The passing of artist Thuong Tin on December 8 in his hometown of Khanh Hoa ended the life of many events of one of the most prominent actors in Vietnamese cinema after 1975.
In his prime, he was a face that covered the entire screen, appearing in hundreds of works and leaving roles as legends. But behind the stage lights is a long series of ups and downs, illnesses and loneliness of a pensioner.
Once a sought-after actor
Born in 1956, originating from the cai luong stage, Thuong Tin soon showed strong acting qualities. But it was cinema that made his name a star. With a flashy demeanor, a face full of cinematic features and the ability to transform flexibly, he left his mark through a series of classic roles such as Major Luu Ky Vong in Van fat so, General bandit Bach Hai Duong of SBC, Sau Tam in Saigon Baper or Tam Thuong in the Sea of the Moon.
As of 2015, he has acted in more than 200 films - a record number in the Vietnamese film industry. One year, he received more than a dozen roles, becoming a familiar face in both plastic films and television.
One of the last roles he participated in was in the film "Culi khong bao mai khoc" by director Pham Ngoc Lan, released in 2024.
The film was selected to screen at the Berlin International Film Festival ( Berlinale) - one of the most prestigious film festivals in the world.
Thuong Tin appeared in the film with a supporting role, and his acting was highly appreciated for his rusticity and naturalness despite his old age and poor health.
The last years of his life
In the last years of his life, Thuong Tin's health seriously declined. He had heart disease, suffered a stroke in 2021, then suffered consecutive injuries, severe arthritis, and had to be hospitalized many times. The image of him holding a stick, being thin, and having difficulty moving has made many audiences feel sorry.
There was a time when the audience saw him driving a technology car to make a living and singing in the province.
After that, he participated in a few small shows, directed a number of stage projects to earn income.
He once shared with reporters: "My economy is very difficult, but I have money to go and get. Now I just hope to make it through the day."
In his final conversations with Lao Dong Newspaper reporters, Thuong Tin admitted that he was "out of date", no longer able to pursue action roles or appear as dense as before. He faced the harsh words calmly: "I'm used to it. What is past is past. It's all for me, I accept it."
In the last years of his life, he was supported, cared for and connected with his colleagues by musician To Hieu. In 2023, he participated in the "Love Artists" fundraising music night, despite his poor health, he still wanted to contribute to helping people in need.
