Leslie Cheung

Leslie Cheung, born in Hong Kong and educated in the UK, rose to fame after winning second prize in an amateur singing contest, releasing his first album in 1978. Over a 26-year career, he became a cornerstone of Cantopop and a revered film actor, starring in over 50 movies including "A Better Tomorrow" and "A Chinese Ghost Story." His albums "Summer Romance" and "Most Beloved" were commercial triumphs, and he won a Best Actor award for "Days of Being Wild." Cheung's willingness to portray queer characters, as in Wong Kar-wai’s "Happy Together" and Chen Kaige’s "Farewell My Concubine," set him apart in a conservative industry. His life ended tragically on April 1, 2003, by suicide, leaving behind a legacy marked by artistic bravery and immense popularity.