On September 15th, HK01 reported that actor Xu Shao-qiang (also known as Norman Chui) passed away in Beijing after battling esophageal cancer. His 43-year-old wife also passed away due to a heart attack, caused by grief and exhaustion while preparing her husband’s funeral. The news left many colleagues and fans of Hong Kong cinema from the 1970s and 1980s in shock.
This information was confirmed by the actor’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,” the daughter shared.
Xu Shao-qiang enrolled in the third training class at Shaw Brothers in 1972 and soon after became an actor. During the martial arts film boom of the 1970s, Xu Shao-qiang found success and frequently starred in well-invested productions 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 portrayal of Yun Fei-yang in “Bastard Swordsman” remains a classic role, forever associated with his name.
In martial arts films, Xu Shao-qiang often faced off against stars like Wu Jing, Jacky Cheung, Jackie Chan, Jet Li, and notably, Andy Lau. This established him as one of the top martial arts stars of his era.
Throughout his early career, Xu Shao-qiang appeared in over 100 films and television productions. He primarily portrayed heroic figures or memorable villains, with his role in Stephen Chow’s “King of Beggars” (1992) being one of his most iconic performances. Along with friends, he also dabbled in film production until Hong Kong’s film industry hit difficult times. In recent years, Xu Shao-qiang rarely worked in Hong Kong, settling in Beijing to focus on the mainland market, 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 6 unreleased films that have already been shot.
According to “Mirror Media”, Xu Shao-qiang had a stellar career, but his personal life was often the subject of public attention. His most discussed relationship was his seven-year affair with “Li Mochou” actress Yuet Lei, which began when she was only 15.
The first marriage of the star was to a 25-year-old woman named Zhang Xiao-feng, who was not in the entertainment industry. However, it only lasted four years. In 1980, he remarried He Shu-kuan, with whom he had a son, Xu Yi-dong. Less than two years after this marriage, Xu Shao-qiang secretly began an affair with Yuet Lei, who was still underage at the time.
During the filming of “Ghost Nursing”, a film Xu invested in and shot in Thailand, Yuet Lei fell for him after attending a party with the actor. Despite her family’s objections, she was deeply in love. According to Ifeng, it was not until she became pregnant that she discovered Xu was married, but she decided to keep the child out of love.
Subsequently, Xu Shao-qiang divorced his wife to live with Yuet Lei. Three years after the birth of their first son, Snow gave birth to a daughter, Xu Ying-kun. Despite her hopes of reforming his unfaithful ways, Xu Shao-qiang continued to frequently seek out pleasures outside, leaving Snow and their children behind.
The two planned to marry in 1986, but on the day of their marriage registration, Xu forgot to bring his divorce certificate. The failed registration caused a rift between the couple, and by 1988, Yuet Lei and Xu Shao-qiang went their separate ways. Snow accepted life as a single mother.
Reflecting on her turbulent life, Yuet Lei said: “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, maybe my life would have been different. But who can guarantee that would’ve been better?“
After Xu’s passing, Yuet Lei expressed her condolences on social media: “Rest in peace, Xu Shao-qiang.“
In 2005, the martial arts star married a woman 30 years his junior. They had a son and a daughter together. However, his flirtatious nature persisted, as photos surfaced of him being intimate with actress Luo Wenqi, 23 years old. Reports from Chinese media stated that they had been involved since 2016, with Xu claiming Luo as his “adopted sister” to avoid gossip.
His explanation did not earn much sympathy from the public. The actor insisted his family was fine, and that his wife was unbothered by the rumors on social media. Following this scandal, Xu Shao-qiang kept a lower profile. Paparazzi once caught him dressed simply while shopping with his wife and children.
