CoCo Lee and Bruce Rockowitz attend an event in 2016.Photo:ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA
ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA
The estranged husband of late singer-songwriterCoCo Leeis speaking out alongside his family days after losing the star to suicide.
“CoCo was beautiful inside and out, warm and kind. CoCo was a singer and composer in all aspects and a talented performer who cared for and mentored the younger generation,” reads the obit, translated from Chinese. “She was a beloved wife, sweet friend and dear family member. She brought light to everyone around her with her enthusiasm, devotion and sincere personality.”
The tribute continued: “Every life she touched will deeply miss her. Her influence will always be shining. Details of her funeral will be announced at a later time.”
CoCo Lee performs in Beijing in 2015.Visual China Group/Getty
Visual China Group/Getty
Lee and Rockowitz were reportedly separated at the time of her death, according to multiple outlets, including Hong Kong’sOriental Daily News.
The outlet also reported that Lee had endured a difficult past year that involved several health issues, including an operation to treat breast cancer, according to her sister Nancy.
A rep for the late star has not responded to a request for comment from PEOPLE.
Friend and collaborator Jae Chong appeared to confirm news of Lee’s cancer diagnosis in anInstagram poston Wednesday.
“I’m utterly broken to hear the news about CoCo… I remember when she told me about her illness [a] few months ago I sat in my car crying nonstop,” he wrote. “She was suffering from so many different things including secretly battling cancer~ She was a true fighter.”
CoCo Lee attends an event in Shanghai in 2018.Visual China Group/Getty
Lee was hospitalized on July 2 after a suicide attempt and spent several days in a coma before her death, Carol and Nancy said in a social media post announcing the news.
Her sisters said that CoCo had “been suffering from depression for a few years but her condition deteriorated drastically over the last few months.”
“Although CoCo sought professional help and did her best to fight depression, sadly that demon inside of her took the better of her,” they wrote.
Though Lee began her career as a Mandopop singer, she later broke through in the United States, and her song “A Love Before Time” fromCrouching Tiger, Hidden Dragonwas nominated for Best Original Song at the 2001 Academy Awards. She performed the song live at the ceremony that year.
Actress Michelle Yeoh, one of the film’s stars,paid tribute to Leeon Instagram after her death, writing that she was “deeply saddened” to have “lost a bright star.”
“Coco was the first Chinese to perform at the Oscars, her song A love before time from Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon was nominated for Best Original Song.. we were so proud and always will be,” Yeoh wrote. “You and your beautiful voice will be missed. RIP my dear… Heartfelt condolences to Coco’s family and all who love you… 🙏🏻”
Lee also notably voiced the female warrior Mulan in the Mandarin version of Disney’sMulan, and sang the Mandarin version of the movie’s classic ballad “Reflection.” She appeared in three films, including Lee Xin’sMaster of EverythingandNo Tobacco.
In her final Instagram post, which was shared in December, Lee reflected on her “incredibly difficult year,” writing that she was able to adopt the “attitude of a ‘female warrior’” in order to tackle problems that “seemed unbearable at times.”
“I am happy to say I am finally living the real me,” said Lee. “It’s the best feeling n I’m grateful everyday to be alive n I get to share my thoughts with u. My dear friends… Be U n Live U! Remember there’s only 1 of u in the world, u r one of a kind.”
Whilebidding “farewell” to 2022, Lee encouraged fans to “live a life of good intentions, truth, have faith in what u do, SMILE [and] choose happy” in 2023: “Be a winner, not a victim.”
source: people.com
