Veteran actor and cultural icon Patrick Tse, affectionately known as “Fourth Brother,” passed away suddenly on July 20 at age 89, triggering an outpouring of grief across the entertainment industry where he reigned for more than seven decades.
Liza Wang, a legendary actress and close friend, confirmed the news in a telephone interview with Hong Kong’s TVB East Week on Saturday. “I feel it’s quite sudden,” Wang said, her voice heavy with emotion. “I haven’t seen him recently. He was a good person, always looking after his co-stars. He knew I’m not good at taking jokes, but he would tease me anyway because I was always so serious.”
Wang and Tse first worked together on the 1979 television drama Rainbow, when Tse was dating actress Deborah Lee, who later became his first wife. Their collaboration continued through the classic series The King of Gamblers (1980)—during which Tse’s son Nicholas Tse was born—and The Bond of Love (1982), when Tse’s daughter Jennifer Tse arrived. Wang became Jennifer’s godmother.
“Those years we were very close,” Wang recalled. “I would sometimes take his children swimming. Later, after they moved abroad, we had less contact. In recent years, Jennifer returned to Hong Kong and would call me. It’s so sudden and I already miss him.”
A Career Spanning Seven Decades
Born in 1936, Tse entered the entertainment industry in the 1950s, starring in Cantonese-language films that defined a generation. He transitioned seamlessly to television in the 1970s, becoming a household name through his charismatic performances and signature sunglasses.
Over his career, Tse appeared in nearly 200 films and countless television dramas. Despite his longevity, his highest professional honor came late: at age 85, he won the Hong Kong Film Award for Best Actor for his role in the 2021 film Time, becoming the oldest winner in the award’s history.
Personal Life and Family
Tse was married twice—first to Deborah Lee, with whom he had two children, Nicholas and Jennifer, and later to actress Nina Yen, which ended in divorce. Yen has previously spoken about regrets regarding the split.
His son, Nicholas Tse, a major pop star and actor, is scheduled to perform a concert on July 25 as planned, according to local reports. Meanwhile, Nicholas’s ex-wife, actress Cecilia Cheung, reportedly changed her social media profile picture to black in a silent tribute.
Broader Impact
Tse’s death closes a chapter in Hong Kong’s golden age of cinema and television. Industry observers note that his career trajectory mirrored the evolution of Cantonese entertainment—from black-and-white film to color television to the digital age. Younger audiences may know him as the father of Nicholas Tse, but older generations remember him as a leading man who could command the screen with a single smirk.
Wang summed up the sentiment of many: “He dedicated his entire life to film and television. He gave us so many works, leading us through our youth. I grew up watching his Cantonese movies—never imagined I would one day work with him.”
Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.
