Actor Leslie Cheung (Chang Kuo-wung) was born on September 12, 1956, in Hong Kong. He passed away on April 1, 2003.
He was the youngest of 10 children, born to parents who ran a textile factory. After graduating from high school, he studied abroad in England. After returning to Japan, he entered the entertainment industry after winning second place in a singing contest. He made his debut as a singer in 1977, but struggled for success. In 1983, he had a hit with his cover of Momoe Yamaguchi's "Sayonara no Mukougawa," and in 1985, he also had a hit with his cover of Koji Kikkawa's "Monica." He quickly became a top star.
He also pursued an acting career, making his film debut in 1978 in "Spring in the Red House." He subsequently appeared in hits such as "The Evening Song of Men" in 1986 and "A Chinese Ghost Story" in 1987, establishing his popularity as an actor. He retired from singing in 1989. In 1990, he took a break from acting and moved to Canada, but his popularity never waned and he returned six months later. In 1993, his film Farewell My Concubine won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival.

In 1996, he resumed his singing career. Jean Paul Gaultier designed the costumes for his 2000 concert "Passion of the Concubine." However, at the height of his popularity in 2003, he committed suicide by jumping from the luxury Mandarin Oriental hotel in Hong Kong. He was 46 years old.