Meteor Garden: Taiwanese star Barbie Hsu dies at 48

Meteor Garden: Taiwanese star Barbie Hsu dies at 48

Meteor Garden: Taiwanese star Barbie Hsu dies at 48

Barbie Hsu, the Taiwanese actress who gained fame for her role in Meteor Garden, has passed away at the age of 48 due to pneumonia. Hsu, a prominent figure in the Mandarin-speaking world, became a household name in countries like the Philippines, Indonesia, and Thailand after Meteor Garden was dubbed in local languages. The news of her death has sparked an outpouring of grief online, with fans expressing their shock and admiration for her influence on pop culture.

Hsu's sister, Dee Hsu, confirmed her death, sharing that Barbie had fallen ill while vacationing in Japan. "During the Lunar New Year, our family came to Japan for vacation. My dearest sister Barbie has unfortunately left us after getting pneumonia, triggered by influenza," Dee stated in a message shared by her manager.

Barbie Hsu began her career in show business at 17, initially forming a pop duo with her sister Dee. The two later became TV hosts known for their lively style and humor. However, it was Meteor Garden, a TV adaptation of a Japanese comic, that made Barbie a star beyond the Mandarin-speaking world. In the series, she portrayed Shancai, a student who becomes entangled in a love story with the heirs of wealthy families.

Her co-stars from the show formed the Taiwanese boy band F4, which became one of the most successful Mandopop groups of the 2000s. Meteor Garden became a major hit in Asia, particularly in the Philippines, where it aired multiple times to meet high demand.

Despite her success, Hsu had a history of health issues, including epilepsy and heart disease, and had been hospitalized for seizures in the past. She leaves behind two children from her previous marriage to Chinese businessman Wang Xiaofei, with whom she separated in 2021. In 2022, she remarried South Korean musician DJ Koo, with whom she had a past relationship in the 1990s.