Veteran actress Barbara Chan has passed away at the age of 65 after enduring years of heartbreaking personal loss, including the deaths of both her young son and husband due to serious illnesses.
On June 14, Chinese media outlet Sohu reported that Barbara Chan had died following more than two weeks in a coma caused by severe health complications. According to reports, the veteran actress had undergone emergency surgery in 2025 due to worsening medical issues. Her two sons shared that they plan to hold a private funeral service for their mother.
Barbara Chan’s sudden passing has left both the public and entertainment industry figures in shock. The actress was one of Hong Kong’s most recognizable stars throughout the 1980s and 1990s. While younger audiences may be less familiar with her work today, she was once regarded as one of TVB’s leading actresses during the height of her career.
Throughout her acting journey, Barbara Chan frequently worked alongside stars such as Felix Wong and Andy Lau. After hearing the news of her passing, Felix Wong expressed deep sadness, revealing that the last time he saw Barbara Chan was during a gathering with friends earlier this year. According to him, she had noticeably lost weight, though her health and spirits still seemed stable at the time.
Barbara Chan was married to actor Liu Kai Chi, best known for portraying Gongsun Ce in Justice Bao. The couple had long been viewed as one of Hong Kong entertainment’s model celebrity marriages. In 2020, Liu Kai Chi was diagnosed with terminal stomach cancer and was reportedly told he had only months left to live. He eventually passed away from the illness in March 2021.
The loss of her husband dealt a devastating emotional blow to Barbara Chan, especially after she had already suffered another unimaginable tragedy years earlier. In 2006, the actress lost her youngest son, Liu Man Lok, at the age of six after his battle with leukemia. He had first been diagnosed with blood cancer when he was only three years old.
Overwhelmed by grief after losing her husband, Barbara Chan reportedly discarded most of Liu Kai Chi’s belongings, choosing to keep only a small bag he had once gifted her. It reportedly took the actress years to recover emotionally from his passing.
Barbara Chan’s death comes amid a particularly sorrowful period for Hong Kong’s entertainment industry. Within just ten days, three well-known public figures have reportedly passed away, including veteran entertainer Chung King Fai, beauty queen-actress Ng Man Yan, and now Barbara Chan.
Sources: K14
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