52 years after Bruce Lee's death on 20/7/1973, Betty Ting Pei remains haunted by the tragic night. In a recent TVB talk show on 23/7, she recounted their relationship and the events of that fateful night.
They met in 1970. Lee, already married with children, pursued Ting Pei. "The whole world adored him; it would have been unusual if I hadn't," she said. Lee felt a connection with her, appreciating her honesty and directness.
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Hong Kong actress Betty Ting Pei, who was with Bruce Lee when he died. Photo: Mingpao |
Hong Kong actress Betty Ting Pei, who was with Bruce Lee when he died. Photo: Mingpao
They met frequently, with Ting Pei present during Lee's business discussions with producer Raymond Chow. During the filming of Way of the Dragon in 1972, she took Lee for a haircut and often chose his clothes, as he admired her sense of style. The crew, aware of their relationship, nicknamed her "Little Dragon Girl".
The pair were inseparable, even on the day of Lee's death. On 20/7/1973, Lee arrived at Ting Pei's apartment at 5 PM. At 7 PM, complaining of a headache, he took a painkiller she offered. He then went to lie down, planning to join her later for a meeting with Chow.
When Chow called to confirm their departure time, Ting Pei tried to wake Lee, but he was unresponsive. She alerted Chow, who arrived at 9:45 PM, but also couldn't rouse Lee. At 10 PM, Ting Pei's personal doctor called an ambulance.
Explaining the delay in calling for help, Ting Pei said Chow had advised her to wait for his arrival. Chow believed the situation was manageable, recalling a similar incident two months prior when Lee had briefly lost consciousness but recovered fully. Ting Pei admitted to being too panicked to act decisively.
Bruce Lee and Japanese actor Chikara Hashimoto in "Fist of Fury". Video: Golden Harvest
When the media discovered the ambulance had come from Ting Pei's apartment, their affair became public, causing a scandal. Following Chow's instructions and the wishes of Lee's family, Ting Pei initially denied the ambulance had come from her home and their relationship. She felt she had no right to speak publicly.
After Lee's death, Ting Pei experienced more fear than grief. "I was 26, and a man adored by tens of thousands died in my bed. I became everyone's enemy," she said.
Rumors spread that Ting Pei had poisoned Lee or given him aphrodisiacs. She dismissed these as childish gossip, claiming she had never even heard of such drugs.
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Bruce Lee - martial arts legend. Photo: HK01 |
Bruce Lee - martial arts legend. Photo: HK01
The coroner concluded Lee's death was likely due to a sensitivity to the painkiller, causing cerebral edema. Ting Pei maintained it was a common medication Lee had taken before, and one she and her family also used. "To put it bluntly, even if he died from the painkiller, I wouldn't know what else to do, as I didn't make it."
The dark period lasted several years, and even after 50 years, the trauma persists. Ting Pei often checks on her sleeping daughter to ensure she is "still alive". She believes Lee was fortunate to die peacefully in his sleep, without pain. Ting Pei found solace in her faith, expressing gratitude for Lee's affection and honoring him through spiritual practice and charity work.
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Bruce Lee and Betty Ting Pei. Photo: HK01 |
Bruce Lee and Betty Ting Pei. Photo: HK01
According to TVB, medical advancements suggest Lee's death may not have been related to an allergic reaction. Some experts believe genetics played a role, noting his father also died in his sleep and his brother died while lying on a sofa. Others suspect epilepsy, as Lee had experienced unusual cramping and convulsions three months before his death.
Now 78, Ting Pei holds a different perspective from scientists. "Beloved artists often die young, like Teresa Teng, Leslie Cheung, and Anita Mui. Those who are disliked, like me, live to this age. It's not my will, nor his, it's heaven's will," she reflects.
Ting Pei lives in Hong Kong with her daughter, Candy Hsiang, from her previous marriage to Charles Heung. In recent years, she has rarely appeared in public, except for activities related to Buddhism. She embraced Buddhism after Candy's birth, believing it was fate. She finds enlightenment through Buddhist scriptures and maintains a vegetarian diet. "Now, I'm on a wide, smooth path. I'm no longer afraid of anything. Moreover, I can help others with the Buddhist knowledge I've gained," she says.
Bruce Lee (1940-1973) achieved global stardom with films like The Big Boss, Fist of Fury, Way of the Dragon, Enter the Dragon, and Game of Death. In 1999, Time magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people of the 20th century.
Nghinh Xuan (via TVB)
