Wai Ching-ho, an actor with dozens of film and television credits, including roles in recent Marvel series, has died at the age of 82. The news was announced via her co-stars on Instagram, who paid tribute to the late actor, who reportedly passed away from a stroke on July 10.
In addition to playing Madame Gao in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and later starring in series such as Daredevil, Iron Fist and The Defenders, Ho also voiced Grandma Wu in the Pixar film Turning Red and appeared in the comedy series Awkwafina: Nora from Queens.
Actor Perry Yong paid tribute to his late friend on July 12, writing on Instagram: “This is a very emotional moment for all of us who knew Wai Ching-ho. She passed away peacefully two days ago after suffering a stroke. I have seen her perform on stage many times. We had a lot of dim sum and visited @slantperformancegroup many times. I had the great fortune of playing her husband (@justinchon’s parents) in the movie ‘High Resolution.’ He was a kind and caring human being whose work as an artist elevated all his work to a higher standard. Dear friends, we had better rest in peace for that. ”
Ho was born in Hong Kong in 1943. She first appeared on American screens in the 1990 Robin Williams vehicle “Cadillac Man,” and went on to star in films (“Soapdish,” “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice,” “Hustlers”) and television (“One Life to Live,” “Flight of the Conchords”) over the following decades. She also had a voice role in the best-selling video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.
The news was first shared by Ho’s Daredevil co-star Peter Shinkoda, who also paid tribute to the late actor on Instagram on July 12, writing, “I will never forget you. I learned from you every minute we were together on set and off. I know wisdom. I listen to every word you say. See you soon, my friend. You were beautiful.”
