Actor Stanley Fung dies at 81 after 2 months in hospital, had paid tribute to Benz Hui days earlier
Sherlyn Sim
The Straits Times
Nov 1, 2025
Hong Kong veteran actor and film director Stanley Fung, known for his comedic roles, died on Nov 1 at the age of 81.
The news of his death was announced on New Taipei City Councillor Tsai Shu-chun's Facebook page in the wee hours that day.
She wrote in Chinese: "I heard the news two hours ago and my heart sank. His words were expressive and his smiles told stories. He was sincere and endearing both on and off camera... May you continue to tell stories and capture life on another stage, still with that smile."
According to news outlet TOPick Hong Kong, Fung had been hospitalised for two months due to an illness. He relied on a nasal tube and oxygen machine to breathe.
Hong Kong media outlet Dim Sum Daily reported that he had signed a do-not-resuscitate order. Following his wishes, medical staff at the Taiwanese hospital where he died provided only basic supportive care and did not perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation or other invasive interventions when his condition worsened.
His nephew and long-time friends were at his bedside in his final moments. The article stated that the late actor wished for a sea burial off Taiwan's Kinmen islands.
According to South China Morning Post, he moved to Taiwan in 1989 and became a citizen in 1996.
Focus Taiwan, the English-language website of Taiwan's national news agency Central News Agency (CNA), reported that Fung was single and lived alone.
He was friends with Tsai, and lived in the councillor's constituency district of Linkou.
Fung's death comes just days after he paid tribute to his close friend and fellow Hong Kong actor Benz Hui, who died on Oct 28 at age 76 from multiple organ failure caused by cancer.
"We must part ways eventually, but I'm older than you and terminally ill, barely clinging to life," he had written in a Facebook post.
Fung was well-known in Hong Kong's film and television industry from the 1970s to 1990s. His notable works included the Lucky Stars movie series and The Romancing Star.
His last film role was in the Taiwanese horror film Them, Behind The Door, which was released in Taiwan in 2024.
Additional reporting by Eddino Abdul Hadi.
