Famed actor Sun Yueh has passed away at the age of 87. He appeared in over 200 films during his 50-year acting career, and won several Golden Horse Awards. He retired from show business at the peak of his career to become a philanthropist and anti-smoking advocate
On Apr. 9, renowned actor Sun Yueh was admitted into National Taiwan University Hospital's intensive care unit for gallstones and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. He passed away at 9:56 p.m. on May 1 due to his age, 87, and physical condition. The official cause of death was septicemia compounded with multiple organ failure.
I had four stents inserted, and my lungs are no longer functioning. Having COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) makes me think of death. However, I no longer worry about these things. When I was 70, I already signed a living will with my children.
This clip came from a public service announcement Sun filmed for the Hospice Foundation of Taiwan. In the video, he explained how he has come to terms with death. Sun Yueh had an acting career that spanned more than 50 years, and he played a variety of roles during that career. In 1983, he won the Golden Horse Award for Best Leading Actor for "Papa, Can You Hear Me Sing." He announced his retirement from show business in 1989, and became a philanthropist and activist. The causes he supported included blood donation, organ donation and smoking prevention. He served as a volunteer with over 15 organizations.
If you choose to walk alone, you'll find the road is very lonely, and you will become lonelier and lonelier as you walk. However, there are many activities you can take part in with others while you are alive.
Sun smoked for 30 years, and became an anti-smoking ambassador after he quit. He helped to promote the amendments to the Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act. He filmed a PSA urging legislators to pass amendments to the act after he was discharged from hospital following an operation for lung cancer. On the last day of the legislative session, the amendments were passed following a two-year impasse.
In May (2017), he stepped forward and urged all legislators to lend a hand, as Taiwan really needed a tobacco hazards prevention act. On June 15 (2017), the legislature passed the third reading of amendments.
After Sun entered the hospital, he told family members to pass on the message that he would not be receiving visitors. He didn't want anyone to see him while he was sick. Instead, he wanted everyone to remember him as a "handsome" man.