Taiwanese actress Barbie Hsu Passes Away at 48

Barbie Hsu passes away

We are mourning the loss of the passing of Taiwanese actress, Barbie Hsu, known for her role as Shan Cai in the Asian drama phenomenal hit series, Meteor Garden. She died from pneumonia at the age of 48. Known as Da S in Taiwan, Hsu is one of the biggest names in the Mandarin-speaking world and Meteor Garden made her the most popular Asian actress in the early 2000s in the Philippines, Indonesia, and Thailand after it was dubbed in local languages.

An outpouring of grief on social media has been shared by fans who expressed their shock upon hearing the sad news. Fans paid tribute to her influence on Asian pop culture.

Barbie Hsu passes away
Barbie Hsu as Shan Cai in Metereo Garden 2001

Her sister, Dee Hsu, a popular television host in Taiwan, confirmed her death to Taiwan's TVBS News on Monday, after rumors of her death swirled the day before. "During the Lunar New Year, our family came to Japan for vacation. My dearest sister Barbie has unfortunately left us after getting pneumonia, triggered by influenza," Dee said in a statement shared by her manager.

Barbie Hsu

Barbie Hsu was born on October 6, 1976. She made her debut in the entertainment industry in Taiwan at 17 as part of a pop duo with her sister Dee. They went on to become TV hosts, known for their animated style and sense of humor. Barbie made her acting debut in Meteor Garden as Shan Cai, the cute but strong girl who fought the bullies in her school, the four rich boys known as F4. 

Meteor Garden cast 

Meteor Garden, a TV adaptation of a 1990s Japanese comic book of the same name, helped Hsu become a star outside the Mandarin-speaking world. Her portrayal as Shan Cai, a poor student from a middle-class family who attends an elite private school and finds herself entangled in a love web with the heirs of wealthy families, endeared her to fans and for decades she remained a top favorite Asian actress even after quitting acting after she became a mother.

Her four male co-stars in Meteor Garden: Jerry Yan, Vic Zhou, Vanness Wu, and Ken Chu, would later form the Taiwanese boyband F4, which became one of the most popular Mandopop groups of the 2000s.

On Monday, F4 member Ken Chu posted a blank black image on Instagram, as well as a group photo with Hsu. "What a bolt from the blue," he wrote on Weibo.

Meteor Garden captivated Asian audiences. It opened the door for Asian dramas to be appreciated and known worldwide. It was the first Asian hit series to be aired globally.

Barbie Hsu as San Chai

Two decades since its debut, Meteor Garden's popularity has endured and remakes through the years have attracted new fans. Versions of the series have also been produced in Japan, South Korea, mainland China, and India.

She had a nearly three-year relationship with her Meteor Garden co-star, Vic Zhou, after they starred together in the drama, Mars in 2004.

Hsu was the top trending topic on the Chinese social media platform Weibo on Monday morning. Posts about influenza in Japan were also trending.

Jerry Yan, who played Dao Mingsi in Meteor Garden, took to Weibo to share his moment of loss:

She left behind two children with her ex-husband, Chinese businessman Wang Xiaofei, with whom she had an acrimonious split in 2021, after 10 years together. She married her current husband, South Korean musician DJ Koo, in 2022. 

She was so unforgettable, Meteor Garden was the first Asian drama I ever watched. Sanchai will live on in our memory. Our deepest condolences to the family of Barbie. Rest in Peace. 

Some of her memorable acting projects:

  • Meteor Garden 1 (2001) series 
  • Meteor Garden 2 (2002) series 
  • A Chinese Ghost Story (2003) series
  • Mars (2004) series 
  • A Ghost Inside (2005) movie 
  • Connected (2006) movie 
  • Reign of Assassins (2010) movie 
  • My Kingdom (2011) movie
Update:

According to Taiwanese media, Barbie felt the symptoms of flu on January 29, while celebrating the Lunar New Year in Japan with her family, but didn't see a doctor until January 31. It turned out to be serious and she passed away on February 2.


Her body is still in Japan and as per Sina Entertainment on Weibo, she will be cremated in Japan and her ashes will be flown to Taiwan. Her ex-husband, Wang Xiaofei, will fly to Taiwan from Thailand.

Barbie Hsu's last public appearance on January 25 with her husband and friends 

Barbie's last public appearance was on January 25 attending a public event in Taiwan with her husband, DJ Koo.

Post a Comment

0 Comments