HK actress Violet Lee, 70, dies after refusing medical treatment following fall in Vancouver home
Veteran Hong Kong actress Violet Lee Ying has passed away after suffering a fall at her home in Vancouver. She was 70.
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Fellow actress Wong Shuk Yee, who is in Vancouver, confirmed the tragic news, saying Hong Kong-based Malaysian actress Angie Cheong was by Violet’s side when she passed yesterday (Feb 25).
Violet’s sudden death comes as a shock to friends and family as she had always been in good health.
Shuk Yee said she was still fine when they spoke a couple of days ago and had even arranged to meet today (Feb 26).
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According to reports, Violet, who was just in Hong Kong for Chinese New Year, did not seek medical treatment after falling a few days ago.
“She told her friends it was just a sprain and nothing serious. We told her we wanted to see her, but she said she was fine, and when we asked her out, she refused. Friends then left food for her at her door,” said Shuk Yee.
When Violet's friends were unable to reach her yesterday morning, they went to her home and found her feeling unwell and nauseous. Her speech was also unclear and there were bruises on her face.
They immediately called the ambulance and contacted Angie.
Paramedics performed CPR on Violet for more than half an hour, before rushing her to the hospital. Unfortunately, she could not be saved.
Violet's two daughters, who were then in Hong Kong, immediately flew home to take care of her affairs.
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Violet made her showbiz debut in the ‘70s and was in same TVB artiste training class as Mary Hon and Damian Lau, whom she dated for seven years.
After graduation, she joined the dubbing team, before embarking on her acting career.
She starred in numerous TV dramas and is best known for her role in 1994’s Class of Distinction alongside Leon Lai, Jessica Hsuan and Louis Koo.
In 1984, she married businessman Shen Haijian after a few months of dating and immigrated to Canada.
The couple, who have two daughters, divorced after eight years.
Violet's elder daughter Winnie Shum, 38, followed in her acting footsteps.
She joined TVB after competing in the 2004 Miss Hong Kong pageant, and later quit showbiz to become a flight attendent.
In 2003, Violet returned to Hong Kong and made her acting comeback in dramas such as ViuTV's Sorina Fok and Radio Television Hong Kong’s Stories of Lion Rock Spirit.
