Remembering Cheng Pei Pei: A Pioneer in Martial Arts Cinema

Cheng Pei Pei, an iconic figure in Asian martial arts cinema and celebrated star of the 2000 international hit “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” passed away on July 17 in the San Francisco Bay Area. She was 78 years old. This news was confirmed by her representatives at Echelon Talent Management, who released a heartfelt statement detailing her battle with a neurodegenerative disease similar to Parkinson’s, which she had been diagnosed with in 2019.

Born on January 6, 1946, in Shanghai, Ms. Cheng was a prodigious talent, having trained in ballet and traditional Chinese dance. Her acting career commenced in Hong Kong in 1964, where she quickly rose to fame as one of the leading stars in the wuxia genre of martial arts films. Her breakout role came in the mid-1960s with the kung fu classic “Come Drink With Me,” which solidified her status in the film industry.

In a touching statement, her family expressed, “Our mom Cheng Pei Pei wanted to be remembered for who she was: the legendary ‘Queen of Martial Arts.’ She loved being an actress and was always aware of how fortunate she was to have such a remarkable career, thanks to her unwavering dedication and hard work.”

In the 1970s, Ms. Cheng made the significant move to the United States, where she welcomed the birth of her four children. Her career continued to flourish, and she portrayed the formidable villain Jade Fox in “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” delivering some of the film’s most unforgettable fight sequences.

Despite her health challenges, Ms. Cheng chose to keep her medical condition private, as her management noted. In an inspiring act of generosity, she donated her brain to the Brain Support Network, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting individuals diagnosed with neurodegenerative disorders.