‘Leslie Cheung was a man ahead of his time’: 20 years after the death of Hong Kong actor-singer, his cultural legacy and how he broke gender norms

On the 20th anniversary of the pop and movie star’s suicide, we look back at Leslie Cheung’s rise to the top and his charisma and consider his cultural legacy

Cheung helped push Cantopop to new heights, starred in dozens of films and openly embraced his bisexuality; today he is acknowledged as a queer fashion icon

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Anita Mui Yim-fong and Leslie Cheung Kwok-wing in the 1988 film Rouge. Twenty years after his death, Cheung continues to inspire fans, creatives and queer communities around the world. Photo: Golden Harvest

Published: 7:15am, 31 Mar 2023Updated: 11:32pm, 20 Apr 2023

Twenty years ago, Hong Kong pop and movie star Leslie Cheung Kwok-wing took his own life. Some didn’t believe it at first – it was, after all, April Fools’ Day when the news broke.

When it dawned on them that this was no joke, the city lapsed into collective shock – and for some absolute despair – as they realised their much-loved gor gor, an affectionate term for “older brother”, was gone forever.

Two decades on, Cheung’s legacy continues to inspire fans, creative people and queer communities around the world. That says much about the star’s unique talent and charisma and his enduring influence as a cultural icon.

Cheung’s career began in 1977, when he was first runner-up in that year’s Asian Music Contest with his rendition of Don McLean’s American Pie, and lasted 26 years until his untimely death. He released more than 40 music albums and appeared in 56 films.

Cheung was first runner-up in the 1977 Asian Music Contest. Photo: SCMP

He helped push Cantopop to new heights in the 1980s, scoring hit after hit. Some of his releases were Chinese adaptations of Japanese pop tunes, which was the trend at the time, and some were original compositions.

In the 1990s, Cheung received widespread acclaim for his portrayals of either womanising or queer characters on screen. This was during a time when Hong Kong was still relatively conservative towards non-heteronormative identities.