/7. She knows her husband likes wonton, so she would make some for him every day. And she would always remind him about taking medicine.”
Chor Yuen’s friends have also been supportive. Occasionally, Chor Yuen and Nan Hong would be captured eating out with close friends, and Chor Yuen would be in good spirits.
Chor Yuen entered the film industry in the 1950s as a film writer. His interest in writing and directing movies came from his father Cheung Wood Yau (張活游), who was a famous Cantonese actor in the 1940s. When Chor Yuen first entered the industry, he was professionally known as “Chun Yu” (秦雨).
Over the years, Chor Yuen directed and wrote over one hundred films, including timeless classics such as 1960’s The Great Devotion <可憐天下父母心>, 1977’s Death Duel <三少爺的劍> and Clans of Intrigue <楚留香>, as well as 1973’s comedy film The House of 72 Tenants <七十二家房客>, which was known for breaking the box office records set by Bruce Lee’s (李小龍) Enter the Dragon <龍爭虎鬥>.
Towards the end of his career in the 1990s, Chor Yuen retired from directing and writing, opting to spend most of his time making casual guest appearances in TVB dramas. He has starred in hit dramas such as The Legendary Four Aces <金裝四大才子> and War of the Genders <男親女愛>.
Source: ihktv.com
This article is written by Addy for JayneStars.com.
So sad. He’s was a cool actor. I remember him from Family Squad and Kindred Spirit.
I loved him in Family Squad! That was a great show!
I didn’t know he’s also a director.
Which role did he play in Legendary Four Aces?
He plays the head of the other division of the scholar academy that the four scholars were in.
Remember when the four scholars finally left to take the imperial exam and arrived to see the run-down academy and the head/teacher is selling like tofu, and the scholars all had like really horrible jobs and the place was run-down?
Oh yeah. Thanks.
Man – you used really good translated terms for those ancient Chinese words.
Very sad and it will only get worse. But what a life he is living.
what happen to his teeth, n his beard trimming? 🙁 he looks distorted. he was an awesome actor.
artsy people sometimes don’t have the best physical appearance. LOL.
Teeth has always been an issue for Asians.
“Teeth has always been an issue for Asians.”
Why is that? Not enough calcium?
Correct. “Having good teeth” has always been an issue for people in Hong Kong, especially the older generations. First, orthodontics was not common and was too expensive for people in Hong Kong before 1980. Majority of people couldn’t afford it. Moreover, lots of Chinese don’t drink milk because they don’t have the enzyme to digest milk or milk products and they get diarrhea easily.
With no orthodontics and insufficient calcium intakes, how could people in Hong Kong have good teeth?
It depends on the person and is partially genetics too. My mom is in her 70s and still has great teeth. She said that her father(my grandpa) had great teeth too.
Sure, partially on genetics, and the rest on daily dental care and quality of teeth. If a person has consumed good amount of calcium, they usually have better teeth. However, women lose a good amount of calcium after giving birth.
Also “good teeth” does not mean “nice and straight teeth”. Some people have good teeth (no cavities), but their teeth look terrible in shape.
Holy that picture is creepy D: But it is really sad to see family members affected by dementia slowly deteriorate ):
Chor Yuen is a talented person in drama series, i.e. film writing, directing, acting, and producing.
Sorry to hear that he starts having Dementia. I guess no one can fight against old age and deteriorated health.
Sooo sorry to hear. I used to work as a cna and understand what its like. Some days its very positive whereas other days just break your heart.
I mistake him for Sandra Ng’s father. I kept thinking, isn’t is name Ha Chun Chau?
I’ve known the name of Chor Yuen for a long time. He directed many Shaw Brothers movies. But, I didn’t know this actor is Chor Yuen.
Awww…so sad to hear! I grew up watching Chor Yuen and Nan Hong’s works and always enjoyed their performances in front of the screen (plus the many classic films that Chor Yuen directed). Hope he gets better, or at the very least, that his condition doesn’t worsen…
Agreed!
Chor Yuen was good looking when he was young, though a bit short.
The Buddha From Journey to the West!
That’s one of the roles I remember him from too! Sad to hear about his condition. Must be hard on his family :/
such a heartbreaking news. really enjoyed all his drama.
one great talent.
What he needs is to shave his beard off
So sad to hear this and hope he gets better! It us very touching to know that he and his wife still love each other so much after all these years of marriage.
I like his acting when I see him in tvb drama “Triumph Over Evil” and he is funny too.