Crouching Tiger star Cheng Pei-pei dies aged 78 after battling rare illness

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Cheng Pei-pei, the Chinese-born martial arts actress who starred in Ang Lee's Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, has passed away at the age of 78, her family announced on Friday.The actress, who had been diagnosed with a rare illness similar to Parkinson's disease, died peacefully at home surrounded by her loved ones, according to a Facebook post from her family.They revealed that current medical treatments were unable to slow the progression of her condition, known as neurodegenerative atypical parkinsonism syndrome.

Cheng had chosen to donate her brain for medical research."Our mum wanted to be remembered for who she was: the legendary Queen of Martial Arts ...

a versatile, award-winning actress whose film and television career spanned over six decades, not only in Asia but internationally as well," they shared.Her family also expressed that Cheng cherished her acting career and recognised how fortunate she was to have had such a successful journey.Variety, the entertainment publication, reported that she passed away in the San Francisco Bay Area.Born in Shanghai, Cheng became a household name in Hong Kong, often referred to as the Hollywood of the Far East, due to her performances in martial arts films during the 1960s.

One of her most renowned films was Come Drink With Me, directed by King Hu and released in 1966.In Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, she portrayed Jade Fox, a character who utilises poisoned needles.