Vancouver-raised model and Asian film star Godfrey Gao dead at 35: Reports

Credit to Author: Scott Brown| Date: Wed, 27 Nov 2019 04:05:21 +0000

Godfrey Gao, the North Vancouver-raised supermodel and star of Chinese cinema, has died after suffering an apparent heart attack while filming a reality TV show, according to a report in the Hong Kong newspaper Apple Daily.

Gao collapsed Tuesday on the set of Chase Me, a competitive sports reality show for China’s Zhejiang Television, in the Chinese city of Ningbo.

Apple Daily reported that CPR was applied at the scene before the 35-year-old Gao was sent to hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

Gao was born in Taiwan but grew up in North Vancouver. He went to Queensbury elementary, Argyle secondary and studied at Capilano University before heading to Taipei in 2004 to start his acting career appearing in Taiwanese television dramas.

“I wanted to make a name first here (in Asia) before trying to go for Hollywood,” Gao told the Vancouver Sun in 2013. “Now I hope to get more work in North America, but I’d like to keep playing (the two markets) off each other.”

Actor Godfrey Gao died Tuesday. Ethan Miller / Getty Images

In 2011, he became the first Asian model to be signed by Louis Vuitton.

Chinese official media Zhejiang News confirmed Gao’s death and said his body would be transported back to Taipei on Wednesday.

With Postmedia files

 

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