On May 12th, as reported by “Art Blossom”: Renowned drama and film actor Shi Weijian (石維堅) passed away in Beijing at the age of 89. A close friend of Shi revealed that he had been severely afflicted by illness and had mobility issues in recent years. His family had provided him with devoted care, and a nurse was employed at home. “On the morning of May 12th, he suddenly felt unwell, and shortly after being taken to the hospital, he passed away without much suffering.”
Shi Weijian began his career as a young actor at the Shanghai People’s Art Theatre in 1952, and in 1956, he joined the Central Experimental Theatre. In 1991, he became the president of the China Youth Art Theatre. He starred in notable stage productions such as “Liu Hulan,” <劉胡蘭> “A Servant of Two Masters,” <一僕二 主> “The Peach Blossom Fan,” <桃花扇> and “The Water Flows Faraway.” <汾水長流> In film, he gained prominence in 1981 playing the lead role of Luo Qun in Xie Jin‘s (謝晉) “Legend of Tianyun Mountain,” <天雲山傳奇> which won multiple awards including the Best Feature Film at the 1st Golden Rooster Awards and the 4th Hundred Flowers Awards. In 2002, he was nominated for Best Actor at the 25th Popular Film Hundred Flowers Awards for his role in “Mission of Peace.” <太平使命> He will be dearly missed.
