HONG KONG – Patrick Tse Yin, the iconic Hong Kong actor known affectionately as “Four哥,” has died at age 89, his family confirmed Sunday. His son, pop star and actor Nicholas Tse, said in a statement that his father “dedicated his entire life to film and television, always hoping to bring joy to every audience member.”
Tse, who spent nearly 70 years in the entertainment industry, appeared in close to 200 films. He made history at age 85 by winning the Hong Kong Film Award for Best Actor for his role in the dark comedy “Time” (2021), becoming the oldest actor ever to receive that honor. Just two years earlier, in 2019, he had been given the Hong Kong Film Awards’ Lifetime Achievement Award.
“When I started in the business, the Hong Kong Film Awards didn’t even exist,” Tse told media at the time of his Best Actor nomination. “By the time they did, I had already slowed down. I thought three years ago, when I received the Lifetime Achievement Award, that was it. Then this year I got a nomination. Cinema is truly magical.”
A Career Spanning Seven Decades
Tse’s journey began in 1952, when at age 16 he enrolled in the acting training class of Ling Kwong Film Company. He made his screen debut a year later in the film “Lower the Water Tap” (1953) after joining Dihwa Company.
Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Tse became a household name, playing both sympathetic underdogs and wealthy playboys. His 1969 role in “The Wanderer” showcased a cynical, rebellious persona that cemented his versatility.
In the early 1970s, Tse moved behind the camera, directing eight films. His debut directorial effort, the Mandarin-language romance “The Narrow Stairs” — adapted from a novel by Yee Tat — grossed over HK$1 million. He also directed “Tomorrow’s Horizon,” whose theme song was performed by the legendary Roman Tam.
Television Stardom and Later Roles
Tse transitioned to television in the 1980s, achieving his biggest success with the 1980 series “The Shell Game” (also known as “The King of Gamblers”), in which he played the charismatic gambler Law Si-Hoi, nicknamed “The Southern Eye.” The role revitalized his career and led to sequels including “The Shell Game II” and “The Bund III.”
He appeared in numerous classic TVB dramas, including “The Legend of the Condor Heroes,” “The Return of the Condor Heroes,” “The Flying Fox of Snowy Mountain,” and the epic “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” (万水千山总是情). Later, he starred in ATV’s “Central Affairs” series. His final television role came in 2020’s “Forensic Heroes IV.”
Legacy and Impact
Tse is survived by his son Nicholas, daughter Jennifer Tse, and his former wife, actress Deborah Li. Nicholas Tse, himself a major figure in Hong Kong entertainment, echoed his father’s sentiment: “His charisma and spirit will live forever in our hearts.”
Patrick Tse’s career spanned the evolution of Hong Kong cinema from Cantonese-language black-and-white films to international blockbusters. His late-in-life Best Actor win defied industry norms and inspired a generation of older performers. As audiences revisit his immense body of work, his legacy as a pioneer of Hong Kong’s golden age of film and television remains secure.
