HONG KONG — Patrick Tse Yin, the legendary Hong Kong actor and patriarch of a show-business dynasty, died Sunday at age 89, his son, pop star and actor Nicholas Tse, confirmed in a social media statement. The elder Tse had largely withdrawn from public life in recent years after winning the Hong Kong Film Award for Best Actor in 2020 for his role in the crime drama Time.
Nicholas Tse, who had been preparing for a concert stop in Qingdao, China, scheduled for July 25–26, quietly returned to Hong Kong to handle family arrangements. According to sources close to the family, the proceedings will be kept private out of respect for Patrick Tse’s stated wishes. His daughter Jennifer Tse, who resides in Canada, is also expected to travel home to bid farewell.
In a poignant post on his social media account, Nicholas Tse shared the news while honoring his father’s enduring philosophy.
“It is with great regret that I announce my father, Patrick Tse, has left us,” he wrote. “He dedicated his entire life to film and entertainment, hoping to bring joy and smiles to every audience member. As a child, I saw him in moments of worry and sadness, but no matter what, he always insisted on presenting his most perfect self on screen. He often said, ‘The show must go on.’ So if you think of him, of my father, don’t cry, don’t be too sad—he would think that’s not graceful enough. Just keep his charming, smiling, perfect image in your hearts forever.”
A Life on Screen
Tse’s career spanned more than six decades, from his start in the 1950s as a matinee idol to his later status as a revered veteran. He starred in hundreds of films across Cantonese and Mandarin cinema, often playing charismatic, sometimes roguish characters. His breakthrough came with the 1967 film The Story of a Discharged Prisoner, which later influenced John Woo’s A Better Tomorrow.
In 2019, at age 85, Tse stunned the industry by taking the Best Actor prize for his performance as a retired hitman in Time, making him the oldest winner in the award’s history. After that triumph, he largely stepped away from acting, living a reclusive life at his Hong Kong home.
Family and Legacy
Patrick Tse was also known for his high-profile marriage to actress Deborah Lee, with whom he had Nicholas and Jennifer. Despite a public divorce in 1995, the family remained close. Nicholas Tse, now 43, has become one of Asia’s most popular entertainers, while Jennifer, also an actress, has taken a lower profile.
The actor’s death marks the end of an era for Hong Kong cinema, which has seen the passing of several golden-age stars in recent years. Film historian Sam Ho called Tse “the last of the great Cantonese screen idols,” noting that his mix of charm, toughness, and vulnerability inspired generations.
Looking Ahead
No public memorial has been announced. Fans have begun posting tributes online, recalling Tse’s iconic roles and his famous signature grin. For now, the family requests privacy as they grieve.
Nicholas Tse’s concert in Qingdao is expected to proceed as planned, with a possible tribute to his father. As Patrick Tse himself might have said: the show must go on.
