Veteran Hong Kong actor Zheng Lei passed away peacefully at the age of 92. A generation of martial arts greenery took a curtain call

Jiuzhi Network News According to Hong Kong media, Zheng Lei (formerly known as Zheng Hongrong), a senior Hong Kong film and television actor and one of the Five Tiger Generals of the Shaw Family, passed away peacefully in Hong Kong on March 25, 2026 at the age of 92. His family members handled the funeral in a low-key manner. On April 12, a funeral was set up at the Hong Kong funeral parlour, and the funeral and cremation ceremony were completed on April 13. The news was announced by the actor's friend Wu Yushu and clarified the relevant false rumors.
In his early years, Zheng Lei was a disciple of director Zhang Che. He was an important actor in the golden age of Shaw's martial arts films. He was also known as the "Five Tigers of Shaw's" together with Wang Yu and Luo Lie. He has spanned the film industry for more than 60 years and created countless classic supporting roles. He has worked for Shaw's, ATV, and TVB, and participated in many classic martial arts films such as "One-Armed Sword King". He is a household name in the field of TV dramas.
The characters most familiar to the audience include Qiu Qianren in Koo Tianle's version of "The Condor Heroes", Sato Hakawa, the villain in the ATV classic "Chen Zhen", and the classic green leaf characters in many Jin Yong dramas such as "The Eight Parts of the Dragon" and "Deer Ding Ji". His performance is calm and powerful, both positive and evil, and has become an important symbol in the memory of Hong Kong drama and martial arts for generations.
It is reported that Zheng Lei settled in Hong Kong in his later years and lived a low-key life. This death was a serious death, and he left peacefully. The family members complied with their wishes to simplify the funeral ceremony without extravagance. Industry colleagues and fans mourned one after another, lamenting that an old actor who witnessed half a century of Hong Kong film and television has come to an end, and classic characters will remain on the screen forever.