Born in Shanghai in 1946, Cheng worked at Shaw Brothers Studio and became a star in Hong Kong in the 1960s.
Chen Pei-Pei, a martial arts actress renowned for her performance in classic kung fu films and Ang Lee's Oscar-nominated film “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” has died in the San Francisco Bay Area at age 78. The cause of death was a degenerative brain disease.
Born in Shanghai in 1946, Chen rose to stardom in the 1960s in Hong Kong, working for the famed Shaw Brothers studio. She got her breakthrough in the 1966 film “Come Drink With Me” and quickly gained recognition for roles in martial arts, action and swordplay films.
In the 1970s, Cheng moved to San Francisco to study business while focusing on raising her four children, who eventually followed her into the entertainment industry.
Chen's career reached new heights in 2000 when she garnered international acclaim for her role as villain Jade Fox in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, before going on to star in a variety of films, including Naked Weapon, Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li, and Disney's live-action remake of Mulan.
Chen left a legacy as a pioneer of martial arts films and an inspiration to many. He is survived by his four children and grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Brain Support Network (BSN), to which Chen donated his brain.
