On September 15th, HK01 reported the unfortunate passing of actor Xu Shao-qiang, also known as Norman Chui, who died in Beijing after a long battle with esophageal cancer. His wife, just 43 years old, also succumbed to a heart attack induced by grief and exhaustion while she was making arrangements for his funeral. This shocking news has left many fans and colleagues from the Hong Kong film industry, especially those who remember his work in the 1970s and 1980s, in deep mourning.
This tragic information was confirmed by Xu Shao-qiang’s daughter, Xu Ying-kun.
“Thank you for everyone’s concern. I hope the audience will give our family some space to deal with this loss,” she stated.
Xu Shao-qiang began his illustrious career by enrolling in the third training class at Shaw Brothers in 1972, quickly emerging as an actor. During the martial arts film surge of the 1970s, he achieved great success, frequently appearing in landmark films such as “Bastard Swordsman” , “Heroes of Sui and Tang” , “The Steward” , “Legend of the Fist: Chen Zhen” , “Wudang II” , “Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils (1977)” , “The Return of the Condor Heroes (1998)” , and “King of Beggars” . His role as Yun Fei-yang in “Bastard Swordsman” has become a classic and is forever linked with his legacy.
Within the martial arts genre, Xu Shao-qiang often faced off against notable stars such as Wu Jing, Jacky Cheung, Jackie Chan, Jet Li, and especially Andy Lau, solidifying his status as one of the top martial arts stars of his time.
Throughout his early career, Xu Shao-qiang starred in over 100 films and television productions, mainly portraying heroic characters or iconic villains. His performance in Stephen Chow’s “King of Beggars” (1992) stands out as one of his most memorable roles. In addition to acting, he ventured into film production with associates until the Hong Kong film industry faced challenging times. In recent years, he worked less in Hong Kong, choosing to base himself in Beijing to concentrate on the mainland market, only occasionally participating in film and television projects.
Recent films featuring Xu Shao-qiang include “The Twin Flower Legend” , “New Strange Tales from Liaozhai” , “The Wind and Cloud of Ban Na” , “Detective Chen (2022)” , “Nine Continents Dragon” , “The Spirit Hunt” , “Injustice Chronicles: The Iron Gate of Western Xia” , and “The Ghost Case of Xiangxi” . He also has six completed but unreleased films.
According to “Mirror Media” , despite his illustrious career, Xu Shao-qiang’s personal life garnered significant public interest. His most talked-about relationship involved a seven-year affair with actress Yuet Lei, which began when she was only 15 years old.
His first marriage was with a 25-year-old woman named Zhang Xiao-feng, who was outside the entertainment industry. However, this union lasted only four years. In 1980, he remarried He Shu-kuan, with whom he had a son, Xu Yi-dong. Less than two years into this marriage, Xu Shao-qiang started a secret affair with Yuet Lei, who was still a minor.
During the filming of “Ghost Nursing” , a movie Xu was involved in shooting in Thailand, Yuet Lei developed a strong affection for him after a party. Despite her family’s disapproval, she fell deeply in love. According to Ifeng, she learned about Xu’s marriage only after becoming pregnant but chose to keep the child out of love.
Following this, Xu Shao-qiang divorced his wife in order to be with Yuet Lei. After the birth of their first son, Yuet Lei welcomed their daughter, Xu Ying-kun. Nevertheless, Xu continued his unfaithful behavior, neglecting Yuet Lei and their children.
The couple planned to marry in 1986, but the wedding registration failed when Xu forgot his divorce certificate, causing a significant rift in their relationship. By 1988, Yuet Lei and Xu Shao-qiang separated, and she embraced life as a single mother.
Reflecting on her tumultuous life, Yuet Lei remarked, “Even though I encountered a bad man, I was blessed with two wonderful children. They are the greatest gifts from the heavens. I’ve always taken responsibility for my actions and never cared about what others think. If I hadn’t decided to be a single mother, perhaps my life would have been different. But who can guarantee that it would’ve been better?”
After Xu’s death, Yuet Lei shared her condolences on social media: “Rest in peace, Xu Shao-qiang.”
In 2005, the martial arts star married a woman 30 years his junior, and together they had a son and daughter. However, his flirtatious nature remained, as rumors and photos of him with actress Luo Wenqi, who is 23 years old, surfaced. Chinese media reported that their involvement began in 2016, with Xu referring to Luo as his “adopted sister” to quell gossip.
This defense did not garner much sympathy from the public. Despite the scandal, Xu maintained that his family was well and that his wife was unaffected by social media chatter. Following this incident, Xu Shao-qiang adopted a more low-key lifestyle, with paparazzi capturing him shopping casually with his family.
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