A few days ago, I was scrolling through Douyin and stumbled upon a short clip of Charmaine Sheh’s interview. The reporter asked if she knew Benz Hui Siu Hung was critically ill and had been admitted to the hospital. Charmaine, with tears in her eyes, softly said, “努力中.” At that moment, my heart sank. I had a bad feeling, but I still held onto a tiny hope. What if he could recover? What if this was just a false alarm?
Even though there wasn’t an official announcement yet, something inside me told me the day might come soon. Still, I clung to denial. I scrolled through Xiaohongshu every day, liking and commenting on every post, saying, “He’s getting better,” as if my small act of hope could somehow change reality.
But the miracle never came.
The day it was officially announced that Benz Hui had passed away, I just sat there and stared blankly at the screen. The sadness hit harder than I expected.
He’s gone.
And before him, Chow Chung was gone. Suet Nei was gone. Liu Kai Chi was gone.
One by one, the familiar faces from our childhood TV screens have quietly left us, not just leaving TVB, but leaving this world.
It’s more than just losing an actor. It feels like losing an entire era.
An era when we used to sit in front of the TV after dinner, watching dramas with our families. When the world felt simpler, and every episode came with a moral lesson or a warm line that somehow stayed with us for years.
TVB wasn’t just entertainment; it was a part of our upbringing.
I dare say TVB dramas shaped my view of life, values, and even my career outlook.
Lines like:
- “How many decades does one have in a lifetime?”
- “Are you hungry? I’ll cook for you."
- “The most important thing in life is to be happy.”
These weren’t just dialogue. They were life lessons, simple, but powerful.
Benz Hui, with his ever-genuine smile and calm presence, was one of those actors who made every scene feel natural. Whether he played a righteous cop, a loving father, or a loyal friend, there was always something real about him. You could feel his warmth, like a neighbor you’ve known for years.
I still remember Line Walker. For me, that was TVB’s last golden moment. It had the intensity, the heart, and the emotional depth that reminded me of why I fell in love with TVB dramas in the first place. Foon Hei Gor (Benz Hui’s) performance in that show was unforgettable, steady, heartfelt, and sincere.
But after that, something changed.
Even though TVB continued producing dramas, it never felt the same. Maybe it’s because the new generation of actors didn’t have that same spark. It’s not their fault, really. Times have changed. But that magic, the combination of timing, culture, and genuine passion, was something that could never be replicated.
And now, with every passing of these legendary artists, it feels like our childhood memories are fading too. It’s not just about them, it’s about us. We’re growing older, and the world we once knew is slipping further away.
Benz Hui’s death isn’t just the loss of a beloved actor. It’s a painful reminder that the era that shaped us is slowly disappearing. The laughter, the warmth, the family moments in front of the TV. All of it now feels like a beautiful dream we can never return to.
Maybe that’s why it hurts so much. Because losing him feels like saying goodbye to a part of ourselves.
I’m not trying to find a deeper meaning here. I just want to express what so many of us are feeling right now: genuine sadness, nostalgia, and gratitude.
To Benz Hui, and to all the TVB artists who have left us:
Thank you for the memories.
Thank you for shaping our childhood.
Thank you for reminding us that, at the end of the day, the most important thing in life really is to be happy.
Felicia Yoan (feliciayoan11@gmail.com) is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
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