Barbie HSU, Taiwanese actress known as ‘Big S’, dies of influenza-related illness at the age of 48

Hong Kong
Cnn
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Taiwanese actor Barbie HSU, one of the most prominent stars in the Chinese-speaking world, has died of a flu-related disease at the age of 48, Taiwan’s official central news agency reported Monday with reference to his sister.

HSU died of pneumonia after caught the flu during a family vacation in Japan, her younger sister Dee HSU said in a statement shared by her agent, CNA reported.

“I am grateful that I could be her sister in this life, to look after and accompany each other,” said Dee HSU. “I will always be grateful to her and miss her.”

The star had been exposed to ill health in recent years, her sister said earlier on TV.

Widely known as “Big S”, HSU rose to fame at the age of 17 in the mid -1990s with his younger sister in Mandapop Duo SOS. The siblings were known for their sharp sense of humor, emphasized when both became popular talk show hosts.

But it was HSU’s leading role in the iconic TV drama in 2001 “Meteor Garden” that catapulted her to fame throughout the region as her portrayal of an ordinary girl who finds love with a rich boy who resonated with millions of fans.

On Monday, “Big’s died” was the top trending topic on China’s Weibo -social media platform and gathered over 1.5 billion views as shocked fans grieved over the star.

“This is really hard to believe,” said a top comment with more than 54,000 likes.

“It was so suddenly life is too short,” another said.

Many Chinese celebrities also expressed shock over HSU’s death.

“What a bolt from the blue,” wrote her “Meteor Garden” star Ken Chu about Weibo.

HSU retired from the entertainment industry in 2022 after the end of his 11-year marriage to Chinese businessman Wang Xiaofei, a hot topic on social media on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

She is survived by her husband, Korean rapper Koo Jun-Yup, and two children from her previous marriage.