On 7/1, information circulated on social media claiming that "actor Quoc Khanh has lung cancer, which has now metastasized to his bones." Responding by phone, the artist stated, "I am fine, my health is normal." He jokingly added, "Sometimes, people just put me on the altar prematurely; I just let it be."

Recently, after Vietnam Television announced it would stop producing "Tao Quan", some reports suggested the decision was linked to the health of artist Quoc Khanh, who played the Jade Emperor. Addressing these speculations, artist Quang Thang, Quoc Khanh's long-time co-star, said, "He is still normal."

According to a source, artist Quoc Khanh recently experienced some health issues but has since been discharged from the hospital. A few days ago, a group of close artists visited him at his home.

Quoc Khanh is 63 years old and is retired from the Vietnam Drama Theater. The artist once mentioned feeling free being single in his sixties, as no one managed him, allowing him autonomy in both work and life. For many years, he lived with his mother in a room approximately 10 square meters. In 2017, his mother became seriously ill and passed away.

Artist Quoc Khanh in "Tao Quan". Photo: VFC

After his role as journalist Loc in "Bao qua lang" (2014), he was absent from the small screen, despite receiving many invitations to return. The actor explained that current television projects often span dozens of episodes, requiring at least half a year of filming. "I am older now, I am not overly ambitious with work, and I want to dedicate more time to myself. I believe that at my age, having just enough is happiness," the artist shared.

Having played the Jade Emperor in "Tao Quan" since 2004, Quoc Khanh left a lasting impression on audiences with his composed acting style. His character did not have many lines but consistently delivered valuable concluding remarks. According to Quoc Quan, who played the Economic God in 2024, Quoc Khanh was the soul and "irreplaceable" figure of the program.

Director Do Thanh Hai commented that the Jade Emperor was a character with few opportunities for comedic acting, mostly sitting while waiting for the Gods to report, yet it was a pivotal role. However, artist Quoc Khanh had to memorize the entire script and attend all rehearsals to ensure seamless interaction with the other characters.

Quoc Khanh recounted the pressure he faced with scripts in the 2000s, when director Khai Hung was still in charge of the show. "One year, with only one hour left until showtime, director Khai Hung handed me six pages of a new ending script and asked me to memorize it quickly. At that moment, I was very frustrated and raised my voice at the director. But afterward, I quietly went to the restroom to rehearse. The show went smoothly," Quoc Khanh recalled.

Beyond "Tao Quan", he made his mark as a civil servant named Thao in the film "Ghen", whose fear of his wife led to various troubles in both work and life. With the role of Thi in the film "Tet nay ai den xong nha", the artist captivated audiences with his half-comedic, half-tragic acting, fully embodying a man constantly pursuing his dream woman but ultimately celebrating Tet alone. Notably, his portrayal of the orphaned, hardship-stricken Gu in "Ao lua Ha Dong" earned him both the Golden Lotus and Golden Kite awards.

Ha Thu