Hong Kong Screen Legend Patrick Tse Dies at 89

Hong Kong veteran actor Patrick Tse Yin, one of the most recognizable figures of Cantonese cinema and television, has died at the age of 89, local media reported on Monday.

His son, actor and singer Nicholas Tse, later confirmed the news in a social media post, saying his father had devoted his life to film and entertainment and had always hoped to bring joy and smiles to audiences.

Tse, whose original name was Tse Ka-yuk, was widely known as "Sei Gor," or Fourth Brother. Born in 1936, he began acting in the 1950s and became a major matinee idol during the golden age of Cantonese-language cinema.

According to the Hong Kong Film Archive, Tse built a suave, confident screen persona and appeared in a wide range of roles, from urbane lovers to rebellious young men. His early and best-known films included "The Rouge Tigress," "The Heart-Stealer," "The Strange Hero," "The Black Rose" and "The Prince of Broadcasters."

His career later crossed into television, where he remained familiar to younger viewers. He starred in TVB dramas including "Chor Lau-heung," "The Shell Game" and "The Bund II," with his role as Law Sei-hoi in "The Shell Game" further cementing the "Sei Gor" nickname.

Tse also worked behind the camera as a director, producer and screenwriter, making him part of the generation that helped shape Hong Kong popular entertainment across cinema and television.

For many viewers, Tse's appeal rested not only on his long filmography but also on an unmistakable style: dark glasses, long hair, a relaxed smile and the unhurried confidence of a star who seemed to carry old Hong Kong with him wherever he appeared.

In 2019, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Hong Kong Film Awards. Three years later, he won Best Actor for "Time," becoming the oldest best actor winner in the awards' history and closing a seven-decade career with one of its most acclaimed performances.

Reports said funeral arrangements would be handled quietly in line with the family's wishes. No cause of death was immediately announced.