BEIJING, July 6 -- A ceremony was held for people to pay their last respects to the deceased veteran actor Gu Yue, who portrayed the late Chairman Mao Zedong in 84 movies and television series, in Guangzhou on Tuesday.

    Gu died of a heart attack Saturday night at 68 when traveling in Sanshui District, Foshan City. According to sources close to Gu, the heart attack was probably related to the summer heat and fatigue since Gu never had symptoms of heart disease before his death.

Gu Yue, known as China's late leader "Mao Zedong on the screen", died of miocardial infarction in Guangdong Saturday night. He was 68. (File photo)

    Gu, whose original name was Hu Shixue, was an orphan and later became a solider in 1949.

    Since 1981, appointed by Marshal Ye Jianying, Gu stepped into the role of Mao and was praised by many top leaders and film experts, as saying, ¡°his performance is very successful, which looks like a real Mao Zedong.¡±

    A director surnamed Zhu recalled, ¡°When we recruited actors for historical figures in 1978, Gu sent his photos and volunteered himself. At the beginning, Gu had no experience in performing but he made great efforts in his first role.¡±

    With the progress of Gu¡¯s performing in later films, he had experienced changes in his career, as well as his life. He collected more than 600 photos from Mao Zedong¡¯s daily life to imitate every detail of the great leader.

    ¡°Portraying Chairman Mao is my lifelong duty,¡± once said Gu.

    Many of Gu¡¯s friends expressed their sorrow and regrets Monday.

    Lu Qi, who played another late leader Deng Xiaoping, said, ¡°Gu¡¯s death is a big loss to the Chinese film circles. His performance is deeply rooted in the hearts of the audiences.¡±

(Source: Shenzhen Daily)