Veteran Hong Kong actor Benz Hui dies at 76

Veteran Hong Kong actor Benz Hui has died at the age of 76.

His family announced to the media through his close friend, Hong Kong TV host Maria Luisa Leitao, that Hui died at 2.30am on Oct 28 due to multiple organ failure caused by cancer.

His family added that they deeply appreciate everyone’s concern and will announce details of his funeral arrangements later.

Hong Kong media outlet Sing Tao Headline first reported on Oct 27 that Hui, whose birthday fell on Nov 4, was hospitalised in Hong Kong and was in critical condition.

About 30 celebrities visited the actor in hospital at that time.

They included Leitao; actor Michael Miu and his actress-wife Jaime Chik; actor Edwin Siu and his actress-wife Priscilla Wong; actor Raymond Wong and his wife, stylist Kaka Mok; as well as actors Bosco Wong, Dayo Wong, Au Yeung Tsan Wah and Mak Cheung Ching.

Veteran actress Alice Fung, who visited at about 8pm on Oct 27, told the media that Hui was using an oxygen machine but could still hear her speak.

Hui’s goddaughter, Hong Kong actress Charmaine Sheh, cancelled her working trip to Beijing and flew from Macau to Hong Kong to visit him on Oct 27. They had worked together on several TV dramas, such as You’re Hired (2009), Line Walker and Themis (2024).

Hong Kong movie star Chow Yun Fat, who worked with Hui on the TV series The Good, The Bad And The Ugly (1979 to 1980), visited on Oct 28 dressed in black.

Hui was in the industry for more than 50 years and starred in many classic TVB series, including The Final Combat (1989) and Golden Faith (2001).

One of his best known roles was in the Hong Kong romance comedy Love Undercover (2002), which starred Hong Kong singer-actress Miriam Yeung and Chinese-American actor Daniel Wu. Hui played Sir Fong Chung, the boss of undercover cop Fong Lai Kuen played by Yeung.

Another well-known role was in Hong Kong crime action thriller Running Out Of Time (1999), which starred Andy Lau and Sean Lau. Hui played the role of Chief Inspector Wong Kai Fat, the boss of Sean Lau’s cop character, which earned the veteran actor a Best Supporting Actor nomination at the Hong Kong Film Awards in 2000.

Hui’s most recent role as undercover cop-turned-crime boss Foon Hei Gor (Brother Foon Hei) in TVB’s Line Walker series (2014 to 2020) earned him widespread recognition, with fans affectionately calling him by that name. The role won him Most Popular Male Character at the TVB Awards Presentation in 2014.

He won Best Supporting Actor at the TVB Awards Presentation in 2013 for his role as Heung Sin Nam in the drama Bounty Lady.

Hui hailed from a prestigious family in Guangzhou, China, with his ancestor Xu Baiting the head of one of Guangzhou’s four salt merchants during the Qing Dynasty.

Hui’s great-grandfather was late Qing Dynasty politician Xu Yingkui, who served as the viceroy of Minzhe, which included the modern-day areas of Fujian, Taiwan and Zhejiang. He was also reportedly the godson of Empress Dowager Cixi.

Hui’s grandaunt was Xu Guangping, the partner of famous Chinese writer Lu Xun.

Hui moved to Hong Kong with his family in 1958 and attended Hong Kong broadcaster TVB’s first artiste training programme in 1972.

He earned the nickname “Benz” for frequently driving a Mercedes-Benz to work during the early days of his career.

He reduced his acting commitments significantly in recent years and moved to Singapore with his family to enjoy a semi-retired life.

Hui met his Singaporean wife Angeli Lung at a gathering of friends and they married in 1992. Ms Lung gave birth to their daughter Charmaine Hui in 1997 when he was 49.

Ms Hui, 28, is married to Singaporean Shane Sim, who works in the banking industry. They held a wedding ceremony and banquet in Hong Kong in December 2023, and a second one in Singapore in January 2024.

Hui has been active on in social media in recent years. Besides frequently sharing short videos on Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu, he also shared daily moments with his daughter, with the videos uploaded on her YouTube channel.

In June, netizens expressed concern for Hui’s health when he was seen taking his daughter to his old home in Guangzhou and gasping for breath while walking on flat ground.

One of Hui’s last public appearances was during the Mid-Autumn Festival on Oct 6, when he had dinner with his family and friends. He looked relaxed and seemed to be in good spirits in a group photo uploaded by his daughter on Instagram Stories.

The latest video of father and daughter was from Oct 19, showing them playing video games together.

Hui lived in Nee Soon GRC when Ms Lee Bee Wah was the MP.

She paid tribute to the actor on Facebook on Oct 28. “So sad to lose a great guy,” she wrote, sharing a photo of her with Hui’s family. “Deepest condolences to the family.”

Singapore actor Collin Chee, who was an emcee during Ms Hui’s wedding in Singapore, also paid tribute to Hui on social media on Oct 28.

“Thank you for taking care of us and sharing your life with us without hesitation during the time we got to know one another,” Chee wrote in Chinese. “Thank you for leaving us with beautiful memories.”