Wu Mengda (1952-2021)
Wu Mengda’s stills in “Shaolin Football”. Someone commented: “One look is enough for others to learn for a lifetime.”
In May 2019, Wu Mengda visited the Xiamen Blue Sky Rescue Team. (Photo courtesy of Xiamen Blue Sky Rescue Team)
Xiamen Daily reported on the 8th edition of December 8, 2009
Xiamen Daily reported on the 8th edition of January 16, 2010
Xiamen Net News (Xiamen Daily reporter Guo Rui) Yesterday, 69-year-old famous actor Wu Mengda died of illness in Hong Kong. “Uncle Da”, who is beloved by audiences for his classic supporting roles in Hong Kong comedy films, was actually born in Xiamen. He once said, “I am from Xiamen everywhere.”
Concerned about the development of Xiamen’s film and television industry
Wu Mengda left Xiamen with his family for Hong Kong when he was 7 years old, but he has always regarded Xiamen as his hometown. He also has an identity over the years-the honorary chairman of the Xiamen Actors Working Committee (hereinafter referred to as the “Actors’ Union”). The person who invited him to this position was Chen Xiaping, the Xiamen actor and the founding president of the Actors’ Union. The two met the crew of the cross-strait themed TV series “Ship and Ship” filmed in Xiamen in 2009. Chen Xiaping has always regarded Wu Mengda as his teacher and elder brother. When preparing for the establishment of the actors’ union in 2013, he immediately thought of asking Wu Mengda to “go out”, and the latter also agreed. “He was very happy that we invited him and said that he was very honored.” Chen Xiaping recalled in an interview with reporters last night.
Chen Xiaping said that Wu Mengda has always been very concerned about the work of the actors’ union. “When he is not in Xiamen, he often phoned to learn about the union’s situation and follow up our activities.” Chen Xiaping told reporters, “Wu Mengda has been concerned about the development of film and television in Xiamen many years ago. I’m very confident. I often say that Xiamen’s film and television industry will grow bigger and better.”
Although he left Xiamen at a very young age, Wu Mengda’s accent has not changed, and he speaks very authentic Hokkien. Chen Xiaping said that Wu Mengda often used Hokkien to communicate with everyone in the crew during the filming of “Ship to Ship”. In an interview with the media, Wu Mengda talked about the special significance of filming this drama for him, “That was when I came back more than 40 years after leaving Xiamen. I met a few childhood playmates and made many new friends. Very happy. After all, this is my hometown, and I am from Xiamen everywhere.”
Befriended the Xiamen Blue Sky Rescue Team
The intersection of Wu Mengda and Xiamen has become more frequent in recent years. In addition to work, he will accompany his mother back to Xiamen. In an interview with the media in Xiamen in 2019, he said: “Now my mother is getting older and likes to live in Xiamen more and more. She comes back for several months a year. She has a companion in Xiamen, and relatives and friends can take care of her.”
Wu Mengda also talked about his love for Xiamen snacks many times in interviews, “such as shacha noodles, bamboo shoots jelly, and pancakes. I loved to eat them when I was young, and my mother would make them occasionally. They taste great.”
In Xiamen, Wu Mengda’s “circle of friends” is very large, and he also has a relationship with the Xiamen Blue Sky Rescue Team. Team leader Shui Cao told reporters last night that after the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake, she and Wu Mengda met in the disaster area. “In Wenchuan, he shuttled through the ruins like us, trying his best to help those in need. I was very impressed that once he took out a sack with a roll of money and a roll of 10,000. He took a few of us, saw a family who had lost a loved one in the disaster area, and sent a roll of money.”
Soon after the waterweed returned to Xiamen from Wenchuan, the Xiamen Blue Sky Rescue Team was established. When the rescue team held its 10th anniversary commemoration in 2018, Wu Mengda, who was still filming the movie “The Wandering Earth”, sent a special blessing video. In this 10-minute video, Wu Mengda said: “I will always follow you silently. If you need help, please feel free to contact me. We will do our best to help you.”
“It can be said that Da Ge has been my spiritual pillar over the years. He has always encouraged me and told me that it is difficult to do charity. We must have confidence and persistence.” The last meeting between Shuicao and Wu Mengda was in May 2019. , Wu Mengda came to the Xiamen Blue Sky Rescue Team to visit and communicate with the team members. When taking a group photo at the end of the event, Wu Mengda, with white beard and hair, made a signature funny expression to the camera.
> Talk about hair
“That was when I came back more than 40 years after leaving Xiamen. I saw a few childhood playmates and made many new friends. I was very happy. After all, this is my hometown, and I am from Xiamen everywhere.”
——Wu Mengda said in an interview with the media when filming “Ship to Ship”
>Talk about mom
“Now my mother is getting older, and she likes to live in Xiamen more and more, coming back for several months a year. She has a company in Xiamen, and relatives and friends can take care of her.”
——Wu Mengda said in an interview with the media in Xiamen in 2019
>Talk about Xiamen snacks
“Such as shacha noodles, bamboo shoots jelly, and pancakes. I loved to eat them when I was a child, and my mother would make them occasionally. They taste great.”
——Wu Mengda talked about his love for Xiamen snacks in many interviews
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Born in Xiamen and moved to Hong Kong at the age of 7
Wu Mengda was born in Xiamen, Fujian Province in January 1952. He moved to Hong Kong with his family when he was 7 years old. In 1973, he applied for the third Hong Kong wireless artist training class and began to set foot in the film and television industry.
Many of Wu Mengda’s performances have been accompanied by the growth of generations. His cooperation with Stephen Chow has become a classic in the minds of many people, such as “Playing Back to School”, “Journey to the West”, “Shaolin Football”, etc., which are Chinese movies. Renowned overseas has made a rare contribution.
Wu Mengda’s acting skills and influence have been affirmed by audiences. He was nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the Hong Kong Film Awards for his films such as “Sacred Gambler” and “Playing Back to School”; he won the 1991 gold medal with “Heavenly Love” Image Award for Best Supporting Actor. In recent years, Wu Mengda has been active in the mainland film scene. In 2017, he appeared in the domestic science fiction film “The Wandering Earth”. When filming “The Wandering Earth”, Wu Mengda was 66 years old and suffered from heart failure. Wu Mengda fainted due to lack of oxygen due to too much exercise. However, Wu Mengda pointed out that “The Wandering Earth” is an excellent domestic script that can contribute to the development of Chinese science fiction films. Wu Mengda finally insisted on completing the filming.
(Integrated People’s Daily Online, Xinhuanet)
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