LOS ANGELES: Taiwanese-Canadian model and actor
Godfrey Gao has died after collapsing on set while filming a variety show in China.
According to Entertainment Weekly, the 35-year-old actor was shooting for the Chinese reality competition series 'Chase Me' in the city of Ningbo.
The game show involves a series of elaborate physical tasks for its contestants.
Its producers said Gao fell and lost consciousness while running in a team event. He later died at a hospital.
"In the early hours of November 27, our beloved Godfrey collapsed while filming on set. Unfortunately following three hours of medical rescue efforts, he left us. We are very shocked and saddened and even until now find it impossible to accept.
"Thank you media friends and every fan of Godfrey's for their concern. His management and team were present and his family were urgently rushed to the location," the company, Jetsta said.
Born September 22, 1984, Gao was the first Asian actor to be signed by apparel brand
Louis Vuitton for its ad campaign in 2011.
He made his
Hollywood debut with 2013 '
The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones'.
Celebrity Deaths Of 2018: Looking Back At The Stars We Lost
In Memoriam
The world lost more than a few stars in 2018. Many celebrities died this year, breaking millions of hearts. From the ‘90s heart-throb, Sridevi to Anthony Bourdain, there were some legends that left us this year. Here's a look at all the people we lost.
(In Pic: From left, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Sridevi, VS Naipaul.)
Supriya Devi: January 27
Supriya Devi: Veteran Bengali film actress Supriya Devi, who reached legendary heights for her portrayal of the protagonist Neeta in Ritwik Ghatak's cult movie 'Meghe Dhaka Tara', passed away at 85. She had suffered a massive cardio-respiratory failure. She is survived by her daughter and three grandchildren. Apart from an illustrious career in Bengali cinema, she also acted in a few Hindi films like 'Begaana', 'Door Gagan Ki Chhaon Mein' and 'Aap Ke Parchhaiyan'. Known for her beauty and sharp features, she made her acting debut as a 7-year-old in two plays directed by her father Gopal Chandra Banerjee, and forayed into films in 1952 playing a side part in the Uttam Kumar starrer 'Basu Paribar'.
(In Pic: Union Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee with famous dancer Amala Sankar (L) and eminent actress Supriya Devi (R) during 54th Annual Railway National Awards function in Science City Auditorium Kolkata.)
Sridevi: Feb 25
Bollywood’s first female superstar, Sridevi was found dead in the bathroom of a hotel in Dubai where she had been visiting for a family wedding. An autopsy report later established that the 54-year-old actress passed away following a cardiac arrest. Born as Shree Amma Yanger Ayyapan, she started acting at 4, appearing in several Tamil films in the 60’s and 70’s, and eventually dropping out of school for a career in the movies. She acted in Tamil, Malayalam and Telugu films, opposite leading men like Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth. She made her Bollywood debut in 1979 with 'Solva Sawan', but it was in 1983, with 'Sadma' that she made her mark in the Hindi film industry. She charmed audiences with films like 'Chandni' & 'Lamhe', drawing praise for her comic timing in 'Chaalbaaz' & 'Mr India'. The actress made a successful return to the big screen in 'English Vinglish'. Her last screen appearance was in 'Mom' which released in 2017.
Nargis Rabadi aka Shammi Aunty: March 6
Veteran actress Shammi Aunty passed away at the age of 89. She had worked in many popular films like ‘Hum Saath Saath Hain’, ‘Dil’ and so on. At 18 she signed her first film ‘Ustad Pedro’ in 1949. Actor- producer Sheikh Mukhtar had discovered Shammi when he was, and it was on his advice that she changed her (screen) name to Shammi from Nargis.
Hubert de Givenchy: March 10
Hubert de Givenchy, the aristocratic French fashion designer whose understated style represented a golden age of elegance, passed away at the age of 91. Couturier to Audrey Hepburn and Jackie Kennedy Onassis, he breathed his last at the Renaissance chateau near Paris that he shared with his partner and fellow designer, Philippe Venet. He learned his trade from another fashion master, Cristóbal Balenciaga. The Givenchy label was sold to the LVMH luxury group in 1988 but Givenchy remained head of creative design for seven years.