Barbie Hsu, Taiwanese Actor and Singer Known for "Meteor Garden," Passes Away at 48

Obituary

Taiwanese actor and singer Barbie Hsu, best known for her leading role in the hit 2001 drama series "Meteor Garden," has passed away at the age of 48.

Circumstances of Death

The BBC reported Hsu's death on Monday, citing local media sources. Her sister, Dee Hsu, confirmed the tragic news to Taiwan's TVBS News, stating that Barbie had fallen ill during a vacation in Japan.

"During the Lunar New Year holiday, our family traveled to Japan. Unfortunately, my beloved sister Barbie passed away due to pneumonia caused by influenza," Dee Hsu said, according to the BBC. Hsu had a history of health issues, including epilepsy, for which she had been hospitalized in the past.

Career Highlights

Barbie and Dee Hsu began their entertainment careers as a singing duo, releasing the hit song "Ten-Minute Love" in 1994 under the stage name S.O.S. After facing contractual disputes with their agency, the sisters shifted their focus to hosting, becoming known for their roles on the variety show "Guess" and the entertainment news program "100% Entertainment."

Hsu's breakthrough came in 2001 with her starring role in "Meteor Garden," the first live-action adaptation of the popular Japanese manga series "Boys Over Flowers." The series, which featured the boy band F4, became a global phenomenon. She reprised her role in the sequel, "Meteor Garden II," the following year.

In 2004, Hsu reunited with F4 member Vic Chou for the drama series "Mars." She made her film debut in 2005 with "The Ghost Inside" and attended the Cannes Film Festival the following year with the horror movie "Silk."

Hsu's other notable acting credits include the dramas "Corner With Love" (2007) and "Summer Desire" (2010), and the films "Connected" (2008), "Hot Summer Days" (2010), and "Reign of Assassins" (2010), which featured Michelle Yeoh.

Personal Life

Hsu stepped back from acting after marrying Chinese entrepreneur Wang Xiaofei in 2011. They had two children together, a daughter and a son, but divorced in 2021. In 2022, she announced her marriage to South Korean singer Koo Jun-yup.