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- HK celebrity Lydia Sum dies at 60 -


VETERAN Hong Kong actress Lydia Sum, known for her iconic black-rimmed glasses and heavy build, died early on Tuesday, news reports said. She was 60.

The cause of death wasn't immediately clear, but Commercial Radio reported on its website that Sum had been suffering from a bile duct condition. Radio RTHK reported on its website she suffered from liver cancer.

Shanghai-born Sum passed away in Queen Mary Hospital in Hong Kong.

The star had been suffering from diabetes and high blood pressure. She was admitted into hospital in August last year for an operation.

Affectionately known to peers and fans as Fei-fei, Sum made her movie debut at age 13, according to the Commercial Radio report.

In 1960, she joined Shaw Brothers. Her stardom began with the widely televised TVB variety show Enjoy Yourself Tonight, first singing with the Four Golden Flowers in the 1970s.

She acted in more than 100 movies in Hong Kong and hosted more than 5,000 episodes of variety shows. Kung fu fans will remember her as Yuen Cheung-Yan's dominating wife in the film Drunken Tai Chi. She also appeared as Richard Ng's wife in the all-star comedy Millionaire's Express and in It's a Mad Mad World in a major role.

Sum starred in Mediacorp's Channel 5 sitcom 'Living with Lydia' and her performance in the Singapore programme won her the 'Best Comedy Performance by an Actress' award at the 2003 Asian Television Awards.

It was the first time she had acted in an English drama in her 40 year career.

Sum married actor and singer Adam Cheng Siu Chow in 1985 after 11 years of cohabitation. They had a daughter, Joyce Cheng Yan Yee, in 1987. Eight months after Joyce was born, Cheng and Sum divorced.

Hong Kong leader Donald Tsang mourned Sum's death. 'Hong Kong grew up with her laughter. She brought us a lot of joy,' Mr Tsang told reporters.

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R.I.P 肥肥沈殿霞, we will remember you and the laughter u brought to us...