Cover Chung King-fai, the godfather of Hong Kong’s television and theatre industries, died at 89 (Photo: courtesy of the Hong Kong Repertory Theatre)
Chung King-fai, the godfather of Hong Kong’s television and theatre industries, died at 89 (Photo: courtesy of the Hong Kong Repertory Theatre)
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Chung King-Fai, the famous Hong Kong director, actor and educator who shaped the golden age of Hong Kong television and theatre and launched the careers of Chow Yun-fat and Leslie Cheung, died at 89 today
Hong Kong’s cultural landscape is mourning the loss of an titan. Chung King-Fai, widely revered as the godfather of modern Hong Kong theatre and television, died on June 3, 2026, at the age of 89. His nephew announced today that he passed away peacefully in his sleep at home earlier in the morning. The family said further details on funeral arrangements will be announced later.
While he successfully underwent treatment and surgery for colorectal cancer in 2016, his health had noticeably declined in his final years.
Over a career spanning more than six decades, the visionary actor, director and educator re-engineered the region’s performing arts ecosystem, leaving behind an indelible blueprint that defined generations of local entertainment.
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Above Chung King-fai in Hong Kong Repertory Theatre’s 2009 production of ’Richard III’ (Photo: courtesy of Hong Kong Baptist University)
Chung King-fai in Hong Kong Repertory Theatre’s 2009 production of ’Richard III’ (Photo: courtesy of Hong Kong Baptist University)
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Affectionately known as “King-sir”, Chung was instrumental in bridging the gap between classical stage traditions and the rapid expansion of mass media broadcast. His most profound institutional legacy began in 1971, when he founded the legendary TVB Artiste Training Class. Recognising a critical shortage of formally trained screen talent as television began to dominate local households, Chung structured a rigorous curriculum that blended Western acting methodologies with local commercial realities. The academy quickly became the ultimate incubator for Hong Kong cinema, churning out the directors, screenwriters and actors who would fuel the city’s global entertainment boom.
They included Chow Yun-fat and Leslie Cheung, to whom he offered critical early-stage professional validation and opportunities that helped propel them into their legendary status.
Above Chung King-fai, the godfather of Hong Kong’s television and theatre industries, died at 89 (Photo: courtesy of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University)
Chung King-fai, the godfather of Hong Kong’s television and theatre industries, died at 89 (Photo: courtesy of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University)
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Beyond his television exploits, Chung was a pioneer of the stage. He was the first to introduce contemporary Western theatre classics—ranging from the works of Edward Albee to Arthur Miller—to Cantonese-speaking audiences, translating and directing them with a distinct local resonance. As the founding dean of the School of Drama at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, he mentored thousands of contemporary practitioners, instilling a discipline and artistic rigor that elevated local drama to international standards.
Chung’s passing marks the end of an extraordinary era, but his influence remains vividly alive. From the structured professionalism of local television production to the thriving ecosystem of independent theatre companies across the city, Hong Kong has Chung to thank for its blooming theatre ecosystem.
Zabrina is the Senior Editor, Arts and Culture of Tatler Hong Kong. She specialises in performing arts, visual art and film. Her wanderlust was first fuelled by the Mighty Rovers Antarctica Expedition 2010. Over the years, she has interviewed A-list artists and filmmakers, including Oscar winners Chlóe Zhao and Tim Yip, Golden Horse winner Sylvia Chang, In the Mood for Love cinematographer Christopher Doyle, Pachinko author Min Jin Lee, and Coachella’s first Chinese solo singer Jackson Wang. She won gold at the WAN-IFRA Asian Media Awards for her 2021 feature on the waves of hate crimes targeting Asian Americans.
